"Redefining the Information Professional" Presented by Dr. Sandra Hirsh (May 2013)

How to be a Catalyst for Change:
Redefining the Library 2.0 Information Professional
Dr. Sandra Hirsh, Professor and Director
May 2013

2
Forbes Article
“The low pay rank and estimated growth rank
make library and information science the worst
master’s degree for jobs right now.”
Source: Forbes (2012).http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2012/06/08/the-best-and-worst-masters-
degrees-for-jobs-2/2/
Hirsh – The Partnership's Education Institute, May 2013

3
Response
“We should not be waiting quietly for the
next wave of cuts or defending libraries in
idealized terms. It is time for us to join the
fight with a consistent, strong message
based on data and designed for
politicians and policymakers at all levels
of government across the country.”
- Bertot, Jaeger & Sarin
Source: http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/09172012/forbes-folly

4
Response: ALA President
“… for librarians the primary motivation is
job satisfaction derived from the
opportunity to make a significant
difference in the lives of others.”
- Maureen Sullivan
Source: http://www.ala.org/news/pr?id=10953

5
Bunheads are Dead
“The media generally still casts the
librarian as the bunheaded spinster,
sweater clipped over the shoulders and
pince-nez perched at the end of her
nose, hushing any who dare to break
through her dusty, dimly lit cone of
silence.”
- Haycock and Garner
Source: http://www.libraryng.com/sites/libraryng.com/files/Bunheads.pdf

6
Response
“Graduates of master’s of library and
information science programs (now
frequently known as “information schools"
or “i-schools”) have training in a range
of competencies that can be successfully
applied not only in librarianship, but
also to careers in other fields.”
- Maureen Sullivan
Source: http://www.ala.org/news/pr?id=10953

7
STEP #1:
We need to be clear and proactive
STEP #2:
Leverage our skills as technology evolves
STEP #3:
We need to become catalysts for change
Redefine the Information Professions

8
STEP #1:
Be Clear and
Proactive

9
Source: “The Information Professions: Knowledge, Memory, Heritage” delivered at the 2012 ALISE conference http://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/
faculty/bates/articles/pdf/InfoProfessions.pdf

10
“We need to be formulating a conception
of the information professions that makes
sense out of the ferment, one that
rationalizes and clarifies just what these
fields are, including where the existing
information professions play a role in this
new landscape. After all, do we want
someone else setting our agenda?
“Proactive” is the name of the game.”
- Marcia Bates
Source: “The Information Professions: Knowledge, Memory, Heritage” delivered at the 2012 ALISE conference http://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/
bates/articles/pdf/InfoProfessions.pdf

11
BE OPEN-MINDED AND
CREATIVE
STEP #2:
Leverage Skills
as Technology
Evolves

12
Emerging Technologies:
1 Year or Less

2013
Horizon
Report

Source: http://gcn.com/pages/trending/elearning.aspx?s=gcntech_050313

13
2 to 3 Years


2013
Horizon
Report


14


2013
Horizon
Report

4 to 5 Years

15
“Even though people with a master’s in
library science may have trouble finding
a job as a librarian, their research and
analytical skills are valuable for jobs in a
variety of other fields, such as market
researchers or computer and information
systems managers.”
- Bureau of Labor Statistic
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012-2013). Librarians on the Internet. Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S.
Department of Labor. Retrieved from: http://www.bis.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/librarians.html
Emerging Job Titles

16
Emerging Job Titles
Source: http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/10/placements-and-salaries/2012-survey/emerging-jobs-new-titles/
SALARYSTAT
Top Five Job Titles
Archivist
Digital Services Librarian/Coordinator
Information Resource Manager
Learning Resource Center Manager/Coordinator
Reference Librarian
The New & Unusual
Digital Asset Manager
Emerging Technology Specialist
Health/Science Informatics Administrator/Analyst
Technology Development Librarian
User Experience Designer

17
Library 2.0 Emerging Job Titles
LIS Skills and Knowledge:
•  Reference skills
•  Networks, metadata, digital assets, database
management, website development
•  Management-level positions
•  Statistics/analysis skills
•  Teaching/instruction
•  Knowledge of emerging trends/technologies
•  Digitization projects, integrated library systems
and others
Source: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/downloads/emerging_trends_2012.pdf Library and Information Careers:
Emerging Trends and Titles, San Jose State University 2012

18
•  Emerging services
librarian
•  Director of digital
content
•  Digital asset
coordinator
•  Digitization and
services coordinator
•  Virtual services
librarian
•  E-librarian
•  Distance learning
librarian
•  Metadata librarian
•  Community
engagement librarian
•  Outreach librarian
Source: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/downloads/emerging_trends_2012.pdf
Library Setting Titles:

19
Examples from the SLIS Community
Alum Steven Deineh Lands Job as Instruction
Librarian
“Its extremely difficult to break into the community
college scene without at least a little bit of teaching
experience,” says Deineh, who has worked at four
community colleges. “At the majority of community
colleges where I’ve worked, all the librarians provide
bibliographic instruction (library orientations), so be
sure to get some experience doing them.”
Alum Erin Hawkins is Metadata Specialist at World
Digital Library
As a metadata specialist at the World Digital Library at
the Library of Congress, SLIS alumna Erin Hawkins has
worked on items ranging from early explorers’ maps of
the Americas to manuscripts of Arabic poetry on
mathematics. “What I like best about my job is that I get
an opportunity to engage my curiosity and learn
something new every single day,” said Hawkins.

