ACADEMIC LIBRARIANS

OR?

Brian E. C. SchottlaenderUniversity Librarian

University of California, San Diego

ALDP 2007 ConferenceChinese University of Hong Kong

Thoughts on Identity, with Deductive Corroboration

OVERVIEW

My Charge Brief Environmental Scan Four Dimensions of Identity Skills

Personal Organizational Business Functional/Technical

Behaviors Values UCSD Libraries Professional

Recruitments, 2005–2007: Analysis

ALDP 2007

PREMISE “A library service and its future are

only as assured as the people offering that service.”

QUESTION “What kind of staff will be needed to

offer the services our communities will find indispensable and fundamental for their teaching and research?”

“There are diverse and unmet needs …

… now arising within the academy … To the extent that libraries and their leaders can reposition themselves to serve these evolving needs—which pertain in part to the centralized storage, description, and delivery of academic resources, and in part to the organization and support of scholarly communication within and across higher education institutions—libraries [and academic librarians] will emerge as even more central and vibrant resources for their institutions.”

— “Changing Roles of Academic and Research Libraries”

ACRL Tech Summit (November 2006)  

Forecast: Cloudy

e-Everything Data LearningResearch Big Science Open accessSpace

Mass digitization Integration Interroperation

Personalization Budget pressureControl systems Services Stewardship

Information Google TeachingFundraising Collections

CompetitionAccess Preservation Collaboration

Top Ten Assumptions for the Future of Academic Libraries per ACRL

1. There will be an increased emphasis on digitizing collections, preserving digital archives, and improving methods of data storage and retrieval.

2. The skill set for librarians will continue to evolve in response to the needs and expectations of the changing populations (student and faculty) that they serve.

3. Students and faculty will increasingly demand faster and greater access to services.

4. Debates about intellectual property will become increasingly common in higher education.

5. The demand for technology related services will grow and require additional funding.

6. Higher education will increasingly view the institution as a business.7. Students will increasingly view themselves as customers and

consumers, expecting high quality facilities and services.8. Distance learning will be an increasingly common option in higher

education and will co-exist but not threaten the traditional bricks-and-mortar model.

9. Free, public access to information stemming from publicly funded research will continue to grow.

10.Privacy will continue to be an important issue in librarianship.<http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/march2007/acrlfl07.htm>

Top Ten Assumptions for the Future of Academic Libraries per ACRL

1. There will be an increased emphasis on digitizing collections, preserving digital archives, and improving methods of data storage and retrieval.

2. The skill set for librarians will continue to evolve in response to the needs and expectations of the changing populations (student and faculty) that they serve.

3. Students and faculty will increasingly demand faster and greater access to services.

4. Debates about intellectual property will become increasingly common in higher education.

5. The demand for technology related services will grow and require additional funding.

6. Higher education will increasingly view the institution as a business.7. Students will increasingly view themselves as customers and consumers,

expecting high quality facilities and services.8. Distance learning will be an increasingly common option in higher education

and will co-exist but not threaten the traditional bricks-and-mortar model.9. Free, public access to information stemming from publicly funded

research will continue to grow.10.Privacy will continue to be an important issue in librarianship.

<http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/march2007/acrlfl07.htm>

“Today’s library staff …

… must include people who see themselves as active contenders in a race for relevance, regard, and resources. Some of its members must have strong technical skills and an ability to identify specific areas in which technology can advance the institution in fulfilling its academic mission. Library staff must be capable of working effectively in partnership with faculty members to enhance the strength of teaching and research.  … Library staffs in general must become more agile, more highly attuned to, and more aggressive in proclaiming just how different the world of knowledge has already become.”

— “Changing Roles of Academic and Research Libraries” ACRL Tech Summit (November 2006)  

Four Dimensions of Identity

FUNCTIONS SKILLS

BEHAVIORS VALUES

Identity =

Per Compact OEDO 1 the fact of being who or what a

person or thing is. 2 the characteristics determining this.

Per MWDO 1 a : sameness of essential or generic

character in different instances b : sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing

2 a : the distinguishing character or personality of an individual

Is That All There Is? No, but...

AgeGenderEthnicityNationalityReligionSexual Orientation

Four Dimensions of Identity

FUNCTIONSWhat they do.

SKILLSWhat they can do.

BEHAVIORSHow they act.

VALUESWhat they believe in.

Functions + Skills + Behaviors + Values =

“It was agreed there would be an increase in the generalist, who would possess a broad knowledge-base coupled with high level communication skills.”

