by John Tomlinson, New York Chapter, Knowledge Management Division

To me, being future ready means supplementing my studies toward an MSLIS with reading outside our field. Casting a wide net in what I read provides a different perspective than LIS-related sources, and sometimes provokes different insights and ideas. It’s made me more creative in thinking about library/information-center related issues.

Two specifically information-related fields I try to keep up-to-date on are design and journalism. Journalism is particularly relevant because it’s facing challenges/opportunities similar to those in our field -massive technological changes affecting the collection/delivery of information and the expectations of our clients. The Poynter Institute’s Romenesko blog, Jay Rosen’s PressThink blog, and the NPR show On the Media are among many excellent sources.

I also try to read a bit about management and business. Here, the McKinsey Quarterly, various Harvard Business Review products, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review are examples of great resources.

Depending on your background and interests, fields such as cognitive psychology, computer programming, information security, architecture, law, marketing, or others might be most useful in being future ready. In any case, open eyes/ears are just as important as an open mind in our rapidly changing profession.

John Tomlinson is Senior Communications Manager at Synergos, a nonprofit organization fighting poverty and inequity around the world, and an MLIS candidate at the Pratt Institute, where he manages the website for SLA’s student chapter.