Library education: the future is now! Associate Professor Helen Partridge Coordinator, Master of Information Management Queensland University of Technology

Today… Library and information science (LIS) profession in Australia The emergence of library 2.0 and librarian 2.0 Current state of LIS education ALTC Fellowship exploring LIS education 2.0 Public libraries and LIS education

Library and information science (LIS) profession in Australia

The emergence of library 2.0 and librarian 2.0

Current state of LIS education

ALTC Fellowship exploring LIS education 2.0

Public libraries and LIS education

Be warned…there will be more questions than answers!

So you think you might like to be a librarian. Lets take a moment to learn a little more about this career choice. Available from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smrrZpbvI20

Available from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smrrZpbvI20

The LIS Sector in Australia National library and 8 State and Territory Libraries 1800 public libraries 38 university libraries and 70 TAFE libraries 1100 special libraries 9500 school libraries

National library and 8 State and Territory Libraries

1800 public libraries

38 university libraries and 70 TAFE libraries

1100 special libraries

9500 school libraries

The LIS Workforce Australia: 10.65 million employees LIS sector: 29,100 library workers 12,300 are librarians 8,000 library technicians 8,800 library assistants

Australia: 10.65 million employees

LIS sector: 29,100 library workers

12,300 are librarians

8,000 library technicians

8,800 library assistants

Librarians 65% are 45 or older [compared to 36% in the total workforce] 88% are 35 or more [58%] 12% are under 35 [42%] Median age: 47

65% are 45 or older [compared to 36% in the total workforce]

88% are 35 or more [58%]

12% are under 35 [42%]

Median age: 47

Some international LIS studies on workforce and industry The 8Rs Study (Canada) Canadian Library Human Resource Study Recruit, retain and lead (public libraries) University of Sheffield (UK) Learning for change: workforce development strategy Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (UK) A national study on the future of librarians in the workforce Institute of Museums & Library Services (IMLS) (USA) Other studies: eg ACRL, Colorado Association of Libraries

The 8Rs Study (Canada) Canadian Library Human Resource Study

Recruit, retain and lead (public libraries) University of Sheffield (UK)

Learning for change: workforce development strategy Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (UK)

A national study on the future of librarians in the workforce Institute of Museums & Library Services (IMLS) (USA)

Other studies: eg ACRL, Colorado Association of Libraries

Some Australian studies Libraries of the Australian Technology Network (LATN) Workforce and succession planning State Library of Victoria Workforce sustainability and leadership project Collections Council of Australia Conservation survey 2006 (human & financial resources) Gillian Hallam’s neXus project Two stages: s tage 1 online survey of individual LIS professionals and stage 2 investigates workforce policies and practices in LIS institutions.

Libraries of the Australian Technology Network (LATN)

Workforce and succession planning

State Library of Victoria

Workforce sustainability and leadership project

Collections Council of Australia

Conservation survey 2006 (human & financial resources)

Gillian Hallam’s neXus project

Two stages: s tage 1 online survey of individual LIS professionals and stage 2 investigates workforce policies and practices in LIS institutions.

Skill and Knowledge Information and society Ethics & legal Responsibility Management Information organisation Information services Collection management & development Information resources and retrieval Information literacy instruction Information management Information systems for LIS professionals Web content management Career planning skills Records management and archives Research Information Literacy Lifelong Learning Teamwork Communication Ethics and Social Responsibility Project Management Critical Thinking Problem Solving Business Acumen Self Management Partridge, H. & Hallam, G. (2004) The double helix: a personal account of the discovery of the structure of [the information professional’s] DNA. Paper presented at Challenging Ideas, ALIA 2004 Biennial Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, September 2004.

