SLA Toronto Chapter, February 9, 1999
Presented by Vicki Casey vicasey@ibm.net
Tuesday, Febrary, 1999

CONTEXT

Paradigm shifts that have an impact on traditional libraries.

1. The transition from paper to electronic media as the dominant form of information storage and retrieval, and the convergence of previously separate media, such as text, graphics, and sound, into multimedia resources.

2. Increasing demand for accountability, including a focus on customers, performance measurement, benchmarking and continuous improvement in an era when the financial resources available for providing library and information services are shrinking.

3. New forms of work organization: end-user computing, information literacy, new information specialists, management delayering, telework, outsourcing, downsizing and re-engineering.

Source: Competencies for Special Librarians of the 21st Century. SLA Special Committee on Competencies for Special Librarians

THE CHALLENGE

Librarians’ identity that of professionals who work in libraries

Shrinking market for traditional library jobs

Expanding job market for information management skills

Blurred roles - new occupations performing same types of job as librarians

CAREER RESILIANCE

Readiness for new challenges

Exploring new employment options beyond libraries

Generic definition of skills and competencies that can be applied laterally across the job market

Proactive approach to professional development that positions the individual for change

Understanding the trends and shifts that are beyond the control of the individual

WHAT CAN’T BE CONTROLLED

• budget constraints

• downsizing/restructuring

• technology trends

• labour market

• inevitability of continuous change

WHAT CAN BE CONTROLLED

• attitude/approach - every crisis is an opportunity

• continuous personal development/learning

• initiative - pro-active approach

• constructive problem-solving

WHAT DO LIBRARIANS KNOW?

How to link users to the information they need.

ACCESSIBILITY

• make information accessible to users through coherent indexing and classification

• design information services based on how users seek information - what works, what doesn’t?

navigation/interface design

criteria for choosing quality information resources

DELIVERING INFORMATION SERVICE

• question negotiation and definition

• assess context of information request

• retrieve information relevant to that context

• refer users to the best sources

OTHER

• managing multiple formats

• communications - speaking, writing, presentation

• marketing/promotion of information services

HOT SKILLS - THE JOB MARKET

1. Information/database design

• classification/indexing
• quality content
• navigation
• usability

2. Sales/customer service

3. Information service delivery

• managing delivery to user desktops
• customized strategic research
• intranet design
• training/support
• marketing/promotion

SOME NON-TRADITIONAL JOBS

Corporations

• researcher
• manager of desktop services
• information analyst
• intranet manager
• trainer
• user support
• Webmaster
• content resources manager (internal and external)
• competitive intelligence
• database designer and manager
• knowledge resources manager
• call centre co-ordinator

Information Industry

(electronic publishers, Web publishers, software producers)

• marketing
• database structure
• interface design
• usability
• sales
• training/customer service
• documentation writer

Consultant

• Web site design
• information service planning
• product design/development
• custom research/information analysis/literature synthesis

professional development/training

HOW TO GET THERE

Identify Values

• security
• social belonging
• self esteem
• growth and development

Identify skills/competencies

• optimal experiences
• strengths
• limitations

Identify interests

• what do you enjoy doing?
• balance between job and personal life

Establish goals

combine skills, interests, values job market opportunities

ACTION PLAN FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT

• build on skills and knowledge, strengths and weaknesses, interests, values to reach goals

• minimize limitations through skill development and learning

• take relevant courses/workshops

• track job market

• research specific professional/industry sectors

• track news on targeted industry sectors

• identify organizations and contacts within targeted sector

• visit industry/professional organization Web sites for jobs and news

• visit specific company/organization sites for jobs and news

• subscribe to personalized or free news services for trends, developments

• monitor career/sites

• NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!

subscribe to listservs in areas of interest

attend industry events

develop and communicate with contacts

USEFUL WEB SITES FOR CAREER PLANNING

Core competencies for special librarians

Report on competencies for professional librarians. Also self assessment tools.

Core competencies; selected readings

National Library of Canada’s bibliography on librarian’s core competencies.

GLOBEcareers.com

Offers a section for recruiters and one for job searchers, along with discussion and career-related news. Links to other good quality career sites. A good starting point.

The WORK Place

A comprehensive information site from Human Resources Canada on the labour market and the world of work. Includes comprehensive Canadian and U.S. career resource links. A link from most career metasites.

Canadian Careers

This comprehensive site offers career planning resources, job and company listings plus links to many difficult to find areas for job seekers.

Canada WorkInfoNet

This award winning site contains numerous links to Canadian career planning resources. Pages include job search resources, career planning for professionals, industry sectors and entrepreneurs, training information, financial assistance and groups like women and aboriginals.

CareerMosaic

Features a jobs database arranged by country, along with information about online job fairs, a resume bank and a search of relevant newsgroups. The Canadian section links to international offerings.

Faculty of Information Studies Jobsite

www.fis.utoronto.ca/news/jobsite

University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information Studies job board along with an excellent collection of career planning, assessment and labour market resources. Included are economic, labour market, and career planning sites along with a comprehensive selection of job banks and job search sites. Also includes newsgroups and listservs.

The Riley Guide

The grandmother of career metasites, Margaret Riley’s comprehensive guide to Internet job resources gives clear, commonsense advice on using the Internet for job searching along with numerous links to other job and career sites.

How to Use the Net to Find a Job

Part of the CNet service on the Web this site offers tips on how to use the Internet effectively for job searching and points to the best employment databases on the Web. American focus.

INTERNET NEWS SERVICES

Here are a few free subscription news services that help keep track of the latest developments in technology.

Cnet News.com: www.news.com

CMPnet Techweb: www.techweb.com

Edupage: www.educom.edu

NewsPage: www.newspage.com

IDGnet: www.idg.net