Kanczak and Szołtysik, Part 3
What Should the Twenty–first Century Librarian be Like?
Twenty–first century libraries heap new tasks upon a librarian. The model for a hybrid librarian does not have much in common with a stereotypical librarian, except in lending books. Modernized working conditions (i.e., new library buildings, new technologies) undoubtedly influence the changing image and prestige of a librarian. A modern individual wins against the stereotypical image of a librarian. A contemporary librarian becomes a guide in the world of knowledge, which demands they know how to use the new sources of information skillfully. Modern librarians are crucial now for not only their high level of expertise, but also for being able to associate with the modern individuals’ personality. A twenty–first century librarian must be modern, with modernity being a consequence of acquiring psychological, praxeological, social and professional capabilities [10].
Psychological abilities involve self–awareness, self–evaluation and self–control, which in the case of a librarian concerns a personal conviction of a mission accomplished. To keep up with the continual flow of information, new resources and new technological developments, a librarian should always be a step ahead, actively reacting to all changes and modernizations, noticing the need for their own development, not only when encouraged by their superiors, but also resulting from their own motivation to learn. Such skills will not be provided by the most thorough education, because the need for development must stem from the natural predispositions within the librarian. An ideal librarian is a person aware of his or her role and aware of the need to constantly develop and improve.
The profession of a librarian is associated with a range of praxeological competences such as diligence, adaptation and motivation. A librarian’s diligence is beyond question, as meticulousness is a required characteristic and associated by society with the librarian’s profession. Technological developments in the twenty–first century gradually necessitated a change in traditional work methods. The automation of all possible library activities and the presence of and constant changes in the field of electronic resources compel librarians to adapt to these new circumstances. Continuous professional development becomes necessary in the form of courses, training, conferences and meetings, and the use of new educational methods such as e–learning or internet discussion forums. The twenty–first century society is a learning society; therefore by virtue of their mission, librarians should serve as an example for other professional groups. Librarians should be aware that “learning processes are not only in favor of other co–employees, they also have an impact on effectiveness and quality of the library information services.” [11] A modern librarian is open to innovations and changes, because the fast–paced, constantly evolving nature of changes in libraries makes it necessary to adopt an eager and interested attitude towards new solutions. One does not need to be young to be modern, as a modern individual, particularly a modern librarian, can develop modern characteristics throughout one’s professional career even after many years of work.
Society does not consider librarianship a prestigious profession. A low social recognition and no particular prospects for a spectacular career may, to some extent, decrease the motivation in the professional environment. However, librarianship is a profession with a future. There is a demand for new specialists: discipline librarians, systems librarians and electronic information specialists. Each specialization requires other competencies and skills, and each of those presents new challenges. A sense of professional fulfillment and satisfaction tend to be significant factors influencing the librarian’s motivation.
Librarians are not motivated by lucrative career prospects. This needs to be clear to anyone considering a career as a professional librarian. However, “born librarians” are guaranteed satisfying careers. Social assessment reflects that the mission and character of our profession remains unclear, thereby requiring constant promotion and a change in the stereotypical perception of a librarian.
A librarian should serve society best by utilizing social competences such as empathy, persuasion, leadership and cooperation. For users, the librarian’s personality instantly creates a link between the media and information. As suggested by the Code of Ethics for Information Professionals, “the task of librarians consists in recognizing, satisfying and developing information, educational, scientific, cultural, esthetic needs and the needs for entertainment.” A librarian should keep up with technological developments and be proficient in new technologies. However, for all the users who can use new technologies skillfully there are just as many who cannot. Not coincidentally are librarians often referred to as psychologists [12], since they are challenged to distinguish the users’ needs appropriately, or, in some cases, to help the user specify them. Following the Code of Ethics … “while respecting differences between the users, a librarian and information services always are always governed by the principle of equal opportunities and respect for the human rights, and particularly the right to intellectual freedom and unconstrained access to knowledge, information and culture (...), understand and respect the fact that not all the users are able to receive information and use the library to the same extent. They try to equalize their chances by acting with a special concern in favor of the users with special needs and those in a socially disadvantageous situation (…)”
Libraries, as non–profit organizations, are also regarded as service providers, while the information becomes merchandise and a user the customer. Therefore, typical commercial customer service principles can also apply here. To many people, the library is often thought of as a place only visited out of necessity, in order to find a necessary item or get particular information. The need for constant knowledge acquisition will result in more frequent users’ visits, so it appears crucial to make this place a pleasant experience for the user–customer. With the modern library changing its image, modern librarians ought to change as well. Working with pleasure, and not with a sense of obligation, enables one to derive satisfaction from it, and only an employee genuinely involved in performing his or her own duties is able to approach each specific customer–user professionally. Readers’ behaviors are varied, and as previously mentioned, readers may be aware of their information needs, but may be also totally lost. Consequently, the role of a librarian consists in comforting the users and supporting them so they can overcome their own fears and anxieties about being in the library. Individual approaches to different types of customers, often including special–needs or elderly users who possibly may be unable to utilize the new technologies, are essential in building a user–friendly image of libraries and librarians. Not only is this a matter of factual preparation, but also the knowledge of psychology pertaining to customer service is extremely important in the process of the librarians’ in–service training.
