Academic Librarians as Catalysts of Change: A Reflection

By Jolo Van Clyde S. Abatayo, RL

   According to Eric Jennings on his article entitled “The Relevance of Academic Libraries in the Twenty-First Century”, the major challenge for the 21^st century academic librarians is to keep the libraries and the profession relevant to the users especially that Google and the Internet are on the peak. These noticeably affect the profession in different aspects. However, they are not absolutely threatening because there are now possible ways that academic librarians can do in order to stay significant throughout the twenty-first century. As librarians, we need to re-evaluate what we do and what we have so that we can cope up with the sudden changes that influence our library services and functions.

Since I was not there during the seminar, I have relied on the PowerPoint presentation of the lecturer. I have read and analyzed each slide in order for me to make a worthy synthesis or a reflection.  The lecture of Miss Fatimah Aliah B. Ali focused on academic libraries and librarians, specifically on their responsibilities in this modern era where unexpected disruptions occur. There is now a new definition of an academic librarian based on the demands of today’s library patrons. According to Miss Ali, being an academic librarian is not just about budgeting for the typical resources, it is now more on new technologies and advancements. Furthermore, we should not be discouraged or saddened if our clients are techier or more expert when it comes to Information Technology than us. Actually, as I always mention, it is a challenge for us to update and upgrade ourselves as professionals because we are known to be Information Scientists. We exist to discover and provide the right information to our dearest clients.

I have read a chapter in a book entitled “reflecting on the future of academic and public libraries.” It conveys on how academic and public libraries should look and work like in the future. Of course, it is expected that there will be big and critical changes when it comes to the services and other library endeavors but as librarians, we need to be adaptive to these changes. There are many ways we can do like:

·         Examine the current state of the library, summarizing existing literature on the topic to sketch in the historical background;

·         Project into the future, using SWOT analysis, environmental scans, and other techniques to posit how library infrastructure (such as staff, collections, technology, and facilities) can adapt in the decades ahead; and

·         Construct potential scenarios that library leaders can use to forge paths for their own institutions.

As an academic librarian for 2 years already (and more years to come), I expose myself to different scenarios and experiences in academic libraries. I am a former Research Services Librarian of Southern Christian College, Midsayap, North Cotabato and currently the Readers’ Services Librarian of Saint Michael College of Caraga, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. At first, I was hired as a Technical Services Librarian but the management decided to change my position. These positions have similarities and distinctions from each other.

Being a Research Services Librarian at SCC was tough but fun. Assisting difficult patrons, like the Postgraduate students, was the most challenging part during that time. Most of them were demanding and not that emotionally stable. I can still recall the moment when I answered a query from a Master’s student for the very first time. Deep inside, I was really shaking at that time, but I composed myself for I understood that it was very important to attend to her informational needs. I can still hear the tone of her unfriendly and intimidating voice. Though I struggled at first, I still managed to provide the information she needed for her thesis. What an experience! You know, we should fake it until we make it. I also dealt with undergraduate students who were not that capable when it comes to using IT facilities. Some cannot use a computer system properly because these students came from public schools where they were deprived to learn how to manipulate effectively a computer unit for educational and research purposes. As a librarian, we must have a sincere heart to help them.

From time to time, I boosted my self-confidence and self-esteem there. I tried so hard to augment myself. Every experience I had served as my new lessons to improve my library and information science skills. I trained myself to be at least, a basic information savvy. I explored more and more. I forced myself to learn deeper about web technologies and online databases so that I can impart something fruitful to my clients.

As of now, I am the Readers’ Services Librarian of Saint Michael College of Caraga’s Learning Resource Center. Chiefly, I am responsible for supervising the administrative, reference and information, and circulation/reserve services for the college students, faculty members, and staff. I provide assistance in terms of administrative services like conducting research and user surveys to determine the products and services to be offered for college students and faculty. I also develop and distribute promotional library materials such as newsletters, brochures, and information packets.