— Hampson. “The Impact of the Hybrid Library on Information Services Staff.”

“ . . . the librarian of the future . . . will be expected to be quite a versatile creature . . . able to imagine futures and work towards them.”

— Feret and Marcinek. “The Future of the Academic Library and the Academic

Librarian.”

SKILLS: Personal Ability to think in multiple dimensions; see “the big

picture” Understand and integrate the context for what transpires

in libraries: Cultural Social Intellectual Organizational Political Economic

Critical thinking skills Ability to work independently Communication skills

Listening Talking Writing

Presentation skills Keep up with new technology

SKILLS: Organizational Understanding of organizational behavior(s) Ability to think strategically Ability to think tactically Receptivity to constant change Ability to work well with others Teamwork skills Collaboration skills Problem-solving skills Process and political skills

Consensus building Decision making Conflict resolution Networking

SKILLS: Business

HR management Supervisory ability Staff development ability Training ability Fund management Project management Conversant with legal issues Grant writing Marketing

SKILLS: Functional/Technical Public services Outreach

Entertainment/Social Information Instruction

Collection development and management Selection Acquisition Organization Delivery Preservation

Metadata services, including knowledge of various metadata standards, schema, models, and structures

Descriptive Administrative Structural Technical

Conversant with learning and teaching technologies Conversant with a wide range of information technologies Conversant with Web-related languages and technologies Digital library services

Digitization Management Architecture

Media services

BEHAVIORS

Creative/Imaginative Flexible Self-motivated Confident Decisive Show initiative Entrepreneurial Risk takers

VALUES

Public serviceAccess to informationProfession and professional

developmentChangeContinuous learningThemselves

UCSD Libraries Professional Recruitments 2005/2006–2006/2007

1. Access Services Manager [x2]2. Assistant Head: Acquisitions Department 3. Associate University Librarian, Collection Services 4. Bibliographic Specialist 5. Campus Website Manager 6. Chinese Language Electronic Resources Cataloging Librarian 7. Circulation Manager [x3]8. Data Services Librarian 9. Economics and Business Librarian10.Electronic Information Services Coordinator 11.Engineering Librarian12.Fiscal Operations Manager 13.GIS Coordinator 14.Head: Collections and Access Services 15.Head: Desktop Services 16.Head: Reference, Instruction, and Outreach Services17.Head: Serials Cataloging Unit 18.Instruction & Outreach Manager19.Library Collections Fiscal Manager

UCSD Libraries Professional Recruitments 2005/2006–2006/2007

20.Manager of [Software] Development 21.Map Librarian22.Metadata Librarian [x2]23.Original Cataloging Workleader 24.Outreach and Instruction Librarian [x3]25.Programmer/Analyst [x9]26.Recruitment and Review Coordinator 27.Reference and Information Services Manager28.Reference and Instruction Coordinator 29.Reference/Instruction Librarian 30.Sociology, Ethnic Studies, and Gender Studies Librarian 31.Special Collections Cataloger 32.State and Local Government Information and Political Science

Librarian33.Systems Engineer [x4] 34.Training Coordinator 35.Undergraduate Services Librarian 36.United States Government Information and Political Science

Librarian37.Web Managing Editor 38.Web Technical Manager

UCSD Libraries Professional Recruitments 2005/2006–2006/2007:

SUMMARIZED

38 positions 54 FTE

16 Technology Specialists 15 Managers 14 Functional Specialists 5 Subject/Format Specialists 4 Business Specialists

UCSD Libraries Professional Recruitments 2005/2006–2006/2007:

CLASSIFIED

TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS [16]1. Campus Website Manager 2. Programmer/Analyst [x9]3. Systems Engineer [x4] 4. Web Managing Editor 5. Web Technical Manager

MANAGERS [15]6. Access Services Manager [x2]7. Assistant Head: Acquisitions

Department 8. Associate University Librarian,

Collection Services 9. Circulation Manager [x3]10. Head: Collections and Access

Services 11. Head: Desktop Services 12. Head: Reference, Instruction, and

Outreach Services13. Head: Serials Cataloging Unit 14. Instruction & Outreach Manager15. Manager of [Software] Development 16. Original Cataloging Workleader 17. Reference and Information Services

Manager

FUNCTIONAL SPECIALISTS [14]18. Bibliographic Specialist 19. Chinese Language

Electronic Resources Cataloging Librarian Data Services Librarian

20. Data Services Librarian 21. Electronic Information

Services Coordinator 22. GIS Coordinator 23. Metadata Librarian [x2]24. Outreach and Instruction

