John Tsebe & Naomi Haasbroek's presentations - The South African LIS professionals are clearly having a presence in the broader South African Society and doing very commendable work. The profile of the profession is on the radar through the efforts of our leaders. Good working relationships have been established with the respective stakeholders. There has been enactment of key and enabling legislation. Funding has been provided and delivery on agreed targets is happening now.
The Association is vibrant and growing. More opportunities for continuing professional development are emerging.
We have been challenged to follow suit, starting small and gradually rising to the highest offices. I hope I can first volunteer to assist at Branch level and start to make my way up.
Are we a threatened species?
Questions about how librarians will or should look in the future abound in LIS literature. All too often the exponential growth in technology is seen as a threat or at worst a replacement for a librarian. The question is never ‘how do we want to look’? The debate in the literature borders on the presumption that librarianship is a refuge for the mediocre. It is as if librarians have no choice in deciding who and how they would like to be. This is a very false and unfortunate notion. Librarians do have a choice and the brains to make decisions by themselves. I see technology as a means to the end rather than the end itself. Some of the functions of the librarian can today be performed better and much more efficiently than was the case before. Whenever technology invades the work space of the librarian, it at least provides an opportunity for the librarian to focus on other things or try out new projects. Yes, in the absolute end there will be no Reference desk, no Circulation desk, no book shelves. But somewhere in the background, the librarian will be making sure that technology achieves the ultimate goal of excellent service delivery. The role of librarian will change from that of just pointing to the relevant sources and providing information literacy. The librarian will in the future be a consultant, actively seeking and packaging information for the user. Because of the big push for subject knowledge, the librarian will also be advisor, rattling the departmental bars of the Tutor.
As the profession is changing, and with nobody being able to accurately predict the future, I will be looking for opportunities out there to carve a sustainable career move. While I have to be receptive to fresh challenges and embrace new developments, I still would like to carry the badge of honor bestowed by the profession that librarianship is.
Public librarians are doing a very commendable job in our communities. That is where I think one sees the soul of the profession. Public librarians interact with people across all manner of diversity. Their stories and testimonies are always inspiring. These are people who will come up with simple innovations for complex challenges, do more with less.
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