This document discusses establishing dialogues between new and experienced library and information science (LIS) professionals. It notes some perceived misperceptions that experienced professionals may have about new professionals, such as weaknesses in their curriculum, time management, and subject knowledge skills. However, experienced professionals also recognize strengths in new professionals, such as their digital skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm. The document encourages finding ways to connect new and experienced professionals through online and in-person means such as committees, to help address any misperceptions on both sides.

1. Establishing dialogues
between new and experienced
LIS professionals
(or, “the new profs should just get involved with
the old profs”)
Rachel Bickley
CILIP CDG New Professionals Conference, Manchester, June 20th 2011

2. Misperceptions
Expectations Difficult
economic
climate
Knowledge
of
perceptions
can help

3. New professional support
Twitter
CDG New Professional Support Officers
LIS New Professionals Network (LISNPN)
http://www.lisnpn.spruz.com

4. Experienced professionals’ perceptions of new
professionals: the positives
Word cloud created at Wordle

5. Knowledge and ability: the positives
Good
Excellent
Digital information/social media
Knowledgeable
Skills

6. Perceived weaknesses
Library school
curriculum
Time management
Subject knowledge
Practical skills
Cataloguing and
classification

7. Outside the work place
Perceptions
from
Twitter Blogs
Insightful Interesting Introspective Cliquey

8. Non-
professional
library
experience
Willingness to
Commitment
learn
Selecting
Customer
new Enthusiasm/
service skills
professionals positive attitude
for
professional
Supportive of new
IT skills
roles technologies
Leadership Problem-
potential solving

9. Why have you not selected new professionals
for professional roles?
None applied
Needed “significant experience”
We can “afford to be picky”
Too self-focused
Photo: Incase

10. What would you be looking for?
IT skills Understanding of and
interest in the wider
Communication skills profession
Willingness
Customer service skills to learn Ability to think in an
original way
Presentation skills
Ability to reflect
Self-motivation
Enthusiasm Adaptability
Ability to work in a team
Flexibility
Subject knowledge
Experience
“Librarianship basics” (not
necessarily
professional)
Transferable
skills

11. Other comments?
Difficult economic climate
What does “new professional” mean?
“The new profs should just get involved with the old profs”

12. “The new profs should
just get involved with
the old profs”

13. How can we establish dialogues?
Online

14. Face to
face

15. Committee
work
Photo: porteableantiquities

16. Whatever you can
think of…

17. Email: rachel_bickley@yahoo.co.uk
Twitter: @rachel_s_b
LISNPN: Rachel Bickley
Blog: http://rachel-s-b.blogspot.com/