Task: Based on your examination of the resources above, and your own research, define what you believe to be the essential knowledge, skills, and attributes of an information professional in the digital era. Write up your definition as a post (of no more than 350 words) in your OLJ.
The digital era has augmented the essential knowledge and skills required of Library and Information Studies (LIS) professionals as the technologies used within the sector continue to rapidly evolve. As stated by both Burton (2019, p. 42) and Hamad, et al. (2021, p. 592), LIS professionals now not only need to keep up with the rapid evolution of technology for their own work, but for the benefit of service delivery to customers, including being able to provide technology assistance for customers on new platforms, devices, and technologies in which they’re interested.
While the hard skills and knowledge related to technology have evolved, the attributes required of LIS professionals has remained somewhat constant, in that the need for customer service, management, interpersonal, and strategic skills remain highly important regardless of what platforms or technologies are being utilised (Burton, 2019, p. 44). Moreover, the constant evolution of technologies actually demands that information professionals become even more adaptable in the workplace and have high levels of digital literacy that enable them to utilise rapidly evolving technologies (Burton, 2019, p. 44). As stated by Raju (2017, pp. 740, 753), this change has been reflected in job advertisements for information professionals, the majority of which now require “advanced IT skills” and put greater emphasis on the evaluation of these skills. Ultimately, the technology revolution that is occurring may be changing the “professional identity” of the librarian (Raju, 2017, p. 740), but it is vital that the profession keeps up with the demands of society, rather than maintaining professional identity at the sake of societal value.
Unfortunately, as identified by both Raju (2017, p. 745) and Attahir (2018, pp. 113-115), the courses for the education and qualification of librarians do not provide the level of digital literacy training required to ensure future librarians meet the demands of the digital era. While this is changing slowly overtime, it will require the entire LIS sector to acknowledge the blurred boundaries that are developing between the roles of librarian and IT professional, and to develop appropriate and proportionate education that trains individuals in both the requirements of librarianship as well as computer science and engineering.
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References
Attahir, I. S. (2018). Digital literacy: Survival skill for librarians in the digital era. Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, 9(4), 107-116. https://doi.org/10.4314/iijikm.v9i4.10
Black Press Media. (2017). [Photograph of a man using VR headset and controls in a library]. Langley Advance Times. https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/community/vr-comes-to-langley-library-2502450
Burton, S. (2019). Future skills for the LIS profession. Online Searcher, 43(2), 42-45. https://www.infotoday.com/OnlineSearcher/Articles/Features/Future-Skills-for-the-LIS-Profession-130296.shtml
Hamad, F., Al-Fadel, M., & Fakhouri, H. (2021). The effect of librarians’ digital skills on technology acceptance in academic libraries in Jordan. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 53(4), 589-600. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000620966644
Raju, J. (2017). Information professional or IT professional?: The knowledge and skills required by academic librarians in the digital library environment. Libraries and the Academy, 17(4), 739-757. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2017.0044
I think this is an excellent, informative, and really analytically appropriate post that raises a lot of great points about expectations vs. reality for information professionals.
It definitely seems to be hand in hand, that there is a higher degree of expectations but no higher degree of training, information, education, or time and preparation given for it, but hopefully over time this does change for the better.
Thanks for your comment! I think industries in general always tend to lag with education and training when societal needs change. But with how quickly change happens these days, it seems to be increasingly important that we analyse and act on this as soon as possible.