READIT-2007 - Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research

4. NEW FOUND ROLES / RESPONSIBILITIES OF LIS PROFESSIONALS
Increasing applications of ICT and rapid developments happening in
knowledge environment have put lot of pressure on LIS professionals to perform and
deliver results. At the same time, these developments have also created new
challenges and opportunities for them. In this dynamic environment, LIS
professionals are facing complex challenges to meet the ever-changing diverse
information needs. They need to upgrade their skills for implementing new practices
and technologies and for sustaining the demands of knowledge environment (Halkar
G.G., 2005). As knowledge managers, LIS professionals need to be aware of the use
and implementation of these changes and develop technological, managerial and
communication skills. Only such attitude can help LIS professionals in realizing their
full potential.
The review of related literature, study of several books and journals in the
related areas helped authors in identifying several significant skills needed by library
professionals to succeed in this knowledge environment. They are discussed briefly
below
i) Librarianship Skills
No matter how drastically the information environment has changed the
relevance of traditional librarianship is still felt. In the light of ICT, the LIS
professionals must revisit and refresh their knowledge about traditional skills like
Classification, Cataloguing, Reference Services, Indexing, Abstracting, User
Education, Collection Development and Resource Sharing activities (Mestri, Mamata
et al. 2006)
ii) Information Communication Technology skills
ICT has revolutionized the information handling activities in library &
information centre. It involves entire gamut of technology involved in information
processing, consolidation, repacking, communication and retrieval. It is necessary that
LIS professionals have a comprehensive understanding of Library automation,
Networking, hardware and software involved. Though knowledge about Internet and
its usefulness is a must, Knowledge about online databases, digital library softwares,
search engines, portals, content management is very much essential. In a nutshell, LIS
professionals will have to keep themselves up to date with any developments in ICT
that has any implication for knowledge management process.
There are various tools available for Knowledge management process. Some
of the tools for knowledge Capture are PC Pack, Clementine Data mining, and
Intelligent Miner. Similarly some of the tools used for knowledge sharing process are
ART Enterprise, GrapeVINE, PKM (Personal Knowledge Manager), Knowledge
Exchange, etc.(Bansal, A. 2000). It is essential to get adequate training and mastery
over such tools for effectively handling knowledge management activities.
iii) Managerial Skills
Continually changing knowledge environment poses new and unexpected
challenges from all perspectives. In day to day administration librarians faces many
challenges and it is more essential for Librarians to demonstrate highest level of
managerial skills. Hence, Librarians are also forced to perform as managers managing
multifaceted tasks. Some of the managerial skills are knowledge organization and
management, interpersonal and human relation skills, scientific management of
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