Librarian [x3]25. Reference and Instruction

Coordinator 26. Reference/Instruction

Librarian 27. Special Collections

Cataloger 28. Undergraduate Services

Librarian

UCSD Libraries Professional Recruitments 2005/2006–2006/2007:

CLASSIFIED

SUBJECT/FORMAT SPECIALISTS [5]29.Economics and Business

Librarian30.Engineering Librarian31.Map Librarian32.Sociology, Ethnic Studies,

and Gender Studies Librarian

33.State and Local Government Information and Political Science Librarian

34.United States Government Information and Political Science Librarian

BUSINESS SPECIALISTS [4]

35. Fiscal Operations Manager

36. Library Collections Fiscal Manager

37. Recruitment and Review Coordinator

38. Training Coordinator

POSITION OVERVIEW Phrase Frequency Count: Raw

3/3+:20                   the ucsd libraries15                   instruction and outreach15                   13                   social sciences 10                   sciences 10                   reference instruction and9                   the development of9                   of the ucsd9                   combined social sciences9                   at a combined9                   a combined social9                   humanities8                   the social sciences8                   in library wide8                   general reference assistance8                   evening and weekend8                   and electronic resources7                   wide planning and7                   weekend reference hours7                   the needs of7                   reference hours required7                   policies and procedures7                   member of the7                   and weekend reference7                   a member of6                   to participate in6                   the s e6                   the biomedical library6                   some evening and6                   participate in library6                   of the libraries’6                   librarians are expected6                   liaison to the6                   is responsible for6                   in support of6                   expected to participate6                   as a member6                   are expected to6                   and maintenance of5                   wide and system5                   university of california5                   ucsd edu 5                   to the head5                   to be professionally5                   the ucsd libraries’5                   the direction of5                   system wide planning5                   social sciences humanities5                   responsible for the5                   related to the5                   reference assistance at5                   primary responsibility for5                   planning and governance5                   of the biomedical5                   of technical services5                   management of the5                   library wide and5                   government documents reference5                   governance and to5                   for the ucsd5                   documents reference desk5                   direction of the5                   be professionally active5                   as well as5                   and to be5                   and system wide5                   and government documents5                   and governance and5                   http 4                   works closely with4                   ucsd libraries at4                   to the university4                   to the director4                   to the development4                   to meet the4                   to develop and4                   the university of4                   the librarian will4                   the incumbent will4                   the head of4                   the coordinator of4                   services and collections4                   sciences humanities4                   resources and services4                   reference desk some4                   reference 4                   programs for the4                   pertinent meetings and4                   participates in the4                   of the sshl4                   of the library4                   of the head4                   of 4                   meetings and conferences4                   library wide planning4                   library liaison to4                   libraries at pertinent4                   in the social4                   in depth reference4                   government and geographic4                   geographic information services4                   edu 4                   develop and implement4                   desk some evening4                   depth reference service4                   data government and4                   coordinator of technical4                   continuing and electronic4                   at pertinent meetings4                   assistant department head4                   assistance at a4                   as library liaison4                   and outreach programs4                   and instructional programs4                   and geographic information4                   and 4                   humanities and3                   with other library3                   virtually and at3                   user outreach and3                   unit of the3                   undergraduate services librarian3                   ucsd librarians are3                   to ensure that3                   the use of3                   the ssh library3                   the mandeville special3                   the library collections3                   the head for3                   the director for3                   the department head3                   the assistant department3                   technical services in3                   support in evaluating3                   special collections library3                   shared cataloging program3                   services to meet3                   services of the3                   services in the3                   services at the3                   services assumes a3                   serves as a3                   sciences humanities and3                   s e library3                   role in planning3                   resources and coordinating3                   represent the ucsd3                   related collections as3                   reference service and3                   reference assistance virtually3                   purchasing efforts for3                   provides general reference3                   policies procedures and3                   outreach and instructional3                   other uc campuses3                   other library staff3                   of new technologies3                   of electronic resources3                   needs of university3                   metadata and bibliographic3                   mandeville special collections3                   library in the3                   key role in3                   issues related to3                   information services assumes3                   in the biomedical3                   in evaluating digital3                   in consultation with3                   in all formats3                   humanities and government3                   head for data3                   has primary responsibility3                   hardware and software3                   government information and3                   geospatial data collections3                   for the uc3                   for the effective3                   for reference instruction3                   for data government3                   faculty and students3                   evaluating digital resources3                   efforts for the3                   economics and business3                   digital resources and3                   coordinating consortial purchasing3                   contributes to the3                   consortial purchasing efforts3                   collections as assigned3                   collaborative collection development3                   cataloging policies and3                   california digital library3                   at the s3                   assumes a leadership3                   assistance virtually and3                   assistance and support3                   and support in3                   and programs for3                   and participates in3                   and outreach the3                   and implementation of3                   and geospatial data3                   and coordinating consortial3                   and bibliographic control3                   and at a3                   and analysis of3                   and academic review3                   actively participates in3                   a wide variety3                   a variety of3                   a leadership role3                   a high level

