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STRAIT to the future8th Asia-Pacific Specials, Health and Law Librarians Conference Lesle Symes Memorial Lecture 1999Head in the clouds ... feet on the ground
Kathy Saurine AbstractLibrarians are fearful for their professional identity as never before. We've always been clear that a so-called professional is someone who has a library qualification, but that's not the case anymore" Anon This paper recommends that Library Professionals need a realistic vision to clarify their role and to identify and market their skills to take advantage of employment opportunities in today's information society. I was delighted and honoured to be asked to deliver this paper today. However, I assume that like myself many in the audience today did not know Lesle Symes nor are you consciously aware of the contribution that she made to Special Librarianship. I'd like to take a few moments to speak of Lesle from what I have read in the literature. Lesle was a driving force in bringing the library profession together, as she was largely responsible in organising the first National Special Librarian's Conference. She was also the first private sector librarian to embark on the automation of library services. Lesle has been described as energetic, imaginative, hardworking and tireless, proactive and professional. Summing up she was a pretty outstanding person. And by today's standards she was an exemplary information professional whose influence and contribution are still benefiting us today. Lesle was entrepreneurial. She established the Lesle Symes Information Services Pty Ltd in 1971. In 1971 she wrote, information is the future's biggest industry ... and as we enter the millenium, an era that is commonly referred to as the Information Age, this was certainly a visionary statement at the time. Lesle died from cancer in 1982 and I think we would all agree that her vision has become reality.[1] [2] [3] At the time I was asked to consider delivering this lecture my mind or vision was far removed from libraries. With my daughter's wedding coming up family, friends and celebrations were paramount in my mind. Around this time a colleague also made this comment to me if you haven't got a vision...it's time to get out. I don't mind admitting that this comment really jolted me. After a few hectic years of change, restructures and moves its easy to lose sight of a vision. I'm sure I am not alone here as I have since asked colleagues "What is your vision or do you have a vision?" and they have found it difficult to answer this question. It was comforting to come across the following frank comment by a Pro Vice Chancellor in a discussion on Change and Uncertainty in Academic Libraries on a discussion list. It becomes increasingly difficult to hold on to a vision and direction with confidence. ... I find it difficult to know what's going to happen. It's embarrassing if I don't have a vision...I'm supposed to be guiding the university's decision making over the next couple of years ... if I don't, who on earth does?"[4] Those of us having trouble with a vision are not alone. I also came across this comment on another discussion list while deciding what I would present in this paper and I had to ask myself did this apply to me at this time and place? ...it has been my experience that many in our profession (especially one's nearing retirement, or perhaps displaying signs of burnout) couldn't care less about anything new, at all, in the world of Librarianship. They were merely passing time. The challenge was set to come up with a paper that addressed some of the issues currently confronting the profession. I think Lesle would like to see issues aired as she had expressed concern about the apathy of some members within the profession.[5] At the same time we must take a moment to acknowledge the efforts of past Librarians and the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) who have worked hard to establish Librarianship as a profession. It is not my intention here today to deliver any new research, rather I intend to pull together some of the challenges that I thought needed to be expressed amongst ourselves. I think it is fair to raise topics at conferences that have both positive and negative implications for our profession. Back to the theme of the day; vision. As a group we need a realistic vision if we are to plan for working in the new millenium, many of us do want to go Strait to the Future. Why the title? "Head in the clouds ... feet on the ground." I attended the Online Conference in Sydney in January this year, a conference that presented many wonderful options for future employment, yet back at work these options seemed more of an illusion than a realistic vision. Many of us who work in small special libraries often feel that there is a real gap between what we read in the professional literature, what is presented at conferences and what we are able realistically to achieve in the workplace. Many of the ideas presented, while inspirational and to be commended, may seem "head in the clouds" to some of us rather than the achievable "feet on the ground" practicalities with which we are coping on a day to day basis. I came across the following definition of vision An image (not just an idea) Of an attractive (compelling) future state Unique to a group, organization, or community That gives meaning to effort Motivates people to work together In the turmoil of a changing world[6] An image (not just idea), this is the simple part if we are formulating a vision, we can all dream and dream on of an attractive (compelling) future state. The question we as a profession must ask is will you be working in the future, in what role and under what job title? Unique to a group, organization, or community. This is the challenge that prompted the question as to the librarian's role in a special library environment. Enter the information era where the management of information is no longer the domain of only libraries and librarians. Along comes the information professional and the knowledge worker. The latest edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary defines knowledge worker as "a person whose job involves handling or using information," this could be almost