Sarah Nolan

Last week there was a lot of discussion concerning the future of information professionals and librarians.  Concerns of de-professionalization of information skills, wariness in user-contributed content and technological determinism are prevalent in current conversations in our field.  With all the new technology out there, more people have access to and ability to put information out there, even if that information may be incorrect.  When faced with the question of our purpose, why do we need information professionals?, why do you need a MLIS degree to be a librarian? – I think we should go back to the competencies and goals of our profession for answers.  To me, the important issues are less about what we have to lose and more about what we have to offer that no one else can.

While information access is easier to obtain, it means that information professionals are needed more than ever.  We can get the right information for people.   While more people are able to get at information, less people are able to come to understanding and knowledge.  The goal of an information professional is not to gather information, but rather to obtain knowledge and be able to impart understanding to others.  Guiding users to paths where they will learn should be the main focus of librarianship and other information professionals.  What is the point of a cacophony of information if you don’t understand anything you read or can’t take anything from it?  The amount of information shouldn’t be the concern, getting at what is really needed is key.

Various organizations try to encapsulate this via core competencies for our profession.  The Music Librarians note that this concept arose around the 1990s, and that competencies are goals, not minimum standards.  They also address a certain level of expectations that we as information professionals carry and strive to meet for our users.  Some of these that stick with me are the need for flexibility, knowing the client groups and their needs, providing easy independent access to information, enabling lifelong learning for all.  The SLA maintains that the two most important competencies are developing & sharing your knowledge, being a source yourself to others, as well as promoting the values and ethics of the profession.  I feel that this calls us to a very high expectation, one that I will continually try to meet in my own professional career. I think that when you focus on the goals of your profession, the fears associated with it are less important, and thus enables you to better accomplish your job.