LIS professions are rapidly changing, so there exists a continuous demand for new skills and literacies. What skills, competences and qualifications should LIS students acquire during their studies? What are expectations of students and employers in relation to curriculum and programs, topics and classes, their qualifications and skills acquired?
Hi Anna, I agree with Arjun, an ability to understand and use technology is now a prerequisite for a career in Library and Information/Knowledge Services. As a freshly graduated professional you will be in touch with the latest developments in technology, but specific skills like these will fade quickly, so an ability to keep up, keep in touch with developments and maintain overview is also important.
Basic management skills are also important. Project Management, the ability to put together a project proposal with appropriate costings, that kind of thing.
I would also add good communication skills, written and spoken. Can you write a report or plan an effective information skills session. Can you present an idea to a line manager. Could you present a paper to a meeting.
Collaborative working, developing and participating in networks, using social networking for work purposes are important, especially to develop the networks that are going to keep you up to date and engaged with developments in the profession, the further you progress in your career.
An entrepreneurial spirit, the ability to try and think new things is a useful attribute in times of change. In many areas of LIS work today, fortune favours the brave, those who are willing to put themselves forward, apply for funding grants, think of new projects and new approaches to problems.
All this and of course the the core Library and Information Skills are important.
BW Matt
Hi Ann: Yes. It is absolutely necessary to include more skill sets to the LIS curricula as the present day librarians need to cater to a different type of users who are netizens who are living in the digitally networked environment. So, in my opinion apart from the traditional library skills, librarians need to be techno savvy in using at least an Open Source Library Management System like Koha and repository software like DSpace. Further, Web 2.0 related technologies need to be incorporated in the syllabi. More hands on training should be imparted. They should also be taught the shortcomings of information found on the Net. Regards - Dr.G.R.Sabapathy
We had one multi-country study which focused for example on reference librarians. I add the link here http://www.bby.hacettepe.edu.tr/yayinlar/dosyalar/libri-2013-0003.pdf
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