Librarians and the claiming of new roles: how can we try to make a difference?

Abstract

In a dynamic, information and technology-driven society, librarians can create new roles by assessing changes in their environment, the potential effect and ways to reposition themselves. Scenario building, literature reviews, situation analysis, speculation and forecasting may be used. Librarians have a good idea of what they can offer, but are often unable to reposition themselves in time. Reasons for this generally slow reaction are speculated on and the future role of librarians (including expected knowledge and skills) is briefly reviewed. An argument is then pursued on how an educational perspective that supports a constructivistlearning environment, portfolio assessment, and affective and metacognitive skills could support librarians in preparing for change. The value of task analysis, needs assessment, and market research are mentioned briefly. Apart from knowledge (cognitive level), teaching should focus on affective and metacognitive skills, decision-making abilities, environmental scanning, change management and the typical personality characteristics required to survive in the cyber age (e.g. assertiveness, self-confidence, creative thinking, and innovativeness).

Librarians' skills and qualifications in a modern informational environment

“…al., 2003] believes that the modern academic courses in LIS should aim to create the "complete librarian", while Fourie (2004) points out that the education should not only focus on the technical matters of Library Science, such as the creation of a digital library, but should also be orientated towards the development of survival and affective skills.…”

Information Behavior and Expectations of Veterinary Researchers and Their Requirements for Academic Library Services

“…A summary of the findings is presented in Figure 5. de Jager (2012), Fourie (2004) and Webb et al (2007). Since demands and needs can change these should constantly be monitored.…”

“…The latter was done by means of a citation analysis. Although a fair amount of information is available on library services to researchers (Brophy, 2008;Fourie, 2004;Wakeham & Garfield, 2005;, information specialists cannot use these alone to guide decisions on their role and the services to render. A survey was thus conducted with researchers in the Faculty as well as with the three information specialists dedicated to serving the information needs of researchers.…”

Developing Models of Professional Competence To Enhance Employability in the Network World

“…According to Fourie, "IT skills are of course nonnegotiable", 12 but this prompts the question, what kind of IT skills? For specialist roles, such as the 'digital librarian' envisaged by Hastings and Tennant 38 and Sreenvisulu, 39 staff evidently need competencies in markup languages, imaging technologies, optical character recognition, programming, etc., but for other 'hybrid library' roles, the technical skills will surely reflect the nature of the particular role and its context.…”

“…12 Some writers focus on the development of roles in specific sectors, notably the health sector in the context of evidence-based medicine; 13 others concentrate on one particular role, such as the teaching role of academic librarians.…”