Amitabh Sharma, Features Coordinator

Think library, and the image that flashes in the mind are endless rows and stacks of books, neatly arranged and displayed and categorised according to subjects, interests or authors. It is a very meticulous task, managing scores of books, which is the responsibility of the librarian.

As the world moves virtual, the source of information is becoming electronic and paperless. We are living in the information age, from the written word to the still or the moving picture, and the growing reach of the Internet has fuelled the demand for more information at the click of a button.

Information in the digital age

"The 21st century has been described as the information age, and if so, then it should truly be the age of information professionals," says Fay Durrant, professor, Department of Library and Information Studies, University of the West Indies, (UWI), Mona.

The world economy is experiencing the effects of rapid globalisation and also the impact of the emerging information age. Information is congregated, processed, organised, stored and disseminated in different forms and media.

"The new information professional works in a wide variety of institutions and environments," said Durrant. "This should make students looking for a career, seriously consider a career in information science."

Changing face of Library Science

"There has been a phenomenal growth of libraries in the last few decades," says Durrant, "from shelving to storing digital information, the change has been unbelievable".

Durrant explains that over the decades the techniques of getting information have evolved. From the 1970s when computers were used for providing keyword searches, with the development of databases, additional services like abstracting services and bibliographic information could be provided. In the 1980s, with the help of telecommunication host-centred services were provided. "The coming of the Internet and the World Wide Web have enabled a variety of organisations to access content either free or for a small fee, sitting at home," says Durrant.

Professionals at work

Durrant says that traditionally a career in information sciences, can be divided into areas where professionals have to collect, catalogue, index various media. "One has to store books, periodicals, microfilms, tapes, videos, cassettes, slides, etc., for easy retrieval," she says.

Even after the advent of the Internet a librarian has some basic functions to perform, says Durrant. " One has to disseminate information by answering queries, sending newsletters and announcing new arrivals of books and periodicals," she says.

Durrant further adds that IT has enabled new capabilities for the access, collection and redistribution of external information. "One of the major advantages of computerisation has been prediction of user habits from the logs stored at the information centres," she says. "This helps in selection and acquisitions of materials so as to meet the demand."

The library's traditional function has been dramatically transformed and they are no longer confined by the limitations of print. "Materials are scanned, converted into digital format either as text or image and stored in CD-ROMs, or on servers," explains Durrant. They also convert printed journals and books to an electronic form and hypertext links.

Prospects

"The nature of job varies according to the designation and position in an organisation," says Durrant. "The librarian is overall in charge of having responsibilities related to library management including administration, budgeting, personnel management, classification, cataloguing, indexing and acquisitions," she says.

The job opportunities for professionals can be in public/government libraries, universities and other academic institutions, international organisations, foreign offices, corporate libraries and in museums, galleries and art centres.

"Technology has also opened up the demand for people with technical skills, " says Durrant. "Organisations require systems analysts, database specialists, webmasters, network coordinator, content managers for developing content management systems, web writers, instructional designers for e-learning, web-based jobs, e-books and e-commerce," she says.

Traits

"Handling queries requires patience and concentration at work," says Durrant. "One should also have the ability to retrieve information in the shortest possible time," she adds.

Traits in customer services and customer relations are also a must. "Everyday one would be dealing with a variety of people," Durrant says. "One must have good communication skills and should possess knowledge on a variety of information sources." As a librarian one must also keep abreast with technological trends.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com

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