Powerful Partnerships: The Worth of Embedding Masters Level Library Science Students in Undergraduate Classes.

While experiential learning is recognized as an important pedagogical approach in Library and Information Science education, logistical hurdles can make implementing meaningful experiential projects challenging, especially in online courses. This paper will describe a project in which Library Science instructors were able to overcome common obstacles in experiential projects by partnering with instructors of undergraduate courses and leveraging the university’s online course management system. In the Embedded Librarianship Project, graduate-level, online Library Science students at Appalachian State University functioned as virtual embedded librarians for several undergraduate Composition classes. This article provides an analysis of quantitative and qualitative data that describes the Library Science students’ perception of this project and their learning experience. In the process, the paper will illustrate the pedagogical value of providing Library Science students with intensive and extended experiential learning opportunities such as this one. It will also highlight the benefits received by the undergraduates by virtue of having access to embedded librarians. From this project, Library Science educators might find inspiration to create meaningful collaborative ventures in their own universities and programs.