8 March 2022

The IFLA Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC) section, led by Beth Kilmarx, held a webinar to discuss the latest draft of the IFLA Competency Guidelines for Rare Books and Special Collections Professionals. The one hour online session introduced the draft guidelines and then representatives from other IFLA sections were invited to respond with their thoughts on the guidelines and possible changes they would like to see to them.

I attended this webinar to gain a better understanding of the skills and competencies required of rare books and special collections professionals. As my career goals include working in this area of information organisations, I will be able to use guidelines like these to direct me in pursuing formal and informal education and professional development opportunities.

Competencies guidelines such as those provided by ACRL and ALA are helpful in providing me with an idea of the skills and competencies that I will need to work within this field, however being American associations, the competencies are more aligned with the GLAMR section in the U.S. where RBSC specialisations are part of formal education through universities. The IFLA guidelines are more international and can be better adapted for use within Australia where informal professional development is the more common way of gaining the skills needed.

Into the future I will be able to use these guidelines to help focus my professional development activities to build the competencies I need to work in this field. I will also be able to use them in the present as I conduct career planning and goal setting to determine a suitable host for my workplace placement subjects.