Evolving The Professional Role

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Abstract.

Introduction.

Definition of professional role.

Various types of profession.

Focus on Librarian profession.

17th Century

18th Century

19th Century

20th Century

21st Century

Changing Role of Library & Information Service Professionals

Conclusion.

References.

Abstract

Librarians have always played a key role in different sector. The challenging and rapidly transforming nature of libraries and information systems and services. In recognition of today’s continually evolving online and mediated technological environment, "CHANGES" is every time. Today, in the digital age, librarians can no longer be simply information providers or the ‘keepers of knowledge’. The changes in technology using electronically stored and retrieved information has changed the way patrons and users are able to access, retrieve and use information. The instantaneous access of information through the Internet has made vast amounts of information and data available to anyone with a computer, a modem and a provider The process of evaluating books and purchasing books is still vital to building a quality library collection. By observing the review of digital library, which gave a fast track step in the technology based world. This made possible with the help of evolving Professional roles as librarian. Digital age characterized by efficient graphic user interface, digital imaging, efficient transfer and storage of texts, is presenting important challenges for the libraries. Information privacy, copyrights, and information security are some of the challenging issues faced by the libraries Professional in digital age. This challenging issued had overcome in the vision of 2020, which made the forecasting of how technology gave a rise in helping the Libraries at their tip of the fingers. The changes in the development of professional role and their skill made possible due to this digital age in 2020.

Key Words:-

Tremendous, Information Scientist, professional role, keepers of knowledge, digital age, transforming, global networking, information explosion,

Introduction:-

As the information technologies are changing day-to-day and growing at a tremendous speed, the knowledge society is becoming more complex, competitive and dependent on technological changes and information explosion. The need for e-information services to the users are also growing and becoming very essential. The impact of web based e-learning and teaching environment has influenced every facet of library and information services in libraries and providing new opportunities and challenges to the library professional for involvement in the knowledge based society including electronic and multimedia publishing, Internet based-information services, global networking, web based digital resources etc. Librarians are charged with selecting and organizing resources and instructing patrons on how to locate and use these, and preserving information regard less of format or technology. The information revolution and the knowledge that is available on the Web have created new challenges to these traditional professional ethics. The emerging challenges of acquiring and providing access to electronic knowledge resources require librarians to change their role from traditional librarian to information scientist by learning and applying new skills to understand the evolving technologies to manage and provide quality on-line information service to the knowledge society. So the vision of the future library professional must be to create a World Class Networked Global Library and Information Centre to provide timely web based quality information service to the user in time in the e-learning environment. The future visions need for changes in trends and challenges before the library professional in the learning environment and the various changing roles of the library professional have been discussed in this study.

Definition of professional role.

The main criteria for professionals include the following:

Expert and specialized knowledge in field which one is practicing professionally.

Excellent manual/practical and literary skills in relation to profession.

High quality work in (examples): creations, products, services, presentations, consultancy, primary/other research, administrative, marketing, photography or other work endeavours.

A high standard of professional ethics, behaviour and work activities while carrying out one's profession (as an employee, self-employed person, career, enterprise, business, company, or partnership/associate/colleague, etc.). The professional owes a higher duty to a client, often a privilege of confidentiality, as well as a duty not to abandon the client just because he or she may not be able to pay or remunerate the professional. Often the professional is required to put the interest of the client ahead of his own interests.

Reasonable work morale and motivation. Having interest and desire to do a job well as holding positive attitude towards the profession are important elements in attaining a high level of professionalism.

Appropriate treatment of relationships with colleagues. Consideration should be shown to elderly, junior or inexperienced colleagues, as well as those with special

Needs. An example must be set to perpetuate the attitude of one's business without doing it harms.

A professional is an expert who is a master in a specific field.

Various types of professional.

Accountancy: Profession to keep or inspect financial accounts.

Acting: Art or occupation of performing in plays, films and TV.

Agriculture: Science or practice of cultivating the land and growing crops.

Advertising: Business that deals with the publicising of goods/services to encourage people to buy or use it, increasing sales/volumes

Astronomy: Scientific study of the sun, moon, stars, planets etc.

Computer Programmer: A person who feeds detailed instructions to the computer to solve any given problem.

Doctor: A practitioner trained in medical science and qualified to treat patients.

Environmental Scientist: Person who is concerned about and wants to improve or protect the environment through scientific means.

Economist: Expert in science or principles of the production, distribution and consumption of goods, especially with reference to cost.

Food Analyst: Scientific examination of food for its nutritional value, contamination or presence of bacteria.

