Proactive librarianship

Learning objectives• On completion of this unit, participants will

have:– Reviewed the key concepts of proactive

librarianship– Be able to explain how these concepts relate to

online information services and training– Have reviewed a range of case studies

demonstrating proactive librarianship in practice– Identified key aspects of proactive librarianship

that are relevant to their work place– Identified key approaches and techniques for use

in their work place and role

Note…• We’re not all librarians• May not all share the same interest in issues

of proactive librarianship• But• We should look at these issues to see what is

of use in our individual context• Consider the issues raised as professional

approaches or techniques• Identify how they might be relevant in our

individual work place and role

Another note…

• Proactive librarianship (PL) is not a universally popular term in the library community

• Ideally, it is fully integrated into librarianship and not something that is an additional characteristic or element of the library service

• Reality vs. ideally

What do we mean by PL?• A user-centred approach to the librarian's role• User needs rather than resources are

paramount– Users then resources NOT resources then users

• Services and activities• But mainly a cultural, professional, ideological

approach that is ingrained in all aspects of a library’s business

Lets review some examples…

Exercise 1: pre-workshop task

• Group work looking at pre-workshop reading:– A proactive university library in the

Brazilian context– Learning outcomes and information

literacy, SCONUL

Questions being considered• How relevant to your library and working environment are the

issues presented in each document?• What library culture, behaviour or attitudes are important in each

case presented?• What skills, knowledge and resources are important in each

case presented?• Are there any particularly interesting or relevant ideas that

caught your attention when reading these documents?• Are there things presented in these documents that you already

practice in your library or working environment? What experiences in this regard may be of interest to other master trainers?

• Are there things presented in these documents that you would like to practise or see more integrated into you library or working environment?

Completion of the assignment• What library culture, behaviour or attitudes

are important in each case presented?– Culture– Behaviour– Attitudes

• What skills, knowledge and resources are important in each case presented?

• Are there any particularly interesting or relevant ideas that caught your attention when reading these documents?

• Remaining questions for later consideration

Exercise 2: group work

• Group work to review case studies:– Progressive University, Kenya– University of Interesting Ideas, Pakistan– University of Lots of Training, Latin

America– Integrated University, United Kingdom

Questions to consider• What could be considered proactive about the

services or activities presented in the case study?• What were the characteristics of the services or

activities presented that could be transferred to other services or activities?

• What did the library or librarians need to do to make the services or activities presented successful?

• What similar services, activities and approaches covered are currently being used in your institution and library?

• What services, activities and approaches might be transferable to your institution and library?

Changes or features of…

• Behaviour

• Services

• Working culture

• Skills

• Confidence

• How we do our jobs

Considerations and recommendations

• What aspects of proactive librarianship reviewed are most relevant to our workplaces?

• What approaches would we recommend for implementation in our institutions?

Why is this relevant here?• Online information resources are accessible from

anywhere– So what role does the library have?

• Common misconception about the role played by the library in this area

• Librarians are essential in getting online information resources used effectively

• Barriers to delivery of library services of high value in this area– People do not need to come to the library to access information– Most Internet users consider themselves experts– Isn’t Google all I need to know?– Librarians as trainers, advocates, promoters, faculty liaison, agents

of change

Thank youAny questions?