Librarians DO fly: strategies Librarians DO fly: strategies for staying aloftfor staying aloft

Julie ParryJulie Parry

Bath Spa UniversityBath Spa University

Skills and competencesSkills and competences

Fielden (1993)Fielden (1993)

Teaching & learningTeaching & learning New technology & New technology &

information systemsinformation systems Customer serviceCustomer service Management skillsManagement skills

Heery & Morgan (1996)Heery & Morgan (1996)

Teaching & trainingTeaching & training IT-related skillsIT-related skills Credibility with Credibility with

academic staffacademic staff Management skillsManagement skills

Skills and competencesSkills and competences

Feret & Marcinek (1999)Feret & Marcinek (1999)

Communication/training skillsCommunication/training skills IT skillsIT skills Managerial skillsManagerial skills CommitmentCommitment

Current competence requirementsCurrent competence requirements Information literacyInformation literacy Developing electronic servicesDeveloping electronic services Liaising with stakeholdersLiaising with stakeholders Customer serviceCustomer service Understanding of the higher education Understanding of the higher education

environmentenvironment IT skillsIT skillsAlsoAlso Experience of online sources/information retrievalExperience of online sources/information retrieval Awareness of legislationAwareness of legislation Web developmentWeb development

Themes for the futureThemes for the future

Personalisation of servicesPersonalisation of services Collaboration (physical and virtual facilities)Collaboration (physical and virtual facilities) Flexible use of spaceFlexible use of space Management and skillsManagement and skills

The academic cybrarian in 2012The academic cybrarian in 2012

““Each information Each information

cluster is containedcluster is contained

within a transparentwithin a transparent

shimmering wall ofshimmering wall of

digits [known as] digits [known as]

Curtain SilencerCurtain Silencer

Software”Software”

Saltire Centre, GlasgowSaltire Centre, Glasgow

Photographed by John WilsherPhotographed by John Wilsher

Skills for the futureSkills for the future

IT skillsIT skills

Management skillsManagement skills

CommunicationCommunication

Learning and teachingLearning and teaching

MSc in Information & Library MSc in Information & Library ManagementManagement

Core module (Organising Core module (Organising information) includes:information) includes:

Hybrid librariesHybrid libraries IntranetsIntranets Knowledge managementKnowledge management

Advanced skills include:Advanced skills include: Internet standardsInternet standards Metadata schemasMetadata schemas

Not taught:Not taught: Teaching skills Teaching skills

CataloguingCataloguing ClassificationClassification

Optional:Optional:

RecruitmentRecruitment

A clear understanding of the current and A clear understanding of the current and future skills required for the postfuture skills required for the post

Performance managementPerformance management

To achieve results staff need to have:To achieve results staff need to have: Agreed objectivesAgreed objectives Adequate resources (time, equipment etc.)Adequate resources (time, equipment etc.) Requisite skillsRequisite skills Performance management system Performance management system

(such as appraisal)(such as appraisal)

Staff development and trainingStaff development and training

Individual employee levelIndividual employee level Organisational levelOrganisational level Regional levelRegional level Sectoral levelSectoral level

The academic librarian…The academic librarian…

……like the phoenix “flies far ahead to the like the phoenix “flies far ahead to the front, always scanning the landscape and front, always scanning the landscape and distant space. It represents our capacity distant space. It represents our capacity for vision, for collecting sensory for vision, for collecting sensory information about our environment and the information about our environment and the events unfolding within it. The phoenix, events unfolding within it. The phoenix, with its great beauty, creates intense with its great beauty, creates intense excitement and deathless inspiration”.excitement and deathless inspiration”.