Knowledge Engineer: Person who looks into the technology aspect of knowledge management.

Lexicographer: One who writes or compiles dictionaries.

Librarian: Person in charge of or assisting in a library.

Oceanography: Who studies life in the sea for scientific and commercial purposes?

Mathematician: An expert in mathematics.

Palaeontologist: An expert in the study of fossils as a guide to the history of life on earth.

System Analyst: A computer professional, who develops a programme, analyses the system and supervises how a company's computer software runs.

Software Engineer: An engineer who develops software that involves the systematic application of computer tools and techniques to develop high quality, reliable and user-friendly applications as well as system software.

Virologist: An expert in the scientific study of virus and viral disease.

Wildlife Specialist: An expert in wildlife who helps implement measures for the conservation of wildlife.

Zoologist: An expert in the scientific study of the structure, form and distribution of animals.

Focus on Librarian professional.

In 17th century

During the 17th century in the idea of Bibliotheca Universalist came about from well established academics and librarians - Conrad Gesner, Gabriel Naudé, John Dury, and Gottfried Leibniz. With the approach of Bibliotheca Universalist, libraries changed. Libraries from then on would not be as selective in matters of contents of their collection and they would include literature of entertainment as well as academic value. Also during this time libraries became fully open to the public, discarding the popular practice of restricting access to only small circle of readers. The four librarians responsible for establishing the Bibliotheca Universalist are important figures to librarianship. He also contributed to the idea of organization and administration of libraries which led to the development of library collections. It was also in part thanks to Naude that some libraries began to lend books outside of the precincts of the library. John is considered to be the first English library theorist. He wrote two letters to Samuel Hartlib concerning the duties of a professional librarian, which were published in 1650 as "The Reformed Libraries-Keeper." He held that librarians should not only care for the books, but should also be well educated and accomplished to raise the standards of librarianship. Furthermore, he advocated that librarians deserve a living wage in order to use their energy to perform their duties to the fullest.

In 18th century :

In 18th century two librarians, Hubert-Pascal Ameilhon and Joseph Van Praet, selected and identified over 300,000 books and manuscripts that became the property of the people in the Bibliotheque National. During the French Revolution, librarians were solely responsible for the bibliographic planning of the nation. Out of this came the implementation of the concept of library service - the democratic extension of library services to the general.

In 19th century

The second textbook (first in german) on the subject was written by Martin Schrettinger from 1808 to 1829. Thomas Jefferson, whose library at Monticello consisted of thousands of books, devised a classification system inspired by the Baconian method, which grouped books more or less by subject rather than alphabetically, as it was previously done.

The Jefferson collection was the start of what we now know as the Library of Congress. The first American school of librarianship opened January 1st 1887 and was termed School of Library Economy. The term library economy was used for library science in USA until 1942 as already stated Dewey decimal classification (DDC) used the term "Library economy" from

1876 and to 1942 hereafter the term Library Science was used until 1965.

In 20th century :

In the 20th century library will play a very crucial role in the extension and modification of knowledge. The growing need for knowledge management has influenced every component and operation of a library. Knowledge management requires more effective methods of information handling, speedy transfer of information and linking of information with individuals and their activities. It demands library patron cantered development of information systems and services and customization of information at the individual level. Libraries have been thought of as being expert at collecting and organizing published information. This paper is intended to be an overview to assist knowledge management in terms of its relevance for library and information science professionals. Development of information technology (IT) and its applications in Library and Information Centres, the concept of document management has been changed to information management and again the entire scenario of information management has started its change to knowledge management (KM). This concept of knowledge management and the role of library and information professionals in managing the knowledge and information in the digital environment. It also highlights the importance of library and information professionals in the organizations such as knowledge creation, acquisition, preservation and sharing knowledge and information.

Library and information centres should be developed / modified based on the perfect environment for new media applications. Due to impact of globalization, economic competition and revolution of ICT, the libraries are undergoing tremendous change in its environment. ICT tools and techniques, knowledge management systems, internet, web resources, digital libraries have made a significant change in the existing library systems and services. It is a major challenge for the library professionals. Knowledge acquisition is the starting point of knowledge management in Libraries. The application of IT enlarges the scope of knowledge acquisition, raises knowledge acquisition, speed and reduces knowledge acquisition cost. It is mpossible to accomplish such important tasks by using man’s brain only in the modern society in which the knowledge changes with each passing day. Figure 2 the most important resource in the knowledge economy system is the talents who grasp knowledge.

