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Defining the Information Profession of Tomorrow with 21st Century Leadership and Competencies Remarks by Janice R. Lachance, CEO |
Thank you Yamaguchi-San. It is a pleasure to be with you this morning....and thank you for your kind invitation to address you today.
SLA is honored to be a co-organizer of this event with our Japanese colleagues...and I am grateful for the opportunity we have to learn from one another.
I would like to thank all of those who worked very hard to make today's meeting possible.
This includes our generous sponsors...the Japan Association for International Chemical Information...the International Medical Information Center and the Information Resource Center of the U.S. Embassy.
I also would like to express my appreciation to SLA board member Libby Trudell of Thomson Scientific and Kyoko Sato of IMIC who began a dialogue two years ago between SLA and JSLA that has culminated in this gathering today.
As leaders of the information industry...members of our associations will have an important voice in the way information is gathered... analyzed...and disseminated in the future.
And...as everyone in this room knows...advances in communications and information technology are rapidly changing the way companies and associations manage information and data in the global knowledge economy. This change is also affecting the way many of us do our jobs and live our lives.
Of the more than 6 billion inhabitants of the planet...nearly 20 percent use the Internet. China's Internet population alone grew by nearly a third last year.
And consider this... while there were only about ten thousand Web sites in 1994...today that number is estimated at about one hundred million.
I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert on the ways in which information professionals perform their day-to-day tasks and responsibilities in Japan. That is one of the reasons I am most eager to hear from you.
As chief executive officer of the largest global association for librarians and information professionals...I am...however... knowledgeable about and keenly aware of trends that affect information professionals globally and shape the information industry throughout the world.
Of the trends we have seen in recent years...one of the most notable and persistent...particularly in Europe and North America... has been the trend toward redefining what it means to be an information professional or special librarian within an enterprise.
Advances in technology have made the skills of librarians and information professionals...info pros if you will...have made the skills of info pros portable and mobile...much like the societies in which they live and work. As a result...librarians and info pros are no longer defined simply by the spaces they occupy...a library or information center...but rather by the professional competencies they demonstrate and the expertise they provide.
Many are becoming imbedded in business units or are playing a more proactive, independent role in providing strategic business information even before it is requested.
It would be disingenuous of me to suggest...however...that this evolution of the role of librarians and information professionals in the West has come without a price. We have seen many jobs lost...and many libraries or information centers closed.
We have also seen a growth in the perception that all the information an enterprise requires is available at little or no cost through generally available search engines. We know that nothing could be further from the truth...and it is pure folly to believe otherwise.
I can tell you...SLA is working hard in advocacy efforts on behalf of our members and the profession to correct this misperception and to make it clear that accuracy and reliability should never be sacrificed for the sake of speed and convenience.
Info pros provide context for information and authenticate its value. You know what good information looks like.
That is why SLA is also endeavoring to explain clearly and concisely through our advocacy the value special librarians and information professionals provide to organizations and the high price these organizations pay for doing without.
It is impossible to say with any degree of certainty that the trends we have seen in the West regarding the roles of info pros will necessarily translate to Japan or to the rest of Asia. In the event they do...I believe there are strategies that could help your members not only adapt to such changes in the information marketplace but actually thrive as a result of new opportunities that may be afforded them.
And even if these winds of change do not sweep across the Pacific at full strength...I believe the strategies I will outline today could help position your members for greater responsibility and...perhaps...greater success in the future.
There is a saying in the United States that the future belongs to the young. I disagree. I believe the future belongs to those who are prepared for it and know exactly what they want to achieve in it.
SLA's mission is to promote and strengthen our members through learning...advocacy...and networking initiatives. We take this mission seriously.
That is why we strongly encourage our members to enhance their information management skills and professional capabilities. It is also why SLA provides members with a wide variety of learning...advocacy... and networking opportunities.
The foundation for SLA's philosophy of professional success is outlined in a statement of competencies we are very proud of titled "Competencies for Information Professionals of the 21st Century." This document...which is based upon ongoing social...technological...and workplace trends...as well as competency documents in peer industries...is no less than a strategic roadmap for professional growth and personal development in today's rapidly changing information industry.
