CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIES

1. CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIES By Margaret Simeng UNIMAS Margaret Simeng

2. CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIES “ Events within and outside higher education are changing our fundamental conceptions of the library as well as the very nature of the content and methodologies of learning sponsored by the institution. These changes could catapult the library into a central role within the teaching/learning enterprise if appropriate adaptations are made; if not they could further remove the library from the institutional center” -Ralph A. Wolf, Executive Director Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges & Univ.Western Assoc. of Schools & Colleges Margaret Simeng

3. CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIES “Forging faculty/librarian partnerships will require new roles for librarians and a level of leadership and initiative that has not traditionally been asserted or recognised within the institution beyond the orb of the library itself. Librarians will need to become and be seen by members of the faculty and administration as educational leaders and innovators, and not just as custodians of the institution’s print media.” Ralph A. Wolf Margaret Simeng

4. Are Libraries and Librarians Still RELEVANT? Margaret Simeng

5. LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE According to the Consortium for Educational Technology for University Systems (C.E.T.U.S.), libraries of the future will offer: STRUCTURE • Carefully selected and well- organised collections in all formats • Networked electronic information resources Margaret Simeng

6. LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE …….Cont • Materials for self-paced learning • Programs that support new ways of teaching and delivering information resources • A commitment to preservation and access for print, electronic and other formats • An infrastructure that supports instruction of all types of users in meeting their information needs Margaret Simeng

7. LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE …Cont SERVICE • Creative and flexible approaches that focus on services • Skilled staff • Librarians who participate actively in the teaching and learning activities of the university • Collaborative relationships in both public and private settings, both local and international Margaret Simeng

8. LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE- …Cont SUBSIDY • Equitable access to information • Funding support from various sources • Focus on partnerships for grant preparation, program planning and demonstration projects Margaret Simeng

9. Are We Ready To Change?Are We Keeping Pace With Change?WHY? Margaret Simeng

10. Paradigm shift in Library Work Before Present Preservation of Document - Use of Document Store house of Document -24x7 Service Center Process Oriented Service -User Oriented Service Limited Service -Broad Service Reactive Service Provider -Proactive Service Provider Information Gatherer -Information Analyst Individual Work -Team Work Traditional Library -The Learning Center Case Study-Indian Institute of Management Indore(IIMI) Margaret Simeng

11. CHALLENGES FACING THE LIBRARIANS • Content-centered to Learner-centered • One-time Learning to Life-long learning • Industrial age mindset to Information age mindset • Online access • Individual Learning to Collaborative learning • Competition • Changing & Turbulent Environment • Rapidly Changing Technology Margaret Simeng

12. CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIANS…Cont • Creator/Disseminator • Educator • Expert/Advocate/Advisor • Collaborator • Information Literate • Life Long Learner • Innovator • Communicator • Negotiator • Information Specialist • Information Marketer Margaret Simeng

13. WHO ARE AFFECTED ? • Librarians • Paraprofessionals and • Other support staff Margaret Simeng

14. COMPETENCIES OF LIBRARIANS?Why? Margaret Simeng

15. Competencies expected OF LIBRARIANS…Cont • Traditional Librarianship Skills • Value-adding Skills • IT Skills • Transferable & Soft Skills • Entrepreneurship • Appropriate Attitudes , Values & Personal Traits • Domain Knowledge( Subject Knowledge) AP Dr Christopher Soo-Guan Khoo: Competencies for new era Librarians & Information Professionals Margaret Simeng

16. Competencies expected OF LIBRARIANS…Cont • Traditional Librarianship Skills • Information Management • IT-related Skills • Communication Skills • Social/Community Skills • Transferable/generic Skills • Attitudes & Personal Traits • Domain Knowledge( Subject Knowledge) • Management & Leadership • Entrepreneurship Lib & Info Science Abstracts (LISA) 2000-2004 Margaret Simeng

17. COMPETENCIES EXPECTED Motivating Ability Effective Communication Negotiating Ability Team Work Information Literacy Analytical & Evaluative Creative Cooperation Skills Presentation & Teaching Skills Knowledge Management Technical/IT Skills Consultation/Collaboration Commitment to Service Management Technique Conceptual Marketing Ability Good Listener Margaret Simeng

18. Do We Have the Competencies Expected of Us?? Margaret Simeng

19. Are skills sufficient for current needs? Margaret Simeng ACU Libraries & Info Network Survey 2008

20. Keeping Pace With Change Margaret Simeng ACU Libraries & Info Network Survey 2008

21. Are Librarians Still RELEVANT?? Margaret Simeng

22. Librarians : Still Relevant??? To remain relevant, we need to: • Be open nimble, participative, responsive & user-centric • Learn to learn & adapt to change • Cooperate : share ideas, experience & innovations • Dare to change years long practice Dr Sohair F. Wastawy Chief Librarian, Bibliotheca Alexandrina Margaret Simeng

23. Pro-Active vs Re-Active?? Margaret Simeng

24. Pro-Active Librarian • Learns the users’ language • Understands their concerns • Is part of the team • Offers solutions before they are requested • Is the acknowledged expert in handling information • Believes in libraries as agent of civilisation & progress Peter Brophy (2007) Margaret Simeng

25. What Should We Do?? Key Strategic Areas • Skills & Expertise of Human Capital • Knowledge Resources • Services • Smart Partnerships • Physical Environment • Quality Management Margaret Simeng

26. What Should We Do?? Market research • Identify specific research areas of user-library interaction and relations • Conduct and review users' feedback and satisfaction surveys • Monitor users' perception of the Library Margaret Simeng

27. What Should We Do??…Cont Marketing Programs • Develop marketing plans for new and existing library resources and services • Manage promotional programs to enhance the image of the Library and encourage its use to enhance the image of the Library and encourage its use Margaret Simeng

28. What Should We Do??…Cont Creating awareness • Develop publicity and promotional programmes to create awareness of library services and resources and to sustain users' interest over time • Coordinate and manage library exhibition events • Host professional visitors of the Library Margaret Simeng

29. What Should We Do??…Cont User relations • Establish and manage feedback channels • Coordinate networking with student organizations, faculties and external professional bodies • Coordinate outreach programmes to the University alumni and friends of the Library • Form smart partnerships with Centres of Excellence Margaret Simeng

30. What Should We Do??…Cont Publicity materials • Develop a range of library publicity materials and marketing collaterals • Manage the production of bulletins/newsletters to update users on the library resources and services Margaret Simeng

31. Factors Influencing Success, Relative Importance Margaret Simeng ACU Libraries & Info Network Survey 2008

32. In Short What Should We Do?? Be Creative & Innovate Margaret Simeng

33. Thank You Margaret Simeng