Figure 2. Highlights data wise technologies for knowledge management.

Attending to favourable working conditions and environment, which will contribute to better staff retention the utmost goal of knowledge management is to provide users with a variety of quality services in order to improve the communication, use and creation of knowledge. Information about each user can be obtained by analyzing the records of user registration, surveys, circulation and inter library loan, frequently asked reference questions and the use of e-journals and digital resources etc. User satisfaction and needs should be collected through periodical user’s surveys. The findings should be used for the planning and redesign of the existing library services. Some of the manual services of the library such as "new publication alert" and "dissemination of information" should be done automatically by employing the "push technology" with great efficiency and convenience. Each library user can also set up his virtual "my library/portal" for new information/resources provided by the library.

In 21st Century:

We live in an information society where the development of information technology and telecommunication networks is accompanied by a corresponding increase in knowledge, with a rapidly growing flow of information. This new information environment requires new skills in seeking, processing and using information. The base for individual ability to understand and use information is a qualitative, ongoing learning process. Learning and education are important topics in the knowledge society and the educational situation is changing for several reasons, which develop from the social, cultural, political and economic changes in the society. The role of librarians and information professionals in this new environment has

been strongly influenced by these changes.

Fig: Where the readers of e-books.

Changing Role of Library & Information Service Professionals

In the Modern World, the role of the LIS professionals is adapting to changing technologies,

Information environment and customers expectations. Library professionals are increasingly responsible not only to provide traditional library information services but also to deliver online information services according to the actual user needs. Librarians need to keep up. With their users' expectations to survive and service them. Librarians need to become information knowledge navigators who distil data into usable information. In the 21st century, everyone is going through many occupational changes to face the future challenges. Information a n d Communication Technology has transformed the role of not only libraries but also library professionals in the changing environment in which they now work. Library professionals are functioning under great pressure to become more efficient to deliver more effective services to the users. As the role of LIS professionals is changing to face the new challenges posed by ICT, they must be keen to stay at the forefront of innovation in the library world. LIS professionals need to be confident and competent that they can prepare for new challenges, deal with emerging technologies, manage change effectively and claim new professional roles. A well-informed competent and creative LIS professional shall play multiple evolving roles in the 21st century. Some skills, Library software knowledge and equipment knowledge are must be required for the librarian is mention below.

Skills required for Librarian:-

1. Understanding customer needs -Skills

If customers are to gain maximum benefit from a service, they must know how to use it. So,

Properly planned user education is a must for an academic library. Support systems should reflect customers' priorities. It is important to find out which services can be automated without losing the personal touch. Getting feedback from the user is important to ascertain the quality of service. Regular users of library can be given a questionnaire to get feedback from them for improving service. The circulation desk staff are the front line staff that play a critical role is an academic library because they represent the library; first deal with inquiries/crises; manage the reader interface. Public services staff must be carefully- appointed and be given periodic training to keep up-to-date.

2. Marketing Skills

Libraries and information centres have begun to realize that marketing of information products and services is an integral part of administration, especially as a means for improving user satisfaction and promoting the use of services by current and potential users. Three main factors, namely the information explosion, the technology revolution, and escalating library costs are responsible for encouraging the library profession to develop a marketing approach in its operations and services.

3. Communication Skills

Communication has a great importance in providing better services to users. He communicates the value of library service to decision makers, staff and users. When he provides information to the user he must communicate clearly and respectfully with customers and colleagues. Always demonstrates active listening skills with customers and colleagues in his workplace. Communication is not only must be effective with users only but must have ability to negotiate effectively with publishers, customers, management & vendors.

4. Presentation skills

Planning the presentation involves much of the work that you're going to do before you actually deliver the presentation. Once you've done your planning, you need to consider what visual aids you're going to be using. Librarian should speak confidently, keep the head interest, and really engage with them. Finally its important that you have the confidence to interact with your head and deal with any questions that your head might throw at you. An have evolved and adopted to make benchmarking more meaningful.

5. Comfort in the online medium Skills:

Librarians need to do so much online these days, way beyond basic catalogue and database searching (which sure isn’t easy either). Librarians have to be able to use search engines and use them well. They need to be able to find quality online resources. They need to help patrons set up e-mail and teach basic Internet skills. They need to be able to troubleshoot problems users are having accessing online library resources, at least to the extent where they can figure out if the problem is on the library’s side or the user’s side. Reference librarians are often providing reference services online via e-mail and synchronous chat. More important than knowing specific tools is a general comfort in the online medium. You just can’t provide reference services without basic Internet and search skills.

