by Gwen Alexander

As the dean of the School of Library and Information Management at Emporia State University, I spend a great deal of time thinking about how we should be offering learning experiences that will support 21^st century librarians. The two most important skills that come to mind immediately are both related to “change”:  1) leading/planning for change and 2) recognizing change as opportunity. New technologies and global developments have accelerated the pace of change recently, which engenders related questions:  How shall librarians learn the skills of adapting to change, recognizing opportunities, and planning and implementing changes for the future? Are these skills that can be taught in a master’s level course? How do people learn to discern change that adds value from change that harms? What about unintended consequences that result from change and its inherent opportunities? How can leaders of change overcome competing commitments to traditional librarianship?

In That Used to Be Us, written by Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum, the authors discuss the unique role America plays in providing important public services across the globe and the consequences of failing to renew domestic sources of American prosperity and strength. They argue that a strong, pro-market federal government is necessary to create favorable conditions that promote private enterprise. I would add that one of these domestic sources has been, and continues to be, our libraries and the ethic of freedom of access to information for everyone. If this is true, librarians and supporters of libraries are tasked with the responsibility of updating libraries and library services to keep them relevant to 21^st century information needs. To accomplish this task, we need to know what is relevant to meeting 21^st century information needs.

I think our libraries need to focus on being community information/learning centers that support education and information literacy from birth through old age. Providing access to the world of knowledge (far more than the basic subjects in formal education) in a variety of formats is still what libraries and librarians do best. Libraries are not repositories for books, computer labs, or quiet places—they are educational institutions that are vital to all age groups. We need to make sure that the general public and individuals who are part of the funding process understand that libraries are necessary to the initial and continuing education of all age groups, from birth to old age.

I began with the idea that librarians need the skills to plan and lead change and recognize change that brings additional opportunities. I am ending with the thought that all change is not necessarily for the good and we need to be able to recognize the difference so we can know which path to choose. The “good” changes are those that support libraries as community information/learning centers. SLIM has initiated a concentration in Leadership and Administration that includes courses in management, leadership and leading change, marketing and public relations, and a choice of courses focused on public libraries, academic libraries, and special libraries. Recognizing the need for change, planning change, and implementing change are taught across the curriculum. This is the change we have made as our response to the need to educate students in how to move forward in our changing profession and environment and contribute to the library and information management field as professionals in the future.

Gwen Alexander is the Dean of Emporia State University’s School of Library and Information Management.

Info-entrepreneurs, represented by the Association of Independent Information Professionals, stand out as innovative, forward thinking, and client focused information professionals.  This series of posts delivers future ready solutions and strategies from current and past presidents of AIIP.  As industry thought leaders they have much to share about staying ahead of the curve and delivering cost effective solutions to clients worldwide.  In this insightful series of postings readers will learn how to create a job for life by listening for opportunity, watching for changes, stretching to acquire new skills, finding a balance, planning for the long term, and drawing on your strengths. — C.S.

by Cindy Shamel

My livelihood depends upon successfully engaging a target market willing to pay cash money for my products and services.  Today I have an established client base, but sustainability requires strategic and ongoing monitoring looking for gaps and opportunities.  To maintain or increase revenue, I systematically seek to balance my client base with the proper mix of products and services.  Sometimes this means identifying a new target market to serve with existing services.  Other times it means developing new products or services for an existing clientele.

How do you identify new target markets or services to offer?  Track, watch, lurk, and pay attention.  As Susanne Bjorner suggested in yesterday’s blog post, insight often “comes when observing an activity, industry, or practice far removed from the area we are working in.”  Here are a few of the resources I use to keep the ideas flowing.

Track the Trends – It Keeps You Ahead of the Game

Follow ReadWriteWeb for insight and analysis about the internet industry.  Launched in 2003, RWW has become “one of the most popular technology blogs in the world.”  Reading this blog regularly could help you manage client expectations, develop new products or services, and anticipate the “next big thing.”

