Working in a Global Environment – Success Strategies for Today’s

Information Professional

Dr. Sandra Hirsh, Professor and Director

October 2014

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Objectives

1. The transcendence of the

“information professional”

2. Roles in the global environment

3. Essential value of the MLIS

4. How to become a Rockstar in your

organization, community, and global

environment.

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The Transcendence of the “Library”

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The “Traditional” Library

Library: a place where books, magazines, and

other materials (such as videos and musical

recordings) are available for people to use or

borrow.

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The “Librarian” Stereotype

Librarian: a specialist in the care

and management of a library

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LIBRARIAN

Day in the Life of a

“Librarian” Book

preserver

Cataloger

Readers

advisory

Resource

finder

Archivist

Children

services

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Traditional Librarian

Qualifications

Character Traits: Foundational Skills

Vitality Information sources

Courage Collection management

Intelligence Reference Interviews

Sensitiveness Critical thinking skills

Dedication

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“The “Librarian” Portrayed in Films

“Library Clerk” The Forgotten

“Archives Clerk” The Changeling

“Lady at Library” Threesome

“Girl in Library” Rollerball

“Shushing Lady” City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold

“Book Man” Ricochet

)

At the Gotham City

library, Barbara

Gordon helps Bruce

Wayne find a book on

butterflies so he can

prove a point to a

friend, a millionaire

explorer.

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Emerging Technologies

Redefine Libraries and Library

Services

Stephens, M. (2011, February). The hyperlinked library [White paper]. Tame The Web (TTW).

Retrieved from http://mooc.hyperlib.sjsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/StephensHyperlinkedLibrary2011.pdf

“When asked what I see for the future of libraries – all kinds of libraries - I imagine a

space where users will connect, collaborate, create, and care.”

(Stephens, 2011)

That future is now…

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Key Trends Impacting the

Libraries

1) Technologies expand and limit who has

access

2) Online education will democratize and

disrupt global learning

3) The boundaries of privacy and data

protection have been redefined

4) Hyper-connected societies listen to and

empower new voices

5) The global information environment

continues to be transformed with new

technologies

IFLA. (2013). Riding the Waves or Caught in the tide? Navigating the Evolving Information Environment.

Insights from the IFLA Trend Report. Retrieved from: http://trends.ifla.org/

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Mobile Internet

APPLICATIONS Increasingly inexpensive

Work, learn, and play anywhere/anytime

Increase worker productivity

Efficient service delivery

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Cloud Computing

Component Technologies

• Data-center hardware

• High speed networks

• Virtual meetings

APPLICATIONS Enterprise IT productivity

Online storage

Web, office, & mobile access anywhere

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Information is now available

To Anyone…

Anywhere…

Anytime…

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Tech Adoption Across All Ages

IMAGE - Rainie, L. (2013). Reinventing of Libraries: The keys to the future in 7 questions. Pew Internet

http://www.pewinternet.org/Presentations/2013/Jun/The-reinvention-of-libraries.aspx

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Today’s “Information Organization”

Now Open

24/7/365

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Information Organizations Are

“Mobile”

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New Focus:

Point of Demand Service

• Libraries can potentially operate 24x7

• Provide services without regard to

location or person

• Available at the point of demand

• Users can access information and receive

real-time guidance from librarians

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Point of Demand Service

“Anywhere-Anytime”

• Initiated electronically

• Involves MORE THAN just searching materials

online

• Patrons access information professionals using

computers and mobile technology

• Communication via chat, videoconferencing,

co-browsing, email, and instant messages

• Response and follow-up may occur via

telephone, fax, in person, or via mail.

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Point of Demand Service

- User Directed Access

• Patron driven access services

• Self check-out

• Student workstations

• Learning commons

• Collaborative spaces

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Information Organizations Are

“Accessible”

A student signs out a MacBook at the new kiosk

located in the University's Hagerty Library.

http://www.drexel.edu/now/news-media/releases/archive/2013/January/Drexel-Libraries-Introduces-

MacBook-Kiosk/

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http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/commons/

Information Organizations Are

“Flexible”

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Information Organizations are

“Creative and Playful”

http://acrl.ala.org/techconnect/?p=2340

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The Information Organization

“Engaging with Technology”

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Today’s information organizations

must

• Become the essential, one-stop resource

for information and technical literacy

instruction;

• Provide access to mobile and online

learning resources;

• Integrate as many emerging technologies

into their services as possible; and,

• Provide an environment of exploration and

play to learn these new technologies.

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Today’s

“Information Professional”

• Emerging services librarian

• Director of digital content

• Digital asset coordinator

• Digitization and services coordinator

• Virtual services librarian

• E-librarian

• Distance learning librarian

• Metadata librarian

• Community engagement librarian

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Source: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/downloads/emerging_trends_2012.pdfr

• Digital product manager

• Digital strategist

• Lead metadata architect

• Cloud metadata specialist

• Systems administrator

• Information architect-Taxonomy

• Earned Media Officer

• Open Source Manager

• Chief Data Scientist

• Web developer

Job Titles Outside the Library

Environment

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Day in the Life of Today’s

Information Professional

“Today’s Librarian Wordle” by The Unquiet Librarian via Flickr

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All the “traditional”

skills plus….

