Branch librarians in academic libraries occupy multifaceted positions within the organizational structure of the libraries where they work and are found on the campuses of both large and small institutions. Branch librarians on today's college and university campuses inhabit various types of facilities that focus collections and services on a select clientele. These facilities can be dedicated to a specific subject (such as a music or biology library), group of disciplines (such as a humanities library), class of users (undergraduate library), or even function (storage library). Therefore, the role of the branch librarian in academic libraries is significant by virtue of its flexibility. Branch librarians are the academic library's “Jacks and Jills of all trades.”

The role of the branch librarian in academic libraries is also significant because of the sheer numbers of branch libraries in existence. Of the reporting Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to the Spec Kit for Branch Libraries (1999), 94% report having branch libraries on their campuses.1 The American Library Directory “Library Count” statistics for the past 20 years show that there are some 2500 branch libraries on junior college, college, and university campuses throughout North America.2 The ARL Spec Kit also reports that 28% of ARL professional and support staff work in branch libraries.