CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIES

1
CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIES

• By
• Margaret Simeng
• UNIMAS

2
CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIES

• Events within and outside higher education are
  changing our fundamental conceptions of the
  library as well as the very nature of the content
  and methodologies of learning sponsored by the
  institution. These changes could catapult the
  library into a central role within the
  teaching/learning enterprise if appropriate
  adaptations are made if not they could further
  remove the library from the institutional center
• -Ralph A. Wolf, Executive Director
• Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges
  Univ.Western Assoc. of Schools Colleges

3
CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIES

• Forging faculty/librarian partnerships will
  require new roles for librarians and a level of
  leadership and initiative that has not
  traditionally been asserted or recognised within
  the institution beyond the orb of the library
  itself. Librarians will need to become and be
  seen by members of the faculty and administration
  as educational leaders and innovators, and not
  just as custodians of the institutions print
  media.
• Ralph A. Wolf

Margaret Simeng
4
Are Libraries and Librarians Still RELEVANT?
5
LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE

• According to the Consortium for Educational
  Technology for University Systems (C.E.T.U.S.),
  libraries of the future will offer
• STRUCTURE
• Carefully selected and well- organised
  collections in all formats
• Networked electronic information resources

Margaret Simeng
6
LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE .Cont

• Materials for self-paced learning
• Programs that support new ways of teaching and
  delivering information resources
• A commitment to preservation and access for
  print, electronic and other formats
• An infrastructure that supports instruction of
  all types of users in meeting their information
  needs

Margaret Simeng
7
LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE Cont

• SERVICE
• Creative and flexible approaches that focus on
  services
• Skilled staff
• Librarians who participate actively in the
  teaching and learning activities of the
  university
• Collaborative relationships in both public and
  private settings, both local and international

Margaret Simeng
8
LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE- Cont

• SUBSIDY
• Equitable access to information
• Funding support from various sources
• Focus on partnerships for grant preparation,
  program planning and demonstration projects

Margaret Simeng
9
Are We Ready To Change?Are We Keeping Pace With
Change?WHY?
10
Paradigm shift in Library Work

• Before Present
• Preservation of Document - Use of Document
• Store house of Document -24x7 Service Center
• Process Oriented Service -User Oriented Service
• Limited Service -Broad Service
• Reactive Service Provider -Proactive Service
  Provider
• Information Gatherer -Information Analyst
• Individual Work -Team Work
• Traditional Library -The Learning Center
• Case Study-Indian Institute of Management
  Indore(IIMI)

Margaret Simeng
11
CHALLENGES FACING THE LIBRARIANS

• Content-centered to Learner-centered
• One-time Learning to Life-long learning
• Industrial age mindset to Information age mindset
• Online access
• Individual Learning to Collaborative learning
• Competition
• Changing Turbulent Environment
• Rapidly Changing Technology

Margaret Simeng
12
CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIANSCont

• Creator/Disseminator
• Educator
• Expert/Advocate/Advisor
• Collaborator
• Information Literate
• Life Long Learner
• Innovator
• Communicator
• Negotiator
• Information Specialist
• Information Marketer

Margaret Simeng
13
WHO ARE AFFECTED ?

• Librarians
• Paraprofessionals and
• Other support staff

Margaret Simeng
14
COMPETENCIES OF LIBRARIANS?Why?
15
Competencies expected OF LIBRARIANSCont

• Traditional Librarianship Skills
• Value-adding Skills
• IT Skills
• Transferable Soft Skills
• Entrepreneurship
• Appropriate Attitudes , Values Personal Traits
• Domain Knowledge( Subject Knowledge)
• AP Dr Christopher Soo-Guan Khoo Competencies for
  new era Librarians Information Professionals

Margaret Simeng
16
Competencies expected OF LIBRARIANSCont

• Traditional Librarianship Skills
• Information Management
• IT-related Skills
• Communication Skills
• Social/Community Skills
• Transferable/generic Skills
• Attitudes Personal Traits
• Domain Knowledge( Subject Knowledge)
• Management Leadership
• Entrepreneurship
• Lib Info Science Abstracts (LISA) 2000-2004

Margaret Simeng
17
COMPETENCIES EXPECTED

• Motivating Ability Effective Communication
• Negotiating Ability Team Work
• Information Literacy Analytical Evaluative
• Creative Cooperation Skills
• Presentation Teaching Skills Knowledge
  Management
• Technical/IT Skills Consultation/Collaboration
• Commitment to Service Management Technique
• Conceptual
• Marketing Ability
• Good Listener

Margaret Simeng
18
Do We Have the Competencies Expected of Us??
19
Are skills sufficient for current needs?
ACU Libraries Info Network Survey 2008
20
Keeping Pace With Change
ACU Libraries Info Network Survey 2008
21
Are Librarians Still RELEVANT??
22
Librarians Still Relevant???

• To remain relevant, we need to
• Be open nimble, participative, responsive
  user-centric
• Learn to learn adapt to change
• Cooperate share ideas, experience innovations
• Dare to change years long practice
• Dr Sohair F. Wastawy
• Chief Librarian, Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Margaret Simeng
23
Pro-Active vs Re-Active??
24
Pro-Active Librarian

• Learns the users language
• Understands their concerns
• Is part of the team
• Offers solutions before they are requested
• Is the acknowledged expert in handling
  information
• Believes in libraries as agent of civilisation
• progress
• Peter Brophy (2007)

Margaret Simeng
25
What Should We Do??

• Key Strategic Areas
• Skills Expertise of Human Capital
• Knowledge Resources
• Services
• Smart Partnerships
• Physical Environment
• Quality Management

Margaret Simeng
26
What Should We Do??

• Market research
• Identify specific research areas of user-library
  interaction and relations
• Conduct and review users' feedback and
  satisfaction surveys
• Monitor users' perception of the Library

Margaret Simeng
27
What Should We Do??Cont

• Marketing Programs
• Develop marketing plans for new and existing
  library resources and services
• Manage promotional programs to enhance the image
  of the Library and encourage its use to enhance
  the image of the Library and encourage its use

Margaret Simeng
28
What Should We Do??Cont

• Creating awareness
• Develop publicity and promotional programmes to
  create awareness of library services and
  resources and to sustain users' interest over
  time
• Coordinate and manage library exhibition events
• Host professional visitors of the Library

Margaret Simeng
29
What Should We Do??Cont

• User relations
• Establish and manage feedback channels
• Coordinate networking with student organizations,
  faculties and external professional bodies
• Coordinate outreach programmes to the University
  alumni and friends of the Library
• Form smart partnerships with Centres of
  Excellence

Margaret Simeng
30
What Should We Do??Cont

• Publicity materials
• Develop a range of library publicity materials
  and marketing collaterals
• Manage the production of bulletins/newsletters to
  update users on the library resources and services

Margaret Simeng
31
Factors Influencing Success, Relative Importance
ACU Libraries Info Network Survey 2008
32
In Short What Should We Do??

• Be Creative Innovate

Margaret Simeng
33
Thank You
Margaret Simeng