6. Skill of to keep up with new ideas in tech. and librarianship (enthusiasm for learning):

Keeping up with new technology is often not an explicitly listed part of one’s basic weekly job duties, but its importance can’t be stressed enough. Five years ago, few people were talking about blogs and IM in libraries, but now so many libraries are using these tools to provide services to patrons. We need to be able to keep up with what’s new in technology and what libraries are (or could be) doing with it. And we need to be able to keep up in the shortest time possible because we are busy. Try and take some time out of your busy schedule to keep up, whether you are reading the professional literature, browsing blogs, or attending a Webcast.

Required Software Knowledge for librarian:-

Open source software is not something to be afraid of! It’s software that you can

Modify, fix, add to, and distribute to others. Benefits are numerous, including having the ability to create good software that works for you and your library, all while paying a fraction of the cost that you might spend on proprietary software. The website introduces librarians to using open source software and provides tips for implementing and evaluating your transition, ideas for funding, and suggestions for open source software to use in your library

What is Open Source Software?

Open source software is software that provides access to the source code, meaning that users are free to see how the product is made. Additionally, users have the right to modify the product (change the code) to their liking, experiment with different versions, and give away or resell the new product with the guarantee that they must also provide their source code, and so on. Modifying the product and redistribution are the two main components of open source software.

Open Source Software Initiative in India.

In India there are a number of university and institute libraries, which are in the process of conversion into DLs. The advantage of having a DL is now well understood by librarians, technologists, management and users. The situation in India regarding DLs is very peculiar. Generally, the use of information technology (IT) and information and communication technology (ICT) in libraries in India is concentrated in universities, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Indian Institute of Science (Isis), ICMR, CSIR, ICAR and their research institutes and some special libraries. Some government agencies, as well as public-sector institutions, are also engaged in digitization of libraries. But the initiatives taken by the Government of India in this direction indicate that the potential of ICTs for developing DLs has not been fully realized. While one government agency is providing support for one particular aspect, the other is focusing elsewhere without any coordinated effort by a nodal agency.

In agriculture sector, the beginning of digitization of Indian information was initiated by ICAR5, when, Govt. of India took decision to participate in AGRIS database of Food and Agricultural Organization. The ICAR has digitized approximately 1.5 lake bibliographic records of research information published in various Indian Journals and made available to world agricultural community using CDS/ISIS software. Under the National Agricultural Innovative Project (NAIP), emphasis would be on strengthening of the ICAR-Net, creation of digitized content and knowledge management, using open source management software and CMS and strengthening of 42 libraries of the SAUs and ICAR Institutes into fully electronic libraries, formation of an ICAR e-journals Consortium. Recently, it is decided at UAS, Bangalore in September 2011 to Implement Koha LMS in 12 partner libraries under (e-Granth) project of NAIP.

The ICAR also developed its website using an open source content management system called Drupal. The website is a unique platform for sharing and dissemination of information to a wide range of users and stakeholders. The ICAR research journals (The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences and The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences) are available in open-access mode and have been downloaded in 158 countries6. Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Fishery Technology of Society of Fisheries Technologists (India) are also published as open access journals on epubs platform of ICAR

Reasons to Use Open Source Software:

It promotes creative development

Those who can't afford proprietary software can download open source programs for free

Money saved can be used to purchase other needed materials

Can easily modify your software to suit patron's needs and your needs

Little to no upgrade costs

No more grueling over software that doesn't meet your standards -- create it

yourself based off of a close preexisting piece of software

The price (free) makes it easier to change your mind when the software

doesn't live up to its expectations

Little to no viruses!

Highlighted Software for Libraries :

Our Vision 2020

Knowing the wishes of our users, how do we envisage the library of the future to look like?

The physical library will continue to enjoy a certain level of visitor ship and use as libraries will continue to play a social community space for bonding, individual and communal learning. Physical library spaces will undergo reinventions to better meet the social needs of users. They may be embedded in spaces where user frequent, and at congregation points. Physical libraries will continue to play its role of the social leveller, providing learning materials to those who cannot afford these materials, nor tools to enable convenient digital access.

It is in the space of digital content and access that a lot more is expected and where dramatic changes are expected. Before internet and mobile devices became so pervasive, libraries had been working on ideas such as personalised libraries, libraries on the go and a seamless library experience, hoping to make library content and its services as borderless and accessible as they can. Today, with the pervasive internet and mobile devices, the library of the future where rich content and access to content can be made accessible from anywhere is finally becoming a reachable reality.

