Persons with a superior record high qualification can achieve high position. We need to recruit a more diverse and creative workforce by starting to tell a different story about the library profession and creating a pipeline of talent. And, to be sure, law librarians do provide the service that is often thought of as supplementary or secondary. Librarians all over the world are well aware of their profession s ethical implications. Perhaps, too, its the easy story to tell, requiring little in the way of analysis or consequence. The paper will explore the implications of this theory for our understanding of librarianship as a profession today and the appropriate form or forms of education for such a profession. Cheong 2008 explained that librarianship is generally considered to be concerned with the principle and practice of selecting, acquiring, organizing.
An introduction acknowledge that, while there are many texts published each year on different aspects of library and information practice, it is rare to find a comprehensive coverage. A major contributor to the invisible normativity of whiteness in librarianship has been the fact that whiteness has played such a fundamental role in the profession from the start. Stereotypical image of the librarianship profession it is very important to understand about the flow of real image to the librarianship profession. Visiting professor, school of information studies, university of.
It is one of the best rewarding and internationally acclaimed blogs for the libraries, librarians, catalogers, information scientists, lis faculty, and research scholars. In 1980s, there was a particular column, for several years, focused solely on the image of librarians as a prime example of the. A profession refers to an occupation that requires specialized education, knowledge, training and ethics and the purpose of which is generally to provide skilled services and guidance in lieu of a definite fee or remuneration. Code of ethics for librarians and information professionals. National codes of ethics for librarians by countries background. The post, in essence, is a reminder that librarianship is its own profession. How librarians can be radical positive change agents in their communities, dedicated to learning and making a difference. At academic research institutions such as ours at usc librarians are being held accountable, more than ever before, to provide solid evidence of the quality of their work, and of their impact on the mission of both their institution and their library. Ifla code of ethics for librarians and other information workers. An introduction acknowledge that, while there are many texts published each year on different aspects of library and information practice, it is rare to find a comprehensive coverage of the entire subject and profession p. Reviews three books that deal with the mission, values, and ethics of the library profession, focusing on the theme of the necessity for continuing discussion and rethinking about librarianship. The lies we tell ourselves in brief vocational awe describes the set of ideas, values, and assumptions librarians have about themselves and the profession that result in notions that libraries as institutions are inherently good, sacred notions, and therefore beyond critique.
To prepare themselves for this career shift, many have read everything they can find about the profession of law librarianship, and they have talked to law librarians in the field. Arguing that librarianship is an institutionalized profession i. Observes that in earlier days when the recorded sources of information were limited in number, scholars could be the users as well as managers of libraries. Introduction to public librarianship, third edition ala. Leadership in librarianship american libraries magazine. Introduction to public librarianship, third edition.
The code of ethics for librarians and information professionals defines basic principles binding for all representatives of the profession and identifying their social mission and ethical responsibility in all environments of their professional activity. In the broader field of librarianship, graduates work in school, academic, public, and special sectors e. A librarian needs masters degree in library science a bachelors degree in any undergraduate subject is acceptable in. It covers every aspect of the public library, from its earliest history through its current incarnation on the cutting edge of the information environment, including. This book offers a guide for librarians who see their profession as a chance to make a positive difference in their communitieslibrarians who recognize that it is no longer enough to stand behind a desk waiting to serve. Its study is based on a systematic theory that delineates and supports the skills that characterize the profession. The salaries in college university libraries are comparable to those teachers.
Stacey greenwell, edd, has served the university of kentucky libraries since 2001 in several roles, including associate dean for academic affairs and research, head of the information commons, and head of desktop support. Law librarianship faq information school university of. It merges the disciplines of library science, information science, information management, and knowledge management. Librarianship is an informationoriented profession which focuses on developing library information collections in order to meet the information needs of users. Librarianship definition, a profession concerned with acquiring and organizing collections of books and related materials in libraries and servicing readers and others with these resources.
We need this reminder because we are often relegated to a supplementary or secondary character within our institutions. Defines librarianship as the art and science of managing recorded knowledge. Librarianship thus can be a great profession for those who enter it with the seriousness of purpose. This essential tool library journal remains the definitive handbook on this branch of the profession.
Jcel king library, 303b 151 south campus avenue oxford, ohio 45056. Firm librarianship an overview sciencedirect topics. Jun 09, 2015 as the library profession transforms to respond to an increasingly hightechhightouch environment, the talents and skills embodied by all library professionals are necessarily changing. If youre considering a job as a librarian, here are some facts from the u. Kuhlman director, joint university libraries changing concepts of librarianship librarianship is one of the emerging professions. The journal of academic librarianship, an international and refereed journal, publishes articles that focus on problems and issues germane to college and university libraries. Over the next decade librarians will encounter the twin. Librarianship as profession ginger law librarian jamie baker. A personal view by dr judith broadypreston leader, cilip councildepartment of information studies, aberystwyth university presentation to the keys to time. In fact, it is possible to choose the kind of library to suit ones interest and background. But while librarians tried to come to terms with the discrepancies between the accepted definitions of what constitutes a profession. In addition, librarians provide instruction on information literacy.