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POSITION OVERVIEW Phrase Frequency Count:

Distilled

15 instruction and outreach 10 reference instruction 8 evening and weekend 8 and electronic resources 7 policies and procedures 6 expected to participate 5 system-wide planning 5 planning and governance 5 government documents

reference 5 be professionally active 4 services and collections 4 resources and services 4 library wide planning 4 library liaison to 4 geographic information

services

3 role in planning 3 reference assistance

virtually 3 outreach and instruction 3 of new technologies 3 of electronic resources 3 metadata and bibliographic 3 in evaluating digital 3 in all formats 3 head for data 3 hardware and software 3 geospatial data collections 3 for reference instruction 3 faculty and students 3 evaluating digital resources 3 coordinating consortial

purchasing 3 consortial purchasing efforts 3 collaborative collection

development 3 a leadership role

POSITION OVERVIEW Phrase Frequency Count:

Massaged services and collections instruction and outreach reference instruction reference assistance virtually government documents

reference geographic information services policies and procedures

collaborative collection development

consortial purchasing efforts metadata and bibliographic

in all formats electronic resources evaluating digital resources data geospatial data collection

new technologies hardware and software

expected to participate a leadership role role in planning system-wide planning library wide planning planning and governance

be professionally active

library liaison to faculty and students

evening and weekend

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, ABILITY Phrase Frequency Count: Raw

3/4+:25                   the ability to24                   in an academic21                   school or other21                   other appropriate degree21                   or other appropriate21                   or equivalent experience21                   library school or21                   from a library21                   degree or equivalent21                   degree from a21                   appropriate degree or21                   a library school18                   to library services18                   one or more17                   relevant to library17                   or more fields17                   more fields relevant17                   in one or17                   fields relevant to17                   experience in one17                   equivalent experience in16                   written communication skills16                   to participate in16                   policies and procedures16                   oral and written16                   and written communication14                   librarians are expected14                   expected to participate14                   are expected to13                   to be professionally13                   be professionally active13                   and to be13                   and the ability12                   planning and governance11                   the social sciences11                   a variety of10                   work both independently10                   to work effectively10                   to work both10                   both independently and10                   an academic library10                   able to work9                   work effectively with9                   wide planning and9                   wide and system9                   system wide planning9                   participate in library9                   library wide and9                   including the ability9                   in library wide9                   be able to9                   and system wide9                   and ability to9                   an academic or8                   understanding of the8                   the use of8                   print and electronic8                   in a complex8                   governance and to8                   demonstrated ability to8                   and governance and8                   ability to work8                   ability to communicate7                   willingness to share7                   to share ideas7                   skills for group7                   seeking and respecting7                   problem solving skills7                   or research library7                   of print and7                   information and opinions7                   independently and collaboratively7                   including expressing ideas7                   in the social7                   improve processes by7                   implementing changes as7                   ideas effectively seeking7                   group activities including7                   for group activities7                   expressing ideas effectively7                   effectively seeking and7                   developing and implementing7                   decision making skills7                   communication skills for7                   changes as appropriate7                   as well as7                   and respecting the7                   and implementing changes7                   and experience with7                   activities including expressing6                   to improve processes6                   seeking information and6                   processes by assessing6                   procedures seeking information6                   others active listening6                   or coursework in6                   of others active6                   listening and willingness6                   knowledge of the6                   individuals and groups6                   in writing and6                   complex changing environment6                   collaboratively in a6                   by assessing procedures6                   assessing procedures seeking6                   and willingness to6                   and problem solving6                   and communication skills6                   active listening and6                   academic or research6                   ability to improve6                   a complex changing6                   5                   work comfortably in5                   to work independently5                   to work comfortably5                   to excellence in5                   to communicate effectively5                   to be able5                   the opinions of5                   strong commitment to5                   social sciences or5                   skills including the5                   shared decision making5                   respecting the opinions5                   participate in librarywide5                   original and copy5                   organizational analytical and5                   opinions of others5                   opinions developing and5                   of 5                   making environment and5                   in service and5                   in collection development5                   in a shared5                   in a dynamic5                   experience in reference5                   excellence in service5                   environment and to5                   effectively with students5                   decision making environment5                   communication skills including5                   communicate effectively with5                   commitment to excellence5                   comfortably in a5                   and opinions developing5                   and decision making5                   and copy cataloging5                   and collaboratively in5                   a shared decision5                   ability to4                   years experience in4                   writing and in4                   with a variety4                   windows 4                   wide range of4                   ucsd librarians are4                   tools in the4                   to create and4                   the phone in4                   the integration of4                   the design and4                   the delivery of4                   sufficient to verify4                   sufficient to perform4                   students faculty and4                   students and faculty4                   strong oral and4                   statistical sources and4                   skills sufficient to4                   skills and ability4                   serving similar clientele4                   service and be4                   sciences or humanities4                   reference service in4                   reference and bibliographic4                   range of print4                   phone in writing4                   over the phone4                   or experience in4                   of two years4                   of the library4                   of library instruction4                   of computer systems4                   of and experience4                   of a wide4                   must have a4                   library serving similar4                   languages such as4                   knowledge of computer4                   knowledge of a4                   interpersonal skills to4                   integrated library system4                   information over the4                   in the design4                   in reference service4                   have a strong4                   governance to be4                   experience with the4                   experience in an4                   electronic reference and4                   develop and implement4                   detailed information over4                   clearly and concisely4                   bibliographic tools in4                   and oral and4                   and knowledge of4                   and in person4                   and governance to4                   and electronic reference4                   and bibliographic tools4                   and be able4                   analytical and communication4                   an understanding of4                   ability to use4                   a wide range4                   a strong commitment

