Versatility and a law degree-technical services librarians new challenge
June 28, 2006 paravion2
Readings for 6/28/06- reflectionAyanna LewisLIS 578LE, Summer 2006
The readings challenged me to think out of “traditional” library duties or what I perceived as being those duties and look to what is now required of the profession-versatility and knowing business and legalese being some of those duties. In the Herbert White piece, the quote that stayed with me throughout the rest of the readings was that in the findings of a reviewer of library sources it was found “that the greatest number of applications is not for hardware or software to increase librarians expertise, it is for tools to make users totally independent of us.” This Herbert warns leads librarianship away from professionalism and toward a state of being “keepers of the warehouse.” What then is the challenge to librarians –in particular in technical services? It is the challenge to not become “keepers of the warehouse, but integral professionals and “information specialists” that have the ability to fine tune how information is accessed in the institution for the patrons it serves. The world of e-books and negotiation of contracts for electronic resources- I have first hand experience watching from afar others in my organization work skillfully on behalf of libraries within the large system. I believe now, that along with that essential “Cataloging” I , and ( in my opinion) preservation course, graduate library ( and “information”) programs should have “versatility” and “how to affect change in your library system for the benefit and future of the community served”-courses. I’m not sure how to make that title get more concise.
Entry Filed under: Reflections
