“Darwin and Librarians” or Adapt or die: the current and future roles of information professionals

1. “Darwin and Librarians”orAdapt or die: the current and future roles of information professionals Sheila Cannell Director of Library Services University of Edinburgh

2. Charles Robert Darwin (12 February1809 – 19 April1882) was an Englishnaturalist who achieved lasting fame by producing considerable evidence that species originated through evolutionary change, at the same time proposing the scientific theory that natural selection is the mechanism by which such change occurs. This theory is now considered a cornerstone of biology. Sharing vision, planning practice

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4. Could librarians face extinction? Sharing vision, planning practice

5. Search and browse 4,500 news sources updated continuously Stand on the shoulders of giants Search the full text of books and discover new ones The most comprehensive image search on the web The web organized by topic into categories Ask a question. Set your price. Get your answer. Sharing vision, planning practice

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7. LibraryThing Sharing vision, planning practice

8. Changing information behaviours and perceptions…satisficing……we are all librarians now…

9. Is the Internet our meteorite? • Are we dinosaurs or mammals? • Do our users want us to adapt? • Do we want to adapt? Sharing vision, planning practice

10. Are we: • Cordwainers and fletchers (extinction) or • Candlemakers and sailmakers? (niche) or • Brewers (redefinition & adaptation) Sharing vision, planning practice

11. What are the strengths and weaknesses we bring to the current environment? Sharing vision, planning practice

12. Strengths: our USP • We have collections • We understand information resources • We procure information • We arrange information • We provide navigation tools • We have Quality • We have personalities • We have a strong brand • We are trusted Sharing vision, planning practice

13. Weaknesses Users are getting ahead of us: • Users adapt to change faster than we do • “Users are all librarians now” • Users don’t come to us • The “Library” is disappearing in the virtual environment Sharing vision, planning practice

14. Weaknesses As a profession: • We have failed to capitalise on the brand • We have failed to manage resources on the Internet • We are obsessed with control • What we do is “sticking plaster” Sharing vision, planning practice

15. How can we adapt? 2 options: • The candlemaker approach • The brewer approach Sharing vision, planning practice

16. Creating a niche • Quality of our work • Quality of our interactions with users • Quality of what we procure, organise Sharing vision, planning practice

17. Redefinition, transformation • Radical evolutionary approach • Transform our understanding of our users • Establish our core competences • Redefine ourselves • Move out of comfort zone • Find new ways of working • Embed ourselves with the users • Let the “Library” disappear? Sharing vision, planning practice

18. Some of my answers • Move the library to the users’ space • Virtual learning and research environments • Web 2.0 Sharing vision, planning practice

19. Second Life Sharing vision, planning practice

20. Some of my answers • Move the library to the users’ space • Provide an easy to navigate trusted digital environment Sharing vision, planning practice

21. Full-text articles onlyInclude Edinburgh University Library Catalogue In Search Full-text articles onlyInclude Edinburgh University Library Catalogue In Search Full-text articles onlyInclude Edinburgh University Library Catalogue In Search                  From: To: All dates            Year range  Publication date: All dates            Year range                  From: To:                  From: To:  Publication date: All dates            Year range  Publication date: Select A Subject: Select A Subject: Select A Subject: Search    Search    Search       Clear   A |B |C |D |E |F |G |H |I |J |K |L |M |N |O |P |Q |R |S |T |U |V |W |X |Y |ZList of resources in alphabetical order    Clear   A |B |C |D |E |F |G |H |I |J |K |L |M |N |O |P |Q |R |S |T |U |V |W |X |Y |ZList of resources in alphabetical order    Clear   A |B |C |D |E |F |G |H |I |J |K |L |M |N |O |P |Q |R |S |T |U |V |W |X |Y |ZList of resources in alphabetical order Select your subject to find relevant library resources, then press search Select any database(s) below, enter your search terms and click search. Search by subject (above) if you are not sure what database to choose. Select any database(s) below, enter your search terms and click search. Search by subject (above) if you are not sure what database to choose. Select your subject to find relevant library resources, then press search Select any database(s) below, enter your search terms and click search. Search by subject (above) if you are not sure what database to choose. Select your subject to find relevant library resources, then press search Sharing vision, planning practice

22. Some of my answers • Move the library to the users’ space • Provide an easy to navigate trusted digital environment • Use (exploit) our collections Sharing vision, planning practice

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25. Some of my answers • Move the library to the users’ space • Provide an easy to navigate trusted digital environment • Use (exploit) our collections • Curate the intellectual output of the University Sharing vision, planning practice

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27. Some of my answers • Move the library to the users’ space • Provide an easy to navigate trusted digital environment • Use (exploit) our collections • Support learning and research • Curate the intellectual output of the University • Transform the library space Sharing vision, planning practice

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29. Some of my answers • Move the library to the users’ space • Provide an easy to navigate trusted digital environment • Use (exploit) our collections • Curate the intellectual output of the University • Support learning and research • Transform the library space • Information literacy • Measure the impact • Ensure the funders understand Sharing vision, planning practice

30. What does this mean for us as librarians • Be proactive—do stuff in your environment • Collaborate • With users • With other professions • With each other • Think about new entrants to the profession and leadership • Listen to users, think and reflect all the time Sharing vision, planning practice

31. Darwin and librarians • Librarians helped Darwin make a revolution in our understanding of evolution • Librarians curate evidence of Darwin’s contribution to society • Librarians allow others to understand and build on Darwin’s work • Are we librarians now capable of radical evolution? Sharing vision, planning practice

32. Discussion Sharing vision, planning practice