Information and society

Ethics & legal Responsibility

Management

Information organisation

Information services

Collection management & development

Information resources and retrieval

Information literacy instruction

Information management

Information systems for LIS professionals

Web content management

Career planning skills

Records management and archives

Research

Information Literacy

Lifelong Learning

Teamwork

Communication

Ethics and Social Responsibility

Project Management

Critical Thinking

Problem Solving

Business Acumen

Self Management

Some Common Issues What is library and information science? Ageing and the retirement of senior LIS professionals Flattening (declining?) number of LIS graduates Increased competition from other career sectors Less than competitive salaries Lingering negative image of the profession Growing anecdotal evidence about the difficulties recruiting staff with the right specialist skills. Skills requirement for the future workforce What job opportunities will exist for future librarians?

What is library and information science?

Ageing and the retirement of senior LIS professionals

Flattening (declining?) number of LIS graduates

Increased competition from other career sectors

Less than competitive salaries

Lingering negative image of the profession

Growing anecdotal evidence about the difficulties recruiting staff with the right specialist skills.

Skills requirement for the future workforce

What job opportunities will exist for future librarians?

“ one message is clear however and applies to all staff at all levels and across the spectrum of responsibilities – whilst some staff may need a portfolio of skills, including high level IT skills, to meet the requirements of their particular function, all staff, working in today’s electronic library environment, must be comfortable working with IT” (Garrod and Sidgreaves, 1998)

“ one message is clear however and applies to all staff at all levels and across the spectrum of responsibilities – whilst some staff may need a portfolio of skills, including high level IT skills, to meet the requirements of their particular function, all staff, working in today’s electronic library environment, must be comfortable working with IT” (Garrod and Sidgreaves, 1998)

Web 2.0 is changing the nature of librarians and the role of library and information science professionals.

Web 2.0 is changing the nature of librarians and the role of library and information science professionals.

Lets consider... Available from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4CV05HyAbM

Library 2.0 library 2.0 has forever changed the ‘library brand’…libraries are no longer about book or event information, instead libraries are about “facilitating people to participate, interact and create, to provide the means for that to happen” (Mackenzie, 2007)

library 2.0 has forever changed the ‘library brand’…libraries are no longer about book or event information, instead libraries are about “facilitating people to participate, interact and create, to provide the means for that to happen” (Mackenzie, 2007)

“ it is essential that we start preparing to become librarian 2.0 now” (Abram, 2005) Available from http://www.flixster.com

“ in my time in library school so far we haven’t talked about web 2.0 or about library 2.0 in any specific capacity. We have used some web 2.0 technologies. I can’t say that the faculty know about these technologies or not” (Macaulay, 2007)

“ in my time in library school so far we haven’t talked about web 2.0 or about library 2.0 in any specific capacity. We have used some web 2.0 technologies. I can’t say that the faculty know about these technologies or not” (Macaulay, 2007)

LIS Education in Australia In 2005 there were: 1539 students enrolled in postgraduate 811 in undergraduate 2028 in TAFE

In 2005 there were:

1539 students enrolled in postgraduate

811 in undergraduate

2028 in TAFE

The ‘issue’ of LIS education “ a crisis in library education” ( Gorman, 2004) “ something’s amiss with university based education for librarianship” ( Harvey, 2001) “ a fresh approach needs to be taken considering the education and development of the new information professional” ( Myburgh, 2003) “ many librarians have little firsthand experience with library education after they graduate” ( Moran, 2001) “ LIS educators can be totally out of touch with current industry practice” ( Hallam, 2007)

“ a crisis in library education” ( Gorman, 2004)

“ something’s amiss with university based education for librarianship” ( Harvey, 2001)

“ a fresh approach needs to be taken considering the education and development of the new information professional” ( Myburgh, 2003)

“ many librarians have little firsthand experience with library education after they graduate” ( Moran, 2001)

“ LIS educators can be totally out of touch with current industry practice” ( Hallam, 2007)

LIS Education Course recognition Employment landscape Entry into the profession via both TAFE (para professional) and university (professional) University qualifications can be obtained at several levels: bachelor, graduate diploma and master degrees LIS education is located in a broad range of faculties and departments 9 institutions offer ALIA recognised LIS degrees Number of LIS academics is decreasing and ‘greying’

Course recognition

Employment landscape

Entry into the profession via both TAFE (para professional) and university (professional)

University qualifications can be obtained at several levels: bachelor, graduate diploma and master degrees

