Developing Librarian Competencies for the Digital Age

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Description

Librarianship is both an art and a science. Librarians study the science of information and how to work with clients to help them find solutions to their information needs. They also learn quickly that there is an art to working with people, to finding the answers to tough questions using the resources available and knowing which information resources to use to find the information being sought in short order. But, what technical skills do librarians need to be successful in the future How can library managers best develop their staffs for success Developing Librarian Competencies for the Digital Age explores questions such as: 1.What is the composition of a modern library collection 2.Will that collection look different in the future 3.What are the information sources and how do we manage those 4.What are the technical skills needed for a 21st century librarian 5.How will reference services change and adapt to embrace new ways to interact with library patrons or clients 6.What kinds of library skills are needed for the librarian of today to grow and thrive, now and into the future 7.How will service models change to existing clients and how will the model change going into the future of librarianship 8.What kinds of budgeting challenges are there for libraries and the administrators who oversee these libraries 9.What do the library professional organizations see as the core skills needed for new graduates and those practicing in the profession going into the future In answering those questions, the book identifies specific digital skills needed for success, ways of developing those skills, and ways of assessing them.

Reviews

The changes and challenges faced by health sciences librarians require the skills described in this practical and highly readable work. . . The book is highly recommended for all levels of health sciences librarians. Librarians at the entry level and at mid-career and later will find much here to appreciate, adopt, and apply. * Journal of the Medical Library Association *
Coghill and Russell have pulled together a team of librarian experts who have demonstrated the new and exciting roles librarians play through digital management and access to information. The authors challenge librarians to think in different ways about how knowledge is created and how librarians participate in the life-cycle of information. New technologies and customer needs require librarians to constantly keep up with new principles, skills and systems to manage digital information so it is accessible in a way that makes sense to the customer and provides flexibility in discovery and use of information. -- Linda Walton, Director, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences; Director, NN/LM Greater Midwest Region
I often write about changes within the library profession, so I am excited to see that this book successfully tackles librarian competencies in the ever-evolving library world. The past, present, and future of librarianship are explored with key outcomes every new librarian needs to know. -- Michelle Kraft, Author of The Krafty Librarian and Library Director, Cleveland Clinic Floyd D. Loop Alumni Library

Author Bio

Jeffrey Coghill is Outreach Librarian and Director, Eastern AHEC Library Services since 2009 here at East Carolina University, Laupus Library. From 2001-2009, he was Collection Development Librarian at Laupus. As the Outreach Librarian, Jeff helps healthcare professionals find the best information so that they can help their patients get better. Roger Russell has been a professional librarian at East Carolina university's William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library since 2000. His combined professional and paraprofessional experience spans over many areas of library operations from Circulation to Outreach. Since 2007, he has been the Assistant Director for User Services.