Librarian 2.0

Librarian 2.0 The future of library education and the 2.0 organization Meredith Farkas Norwich University What is the purpose of LIS education? “The mission of the LIS Program is to educate individuals for careers as librarians and information specialists and to undertake instruction, research and service programs that meet current and emerging library, information and technology needs.” -University of Hawaii, Manoa So, how are we doing? Do you feel your LIS curriculum prepared you for your work in libraries? “One of the big indicators on library education was that I felt I had to take an MPA to get the required skills to do work in a public library.” What topic do you think should be taught as part of the LIS curriculum that wasn’t in your program? “I think there should have been more emphasis on library instruction and teaching ... The majority of my day-to-day library work is related to instruction and I’m basically going on my instinct.” What topic do you think should be taught as part of the LIS curriculum that wasn’t in your program? “Customer service. Everyone comes into the field being smart, excited at the thought of uncovering information, loving books, etc. But too few professionals come in wanting to help people. I think MLS students need the ability to see the library through their patrons' eyes rather than through a librarian’s eyes.” What topic do you think should be taught as part of the LIS curriculum that wasn’t in your program? What is different now? Technology has enabled us to do so much more but we’re no longer the only game in town. “I think the more serious threat to our profession is the poor job we’ve been doing in the last decade or so about getting our message out.” Being a Librarian in a 2.0 World So what is library 2.0? Web 1.0: Democratized Access to Information Web 2.0: Democratized Participation Revolutionary or evolutionary? http://www.davidleeking.com/2007/08/24/library-20-ripples-another-go-at-the-graph/ Library 2.0 is a state of mind • Working to meet changing user needs • Trusting our users (radical trust) • Getting rid of the culture of perfect • Aware of emerging technologies and opportunities • Looking outside of the library world for applications, opportunities, inspiration Skills of Librarians 2.0 Understand their users Keep Up Aren’t afraid of taking risks Are Agile Question Everything Able to look at new technologies and services with a critical eye Don’t give up easily Market Ideas and Communicate Effectively Build their Networks Create Partnerships If these are the skills librarians need, shouldn’t they be taught in library school? What skills and competencies are most important for librarians to have today? “It’s not so much specific skills as a way of looking at things, a lack of fearfulness about trying different tools... For me, it’s just as important, if not more, to have the librarian mindset as to have the individual skills.” Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills How do you teach the “soft skills?” • • • Integrate them into already existing classes. Make it clear that these are critical skills for success in the profession. Methods for teaching soft skills • • • hands-on activities role-playing case study analysis You can’t cover everything in a 36 - 43 credit-hour program. “I answered yes because the internship required by my program is what was most useful by far. So it was not really the academic part of the program that prepared me but that practical part.” “We will never attract innovators to the profession if we don’t offer them the sort of work environment where they can satisfy their need for experimentation and creativity.” Thanks! mgfarkas@gmail.com AIM: librarianmer Slides available at http://meredithfarkas.wetpaint.com Photo Credits • • • • • • • • • Digitage Web 2.0 http://flickr.com/photos/oceanflynn/315385916/ by ocean.flynn Library 2.0 Meme Map http://flickr.com/photos/gbierens/178568449/ by Gerard Bierens Gold Coast Marathon 018 http://flickr.com/photos/tk_five_0/680775822/ by Michael Dawes Dewey or don't we? http://flickr.com/photos/scampion/1500054745/ By scampion Self Portrait with Glass http://flickr.com/photos/45097561@N00/439046462/ By Jacob Whitaker RISK #2 http://flickr.com/photos/tollaksen/967960/ by Bjornar Don’t Give Up http://flickr.com/photos/gokrzy/372381525/ by K0P IMG_2016.JPG http://flickr.com/photos/stevenjude/848723658/ by stevenjude sunny day http://flickr.com/photos/iamthebestartist/2226165685/ by jessamyn