All libraries in fast changing environment

1. Academic Libraries/Librarianship: A Point of ViewBy Shirley W. LeungHong Kong Baptist UniversityHong Kong Library Education and Career Forum8 November 2003

2. All libraries in fast changing environment • Information explosion • Information technology and telecommunication advancements • Social, economic, and political factors • Knowledge economy knowledge society • Changing environment of higher education • The physical library and the virtual library • Changing expectation and use patterns of primary clientele • Challenges and opportunities 1

3. Enduring values of libraries/librarianship • Identify • Select • Collect • Organize • Disseminate • Facilitate use • Preserve information / recorded knowledge 2

4. Academic libraries/librarians – some characteristics Mission Support and enhance the teaching, learning, and research endeavors of the institution/university - Primary users - faculty, staff, and students • Librarians expected to perform at a professional level • Subject and functional area expertise • Planning, implementing, managing, supervising activities • Ability to manage change 3

5. Two examples: The University of Hong Kong Libraries and the Hong Kong Baptist University Library Organization of Hong Kong Baptist University Library University Librarian - Library Administrative Office - Systems - Special Projects - Public Services - Circulation & Interlibrary Loan - Multimedia Learning Centre - Reference & User Education - European Documentation Centre - Special Collections & Archives - Chinese Medicine Library - Technical & Collection Services - Acquisitions - Cataloguing - Collection Services Adapted from Organization Chart (30 June 2003) • Organization of University of Hong Kong Libraries • Librarian • Fund Raising & PR Team • PR & Development • Senior Management Team • BL (Administration) - Administration Services Team • - Staff Dev & Admin • - Budget, Office, Staffing • - Premises • - Cleaners • Deputy Librarian • Hing Wai Services Team • Libraries Effectiveness Assessment Team • - Records Management Team • - Preservation & Remote Storage • - Bindery • Deputy Librarian • Collection Development Team - Collection Development • - Technical Support Services Team - Cataloguing • - Acquisitions • - Systems • - Reformatting Team • - Main Library Services Team - FPS Librarian • - Reference • - Access Services • - Special Collection • - Audio Visual • - Info Literacy & Knowledge Mgmt • - Branch Library Services Team - Music Library • - Law Library • - Dental Library • - Medical Library • - Education Library • Adapted from Organization Chart (8 September 2003) 4

6. Hong Kong Baptist University Library Staffing Structure • Professional Staff Associate Librarians Assistant Librarians Junior Assistant Librarians (usually 3 years) Executive Officer, Computer Assistant Officer • Support Staff Library Assistant I Library Assistant II Library Attendants Office Assistant Ancillary Staff • Part-time staff and student helpers 5

7. Academic libraries -- qualifications and requirements of staff (1) Formal education and credentials: For HKBU staff : • Form 4 for Library Attendants • Form 5 (School Leaving Certificate) for Library Assistants • Bachelor degree for Executive Officer and Computer Assistant Officer • MLS or equivalent for professional staff Experiences: Positions held previously – no. of years and duties involved 6

8. Academic and research libraries: functional and service areas • cataloging (bibliographic control) • acquisitions (monographs, serials, all formats) • preservation (physical processing, binding) • collection development and management (all formats)* • special collections and archives • development/advancement • reference and user education/instruction/information literacy/knowledge management • systems • circulation/interlibrary loan (access services) • multimedia/media • facilities management, special projects 7

9. Academic and research libraries -- qualifications and requirements of staff (2) Other attributes (including): • ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing - proficiency in Chinese and English; Putonghua increasingly important for Hong Kong libraries • ability to think creatively, analytically, critically, and systematically • ability to conceptualize and synthesize • ability to work with faculty members with confidence and as a professional • ability to deal with changes and ambiguity • knowledge and experience with IT-based applications • work effectively in team-based environment • good interpersonal skills – ability to work with diverse groups of people • initiative and capacity for self-learning • self-initiated effort to stay abreast of trends and developments related to library and information services 8

10. Academic librarians: areas for development and attention • budget planning • personnel supervision • project management • liaison with academic units • participation in university activities • participation in regional/systemwide library networking and collaborative activities • contribution to the profession - professional organization activities - presentation at conferences - publications (books, journal articles) 9