Academic libraries: facing Academic libraries: facing the futurethe future

The role of library and The role of library and information professionalsinformation professionals

Jo Webb, Head of Academic Services and National Teaching Jo Webb, Head of Academic Services and National Teaching Fellow, Department of Library Services, Fellow, Department of Library Services,

jwebb@dmu.ac.uk

Context• Public sector spending cuts• Impact on HE and FE• L. Elliott and A. Asthana (2010) ‘Cable

moves to cut back university places’ Observer, 6th June, p.8– Step away from 50% participation– Investment in further education and vocational

training– 10,000 fewer university places 2010-11– Source close to Cable, ‘debate between

excellence and quality and…bums on seats’

The HE environment

• Competition• Mission groups• Internationalization• Widening participation?• Market for mature and professional courses?• Research assessment• Changes to postgraduate education

Technology-enhanced learning• Student as consumer

Library and Information Service drivers

• Convergence– Infrastructure– Technology– Student services

• Increasing national co-ordination – A national LMS for HE?– But what will happen to JISC, RIN?

• Budgets and recognition• Learning and teaching• Research support

Impact of recession on academic libraries

• Making the ‘least worst’ choices• Restructuring• Reorganization• Cuts in information resources budgets• Need to develop new services

RIN report, Challenges for academic libraries in difficult economic times

http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/challenges-academic-libraries-difficult-economic-

Being (a) professionalOED definitions

1. a. A person who engages in a specified activity,especially a sport, as a paid occupation. Freq.opposed to amateur.

b. Chiefly colloq. A prostitute. 2. A person engaged in a profession, esp. one requiring

special skill or training; a professional person, or a member of the professional classes.

3. Scottish University slang. Short for ‘professional examination’ Now rare.

4. A person who does something with a high level of competence, commitment, or expertise.

A Profession:

• Vocational commitment (original meaning related to religious orders)

• Prolonged training and formal qualification• Application of a discrete body of knowledge• Commitment to ethical values• Some degree of monopoly rights• Control over own affairs• Regulatory role of professional body over

conduct, entry, standards

Michael Gorman’s enduring values

• Stewardship• Service• Intellectual freedom• Rationalism• Literacy and learning• Equity of access to recorded knowledge and

information• Privacy• Democracy

Application to academic libraries

Ranganthan revisited

1. Books are for use

2. Every person his or her book

3. Every book its reader

4. Save the time of the reader

5. The library is a growing organism

CILIP Body of Professional Knowledge

• Ethical framework• Legal dimension• Information policy

• Information governance• Communications

perspective

What do academic librarians do?

• Manage resources, services and facilities– In UK universal and pervasive

• Organize knowledge and information to serve the needs of their users

• Support literacy and learning

Professional recognition• As a library and

information professional– Chartership and Fellowship– Subject knowledge

• In learning and teaching– Teaching qualifications– Higher Education Academy

membership– Specialist awards in

information literacy / teaching for librarians

• In technology– In specific applications– In IT management– In technology-enhanced

learning

• In management– Project management– Generic management

Blended librarianship

Developing our skills

• Our discipline knowledge– Think about what is distinctive to LIS

• Technology-engaged

• Develop research

• Personal and professional reflection

No excuse for professionalism as a silo, comfort blanket or defence

Developing our practice• Professional not employee• Engagement with communities and stakeholders

– Professional as expert and champion

• Joining in the debate e.g. in learning and teaching• Critical and reflective practice• Evaluation• Building an evidence base• Advocacy• Embrace innovation and change• Focus on what is distinctive