This exploratory essay takes a look at the most desirable transferable competencies for information professionals in the public library. Franser-Arnott explores the opportunities in non-traditional LIS jobs from transferable skills and competencies from LIS professionals. Through analyzing scholarly articles, the field of public librarianship seeks communication skills and interpersonal skills in an information professional. Oral and written communication skills are necessary to understand the community's' needs and wants. Developing interpersonal qualities to communicate and interact with the community is key in working with patrons of different ages and backgrounds. Although the vast majority of public library jobs required higher education, people without …show more content…
credentials can still become effective librarians by demonstrating a high performance of competencies for information professionals. By identifying the most desired competencies in the field of public librarianship, information professionals are responsible for using the transferable skills to support the role and the needs of the public library.
Keywords: competencies, transferable skills, public librarianship
Introduction
Melissa Franser-Arnott (2013) examines the different type of transferable competencies and skills for LIS professionals, which are applicable in the field of public librarianship and in non-traditional library jobs.
Competencies are the demonstration of skills, which are used to identify the strengths and needs of individuals in organizations (Ammons-Stephens, Cole, Jenkins-Gibbs, Riehle, & Weare, 2009). The role in public librarianship is defined as “librarians that assist, advise, and instruct users in accessing all forms of recorded knowledge” (Thompson, 2015). In 2003, the Continuum of Library Education (CLE) project was established to identify the competencies needed by public library practitioners as a means of credential to validate their abilities (Helmick and Swigger, 2006). Despite people’s perception of fewer libraries jobs and a tougher job market, information professionals carry competencies that are transferable and desirable in non-traditional library employment. In the field of public librarianship, the most desired skills and competencies are communication skills to understand the patrons’ needs and interpersonal skills to create a supportive environment to serve the
community.
Educational Requirement
Although a Master degree in the Library Sciences and Information field open more potential job opportunities, people without credentials can still be effective librarians through mastering the most desirable skills and competencies. In Franser-Arnott’s (2015) study, the majority of the LIS jobs postings “required a Master of Library and/or Information Science or equivalent degree.” Meanwhile, the majority of the job postings from the Government of Canada listing, a non-affiliated LIS job board, required only an undergraduate degree (Franser-Arnott, 2015). Franser-Arnott (2015) notes the lack of a higher education requirement for government library jobs is to prevent discrimination and a chance for talented professionals to be selected without a financial or education barrier.
In Helmick and Swigger’s article (2006), librarian practitioners, directors of a small public library, “do not have accredited master’s degrees in librarianship and usually have little or no formal training in librarianship as well as little or no work experience in public libraries prior to assuming the role of director.” According to Helmick and Swigger (2006), small communities are lacking the resources to supply credentialed librarians and are unable to contend with libraries in larger cities. As a result, small communities hired people with no credentials and provide training to their staff to developing their skills for library services (Helmick & Swigger, 2006). Despite the lack of higher education, competencies are used to evaluate their performances as information professionals. However, it should be noted that Helmick and Swigger’s study was originally published in 2006. Now, librarians in isolated small communities are able to gain a master degree online.
Most Desirable Skills and Competencies
One of the most important and desired competencies for an information professional as a public librarian is communication. According to Fraser-Arnott (2015), an information professional/librarian “must have strong active listening and oral and written communication skills in order to respond effectively to questions and concerns from members of the public.” The duty of an information professional is to meet the needs of the community, thus, the information professional must be aware and listen attentively to fully understand and address the community and the patron’s desires. The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) define a set of professional competencies in which librarians should be welcoming and communicate well with patrons (Saunders and Jordan, 2013). Effective communication skill is necessary to build positive relationships between the library and the patrons. Communication skills is a transferable competency and can apply to non-traditional jobs, in which the information professional can successfully explain ideas and solutions to their client. Strong communication skills are an important competency for the public library in understanding and serving the community’s needs.
An important competency area for information professional is creating a supportive environment for patrons through interpersonal skills. In Saunders and Jordan’s research (2013), public librarians identify interpersonal ability and customer service, as the most important skills for an information professional. Public librarians emphasize interpersonal skills higher than other competencies because public librarians need greater use of interpersonal and communication skills to work with “patrons of all ages, education levels, reading abilities, and language abilities.” (Saunders & Jordan, 2009). The CLE project identifies interpersonal competencies in which the information professional creates a welcoming and responsive environment to encourage the use and support of the library (Helmick and Swigger, 2006). According to Fraser-Arnott (2015), interpersonal qualities include the abilities to adapt, initiate creative ideas, and deal with difficult situations. The interpersonal skills of being able to respond professionally in a changing environment and producing new solutions for problems is necessary for information professionals to deal with patrons.
Future of Public Librarianship
As libraries are expanding their services to meet the needs of their communities, information professionals have to be adaptable towards change and take the initiative to implement new services. Public libraries are expanding beyond the traditional library service by serving digital learning to patrons and developing collections of upgraded information. The information professional’s ability to adapt to new changes and emerging technology help provide broader services for public libraries (Thompson, 2015). According to Levett (1993), the key competencies of understanding, interpreting, developing insights, and creating new knowledge is part of the goal to expand the future of the public library system. The information professional’s ability to embrace new changes contributes to the future of public libraries by taking action and shaping new trends.
Conclusion
Through Fraser-Arnott and other scholarly articles, the most desired competencies in public librarianship is strong communication skills and interpersonal qualities. Franser-Arnott’s research concluded that transferable competencies, which were developed in a LIS setting, can be used in non-traditional jobs. One of the main competency for information professionals is oral and written communication to effectively interact and understand the patron’s desires. Interpersonal skills foster positive relationships between the library and patrons and create a welcoming environment for the community. Although higher education is recommended for more potential job opportunities, information professional can still be credited through demonstrating important LIS competencies and is adaptable towards change. The emphasis in identifying the most desired competencies for information professionals in the public libraries field is the ability to serve the patrons and the community.