academic libraries: facing the future - the role of library and information professionals
Post on 19-Oct-2014
3.323 views
DESCRIPTION
Talk given by Jo Webb for UC&R Yorkshire and Humberside on 8th June 2010TRANSCRIPT
Academic libraries: facing Academic libraries: facing the futurethe future
The role of library and The role of library and information professionalsinformation professionals
Jo Webb, Head of Academic Services and National Teaching Jo Webb, Head of Academic Services and National Teaching Fellow, Department of Library Services, Fellow, Department of Library Services,
Context• Public sector spending cuts• Impact on HE and FE• L. Elliott and A. Asthana (2010) ‘Cable
moves to cut back university places’ Observer, 6th June, p.8– Step away from 50% participation– Investment in further education and vocational
training– 10,000 fewer university places 2010-11– Source close to Cable, ‘debate between
excellence and quality and…bums on seats’
The HE environment
• Competition• Mission groups• Internationalization• Widening participation?• Market for mature and professional courses?• Research assessment• Changes to postgraduate education
Technology-enhanced learning• Student as consumer
Library and Information Service drivers
• Convergence– Infrastructure– Technology– Student services
• Increasing national co-ordination – A national LMS for HE?– But what will happen to JISC, RIN?
• Budgets and recognition• Learning and teaching• Research support
Impact of recession on academic libraries
• Making the ‘least worst’ choices• Restructuring• Reorganization• Cuts in information resources budgets• Need to develop new services
RIN report, Challenges for academic libraries in difficult economic times
http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/challenges-academic-libraries-difficult-economic-
Being (a) professionalOED definitions
1. a. A person who engages in a specified activity,especially a sport, as a paid occupation. Freq.opposed to amateur.
b. Chiefly colloq. A prostitute. 2. A person engaged in a profession, esp. one requiring
special skill or training; a professional person, or a member of the professional classes.
3. Scottish University slang. Short for ‘professional examination’ Now rare.
4. A person who does something with a high level of competence, commitment, or expertise.
A Profession:
• Vocational commitment (original meaning related to religious orders)
• Prolonged training and formal qualification• Application of a discrete body of knowledge• Commitment to ethical values• Some degree of monopoly rights• Control over own affairs• Regulatory role of professional body over
conduct, entry, standards
Michael Gorman’s enduring values
• Stewardship• Service• Intellectual freedom• Rationalism• Literacy and learning• Equity of access to recorded knowledge and
information• Privacy• Democracy
Application to academic libraries
Ranganthan revisited
1. Books are for use
2. Every person his or her book
3. Every book its reader
4. Save the time of the reader
5. The library is a growing organism
CILIP Body of Professional Knowledge
• Ethical framework• Legal dimension• Information policy
• Information governance• Communications
perspective
What do academic librarians do?
• Manage resources, services and facilities– In UK universal and pervasive
• Organize knowledge and information to serve the needs of their users
• Support literacy and learning
Professional recognition• As a library and
information professional– Chartership and Fellowship– Subject knowledge
• In learning and teaching– Teaching qualifications– Higher Education Academy
membership– Specialist awards in
information literacy / teaching for librarians
• In technology– In specific applications– In IT management– In technology-enhanced
learning
• In management– Project management– Generic management
Blended librarianship
Developing our skills
• Our discipline knowledge– Think about what is distinctive to LIS
• Technology-engaged
• Develop research
• Personal and professional reflection
No excuse for professionalism as a silo, comfort blanket or defence
Developing our practice• Professional not employee• Engagement with communities and stakeholders
– Professional as expert and champion
• Joining in the debate e.g. in learning and teaching• Critical and reflective practice• Evaluation• Building an evidence base• Advocacy• Embrace innovation and change• Focus on what is distinctive