• Web development

• Project management

• Systems developments

• Systems applications

• Information literacy

instruction

• Digital libraries

21st Century Librarian Qualifications

Image source: https://monarchlibrary.wikispaces.com/librarian

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Essential Skills for Today’s

Information Landscape

• Technological skills

• Project management skills

• Marketing and advocacy skills

• Interpersonal and collaborative skills

• Ability to organize physical and digital items

and collections

• Knowledge of emerging trends/technologies

• Ability to facilitate the provision of information

to various audiences

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The Value of the MLIS Degree

One degree – Multiple Pathways

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Pathway Category LIS Pathways

Digital Libraries Digital Humanities

Digital Information

Management

Digital Libraries

Information Architecture, Design, &

Programming

Information Architecture

Knowledge Management Design

Web Programming

Information Systems Designs/Analysis

Information Technology Emerging Technologies

Library Technology Management

Information & Communication Technologies

Socio-Technical Human Computer Interaction

Social Computing

Social Media

Socio-technical Data Analytics

Data Curation Big Data Curation & Management

Data Curation

Other Lifelong Access

Informatics

Global Media & Research Analysis

E-Government Total Technology Pathways in LIS Curriculum

No Technology Pathway* n/a

Multiple Pathways for the LIS Professional

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• Strategic knowledge and advantage

• Results driven problem solving

• Research and analysis

• Competitive intelligence

• Provide “value-added” solutions

• Thinking outside the box

LIS Career Skills:

Beyond Reference Services

There’s a Pathway for that:

Information Organization,

Description, Analysis and Retrieval

Librarian

AISSMS College of

Engineering

Pune, India

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• Collect, organize and evaluate data

• Knowledge of services

• PC and web skills

• Problem solving

• Learn new technology quickly

• Leadership

LIS Career Skills:

Reference Services

There’s a Pathway for that:

Academic Librarianship; The

Information & Learning Commons

Graduate Student Worker

Princeton Theological

Seminary

Princeton, NJ

http://librarianwardrobe.com/

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• Database & search techniques

• Analytic skills

• Instruction experience

• Integrated library systems

• Leadership

• Working well with diverse populations

• Communication & interpersonal skills

LIS Career Skills:

Skills for Instruction and Outreach

There’s a Pathway for that:

Information Intermediation &

Instruction

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• Marketing and Sales

• People management

• Public speaking and presentations

• Decision making

• Financial and budget management

• Meeting and event planning

• Instruction and teaching

• Project management

LIS Career Skills:

Business and Managerial Skills

There’s a Pathway for that:

Leadership and Management

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“Technical or technological skills have

always been important elements for

long-term career success, but growing

your soft skills – such as management,

interpersonal relations, listening,

influencing skills, and empathy – can

make the difference between a

competent professional and a great

leader.”

(Stephen Abram, 2013)

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How to Become a “Rockstar”

Information Professional

• Professional

Development

• Networking

• Volunteering

• Presentations

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Professional Development

Attend workshops and seminars

Participate in the Library 2.014 Virtual Conference

Attend conferences and sessions to learn from

the industry leaders

Participate in a MOOC and pick up courses to

supplement your MLIS

Strategies for Success

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Networking

• Join Professional Associations

• Join a Committee

• Attend Conferences

• Attend Local LIS events

• Engage in LIS Activities – within and

outside the library environment (volunteer, do information interviews, meet staff)

• Community Involvement

• Utilize Social Networks

• Participate in Discussion Boards

Strategies for Success

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Become a Volunteer

• Volunteer and participate in programs that

interests you, or get involved with

community or corporate event.

• Volunteer at conferences – engage with

other professionals from across the world

• Get involved in your local professional

organizations.

Strategies for Success

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Presentations

• Participate as a presenter in next

year’s Library 2.015 virtual

conference

• Submit presentation proposals to local

conferences

• Offer online or in-person

presentations

Strategies for Success

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Strategies for Success

Engage in the Global Information

Community

- Develop a Global PLN

- Engage in online forums and social media

- Explore ideas with others worldwide

Where to begin:

- International Federal of Library

Associations and Institutions

- Special Libraries Association

- The International Librarians Network

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Information professionals “have the

opportunity to develop initiatives

that…make library tools available at the

point of need for users, enable users to

interface with information in a natural and

personalized manner, and allow [users] to

design their own learning outcomes.”

(Bolorizadeh, 2012)

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“No matter what you do, look

for opportunities to make a

difference outside your

immediate role. You might

even find that you’ve carved

out a new position that your

company now needs. In my

experience, those who

exemplify this tend to be the

rockstars!” (Taparia 2014)

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“You are your own best

asset and every investment

in yourself never goes for

naught.”

(Stephen Abram, 2013)

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Thank you for attending!

Dr. Sandy Hirsh, Professor and Director

sandy.hirsh@sjsu.edu

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