anyone. There is no questioning that new technologies and the Internet are the factors that have challenged traditional library services and practices. These technologies have empowered end users to search for information once thought the role of librarians. In order to crystalise or formulate a realistic vision in this new environment we have to clarify what our role is and even what we are called. Many of us do have legitimate fears about the special librarian's future in the turmoil of the changing world. A colleague, who recently changed roles said, "I no longer know what to say I do anymore - nor what to call myself". Are we suffering from a professional identity crisis? If we are really honest many of us working in special libraries will answer "yes." The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) itself is also having to tackle the issue of identity as the Renewal Working Group attempts to come to terms with a new model for the organisation. Members have been asked to contribute to this decision making process in order to come up with a solution. Do we, as a professional group continue with the "business as usual" model, or take the brave step and vote for an "information profession and service model." That is, an "industry-based association built on the membership of individuals based in the information services industry generally and working as records managers, internet workers, librarians and library technicians, market researchers, computing personnel and so on.."[7] Convergence is the key word. We should heed the warning of an earlier Lesle Symes presenter John Thawley who warned that we, speaking of librarians, as a group have tended to be insular. Library staff can no longer afford to be elitist.[8] 72% of all Australian library workers are more than 40 years old and less than 8% of them are under thirty. Training in traditional library systems is being phased out. The younger generation is studying broader based courses and it is inevitable that we will have to compete for employment with people trained in different backgrounds. These newcomers to the information workforce are lured to the exciting world of the Internet and the globalised systems where they see more lucrative pay scales. It's a competitive world out there There has been much discussion lately about the "L" word, Librarian, and how it impacts on the image of those who work in a special library environment. The discussion about the L word is linked to our image, a topic we have heard about time and time again. Yet, the fact is that both libraries and librarians suffer from an image that is outdated, and I would like to touch briefly on this today. It was refreshing to read the paper delivered by our colleagues at the University of Technology, Sydney at the Adelaide conference last year who called upon us as a group to start laughing about the stereotype and stop trying to prove ourselves to each other and to focus on proving ourselves to those outside.[9] Never the less this is how we were perceived by one group of outsiders in a United States Career Guide for 1998. Librarians were ranked among the 10 "not or cold" jobs. Librarians ranked number 9, in between farmers number 8 and sex shop operators number 10![10] On a more positive note there are jobs out there that we know we can do and do well but they may not be called Librarian or have library in the title. We should take the advice of Judith Siess who has said "A librarian's skills can be applied in many fields. The job opportunities are limited only by your imagination, creativity, interest, and persistence."[11] Many of us here today may need to take the plunge and move to working outside the comfort of a physical library if we are to stay employed. The challenge is ours to convince potential employers that we have the knowledge and skills that are useful in the new information society. We are certainly living in the turmoil of a changing world. I attended a workshop called "The Information Professional in the Internet Age" run by Donald Hawkins in Sydney in January after the Online Conference this year at which we worked through some of these skills many of us possess. Skills that can be broadly defined in the following categories. Business skills. The Library or Information Centre, is really a business centre and you should regard it as such when identifying this group of skills. Communication skills, not forgetting that in many organisations you in the library/information centre were the pioneer in introducing and utilising electronic communication systems. Technical skills. In many instances we may not need to have in-depth knowledge of information technology systems, but we certainly need to have an understanding of their capabilities and how they work. It is our Customer focus skills combined with our information skills that enable us to find information and match it to our client's needs. It is these matchmaking skills that bridge the gaps between many of the above skills and our clients. And in a more general sense many of us are pragmatic and flexible, optimistic and enthusiastic, prepared to have a go at almost anything. You will all be familiar with the expression "additional duties as required" which appears on many position descriptions. Often we are indeed jack of all trades. This may not be an exhaustive list, I'm sure many of you could expand on these skills, but it is an impressive start. I'd like to mention that personally I believe that increasingly we will see essential qualifications disappear as a criterion for positions. Also the distinction of functions is blurring across professions and within the ranks of the traditional library. In the current information environment many of the new positions working with web sites, search engines and intranets are yet the special preserve of any one job classification, educational background, or organizational area."[12] Increasingly we will see jobs advertised for short-term projects and contract work as permanent employment opportunities diminish. The days of entitlements and security are fast disappearing in many areas. Employers are seeking proactive people who can display high level of interest in the field. People with knowledge of the latest technological developments, personal management skills and outstanding communication skills.