21ST CENTURY LIBRARIAN

  2^nd July, 2013

Sarahdele3@gmail.com                                                                                 

21^ST CENTURY LIBRARIAN

BY

SARAH OZUEM

 

A 21st century Librarian is one who is conversant with the trends of Information and Communication Technologies in its application and usage in library practices. They are responsible for acquiring and managing ICT facilities that can be used in improving library services. The work of the 21st century librarian continues to be grounded on a solid foundation of professional practice. The development of Information and Communication Technology over the years has witnessed rapid growth and librarians as an information expertise need to be acquainted with such development as they serve as gateway to knowledge. As opined by CARL, (2010), "the 21st Century librarian are expected to be technologically-savvy". They are expected to thrive in the digital environment, actively engaged in the exploration and implementation of new technologies in their libraries, implementing a variety of web-based projects, initiatives and infrastructures, they also need to preserve, extend, and facilitate access to information and knowledge comprising humankind's cultural, scientific and intellectual heritage.

Librarians need to be comfortable with changing technologies, interacting with users outside of the library space, and honing their negotiation, public speaking and presentation skills. “Just in Time” has replaced “Just in Case” in acquisitions, collection support and readers’ services. The library is a portal to services, collections and information; Librarians should aid the archival function and data preservation, these functions require the ability and willingness to develop both private and public partnerships. Librarians need to participate in the legislative process. Librarians need to understand the research process and expand the subject knowledge for liaison subject librarians. Furthermore, Librarians need to be visible and proactive; they need to engage in institutional politics. Respecting institutional traditions, librarians need to bring vitality a new perspective to the institutional life. The library needs to be known as centre of excellence distinguished by high quality, productivity and innovation.

Librarians in the 21st Century should have a strong understanding of the principles of information literacy in the library environs, including numerical and data literacy. They should have knowledge of the principles and techniques of effective reference service that provides access to relevant and reliable information, to effectively interact with users in order to determine information needs and when that need has been satisfied, knowledge of learning models and strategies as well as relevant teaching pedagogy and models for the library environs. Librarians should be knowledgeable of, and commit to, on-going research and professional development in contributing to writing, editing, reviewing of books, articles or reports, contribution through presentations to professional or scholarly associations, active participation in professional associations which may include holding executive office or serving on committees, ability to stay abreast of research in a specific area to support a research agenda or to support other work as a librarian within the library, knowledge of the fundamentals of qualitative and quantitative research methods including the research process.

Librarians in the 21st Century should have strong knowledge and capability in the basic structure, content and use of an Integrated library system (ILS), trends in web development including online social networking tools such as: (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Skype etc...), understanding of principles of web page design and maintenance, knowledge of the structure of Learning Management system (LMS), repositories, and how databases are designed and structured for convenient data and/or information retrieval.

CONCLUSION

As a Librarian in the 21st Century there is need for constant development, enriching personal skills, involve in continuous research, associate with librarians in other countries, visits other libraries, participates in professional associations, ensure to use ICT facilities, attend training workshops, read extensively, and above all try to keep a follow-up of trends in Information and Communication Technologies.