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Th
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What the L?Challenges and Opportunities
for the Special Librarian
Nancy GershenfeldSenior Lecturer
ORSLA Annual Meeting October 20, 2007
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Titles My Mother Couldn’t Explain
FIND/SVP (1979-1983)• Computer Search Specialist• Online Search Specialist• Online Services Coordinator• Online Training Coordinator
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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Titles AND Organizations
Betts, Patterson & Mines Database Management Center (1983-1988)
• Search and Retrieval Analyst• Database Administrator• Manager, Database Administration
Baggaley and Associates (1989)• Information Management Consultant
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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Finally, the “L” Title, but…
Microsoft Corporation (1990-2000)• Technical Services Librarian• Automated Systems Librarian• User Services Manager• Library Operations Manager• Business Operations Manager
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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THE IMAGE THING
Librarians in Movies http://emp.byui.edu/RAISHM/films/introduction.html The Hollywood Librarianhttp://hollywoodlibrarian.com/
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Our Special Library Role Models
Desk set" is a wonderful film from 1957, featuring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. Bunny Watson (Hepburn) is as a reference librarian managing the research department of a broadcasting company; Richard Sumner (Tracy) wants to replace her and her colleagues by a computer.
Librarian-turned-adventurer Flynn Carsen (Wyle) endeavors to find King Solomon's mines.
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Or…You Can Run Away and Joined the
Circus!
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WHAT MAKES US “SPECIAL”?
Key Characteristics and Qualities
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Specific Focus
• Specific information function related to the goal of a larger organization
• Focused on well-defined user population or discipline
• Services are tailored to the users and the organization
• Information not just collections
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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Unique Aspects
• Unique role relative to others in the organization
• Unique location (physical and in organizational structure)
• Exist because sponsoring organization sees the need
• Subject / discipline / industry specialization
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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Busting Perceptions
• Innovative• Flexible• Always ready to break “the rules”• May change mission, direction or
reporting structure • Volatile to the organization,
industry• Cooperative with competitors and
other kinds of librariesNancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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We Won’t Sit Still
• Change careers more often• Learn specialties on the job• Opportunistic• Embrace change• Identify with the organization• Take on responsibilities outside of
the library• Fewer examples of sensible shoes!
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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Th
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CHALLENGES
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Threats to Existence
• Overhead• Luxury, not necessity• Not critical to the organization• No need for “a collection”• No need for a facility• It’s all online
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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OPPORTUNITIES
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Be Core to be Valued
• Critical to the organization• Contribute directly to the success of
the organization’s goal• Connecting the user to the
information• Content, not collections• Access and use, not format• It can be all online, but do not happen
automaticallyNancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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I Can Help• Research• Information
analysis• Social Networks• Web architecture
and design• Information tools
design and integration
• Training
• Database architecture
• Taxonomy and Metadata
• Content licensing – Negotiation– IP compliance
• Project Management
• Learning CommonsNancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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Environments
• Personalized• Embedded• 24 x 7 worldwide• Mobile
http://stephenslighthouse.sirsi.com/
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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Evolve or Die
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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Big Questions
• What is our greatest threat? What do we fear most?
• What is the current perception of libraries and librarians, both in general and in the less traditional environments?
• Where are the greatest opportunities?• What do we need to stay viable?• How do we stay balanced?
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007
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Most Importantly…
Who will play us in the next major library movie?
[email protected]://projects.washington.edu/
ngersh/
Nancy Gershenfeld ORSLA Annual Meeting 10/20/2007