Academic libraries: facing the future - the role of library and information professionals

Academic libraries: facing the future The role of library and information professionals Jo Webb, Head of Academic Services and National Teaching Fellow, Department of Library Services, [email_address]

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) professional OED definitions
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
Books are for use
Every person his or her book
Every book its reader
Save the time of the reader
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

Academic libraries: facing the future - the role of library and information professionals

by Jo Webb on Jun 07, 2010

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Academic libraries: facing the future - the role of library and information professionals — Presentation Transcript