Module 3 OLJ Task: Define what you believe to be the essential knowledge, skills and attributes of an information professional in a Web 2.0 world.
Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 encourage the information
profession to find new ways to connect with their clients - both existing and
prospective individuals and user groups.
Peltier-Davis (2009)
described Web 2.0 as: the read/write web, where users
are both consumers and producers of online content; an interactive two-way web;
a place where everyday folks with internet access can create and edit stuff. However, Laura Cohen (2006) focuses on the attitude or ethos that
a successful librarian in the 2.0 world must possess, who acted actively and
positively to respond to the rapid changes in social trends with Web 2.0.
Maness (2006) defines “Library 2.0 as the application of interactive, collaborative and multi-media
web-based technologies to web-based library services and collections.” The implementation
of Web 2.0 applications require the libraries to be "skilled and
passionate to re-create libraries' mission". Library 2.0 makes collections
and services more interactive and user-centered and user-driven. Whereas, Library 2.0 is
a mashup of hybrid applications i.e. blogs, wikis, streaming media, content
aggregators, instant messaging, and social networks that combine the
traditional library services and innovative Web 2.0 services.
Librarian 2.0 might act as a facilitator and provide support on the trend of library
2.0 on the use of Web 2.0 technologies and applications, also extend themselves
and empowering library users (Maness, 2006). Harvey (2009) and Abram
(2005), they all described the uses of technology in Web 2.0 while Abram
discussed his ideas of Librarian 2.0 with tools and technologies that connect
with users and satisfy their needs.
Partidge & Munro
(2010) sum-up opinions from Cohen (2006), Peltier-Davis (2009), Michael Saint-Onge
(2009), King (2007) and Cullen(2008), Librarian 2.0 should have the skills,
knowledge, and attributes of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals
in Web 2.0 World. I believe that librarians must have both soft skill and hard skill of LIS professional
knowledge otherwise, they may perform like a robot to execute command only.
There
are 8 key issues related to Librarian 2.0 are discussed in Partidge & Munro’s
study:
-
Technology:
librarians have to know technology and use it to collaborate with their users.
-
Learning
and education: librarians are willing to learn, share knowledge others, and educate the followers.
-
Research or
evidence based practice: it is essential for the 2.0 Librarian to experiments.
-
User focus:
library for users and satisfy user’s needs
-
Communication: librarians have good communication in both written and oral
communication is essential.
-
Collaboration
and teamwork: librarian should be a good team player and leader.
-
Business
savvy: librarian should have good project management
skills that enable to manage change, adopt
change, and act as driver of change.
- To become a successful
Librarian who should have below personal traits:
- Enthusiastic and inspirational
- Vision, spark and creativity
- Leadership skills i.e. lead, motivate,
adaptable, flexible, persistent etc.
- Proactive and willing to take risks
- Willing to break rules and
to deal with ambiguity
References:
Abram, S. (2008). Social libraries – Web
2.0, library 2.0 and librarian 2.0: Preparing for the 2.0 world. Library
Resources and Technical Services, 2(2). 19-22.
Harvey, M. (2009). What does it mean to be a Science Librarian
2.0? Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, (Summer).
DOI:10.5062/F4M906KW
Maness, J.M., (2006). Library 2.0 theory:
Web 2.0 and its implications for libraries. Webology,
3(2)
Retrieved from: http://www.webology.org/2006/v3n2/a25.html
Peltier-Davis, C. (2009), Web 2.0. library
2.0, library user 2.0, librarian 2.0: innovative services for sustainable
libraries, Computers in Libraries, 29(10),
16-21.
