CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIESBy

Margaret Simeng

UNIMAS

Margaret Simeng

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

Margaret Simeng

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 institution’s print media.”

Ralph A. WolfMargaret Simeng

Are Libraries and Librarians Still

RELEVANT?

Margaret Simeng

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

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

LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE …

ContSERVICE• 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

LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE- …

ContSUBSIDY

• Equitable access to information

• Funding support from various sources

• Focus on partnerships for grant preparation, program planning and demonstration projects

Margaret Simeng

Are We Ready To Change?

Are We Keeping Pace With Change?

WHY?Margaret Simeng

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

CHALLENGES FACING THE LIBRARIANS

1. Content-centered to Learner-centered

2. One-time Learning to Life-long learning

3. Industrial age mindset to Information age mindset

4. Online access

5. Individual Learning to Collaborative learning

6. Competition

7. Changing & Turbulent Environment

8. Rapidly Changing TechnologyMargaret Simeng

CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIANS…Cont

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

WHO ARE AFFECTED ?

• Librarians

• Paraprofessionals and

• Other support staff

Margaret Simeng

COMPETENCIES OF LIBRARIANS?

Why?

Margaret Simeng

Competencies expected OF LIBRARIANS…Cont

• 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

Competencies expected OF LIBRARIANS…Cont

• 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

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 ListenerMargaret Simeng

Do We Have the Competencies

Expected of Us??

Margaret Simeng

Are skills sufficient for current needs?

Margaret SimengACU Libraries & Info Network Survey 2008

Keeping Pace With Change

Margaret SimengACU Libraries & Info Network Survey 2008

Are Librarians Still RELEVANT??

Margaret Simeng

Librarians : Still Relevant???

Margaret Simeng

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

Pro-Active vs Re-Active??

Margaret Simeng

Pro-Active Librarian

Margaret Simeng

• 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)

What Should We Do??Key Strategic Areas

• Skills & Expertise of Human Capital

• Knowledge Resources

• Services

• Smart Partnerships

• Physical Environment

• Quality Management

Margaret Simeng

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

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

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 LibraryMargaret Simeng

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

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

Factors Influencing Success, Relative Importance

Margaret SimengACU Libraries & Info Network Survey 2008

In Short What Should We Do??

Be Creative & Innovate

Margaret Simeng

Thank You

Margaret Simeng