Expectations of Librarians in the 21st Century

Subjects:

• Library & Information Science » Issues & Trends
• Library & Information Science » Issues & Trends

Reviews:

• This is an exciting collection of 53 short essays by practitioners in the field who describe their visions of qualifications and attributes desired in librarians of the 21st century.... This work has value on many levels. It is a refresher course and eye-opener for experienced professionals who will gain insight by learning about the knowledge, skills and abilities which are required of new librarians and perhaps, be encouraged to update their own education. Those responsible for recruiting personnel will be able to target the most important attributes in selecting staff for their institutions and in crafting job descriptions. It will also help library school admissions officers establish criteria for prospective candidates for their graduate school programs.... Recommended primarily for library school collections and college libraries.
  —Technicalities March/April 2004
• Expectations of Librarians in the 21st Century is an enjoyable read and an excellent way to begin or continue a dialogue about issues related to the library's future.
  —College & Reserch Libraries January 2004
• This collection of 53 essays sheds light on the knowledge, skills, and attitude required of new librarians today. Reading this book confirms that a distinct philosophical position, as well as subject area knowledge, technical skill, and interpersonal ability, is what being a 'modern' librarian is all about.... Readers interested in personal perspectives on librarianship in the 21st century will find this a pleasant enough and even upbeat read.
  —Booklist/Professional Reading December 1, 2003
• The essayists--who work in all types of libraries--describe the personal and professional characteristics and skills expected of today's librarians.
  —American Libraries December 2003

Table of Contents:

• Preface
• Introduction
• The Land Grant University Reference Librarian of the 21st Century: Exciting Opportunities and Unprecedented Challenges by Mary Ellen Hansen
• John Henry's Dilemma by Philip Swan
• Out of the Box by Marie Jones
• The Curious Librarian by Kenneth A. Smith
• Of Babies and Bathwater: Hiring Library Staff for the 21st Century by Danelle Hall
• Going to Town: Interviewing in the Large Urban Public Library by Alison Hopkins
• "Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze" by Janice Krueger
• The Cooperative Librarian by Jennifer Inglis
• Mere Mortals Need Not Apply by Jane Birks and Liz Oesleby
• We're Looking for a Few Good Catalogers by Bridgette Scott
• Hiring Academic Reference Librarians in the 21st Century by Mary M. Nofsinger
• Librarians in the 21st Century by Barbara Lovato-Gassman
• Needed: Energetic Librarian Willing to Work in Challenging Arena! by Jetta Carol Culpepper
• Wanted--New Creations: Dinosaurs Need Not Apply by Anne A. Salter
• Librarians: What Supervisors Are Seeking by Kathleen Fleming
• Librarians and Human Interaction by Ronda Glikin
• A Business Plan Model of Employment for Librarians by Angela K. Horne
• Hot-Links Are Hot Hires by Virginia E. Young
• Technology Skills in Libraries of the 21st Century by Sheila Kasperek
• A Word to Future Academic Librarians by Vickie Kline
• Preferred Qualification: Ability to Think Conceptually by Melinda Dermody
• Voices from the 21st Century: Librarians at the University of Arizona by Carla J. Stoffle, Patricia Morris, and Ninfa Trejo
• Being a Deep Generalist by Leslie M. Haas
• Academic Reference Librarians for the 21st Century by Colleen Boff and Carol Singer
• "The More Things Change": What Is a Librarian Today? by Cynthia Akers
• Reference Staff of the Digital Beyond by Beth Avery
• It Takes a Cyber Librarian by Janet Foster
• The Academic Library--Not a Lair for Fiery Dragons by Barbara Burd
• The Academic Librarian of the Future: The View from California Lutheran University by Susan Herzog
• The Facts of Life: Being a Small College Librarian by Molly Flaspohler
• Why a Good "Sh-h-h" Doesn't Cut It Anymore: Characteristics of the 21st Century Librarian by Maria C. Bagshaw
• The Future of Librarianship by Felix T. Chu
• Arrogance, For Obvious Reasons by Shelley Ross
• Developing Business and Management Skills for the 21st Century Academic Librarian by John Riddle
• The 21st Century Librarian by David H. Stanley
• Academic Reference as a Second Career by Cheryl Gunselman
• Academic Librarians as Caring Knowledge Managers: Are We There Yet? by Wendy Tan
• Electronic Resources Librarians in the 21st Century by Eleanor L. Lomax
• Competition in the Library by David M. Bynog
• Qualities of a 21st Century Librarian by Necia Parker-Gibson
• The More Things Change in Academe, the More They Need to Stay the Same by Karen Fischer
• The Joy of Special Librarianship by Ronald N. Bukoff
• New Librarians in the 21st Century: The Normalization of Change by Lorena O'English
• Electric Luddites: Special Collections Librarians Make the Great Leap by Roger C. Adams
• Selling Instruction: Communicating the Value of the Library in the Age of the Internet by Michael J. Rose
• Militant Segregationists, Control Freaks, and Techno-Believers by Craighton Hippènhammer
• Metaphor Matters: Imagining the Future of Librarianship and the Library by Nancy Kuhl
• Seeking: Enthusiastic Artists by Randall M. MacDonald and Andrew L. Pearson
• Before We Look to the Future by Liz Kocevar-Weidinger
• Teaching Excellence and the Academic Librarian: Paralleling the Teaching Faculty's Track by Martha Henn McCormick
• Technical Services Librarians for the 21st Century: What Are We Looking For? by Gwen M. Gregory
• The Most Important Thing They Don't Tell You in Library School by Janet T. O'Keefe
• The Library at the University of Vermont in 1900 by Karl Bridges