Embracing the non traditional

Embracing the Non-Traditional?

Dorotea Szkolar

NA DigiTech Manager, GroupM

Computers & Libraries, 2014

Rise of Information and Innovation Powered World

“The world produced 14.7 exabytes of new information in 2008, nearly triple the volume of information in 2003

“The flow of information exchanged via telecommunications networks also almost doubled between 2002 and 2008.”

(Bounie & Gille, 2012)

“The world's roughly 27 million computer servers processed 9.57 zettabytes of information in 2008”

(Short, Bohn & Baru, 2010)

Lots of Information & Stuff Knowledge

Communication & Sharing Productive

The Reality

The Answer is Librarians!

• Curate and enhance knowledge for a set purpose• Trained in classification, cataloguing, and

organization techniques.

• Opportunity to combine with technological innovations in data and databases to build custom digital libraries = profit.

Immense Value to industry:

• Eliminate information overload

• Organize information so can be quickly comprehended.

• Build foundations of Information efficient discovery • Support learning

Match Made in Heaven?

– Librarians bring unique skills set centered on information management, information organization and information access that can greatly improve business practices and profitability.

– Skills used in both Traditional & Non-Traditional Positions

– Promote controlled vocabulary & standards to ensure long term data consistency and quality

– Hierarchy and classification to promote discoverability

– Long and short term collection development

– User Outreach and Engagement

– Collaboration with fellow departments and agencies

– Assessment – Analytics Reports and User Feedback

– Training

Foundations For Hacking Information Overload

– Provide information foundation to “hack” corporate information.

– Information platform to build initiatives upon; the starting ingredient– Link information to other databases

– Incorporate support for regional & global initiatives

– Executive Management

– Requires us listen and commit to community– Even if unexpected

– Competitive advantage and long term value

Seeking Librarians!

Digital Universe Manager

Global Knowledge Manager

Big Data Information Designers

Senior Knowledge Management Specialist

Ask specifically for BS in Library science

61 Non-Librarian Jobs for LIS Grads

INALJ- Non-Traditional Tag

LinkedIn and the MLIS Job Search

Strong Disconnect!

MLIS bashed as worthless and Librarianship a dying profession:

– Forbes: “No. 1 Worst Master's Degree For Jobs: Library and Information Science”

– Hiring Librarian: “Do not go to library school. Librarianship is a dying profession.”

Why the Disconnect?

Librarianship is Highly Specialized

• Stereotype of Dewey, Books and Hair Buns.

• Bureau of Labor Statistics’ employment projection data does not categorize and include “non-traditional jobs Librarianship”

• Employers rarely recognized non traditional vs. traditional categorization: o Create striking job titles to attract

talent and boast

– Stop Labels of “Untraditional” vs. “Traditional”

– Eliminate hardline where librarianship ends and begins– Outside World Does not perceive such divisions, why

should we?

– As Information evolves, so will framework of our profession– True across all industries

– Embrace so recognized as part of modern librarianship

– No matter what you call it, skills are increasingly key in innovative world

Create New Tradition of Librarianship

Questions?Dorotea Szkolar

DigiTech Manager, GroupM

Dorotea.szkolar@groupm.com

@dorotaszkolar

Sources:

– Bounie, D., & Gille, L. (2012). International Production and Dissemination of Information:Results, Methodological Issues, and Statistical Perspectives1. International Journal of Communication, 1001–1021.

– Danah Boyd & Kate Crawford (2012) CRITICAL QUESTIONS FOR BIG DATA, Information, Communication & Society, 15:5, 662-679, DOI: 10.1080/1369118X.2012.678878

– Press, G. (2013, May 9). A Very Short History Of Big Data. Retrieved from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/gilpress/2013/05/09/a-very-short-history-of-big-data/

– Short, J. E., Bohn, R. E., & Baru, C. (2010). How Much Information? 2010 Report on Enterprise Server Information. San Diego, CA. Retrieved from http://hmi.ucsd.edu/pdf/HMI_2010_EnterpriseReport_Jan_2011.pdf

– Smith, J. (2012, June 8). The Best And Worst Master's Degrees For Jobs. Retrieved from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2012/06/08/the-best-and-worst-masters-degrees-for-jobs-2/

– Weak, E. (2014, January 24). Do not go to library school. Librarianship is a dying profession. Retrieved from Hiring Librarians: http://hiringlibrarians.com/2014/01/14/do-not-go-to-library-school-librarianship-is-a-dying-profession/

Picture Credits

– Slide 4: Dilenschneider, Colleen;Three Ways the Role of Your Website Has Changed. Is your Nonprofit Keeping Up?: http://colleendilen.com/category/technology/

– Slide 5: Jon, Librarians; The original Search Engine: http://www.thecampuscompanion.com/2012/05/29/librarians-original-search-engine/librarian-the-original-search-engine/#.Uy9JdJ3D_IU

– Slide 8: Wordpress Blog, Aimless, http://hopeseguin2011.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/national-library-week/

– Slide 9: Lin, Annie; DigiTech Intern, Pictures of New York Public Library taken on 3/31/2014

A WPP Company