The change in society’s perception of the librarian as an individual and of the profession requires us to inculcate into society that we are important as a professional group, we are useful, and that our role is not limited to passing books. The shift in the image should be first reflected in ourselves, following the proverb “fine feathers make fine birds,” and it involves persuasion, or the ability to evoke intended emotions in others. The librarians’ ethic of collaborating on improving their image as well as sharing experiences and mutual support helps society to perceive librarians as a strong, determined group of professionals, aware of their socially useful role. As suggested by Teresa Gruszecka “library as a learning organization puts a strong emphasis on collective effort and collaboration of the staff both in in–service training and in other fields: problem solving, flow of information, creating new knowledge.” [13] An increasing amount of information makes it impossible to embrace the totality of it, which is why the popularity of specialization in a particular area increases. Dealing with information in a particular area of knowledge enables one to realize and fully satisfy the readers’ needs. As a librarian, collaboration does not only refer to collaborating within the same professional group, but mostly to interacting with the user — the major drive in all libraries’ activities. Understanding and responding to the user’s needs for information ought to be the main aim in of the librarian’s work. Modern library staff should also work toward winning new readers, similar to commercial organizations winning customers. A modern human should have a craving for acquiring knowledge from childhood, and sees in it the role of libraries and librarians. Therefore, the libraries’ advertising promotion activities are tied to creating a social conviction that libraries are a necessary link allowing the user to realize even the most advanced information needs. This can take place by evoking in the reader the idea that he is important, approached individually and professionally. In a consumption–oriented world, the role of information should be equally important as that of any other need in a contemporary individual.
Discussing professional qualifications last might not seem to make sense; however the essential issue appears to be the personality of a contemporary librarian, his way of approaching his duties and new challenges, while education, as acquired knowledge, becomes only a help in professional life. The increasing popularity of area specialists shows the abundance of knowledge in today’s world requires more narrowly–focused specializations, because mastering both the present and fast–growing new information resources is simply impossible. Apart from area knowledge, a modern librarian should also be qualified in terms of sources of information and using them, not to mention keeping up with constantly changing information resources. Proficiency in searching information and knowledge, allowing its selection and minimizing information noise should be the basic requirement towards being a successful librarian. A librarian should also be equipped with general knowledge, to enable him to be conversant in a multitude of subjects. The current model of the librarians’ university training is directed towards improvement in the scope of scientific information, and later library science or bibliology. Self–improvement and training is also an extremely important issue. By their professional attitude, librarians should serve as an example to the user living in the learning society, and it is the conception of lifelong learning that should be perfectly reflected in the person of the librarian. A contemporary librarian should combine the two professions of computer scientist and economist, because proficiency in the use of electronic tools and a marketing approach to library and the marketing of its services is the only alternative in the case of hybrid libraries. The motto of this year’s Library Week was “Don’t you know? Ask in the library.” This model of a librarian should be the ideal for all library staff representatives — to be a guide to the user, not only a person lending books (which are gradually displaced by electronic and multimedia resources), and also a help in finding the most precious thing nowadays — information.
The development of the modern world and requirements cast upon the society imply that librarians working among the richest sources of information are very important individuals providing access to information to be transformed into knowledge. And the crucial issue is not the debate whether the librarian is necessary, but the question of developing the model and standards of librarians’ activity to become an integral part of modern society and its consequences, and to be perceived in this way by a more and more demanding user.