Training the future librarian : an overview of shifts and challenges in the past that are directing the way foward

Abstract

The theme of the symposium requires a discussion on the future of the African library towards 2020 and beyond. However, speculation about the future is not possible without considering the shifts and the changes that took place in the past. Therefore, considering training of the future librarian requires a careful look into shifts and challenges over time that determined the nature and purpose of training of librarians. A literature review on this aspect clearly shows that training of the librarian in the past can be linked with services to the information user and developments in the information environment that gave rise to information users’ needs. Providing in the needs of information users puts the problem squarely into the arena of library and information services.

This presentation attempts to give an overview (including graphic illustrations) of major shifts in information practices that had a profound impact on the information behavior of users. These shifts eventually necessitated research that served as a guideline for librarians to adapt their personal assistance to users of their services. Naturally librarians had to be trained in the use of the latest developments regarding tools, information sources and resources to assist users, and enabling LIS to remain on the cutting edge. Strong emphasis will be placed on how advances in ICTs led to more offerings of information in a digital format and enabled remote access to information by end-users. It will be pointed out how further digital advances, as manifested in Web 2.0, eventually resulted in the creation of new information spaces (e.g. blogs and wikis) which increased the opportunities to undermine authenticity and permanence of texts as well as the modification and duplication of texts. All these developments eventually resulted in new user needs. Apparently the most prominent was the need for information literacy (IL) that would eventually enable end users to know how to access, evaluate, synthesize, communicate, and ethically using information. All these changes eventually challenged the role of the librarian from that of assisting users in developing their tool based skills to that of information literacy training.

The presentation will also point out how continuous research reveals the changing characteristics of information and resources that affected their application in the education process. It will be argued that although conceptual foundations of IL concerning the user have remained the same a new environment emerged as reflected in the unique features of Web 2.0 that changed into a context where completely different collaborative information behavior approaches emerged. Web 2.0 is currently changing what it means to be information literate. Information users, especially in the academic environment, changed their roles by becoming information producers, creators and co-creators. Diverse populations, new frontiers of information creation, organization, dissemination and services are key areas which require a new understanding of the socio-cultural conditions for production, mediation and use of information. This brought a realization that IL is actually a socio-technical practice which takes into consideration new complex systems of social relationships that require new kinds of competencies and the re-conceptualization of information literacy (known as IL 2.0). Information Literacy 2.0 becomes one of the pillars of the new concept of library services known as the Library 2.0 concept which operates according to today’s user. In conclusion the presentation will touch on the emergence of Web 3.0 and how it will impact on information literacy practices with the focus of information literacy programmes on IL 2.0 and beyond .