Librarian 2.0 -- Define what you believe to be the essential knowledge, skills and attributes of an information professional in a web 2.0 world
An information professional engaged in librarian 2.0, is in a constant process of re-education. While this may sound a confusing prospect, the information professional will have the systems to deal with the chaos of the constant influx of new material, information and technologies.
The information professional is also involved in a process of discerning what is the most important new information/technology/ideas to his/herself and the library right now. Primarily this process involves being engaged and open to these new ideas – what Laura Cohen (2006) in her manifesto terms being an “active participant”. To me, this is an important part of what librarian 2.0 is all about. It is not simply using the ‘latest and greatest’ web 2.0 technologies available, but questioning their worth to the library service at the time. It is a process of experimentation (Harvey, 2009), with the knowledge that it is ok if something just doesn’t fit for your library.
The librarian 2.0 is also a patron-centred individual who strives to enhance the patron’s library experience wherever possible. To do so, as Abram (2007, p.8) suggests, they must work at knowing and understanding their clientele. It is a process of planning and evaluation with the patron as a consultant. The information professional must be able to provide opportunities for the library to learn more about its clients through a variety of outlets (surveys, focus groups, online polls, Facebook) in order to validate the services that the library offers.
Finally, coupling those two aspects together (discovering new information and technology and being patron-centred), librarian 2.0 is about reaching out to the community – often through technology. It is about being where the patrons (or prospective patrons) are, and not always waiting for them to come to us. Looking at the various ways the library can connect with patrons (website, radio, television, text message, email, You Tube, Facebook), and using technology as an advantage of the library (instead of it being the ‘death’) are good ways to achieve this.
References
Abram, S. (2007). Web 2.0, library 2.0 and librarian 2.0: Preparing for the 2.0 world. Online Information 2007 Conference. Retrieved from: http://2009.online-information.co.uk/files/freedownloads
.new_link1.1080622103251.pdf.
Cohen, L. (2006). A Librarian’s 2.0 manifesto [You Tube broadcast]. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZblrRs3fkSU.
Harvey, M. (2009). What does it mean to be a Science Librarian 2.0? Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, (Summer). Retrieved from http://www.istl.org/09-summer/article2.html.
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