Interview with Leah McEwen: Cornell University, Ithaca, USA, recorded at the BEILSTEIN OPEN SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM (22 – 24 May 2017). Leah McEwen discusses libraries in transformation with Carsten Kettner. The Physical Sciences Library at Cornell dispersed stacks in 2009, so they are operating totally electronically since nearly 10 years. The library is becoming more digital and getting closer to research process, supporting scientists with publication preparation, data management, working with publishers and repositories. The Cornell University Library system has a technical team of database developers, ontologists, and other technical specialists working with librarians who have specific domain knowledge in various disciplines. A challenge for the Physical Sciences Library today is visibility, which means going out and getting to know the scientists and students, and also describing the value-add can be more difficult now that information access is no longer via printed works. Leah, who is the chemistry librarian at Cornell, enjoys getting beyond the formal aspects and getting to grips with the data. At the symposium Leah has described projects involving environmental health and safety – which necessitates working closely with researchers. In terms of health and safety, chemists look at chemistry on the molecular level; most issues which occur have to do with the transportation of chemicals on the macro level. Students do not generally have any lab background, so they need special consideration. Students are required to do risk assessment exercises during the course. Researchers are not yet required to do safety assessments in the US. Leah is hopeful that this will change.