Moreover, I am the main in charge when it comes to reference and information services like providing professional and personal assistance to clients in answering inquiries, locating information, and interpreting resource catalogs, conducting manual and computerized information research to support clients’ requests, developing individual client current awareness and selective dissemination services based on personal information profiles, assisting staff and students with technology, giving formal instruction on how to use the library, assisting library users in their research, giving suggestions/opinions on the best bibliographies available, posting a list of new collections in the library bulletin, providing answers to specific informational questions, and many more. There are still more than I have not mentioned but if I would state all of them, it will take many pages. I can proudly say that it takes guts to become a Readers’ Services Librarian.

Before, I am really hesitant to be a Readers’ Services Librarian because at first I was hired as a Technical Services Librarian and it was an abrupt transition. The management decided to change my designation for they think I am more proficient when it comes to this position. Partly, I was grateful because I can now rest my eyes from the strains caused by the radiation. However, I felt a little bit sad for I will miss being the Technical Services Librarian. Honestly, cataloging is puzzling but thrilling! 

When I was still the Technical Services Librarian, my main task was to input records of the library materials through OPAC that is powered by the Follett Destiny Software. With that, I really had to face the computer for many hours because I had to beat the deadline. Honestly, I was really a productive Technical Services Librarian because, during those times, I can catalog almost 100 books per day. I now believe that being productive is also risky, especially to your health.

Now that I am the Readers’ Services Librarian, I can now do what I really love doing. Though I can be reliable whatever position I will be assigned for, I strongly believe that my strength is more on Information and Readers’ Services. I really love answering patrons’ queries. As I always mention, I am a fan of roving reference and I am so eager to assist the answer-seeking patrons, from table to table. Furthermore, I think that it’s very exhilarating when I conduct library instruction and orientation. I feel like I can make a difference by educating my users (especially the college students) about the library services and resources. You know librarians are academic and research support that’s why I make it sure that I play my roles effectively and efficiently.

Regarding the PowerPoint presentation, I am so thankful for I have learned a lot from it. It is such enlightenment to all academic librarians. As a readers’ services librarian for college students, I now understand my ultimate responsibilities. According to the lecturer on her presentation, there is now a transformation when it comes to academic librarianship. There are now new ways to enhance and disseminate knowledge and information. It’s really necessary for us librarians to adapt to change and embrace new technologies to render fruitful services to our patrons.

I just want to add something about the responsibilities of an academic librarian. Dr. Marianita Dablio shared to us in our class about knowledge management. It is now the newest trend in librarianship. We, librarians, should now effectively organize and manage the knowledge that our libraries can provide. We should efficiently handle every information or resource within our libraries. Chaundry (2009) states that Knowledge Management is a strategy of helping people share and put information into action in ways that strive to improve organizational performance. We can associate KM to concepts such as organizational learning, organizational theory, information sharing, and collaborative work. I think that an academic librarian like me should familiarize or master Knowledge Management. If librarians can fully understand its essence, it will be easier for them to do knowledge creation, codification, sharing, learning, and innovation.

I would really love to turn the concepts that the lecturer has shared to us about academic librarianship into actions that’s why I am so excited to discover more and more about my profession. I want to dig deeper on the topic, knowledge management because I think this concept is very interesting especially on today’s librarianship. Since most of our students are avid users of the Internet especially the social networking sites, I also make it sure that I make social interactions via these platforms. I created an Official Facebook page of our library and I also do blogging so that I can easily connect with my patrons wherever they are. I also search for possible open sources or free online databases so that I can help my patrons on their educational and research activities if printed materials are not enough to provide them with the information they need.  As of now, I am still educating myself more about web technologies and the newest trends so that I can cope up with the trends. I also hope that sooner or later, I can create an official newsletter of our library because I really dream for that to happen.

Honestly, I am so fortunate to be a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) student of Lourdes College because the instructors/professors are so adept when it comes to LIS. It’s really great to have individuals who are really proficient when it comes to our profession because you can really learn more from them.


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