Future of Libraries

Does librarianship have a future?
The most important idea I have learned from this class is that libraries are needed now more than ever. The role of librarians may be changing due to the ease of electronic information available on the Web, but the profession is not becoming obsolete like some naysayers have predicted. In many cases, “users have come to expect that anything they want to know will be found on the Web, and while it’s disappointing for them to learn that some information simply won’t be found there, herein lies the great opportunity for librarians,” (Marino & Nazarov, 2007).  Not only will librarians of the future need to help users with specialized searches, they will also be responsible for educating patrons in evaluating sources. It’s one thing to find masses of information on the Web, but how does one know which sources are credible and which are completely erroneous? Insert librarians.
As I mentioned in a previous discussion board post, librarians have an advantage to the Web in that they are human. As long as librarians continue to make patrons feel welcome, provide the best services they can offer, and continue to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the users, libraries will always have the upper hand in personal service. That is something a machine could never replace.

What can librarians do to influence the future of libraries?
There are four main areas in which libraries must focus, in order to keep libraries relevant in the future.

1) Recruitment: Librarians and library schools must work together to recruit new library professionals. Librarians must be good models of the profession, especially when dealing with the public. You never know who is watching! You may be interacting with a prospective librarian and not even know it. In order to make a good impression of the field, librarians must try their best to be courteous, helpful, and approachable at all times.
Library schools must advertise more to diverse populations (including a variety of age and ethnic groups and people with a variety of educational backgrounds). They must continue to grow their distance education programs to reach out to individuals who are interested in the field, but who do not live in proximity to accredited universities.
Additionally, simply publicizing that fact that there is a critical shortage of school librarians in the media can attract interest in the profession. “AASL Task Force on Recruitment for the Profession noted that 68 percent of school librarians will retire by the year 2015,” (Bishop & Janczak, 2007, p. 14).

2) Advertising/advocating: Like most successful businesses, libraries must advertise to make their products and services known. I don’t just mean sticking up flyers around the library (although for some things that helps). Libraries must reach outside the walls of the library to reach people who do not necessarily come into the library on a regular basis. Whether they do that by setting up express libraries in supermarkets and coffee shops, creating Facebook accounts, collaborating events with businesses, schools, or other community organizations, or creating TV or radio ads, libraries must understand their markets and gear their advertising towards them.
I recently enjoyed watching the Douglas County (Colorado) Library System’s online PSA. It was so good in fact, it has been nominated for a regional Emmy award. To view the video yourself, visit http://www.douglas.co.us/networkdc/Latest_News.html. Other libraries can learn from this model and hopefully capitalize on the creativity of their own staff members to create similar marvels, or at least start brainstorming their own marketing possibilities.
No matter what type of library they work in, librarians can no longer revel in the fact that they are the only source of information. “This means that libraries have to do more in the way of marketing and outreach— taking the library beyond its walls and directly to the user—in order to compete with other info providers. This is different from how we’ve ever operated and requires a different mindset,” (Marino & Nazarov, 2007).

3) Balance of traditional library services with new technology, formats, resources, etc.: Rubin (2004) discusses the increasing desire for hybrid libraries—a library in which a combination of print and electronic materials are offered. As I see it, most libraries are becoming hybrid libraries as a way to satisfy the needs of their users, and rightly so. In addition, “many libraries have either completed or are well along in the merging of information services departments with libraries. When a library is successful in this collaboration, its continuing viability is assured and patrons are best served,” (Marino & Nazarov, 2007).
According to Berry (2008), “When practiced within both the actual and virtual libraries of today, librarianship facilitates freedom, a full life, including much that we call entertainment, communication, and human relations,” (p. 10).

4) Use and user studies: Libraries exist to preserve, collect, and disseminate information, but one of their primary purposes is to serve their users. A library that does not meet the needs of its users will likely perish. Many libraries conduct use and user studies to understand their users’ interests and to understand what library services are utilized the most. An effective use or user study is one in which the library looks at the results and makes necessary changes to their services based on the needs of their users.
A recent example of a user study was the focus group report done at the Seymour Public Library in Auburn, New York. The Regional Library Council conducted five focus group sessions and two informal conversations with members of the community, the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, and staff of the library. They openly discussed issues such as images of the library, programming, collections, library hours, physical space, etc. The questions they asked were well thought out, and the answers provide a foundation for the library to move forward when making decisions in the future. To read the full report, go to http://www.seymourlibrary.org/focusgroupreport.htm.


What will librarians need to know in the future?
Library and informational professionals of the future will have to…
- be adaptable to change
- be well-versed in electronic searching
- continue to be good communicators (in person and online)
- offer superior customer service
- understand the needs of the users and the type of media they prefer
- have a strong presence on the web
- be willing to educate users in accessing and evaluating information efficiently

The skill set for librarians will continue to evolve in response to the needs and expectations of the changing populations that they serve. (Mullins, Allen, & Hufford, 2007).


References:

Berry, J. N. (2008, April 15). More than “information.” Library Journal, 133(7), 10.

Bishop, K. & Janczak, S. (2007). Recruiting the next generation of school librarians. Library Media Connection, 26(2), 14-18.

Mullins, J. L., Allen, F. R., & Hufford J. R. (2007). Top ten assumptions for the future of academic libraries and librarians: A report from the ACRL research committee. C&RL News, 68(4).

Marino, A. & Nazarov, A. (2004). Key trends affecting libraries. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.

Rubin, R. E. (2004). Foundations of library and information science (2nd ed.). New York: Neal-Schuman.