Date: Sun, 09 Jun 2002 08:58:32 +0200
From: Cecilia Harel (Univ. of Haifa)
harel_at_univ.haifa.ac.il
Subject: Re: Experience needed to be an Acquisitions Librarian
Dear Michelle,
I am currently Head of Foreign Acquisitions and Collection Development
in a medium-sized academic library, a post I have held for the past 10
years.
Prior to working in acquisitions I was an academic reference librarian
for 15 years, an online information searcher for a private information
broker for one year, and before that a cataloger and classifier in a state
government library for nearly 3 years. I mention this only to point out
that performing one kind of task in a library should not be considered an
obstacle or limitation to moving on to other and varied tasks. I have
always felt that the variety in my background has enriched and improved the
service I am able to give and perform in each of the positions I have held.
Your question is particularly pertinent, as I am head of a team in our
library currently investigating the future development and role of
library and information services and the skills and competencies required
for
librarians to fill these roles. Through an extensive literature search
and survey of professionals in the field, and to summarize in brief, we have
found that the following competencies are considered important for an
information professional, with varying degrees of emphasis depending on
the role/task performed:
1. Leadership/Management Skills:
· Management skills
· Project management skills
2. Instruction/Education Skills:
· Teaching and training skills "Able to train users to search and
retrieve information"; "Teacher and enabler"
· Sharing knowledge skills
· Educator - provider of information literacy
3. Learning Skills:
· Life-long learning
· "Continuous learning for users and staff "
· "Technical professionals have to almost constantly engage in
updating their knowledge and skills, otherwise they are bound to be
rendered obsolete" (Continuing education).
· Gaining academic qualifications - furthering formal education,
Master, Doctorate etc.
4. Social and Personal Skills:
· Team-working skills
· Very good interpersonal and communication skills
· Language proficiency
· User friendliness and customer orientation
· Confidence and self-value
5. Computer/Technological Skills:
· Creator of personalized information on demand
· Evaluator of information resources
· Creator and utilizer of information resources found for E-learning
and distance education courses
· Editor of web pages
· IT manager
· Creator and maintainer of various Internet resources
· Maintainer and preserver of electronic resources
· Creator and maintainer of hybrid libraries and clumps
· Creator and maintainer of subject gateways
· Expert on rules of access
· Interface Designer
· Technician
6. Reference Skills:
· Traditional reference skills such as filtering or sifting
information and critical appraisal of items located
· Subject knowledge of at least one area of teaching and research
· Facilitator
· Connector between disparate pieces of information
· Search intermediary
· Researcher
7. Business Skills:
· Understanding of business environment
· Recognition of the importance of personalization/customization of
information
· Ability to deliver information in any format desired by the client
· Anticipator of customer information needs
· Developer of partnerships
8. Traditional Skills with New Applications:
· Cataloger/Indexer of metadata of web and Intranet resources
· Evaluator of the quality of electronic information and information
sources
· Organizer of electronic information for use
· Customizer of electronic information and resources
· Provide gateway to future and to past
· Organizers of networked resources
· Individual information consultant
9. Legal Skills:
· Copyright expert
· Advocator for information policy development
· Negotiator of licensing agreements
10. Other Characteristics and Skills:
· Adaptability - ability to cope with constant change
· Creativity, ingenuity and lateral thinking
· Willingness to take risks
· Self-starters
· Change manager
· Sense of humor
· Human touch
The field of library and information science is so dynamic these days
due to rapid technological development and changing needs and expectations
of
users. As long as you are committed to lifelong learning and are not
afraid to try different tasks, your personal development and satisfaction,
and
the users you serve, will be all the richer for it. I hope there are enough
open-minded library and information managers out there who will give you
the chance.
Good luck!
Regards,
Cecilia
_______________________________________________________
Cecilia Harel
Acquisitions Librarian
University of Haifa Library - Acquisitions Department
Haifa, Israel 31905
email: harel_at_univ.haifa.ac.il
tel: +972-4-8249324 fax: +972-4-8249170
Received on Mon Jun 10 2002 - 17:24:33 EDT