Jal provides a forum for authors to present research findings and, where applicable, their practical applications and. But todays libraries with torrents of information sources and users on either side makes management a truly challenging task requiring highly specialized. Core competences of librarianship final version approved by the ala executive board, october 25 th 2008 approved and adopted as policy by the ala council, january 27 th 2009 this document defines the basic knowledge to be possessed by all persons graduating from an alaaccredited masters program in library and information studies. Librarianship as a profession research paper 1026 words. Information ethics and the library profession request pdf. Apr 16, 2018 if youre considering a job as a librarian, here are some facts from the u. In more than 60 countries library associations have developed and approved a national code of ethics for librarians. Results and analysis will be used to advocate on behalf of libraries at the national level and will be shared widely with the library field and the media. To see how other lawyers who became law librarians made the transition, this article might be helpful. The ruins of the ancient world furnish evidence that the older. Bossaller is associate professor at the university of missouris school of information science and learning technologies.
Ideal for practitioners looking to advance their careers and for use in lis programs, this comprehensive overview journal of access services has been thoroughly revised and updated to provide a timely exploration of the characteristics of academic librarianship and its place in the everchanging environment of higher education. Chandos publishing, journal of librarianship and information science, 40, no. Librarianship as a profession provides a variety of employment opportunities. The remaining 8% either work in special libraries corporate. The principles in question are divided into three groups. The historical dictionary of librarianship focuses on librarianship as a modern, organized profession, emphasizing the period beginning in the mid19th century. They attempted to construct librarianship in the united states as an equivalent. Firm librarianship will remain a dynamic and resilient profession as long as it responds effectively to two defining qualities of law firm practice. The billable hour and monetized time have been cited frequently in this book. She earned her ma in library science in 2005, worked at the mobius consortium from 2005 2008, and earned a phd in information science and learning technologies in 2010. As the library profession transforms to respond to an increasingly hightechhightouch environment, the talents and skills embodied by all library professionals are necessarily changing. A librarian is a person who works professionally in a library, providing access to information and sometimes social or technical programming to users. Textbook sociology calls librarianship a semiprofes sion. Author mary ellen quinn relates the history of this profession through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography.
The foundation of modern librarianship rests on an essential set of core values that define, inform, and guide our professional practice. Educational requirements for being a librarian a librarian needs masters degree in library science a bachelors degree in any undergraduate subject is acceptable in order to enter a graduate program in library science. Core values of librarianship and practice of information. Definitions of profession it has been established that the traditional western definitions of profession. As such, it represents one of the oldest as well as one of the youngest callings. Library science often termed library studies, bibliothecography, library economy, and informatics is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries. Sep 01, 2017 the libraries respond survey can be taken online or in pdf format and will be available through may 18. Transforming the library profession american libraries magazine. Librarianship is the domain of the professional librarian. The author discusses how librarianship stacks up against the established professions and explores whether librarianship is considered as a profession. Cheong 2008 explained that librarianship is generally considered to be concerned with the principle and practice of. Thus, bell and shank proposed in 2004 that blended librarians combine the traditional skill set of librarianship with the information technologists hardwaresoftware skills, and the instructional.
Librarianship is, definitely, an occupation, which demands specialized knowledge and skills. Transforming the library profession american libraries. Defining excellence in academic librarianship at usc deal. I believe that libraries are entering into a challenging new stage of development characterized by an ex tended transition toward an increasingly electronic information future. Librarianship professions teacher librarian services. The media now tends to report on politics as if it were sports. The purpose of introduction to librarianship is to set forth some of the most fundamental elements of librarianship in sufficient detail to help the student acquire a foundation of historical background, an understanding of major library objectives, services, and needs, and an appreciation of librarianship as a profession and a career which. This article provides an extensive discussion about the idea of profession. The new librarianship field guide, also published by mit press, was written as a text book for library students and people looking for a more linear introduction to new librarianship.
Introduction to public librarianship, third edition ala store. These values reflect the history and ongoing development of the profession and have been advanced, expanded, and refined by numerous policy statements of the american library association. Whether you are a student, a researcher, or a working professional, this place is. Role of the library and information science professionals. Most librarian positions incorporate three aspects of library work. The largest category of respondents reported that they work in school libraries 45%, followed by public libraries 30%, and academic libraries 17%. We hope by making the atlas free online we can expand the conversation on the value and future of the profession internationally. People use the words profession and professional in a multitude of ways.
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