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KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, ABILITY Phrase Frequency Count:

Distilled

21 other appropriate degree 21 or equivalent experience 16 written communication

skills 16 policies and procedures 14 expected to participate 13 be professionally active 12 planning and governance 10 work both independently 9 library wide and 9 system wide planning 8 print and electronic 8 ability to communicate 7 willingness to share 7 to share ideas 7 problem solving skills 7 independently and

collaboratively

7 expressing ideas effectively

7 dveloping and implementing

7 decision making skills 7 to improve processes 6 by assessing procedures 6 active listening and 5 shared decision making 5 experience in reference 5 excellence in service 5 commitment to

excellence 5 the integration of 4 the delivery of 4 students and faculty 4 knowledge of computer 4 interpersonal skills to 4 and electronic reference 4 and bibliographic tools 4 a strong commitment

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, ABILITY Phrase Frequency Count:

Massaged

appropriate degree or equivalent experience

experience in reference electronic reference knowledge of computer bibliographic tools print and electronic

expected to participate library wide and system wide planning planning and governance

decision-making skills shared decision-making problem-solving skills

policies and procedures improve processes assessing procedures

developing and implementing integration delivery

interpersonal skills ability to communicate active listening expressing ideas effectively written communication skills

work both independently independently and collaboratively

willingness to share share ideas

strong commitment commitment to excellence excellence in service students and faculty

be professionally active

Dinosaur or Phoenix?

Sources

Breaks, Michael. “What Do We Want From Our Digital Librarians?” Presentation given at Université Laval, 2005. <http://www.iatul.org/conference/proceedings/vol15/PAPERS/Michael%20Breaks%20IATUL%20>

Conference%20Laval%20University.ppt> “Changing Roles of Academic and Research Libraries” (ACRL Tech

Summit, November 2006).  <http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlissues/futureofacademiclibrariesandhighereducation/changingroles.htm>>

Choi, Youngok and Edie Rasmussen. “What Is Needed to Educate Future Digital Librarians: A Study of Current Practice and Staffing Patterns in Academic and Research Libraries.” D-Lib Magazine, Vol. 12, No. 9 (September 2006).

Feret, Blazej and Marzena Marcinek. “The Future of the Academic Library and the Academic Librarian – A Delphi Study.” (11 June 1999). <http://educate.lib.chalmers.se/IATUL/proceedcontents/chanpap/feret.html>

Hampson, Andrew. “The Impact of the Hybrid Library on Information Services Staff.” (14 January 1999). <http://builder.bham.ac.uk/reports/html/focus.asp#summary>