OLJ Task 2 (Module 3: Library 2.0 and participatory services)

Define what you believe to be the essential knowledge, skills and attributes of an information professional in a Web 2.0 world

Web 2.0 technologies are the second generation of the World Wide Web digital tools that allow users to participate in the creation, modification, and publishing dynamic content of all kinds.  I believe that a Web 2.0 information professional must possess the following essential knowledge, skills and attributes:

User focused

The information profession deals mostly with services, hence, a Web 2.0 information professional should love working with people and looks at things from the users’ perspective.

Ability to provide information using Web 2.0 technologies

A Web 2.0 information professional is a person who  has fundamental understanding of the Web 2.0 and emerging technologies and has the ability to evaluate such technologies to find out if they are appropriate for the workplace (Casell & Hiremath, 2011). Social networking technologies help libraries connect with users and potential users “where they are”, hence,  Web 2.0 information professionals should possess the ability to decide on the potential of using Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Blogs, Wikis, RSS, and others. Harvey (2009) emphasised the need to ensure that decisions to use new tools should only be made if they serve the purpose of helping in delivering services to users. The patrons should be the driving force behind the decision on which tools make the best sense to employ (Harvey, 2009).

Online searching expertise and familiarity with research on assessment and evaluation

Because of the vast electronics resources available (commercial and free), Web 2.0 librarians must be knowledgeable in selecting electronic resources for their users. They should be able to retrieve and discern reliable from unreliable information from the Web. Also, librarian 2.0 should have skills in research; it is a way for them to be making the best decisions, developing best practice, and establishing benchmarking (Patridge, Lee, & Munro, 2010).

Good collaborator and a team player

With so much to learn from current and emerging technologies, teamwork is essential. There are just far too many information and Web 2.0 tools for a single person to handle on their own.

Interpersonal skills

Web 2.0 information professionals deal with their colleagues, users, and other stakeholders. Interpersonal skills include not only on how we communicate with others but also our confidence and our ability to listen and understand, solve problems, make decisions and manage personal stress (SkillsYouNeed, 2012).

Ability to adapt to change

Because the information services sector is now intertwined with technology, the only sure thing to happen in the future is change. Consequently, any information professional should be adaptable to these technological changes to be able to serve their users effectively. The successful librarian in the Web 2.0 world is interested in what is happening around them (Patridge et al., 2010).

Enthusiasm for career-long learning

Technological changes have made modern libraries what they are today. Hence, information professionals must keep pace with the latest library trends through seminars, lectures, conferences, workshops, etc. A librarian 2.0 should experiment with new technologies as they come along and maintain a healthy dose of scepticism (Harvey, 2009).

Desire to share knowledge through teaching

The complexity of the library’s resources has made it necessary that users receive assistance. A Web 2.0 information professional should have the desire to teach users on how to use electronic resources, the online catalogue, and other available databases.

Good communication skills in both written and oral

With the continually expanding availability of electronic resources and digitized materials, new terms have come out that information professionals need to know, in addition to their existing language. Metadata, OPAC, and Web 2.0 terms such as blogs, Wikis, Folksonomies, Social Networking-(Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn), and Mashups are just among the new terminologies that came out that librarians need to be conversant with.

Appreciates the importance of marketing program

Paying attention to promotion and marketing of libraries is becoming more important than ever; major marketing or publicity campaigns (through social media) are important elements of the organisation to bring clients into the library to use its planned new services (Cassell & Hiremath, 2011).

References

Cassell, K. A., & Hiremath, U. (2011). Reference and information services in the 21st century: An introduction. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers.

Harvey, M. (2009). What does it mean to be a Science librarian 2.0? Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, (Summer). Retrieved from http://www.istl.org/09-summer/article2.html

Patridge, H., Lee, J., & Munro, C. (2010). Becoming “Librarian 2.0”: The skills, knowledge, and attributes required by library and information science professionals in Web 2.0 world (and beyond). Library Trends, 59(1-2), 315-335. DOI: 10.1353/lib.2010.0029.

SkillsYouNeed. (2012). What are interpersonal skills? Retrieved from http://www.skillsyouneed.co.uk/interpersonal_skills.html