Much of the conversation surrounding the education of librarians has centered around one fundamental premise–that the goal of a library science program should be to make “better” librarians.
Better than what? And what does a “better” librarian look like? What makes one librarian better than another? Is it aptitude or attitude? Is it skills? Knowledge? Personality? Compassion? Intelligence? Credentials? What characteristics are most important when looking to staff our libraries now and in the future?
What sets the best librarians apart from the rest? And what should we be expecting our schools–online and bricks & mortar–to be doing in order to create better librarians?
Or does being a great librarian come from within?
Until we know the answers to these questions, how do we know what it is we’re hoping to achieve when we talk about professional excellence?
I would love to hear your definitions of what being a better librarian means.
I think that a better librarian is one who, through reading and education and maybe experience, knows that there are many types of libraries out there and many types of patrons. Like many others I got my start as a page in my high school library and went on to publishing and academia. That doesn’t mean that I ignore any information on public, corporate, museum and any other library that exists. I’ll never work in the Library of Congress or the Huntington, but I am interested in and concerned about their issues and problems. I love to learn how people in my particular position do their jobs in all types of libraries. I don’t think that I would have maintained that interest without a degree in Library Science. Being a librarian is not just a job!
Thank you. I agree that it is so important to be engaged in the profession as a whole, not just one’s own job.
1. good people skills (communicating, collaborating, negotiating, persistence.)
2. creative, knowledgeable, self motivated – seeing possibilities where others see limits, Imagining new purposes for existing resources, infrastructure and personnel.
3. Adept with technology without being a slave to it.
And that is you, my friend. : )
Anyone who earned their MLS before 1980
I think a “better” librarian has curiosity, a desire to keep learning new things and to keep gaining insights and skills, and a willingness to try to change their assumptions based on new evidence. I think you have that in bushels, as do many people I’ve seen posts on here or on Will Manley’s blog.
Thank you! I’m so glad you said “curiosity”. That is so very important, IMO.
I think today what constitutes a really excellent librarian is probably a bit different depending upon the library the librarian is working in – i.e. public, academic, research etc.
Having said that I think that in 2012 a really great librarian has to have some qualities that are the same no matter what type of library that librarian works in and they can be housed under two umbrellas: 1. core values and skills and 2. technological literacy.
I define core values as: having a strong work ethic, an open mind, the ability to house personal preferences when assisting patrons and be completely non-judgmental (i.e. when someone is looking for that new sensational political biography that you can’t stand; you smile and either show that patron where the book is or put it on hold for them and resist the urge to comment..), be a team player and assist other staff and patrons (i.e. never utter the words “It’s not my job” when asked to do something that doesn’t require an MLIS like un-jam the printer or send a fax and the staff at Circ are so busy they have a line out the door – just step in and cheerfully help out) and honestly have a calling to help people because that is really what you’re doing – you work at a library to help people so be willing to do that in all its many facets taking care of matters little and big from getting toilet paper to put in the public bathrooms when all the toilet paper dispensers are empty to sitting down with a patron trying to type up his first resume in Word and spending 90 minutes working with that patron until he gets his resume typed up and submitted to the site he’s applying for a job through to assisting the teenager whose report on one of the presidents is due (and scurrying around trying to find that last available book on Thomas Jefferson), and an ability to be tactful when dealing with patrons (i.e. when the patron thinks the book is available at your library and really the catalog shows it is available at another library in the system (public libraries of course) and you know your library doesn’t own that book yet because you saw it arrive this morning and it hasn’t been processed yet – then you go to the catalog anyway and look at the title, show the patron who to tell which library owns the book and then offer to put the patron’s name on your libraries copy of the book so he or she can have that book as soon as it is ready to circulate. And I’m sure I’ve left something out – but all of those items are core values and/or skills that I think are necessary for one to have to be a great librarian and offer patrons outstanding customer service.
And as far as technological literacy goes – I think that also includes keeping an open mind because you have to be open to new tech items and technological ways of doing things. Additionally, I’d say tech literacy consists of keeping up with tech news in general and what new hardware and software items are coming out specifically as well as learning to use as many tech devices, i.e. PCs and Macs running different operating systems, tablets, e-readers etc. as you can so you get well enough versed in tech usage that you can assist patrons with their tech questions.
And it has been a very busy week so I’m going to stop there as I think I’ve hit the basics!
I will however end with one more thing — short is obviously not in my vocabulary — but I don’t think being long winded is a necessary skill for one to have to be a great librarian!
First, I am honored that you have commented on my blog since I know you are a regular at Will’s Tavern. Now that I am getting more and varied comments, I am in awe of how he keeps up with it all! Thank you for your obviously informed perspective. I think you hit on so many good points.
Must like people (even when they don’t like you).
Must be creative (even when people are convinced the old way works).
Must be willing to go the extra mile (even when it doesn’t seem like there is one).
Must know the history of your library, libraries, books (in all forms) research (in all forms).
Must be willing to try new things and know when new things are just not right yet (the know when the hold’em, know when to fold’em philosophy).
Must not weld your intellectual ability as a weapon but use it as a tool to help others.
Must be able to not take yourself too seriously.
Must be flexible. The building that does not sway with the breeze, breaks.
It’s early, and my octane level isn’t up to par yet. Those were the first things I could think of.
Well, those were very good non-octane, first things! Thanks!