What exactly do users want when they ask for the ideal library experience? Users want the information that they need at the time they need it wherever they are, and not wait for responses that take half a day or more. This has always been the users’ desire. With the digital platform, with digitisation, and with the mobile platforms, libraries are much closer to

this reality.

We envisage that users can use the library of the future in the following ways :

The Library as a Service

The library of the future is no more just a place where people visit to borrow and make references to books. It will exist as an integral part of the users’ lifestyle. It will provide the information service to people wherever and whenever they needed it most. Digitally it will exist as a service in the cloud where "digital-first" users can reach and get the appropriately provided information service anytime they need it. Physically, the library of the future will be modular, adaptive and agile, and "embedded" in places and touch points where people frequent.

The Library as a Companion

The library of the future will provide a connected library experience to information seekers as they live their lives each day. It will provide information services depending on where the user is, what he holds in his hands and what he needs. Services will be contextualised and adapted to the device in their hands. The way services will be offered is likely to be "one service, multiple expressions" depending on the device used.

The Library as a Gateway

The library of the future is the user’s personal information concierge pointing him to the best sources of information, whether from the Internet, library partners, or the library’s own content. The librarian will authenticate content and add value to the selected sources (content containers) through subject categorisation and annotations. The library would act as a content portfolio manager. It will also facilitate social tagging to enable community discovery. The library will be the user’s information filter and information harvester, harvesting authenticated content into digital subject containers. Through the librarian’s careful categorisation, annotation, and community tagging, the community of users can enjoy.

The Library as a Social Leveller

The library of the future will be a social leveller acquiring content on behalf of users who otherwise will not be able to afford these resources. The library will also subscribe and negotiate with proprietary content owners to make such content accessible via the library’s

digital or physical spaces. As a social leveller, the library selects appropriate content for 6

users of different backgrounds and to encourage them to read through proactive programming.

The Library as Memory

The library of the future is the preserver of the country’s history, heritage and culture. It is the country’s and the people’s memory bank. It will preserve present memory for future generations. With the rapid changes in technology and information explosion via the Internet,

library plays the role to preserve present heritage and ensure the readability of these contents

even when technology becomes obsolete over time.

The Library as an Experience

The library of the future has content that no one else will ever have – unique content about the country, past and present. It is therefore in a unique position to create a unique experience for its users. For the content that is curate by the library, it has full control to package it into knowledge nuggets to allow patrons to enjoy and consume in different environments and through a range of devices. The library also facilitates users to create unique content about their country.

The Library as a Network

The library of the future connects content to content to create a network of connected knowledge to enable patrons to discover related yet useful content for their research or

serendipity purposes. The library creates a "oh! I didn’t know this existed" experience for its

users. It is like visiting an exhibition when librarians dynamically select a set of content under the exhibition theme (dynamic collection management), making sense out of the selected content through "story telling" in an exhibition setting. Such crating and knowledge networking skills of a librarian can be applied to the whole database of knowledge resulting in a truly "internet" of knowledge. Patrons can traverse into different paths of knowledge discovery every time he enters into this "internet" of knowledge.

Conclusion

Librarians all over the world have been dreaming of the library of the future for many years , the library of the future is one where they can access content they want in any language from anywhere, anytime, free, and with any device they have in their hands. With digitisation and with remote access to digitised content where rights have been secured, and for public domain content, the above dream is already reality. One can access any of this content from anywhere, free and with relatively easy access from internet or mobile phones. NLB’s Newspaper SG is one of the many examples. However, this category of material is still a very small percentage of the total possible and the reason for this is that not all copyrighted content has been digitised, especially in the non-English languages, and those in smaller special libraries are not able to get funds to digitise them. The first step towards realising the vision of the library of the future is to identify the public domain content that is useful and valuable, that users want to use, and seek funding to digitise them within each country to provide access. For those under rights, if each National Library of each country can secure rights to provide some level of access digitally at the point of deposit or donation, it would help expand the pool of content that can be accessed digitally outside libraries. This will take time, however, once the process is started, it is a matter of time when more content will be made accessible in a more convenient manner. Given that more digital content with appropriate use and re-use rights will be available, the role of librarians is to design services that can deliver the content anywhere anytime, and via any new devices that come up in the market in the most efficient and effective manner. Users can be engaged to help shorten the process and improve the quality of the service and content. We are confident that by 2020, the library of the future will become a reality, at least for many more users, and for a lot more content that users have access to, with the help of the library community working together and engaging users in way they want to be engaged, anywhere.