Describing the Librarian
From computerworld.com, an article entitled What's Hot, What's Not: IT Skills You'll Need in 2010 says this is the sort of technologist that'll be needed:
…IT departments will be populated with "versatilists" — those with a technology background who also know the business sector inside and out, can architect and carry out IT plans that will add business value, and can cultivate relationships both inside and outside the company.
[blah, blah, blah]
…What's more, the skills required to land these future technical roles will be honed outside of IT. Some of these skills will come from artistic talents, math excellence or even a knack for public speaking — producing a combination of skills not commonly seen in the IT realm.
Does this future technologist sound like any profession we may have heard of?
While we're on the topic of describing the profession, when will this be updated? I see a few things that don't jive with what I think I know about the profession. Anyone with more than my meager expertise care to pick it apart?
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July 15th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
I just reread this description, and my biggest problem with it is what I consider poor writing and organization.
“The traditional concept of a library is being redefined from a place to access paper records or books to one that also houses the most advanced media, including CD-ROM, the Internet, virtual libraries, and remote access to a wide range of resources.”
I wasn’t aware that CD-ROMs were among the “most advanced media,” or that “remote access” or “virtual libraries” were media. Also, this statement still focuses on the library as a place that houses things, despite the mention of electronic resources, omitting the community, outreach, learning laboratory, and instruction aspects.
“Librarians supervise assistants, who prepare cards, computer records, or other access tools that direct users to resources.”
Are there libraries still using card catalogs? Also, “computer records” is rather vague.
“…employers often prefer graduates of the approximately 56 schools accredited by the American Library Association.”
I would change this to state that employers usually require applicants for professional librarian positions to have a Master degree in Library and Information Sciences from an ALA-accredited school. A PhD, second Masters, or teaching certification is mentioned later, but I would move that up to be closer to the accreditation bit.
In general, I think this description tries to accomodate too many types of librarianship, and in doing so fails to give people interested in a specific area an adequate description of the work. I’ll think about this some more…