LIS education is located in a broad range of faculties and departments

9 institutions offer ALIA recognised LIS degrees

Number of LIS academics is decreasing and ‘greying’

Library and information science education 2.0: guiding principles and models of best practice Associate Fellowship 2008

Library and information science education 2.0:

guiding principles and models of best practice

Associate Fellowship 2008

Three observations Library 2.0 has changed the way that libraries and library and information professionals do business The skill and knowledge required by the library and information professional for success in the age of web 2.0 has changed (and continues to change) The learning experiences of library and information students continues to be framed in disciplinary traditions that do not reflet the needs of contemporary work environment.

Library 2.0 has changed the way that libraries and library and information professionals do business

The skill and knowledge required by the library and information professional for success in the age of web 2.0 has changed (and continues to change)

The learning experiences of library and information students continues to be framed in disciplinary traditions that do not reflet the needs of contemporary work environment.

Aims To establish Guiding Principles for Library and Information Science Education 2.0 By: Identifying the current and anticipated skills and knowledge required by successful library and information professionals in the age of web 2.0 (and beyond) Establishing the current state of library and information education in Australia in supporting the development of the ‘web 2.0 professional’ Identify models of best practice in library and information education

To establish Guiding Principles for Library and Information Science Education 2.0

By:

Identifying the current and anticipated skills and knowledge required by successful library and information professionals in the age of web 2.0 (and beyond)

Establishing the current state of library and information education in Australia in supporting the development of the ‘web 2.0 professional’

Identify models of best practice in library and information education

Activities 1 September 2008 – 31 August 2009 Stage 1: Rich picture of the skills and knowledge required by LIS professional in the web 2.0 (and beyond) age will be established. An audit of current LIS education in Australia and the development of case studies to showcase models of best practice. Guiding Principles for Library and Information Science Education 2.0 will be developed.

1 September 2008 – 31 August 2009

Stage 1: Rich picture of the skills and knowledge required by LIS professional in the web 2.0 (and beyond) age will be established.

An audit of current LIS education in Australia and the development of case studies to showcase models of best practice.

Guiding Principles for Library and Information Science Education 2.0 will be developed.

The Project Team Me Research Assistant, Julie Lee Reference Group Program Evaluator, Margaret Buckridge, Griffith University …… you!

Me

Research Assistant, Julie Lee

Reference Group

Program Evaluator, Margaret Buckridge, Griffith University

…… you!

Desired Outcomes Curriculum renewal in LIS professional education Help to ensure LIS education in Australia continues to meet the changing skill and knowledge requirements of the profession is supports Vehicle through which LIS professionals and LIS educators may find opportunities for greater collaboration and more open communication LIS discipline become a role model for other disciplines STAY TUNED! A blog will be released in the next 6 weeks, with the opportunity for you to share your thoughts on librarian 2.0 and library education 2.0.

Curriculum renewal in LIS professional education

Help to ensure LIS education in Australia continues to meet the changing skill and knowledge requirements of the profession is supports

Vehicle through which LIS professionals and LIS educators may find opportunities for greater collaboration and more open communication

LIS discipline become a role model for other disciplines

Library Education: The Future is Now! LIS Educators LIS Employers LIS Professionals LIS Professional Associations

And for public libraries specifically? What is public library 2.0? Does it differ to special library 2.0? Academic library 2.0? What should the future public library workforce look like? Skills? Knowledge? What about non library roles? What non library skill and knowledge is needed? How can LIS education serve the public library more effectively? What skills and knowledge is required for entry level qualifications? Mid career qualifications? ……… ?

What is public library 2.0? Does it differ to special library 2.0? Academic library 2.0?

What should the future public library workforce look like? Skills? Knowledge?

What about non library roles? What non library skill and knowledge is needed?

How can LIS education serve the public library more effectively?

What skills and knowledge is required for entry level qualifications? Mid career qualifications?

……… ?

Questions, comments, discussion? Dr Helen Partridge [email_address] (07) 3138 9047

Questions, comments, discussion?