[13] Attributes that require ongoing development. Continuous professional development is a major factor in securing and maintaining employment in the information age. Many of us here today who gained our qualifications in the golden years of traditional library education may need to look at an education that formally upgrades new skills. John Levett wrote, "it may also be time to acknowledge that the First Professional Qualification (in any field) is essentially a licence to learn, rather than the sum of relevant learning itself".[14] You must also accept that the responsibility for professional development is your responsibility, not that of employers. Much of what we learnt in the past is outdated and irrelevant. Its rather timely that ALIA has introduced a new category of personal members - "the 'Continuing Professional Development" or 'CDP' sub-category. This new category of membership will be available to any technician, or librarian member who makes a commitment to continue their ongoing training and development."[15] Making the commitment to professional development does mean sacrifices, time and money. However there are now many flexible options to chose from that can be tailored to suit your needs and timeframes. Where are we going to find all these jobs, after all we continually read about the growth or demand for jobs in the information industry? What are they going to be called? Listed are some of the titles I have come across while researching this paper: Corporate Information Specialist, Data digester, Information engineer, Information advisor, Knowledge engineer, Information analyst, Digital navigator, Information Development Manager, Information Auditor, Search Engine Designer, Intranet Developer, Trainer, Course Developer, Product reviewer, Recruitment Consultant for the Information Age to name but a few. Many may see this as merely "title inflation" however in the corporate world title and image may be everything. I acknowledge that whether or not we retain the word librarian is controversial but if you are looking for a job outside the traditional library environment your attitude to this issue may be critical to your success. In the American Special Library association research highlights they have gone as far as to say that the word "librarian" itself will become a misnomer[16] and judging by current advertisements in the United Kingdom on ASLIB sites a similar trend is emerging there. In Australia job advertisements under the title Librarian appear to be scarce. It is important to think in terms of employment in the corporate environment. A recent survey in the United States showed that 63% of the library jobs were coming up within this setting. According to Dr Ross Todd, head of the Department of Information Studies at the University of Technology, Sydney approximately 25% of the graduates from this school end up working in the traditional library environment. The remainder find work in the broader information field for which the course they have completed equips them. Where to find the jobs? Certainly not in the Weekend Australian nor the Government Gazettes. More than likely you may be able to match your skills with jobs advertised in the Tuesday's edition of the Australian in the computer section. Jobs advertised in this section are eye catching, sound exciting and dynamic and offer attractive salaries. With the shift to contract employment, recruitment agencies may be your first port of call. At the same time watch for the positions vacant that appear electronically on discussion lists and newsgroups. Many positions may not appear in traditional print media. When considering job options also don't forget that there is an entire industry just surrounding the library field - including library automation vendors, digital information providers, book publishers ... many of whom employ librarians. If presenting to an employment agency or a potential employer it is important to decide beforehand how you are going to present yourself. You may need to define your skills as broadly as possible to match current employment opportunities. We acknowledge the fact that libraries and their staff are part of the information society. To retain a place in this expanded environment we need to:
We need to set out sights and focus our vision on this broad new horizon. ConclusionWill you have your feet on the ground as we head Strait to the Future? We must become visionaries extraordinaire, exercise exemplary judgement, plan for the future and market our skills to remain relevant in the information/knowledge age. Or Are you going to keep your head in the clouds - hope the status quo remains while you mark time to retirement, not forgetting with the speed of this change you may well become globally irrelevant before that date. The challenge is yours. The AuthorKathy commenced her career at the National Library of Australia in the late 1960's as a Library Officer in Training. During her time in Canberra she worked in special libraries at the Departments of Forestry and Defence before moving to New South Wales. In the late 1970's she started working as a Librarian for the Lismore Catholic Education Office at Marist College and later transferred to St Mary's College in Casino. Since moving to Tasmania in 1989 Kathy has been employed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Employed initially to establish a hospital library at the Burnie hospital Kathy now manages the Dr Richard Buttfield Library at the Burnie Hospital and the Sir John Ramsay Library at the Launceston General Hospital. Kathy was awarded the ALIA Health Libraries Section Anne Harrison Award in 1995 and spent two years researching the impact of privatisation of Health Services which resulted in the publication of "Health Libraries: Challenges in the Commercial Environment" in 1997. In 1998 her personnel professional development program included expanding her skills through studying units in electronic records management and electronic document creation and management. Endnotes
1 Schmidmaier, Dagmar "Obituary: Olga Lesle Symes 1925-1982" in Australian Special Libraries News, v15, no.1, March 1982, p19.
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