A presentation discussing varying factors that can produce an excellent library service.The slides were delivered as a presentation on 29.6.11.

1. What Constitutes Excellence In The Library Profession? Samuel Wiggins

2. There are two parts to every library: library materials and library personnel To make a library service effective, the two are dependent on each other

3. You can have lots of stock

4. with some of the latest technology

5. and a fantastic building

6. but without good staff, how would users find their way through all that information?

7. Similarly, an information professional without adequate materials can find themselves restricted

8. The professional and their materials need to work together

9. Therefore... to achieve library service excellence, the information professional must work their resources hard to fill in the blanks for the user But how?

10. Be proud of what we do!

11. We need to speak up for ourselves...

12. A good information professional will make use of their many skills

13. Cataloguing...

14. Training...

15. A keen attention to detail combined with strong search skills...

16. and be up to date with all the latest technology

17. BUT underpinning these attributes and putting them into practice are... PEOPLE SKILLS

18. What did the LIS profession think? One simple question 305 Respondents Sent out via JISC’s LIS-LINK and Twitter

19. Please select the skill that you feel is the most important for completing your day to day work

20. This is simplified – just a snap-shot to gain a broad overview and invite discussion. A more detailed survey would aim to demonstrate how all these aspects are intertwined and build upon each other An appreciation of the need for a unique, individual tailored approach to every user and their query

22. Failure to cater for higher level managerial responsibilities

23. Failure to include an option for budgetary/financial responsibilities

25. Serves as a talking point and starts conversations

27. Your work within your job role Your work within the profession

28. There are a lot of other information services out there and excellence is comparative. There is no room for complacency.

29. Photo Credits(all photos from Flickr Creative Commons, except where stated otherwise) Rare Books by Amelia-Jane: http://www.flickr.com/photos/meeli/2854849909/ Nile Floodplain Limits by Andrew Griffith: http://www.flickr.com/photos/waldenpond/4241812718/ Kumeu Library to desk by rodneylibraries: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rodneylibraries/2563260405 iPad by YaganKiely: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yagankiely/4647065335/ Seattle Public Library Comp by Arizona Parrot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/azparrot/2381615849/ 3D Character and question mark by SMJJP: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29890539@N07/4648496819/ Handcuffs Vector Image by Vectorportal: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vectorportal/5154361330/ Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphaguserythrorhynchus) by Lip Kee: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lipkee/543929344/ Juggle by Ed.ward: http://www.flickr.com/photos/king-edward/5478665075/ Untitled by NothingGetsCrossedOut: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48280273@N07/4491289981/ Frenzied Finance by dfulmer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annarbor/4349874915/ Running High by fabbio: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabiovenni/509177860 Magnified Dollar by Brooks Elliott: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8011986@N02/3059374021/ Laptop Keyboard by DeclanTM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/declanjewell/517966692/ Drawing Pin by net_efekt: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatfields/3798035262 Chuggers 2 by Ronnie MacDonald: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronmacphotos/5797729770 Red Blue and Yellow Branch Intertwined by IvanWalsh.com: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanwalsh/5401383937/ Sign Under Repair: Personal Photograph Old Key Chain in the Shape of a Small Earth Globe by HoriaVarlan: http://www.flickr.com/photos/horiavarlan/4270078348/ Question Mark in Ejsberg by alexanderdrachman: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drachmann/32712230

30. Twitter: @LibWig Blog: Libwig.wordpress.com