20
•  Digital product manager
•  Digital strategist
•  Lead metadata architect
•  Cloud metadata specialist
•  Systems administrator
•  Information architect-
Taxonomy
•  Web developer
•  Semantic web
programmer
•  Director of digital content/
media and metadata
Source: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/downloads/emerging_trends_2012.pdfrary and Information Careers:
Emerging Trends and Titles, San Jose State University 2012
Non-Library Setting Titles

21
SLIS Alumni in Non-Library LIS Positions
Alum Ron Cascella Finds New Job in Digital Asset
Management with Adobe Systems
Alum Ron Cascella’s SLIS coursework in web
development and digital asset management recently
helped him gain a position on the Contnet Delivery
Team at Adobe Systems in Seattle, Washington.
Cascella was hired in April 2011 to support product
development and marketing for the large software
company, which creates tools such as Adobe Reader,
Flash, and Dreamweaver.
Alum Jami Morritt Lands “Dream Job”
Earning her MLIS at San Jose sometimes felt like a
long journey for Jami Morritt, but it paid off when the
Spring 2008 grad landed her ‘dream job’ as Records
Manager or the City of Berkeley.

22
UNITE AND ADVOCATE
Redefine the information professions
STEP #3:
Be Catalysts for
Change in the
Professions

23
“It is time that all the information
professions unite to make clear
their role in society to the larger
society, so that our value becomes
clear to all.”
- Marcia Bates
Source: “The Information Professions: Knowledge, Memory, Heritage” delivered at the 2012 ALISE conference http://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/
bates/articles/pdf/InfoProfessions.pdf

24
The Need for Advocacy – Diane Sonnenwald
Advocacy for information
professionals worldwide can:
•  increase employers’ understanding regarding the value
information professionals can add to their organizations;
•  help individuals see benefits in studying to become
information professionals;
•  increase various funding agencies’ and government
agencies’ perception regarding the importance of
research and educational programs in our field; and
•  improve the public’s understanding and appreciation
of information professionals and research in our discipline.
Source: http://www.asis.org/Bulletin/Jun-12/JunJul12_PresidentsPage.html

25
ASIS&T Information Professionals Task Force

26
ASIS&T Information Professionals Task
Force
How you can help!
•  Promote information professions to
external audiences and broaden their
perceptions
•  Invite related professional associations
to band together

27
“I believe in the future of libraries... I
think it is bright. However it requires
the profession to shape that future
and communicate to the world that
we are powerful, on their side, and
innovators.”
- R. David Lankes
Source: R. David Lankes, Author of The Atlas of New Librarianship

28
LIS education + Libraries =
Catalyst for Change
•  Create new residency models in libraries to
cultivate future leaders – Whitepaper
“We can all make a difference in developing future leaders
who are able to help transform and secure a lasting but
evolving place for libraries in the future.”
- Susan Benton, President and CEO, Urban Libraries Council
•  Host virtual internships to enable libraries to
foster change – Virtual internships
•  Participate in virtually abroad projects to
facilitate change – Virtually abroad

29
Key Take Aways
Actions Needed:
1) Redefine information professions
2) Leverage our skills as technology evolves
3) Be catalysts for change in the professions

30
Key Take Aways
How to Enact Change:
1) Be clear and proactive
2) Be open-minded and creative
3) Unite and advocate

31
Catalyst for Change
“I am personally convinced that one
person can be a change catalyst, a
"transformer" in any situation, any
organization. Such an individual is yeast
that can leaven an entire loaf. It
requires vision, initiative, patience,
respect, persistence, courage, and faith
to be a transforming leader.”
- Stephen Covey

32
Thank you for attending!
Dr. Sandy Hirsh, Professor and Director
sandy.hirsh@sjsu.edu
Facebook: facebook.com/sjsuslis
Twitter: twitter.com/sjsuslis
Pinterest: pinterest.com/sjsuslis/
YouTube: youtube.com/user/sjsuslis
slisweb.sjsu.edu

"Redefining the Information Professional" Presented by Dr. Sandra Hirsh (May 2013)

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to "Redefining the Information Professional" Presented by Dr. Sandra Hirsh (May 2013)

Similar to "Redefining the Information Professional" Presented by Dr. Sandra Hirsh (May 2013) (20)

More from SJSU School of Information

More from SJSU School of Information (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

"Redefining the Information Professional" Presented by Dr. Sandra Hirsh (May 2013)