MarketingProfs delivers a range of marketing resources including five articles each week written by experts from all across the marketing field.  The site offers case studies, how-to articles, guides and reports.  This site helps me stay on top of marketing trends and tools.

Watch for Weirdness – It Helps You Think Laterally

Boing Boing delivers a steady stream of pointers and stories about technology, gadgets, science, business, and at their own admission, weirdness.  Boing Boing offers up a world outside the information profession, helping to trigger new ideas.

Lifehacker offers “tips, tricks, and downloads for getting things done.”  You never know what kind of work related idea might spring from a Lifehacker tip or trick.   Keep an open mind. Recent postings included “Ask a dumb question to spark a conversation with a stranger” and “The best web browser for Android.”  Surely I need not elaborate on the value here.

Lurk on LinkedIn – It Facilitates Learning from Others

What are your LinkedIn connections saying?  Find out by going to your LinkedIn Home page.  One of my connections just posted something about 70,000 students flocking to a free online course in artificial intelligence.  Do I need to offer online training?  Are students a good target market?  Should I start paying attention to artificial intelligence?  Maybe.

Are there LinkedIn Groups with members who might shed light on my clients, products, or services? No doubt.  One of my “industries of interest” has a group with over 25,000 members.  Hmmm, better check the buzz and see what they’re saying.

Pay Attention to Your Peers – It Provides Food for Thought

Stephen’s Lighthouse by Stephen Abram provides stimulating and innovative thinking in matters related to the information industry.  As the tagline says, “Illuminating library industry trends, innovation and information.”  Stephen’s blog includes lots of graphics, embedded videos, news, polls, and no end of content to get you thinking.

Phil Bradley’s Weblog, coming out of the UK, presents information from another perspective.  Phil says his weblog is where librarians and the internet meet.  A recent posting included something about Easy Notecards, a free educational tool for students and teachers to create, study, print and share interactive note cards.  Hmmm, that gives me an idea.  Gotta run!

Cindy Shamel has operated a business providing information services since 1998.  She served the Association of Independent Information Professionals as president in 2003-2004 and the San Diego Chapter of SLA in 2009.  In 2006 AIIP awarded her the Sue Rugge Memorial Award for mentoring.

by Lynne McCay, Washington DC Chapter, ENCORE Convener-Elect

Encore! Encore! When I was performing on stage (my “other life” during my earliest years as a librarian), the sound of “Encore!” was thrilling and delicious. With that one little word the audience could express appreciation, joy, enthusiasm, and a plea for “more!” That’s the way I now look at my life in retirement—each day is a joy and an opportunity to do more.

Those who are just starting out in their careers might think of an “encore performance” as being far too distant, when actually we can all treat every day as an “encore.” We all have the opportunity every day to repeat or build on the good work from the day before. Many among us are pursuing librarianship as an “encore” profession and using the skills and talents of “earlier lives” to enrich our roles as information professionals. Some of us are nearing the end of Act 2 (or Act 3!) and beginning to write the script for an “encore performance.” And some of us—like me—are reveling in this unique state in life which appreciates, enjoys, and enthusiastically embraces each day that is new, and fresh, and different—and somehow “more.”

Most of the posts on this blog have been about being “Future Ready” professionally and they have provided useful tips and thoughtful insights. After thoroughly enjoying a most satisfying 40-year career as an information professional, I encourage you to be “Future Ready” personally as well—whatever tomorrow brings. It really is never too late. I will spend tomorrow teaching my 88-year old mother how to use her first computer. She is thrilled with the prospect of learning new ways of connecting with a wider “audience” and all I can say is, “Encore! Bravo! Encore!”

Lynne McCay retired on June 30, 2010 after 40 years of federal service with the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.  Lynne is a 30-year member of SLA currently serving on the Finance Committee and the Diversity Leadership Development Program Committee.  She will follow Susan Fifer Canby as convener of the Encore caucus in January 2012.