Inside the laboratory: open science and the skills of research librarians

The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the current changing process of science and its impact on the skills of research librarians. A literature review reveals the relationship between librarians and science openness. Although libraries remain at the core of the scientific process, they lost the monopoly of information provision and their traditional roles in science production and dissemination are now questionable. Library and information science practitioners are facing a set of relevant challenges. Librarians are strongly involved in the future of science as an important system stakeholder as well as a provider of information products and services. Also, librarians must expand their traditional skills to be able to respond to the current needs of researchers, and the openness demands emerging from society. Are research librarians prepared to take part in Open Science? What is their current position? Is there a need for a new librarian skill set?