Specifically...the competencies document addresses four areas of expertise...each augmented with specific skills we believe info pros will require to succeed in the future.
These professional competencies include:
- First...the ability to excel at managing information organizations ranging in size from one to several hundred employees whose offerings are intangible...whose markets are always changing and in which both high-tech and high-touch are vitally important in achieving organizational success.
- Second...expertise in total management of information resources...including the identification... selection...evaluation... provision of access to pertinent information resources in any media or format.
- Third....unquestionable expertise in providing information service offerings that enable clients to immediately integrate and apply information in their work or learning processes.
- And lastly....the ability to harness current and appropriate technology tools to deliver the best services...provide the most relevant and accessible resources...develop and deliver teaching tools to maximize clients' use of information...and capitalize on the library and information environment of the 21st century.
When the Japanese Special Library Association was discussing competencies for librarians in Japan in 2003 and was considering whether to create and issue a new type of librarian-info pro certification...Junko Kurita graciously translated the SLA competencies document into Japanese. We have posted it on our Web site at www.sla.org
While I could go on at length about the specifics of each competency we believe will be required of info pros in the years to come...please allow me to summarize it this way.
It encourages information professionals to become as broadly educated and professionally competent as possible across a wide spectrum of disciplines, including traditional business skills...personal characteristics...and leadership.
The successful information professional of the future must be flexible and well-grounded in everything from financial business practices ...to information technology...and from supervisory management... to marketing.
The ability of info pros to succeed may well depend in large measure on their ability to redefine their roles as often as necessary to meet the rapidly changing needs of their enterprises. It will require ability and commitment... but...most of all...it will require a change in the way info pros think about themselves.
I believe strongly that librarians and info pros have the opportunity to become indispensable to their organizations. Like the hub of a wheel... they play an integral role in all decision-making and education practices surrounding them as described in the SLA competencies document under Managing Information Organizations section.
I think it is very telling that three very different and prominent publications in the United States have identified "Librarian" as one of the best careers for the future.
US News.com listed "Librarian" as one of the Best Careers in 2007...while Parade Magazine called "Corporate Librarian" one of the Hottest Jobs for College Grads.
And the personal financial advisor...Kiplinger.com...which listed "Librarian" as one of its Seven Great Careers of 2007...had this to say about librarians:
"Forget about the image of librarian as mousy bookworm. (Pause) Today's librarian is a high-tech information sleuth...a master of mining cool databases...well beyond Google...to unearth the desired nuggets."
In order to perform at this level...however...info pros will not only have to possess solid professional credentials ... competencies... and experience...they will also have to view their roles in non-traditional ways. And...they will have to take more risk than they are used to.
Most people do not embrace change naturally. We tend to appreciate the familiar...and we value safety and security. I certainly do.
Sometimes... though...change is the only option we have to get what we really want.
In some instances...the change that is required may be very small. All we have to do to be successful is look at things slightly differently. Other times...more may be required of us.
And what is required for this type of flexibility?
I would say there are four characteristics an info pro must possess...a willingness to take risk...an appreciation for the value of continued, life-long learning...the ability to think strategically...and the courage to be a leader.
When I say risk...I am not talking about the kind of risk associated with something like base-jumping...parachuting off of tall buildings. I am talking about calculated risk intended to accomplish a specific objective.
For example...instead of simply adapting to the business culture in which info pros find themselves...they may seek to leverage the culture of the organization to their and their employer's advantage.
No one can explain the value an info pro provides to his or her organization better than an info pro. While many of the librarians and info pros I know are not naturally self-promoters...they are learning to do a better job of explaining their worth.
No matter what industry you work in today...it is imperative to be noticed and appreciated by senior management for the contributions you make. If you are not perceived as a significant contributor to your organization's decision-making...and financial success...your value is likely to diminish over time.
That is why it is up to info pros to continually make the case for their value. Librarians and info pros know how to gather quality information and how to evaluate it. And most importantly...they know how it can and should be used to achieve the strategic objectives of their organizations.
In addition, in today's competitive environment... info pros must make their strategic contributions known. There is more than enough research available to support the argument that info pros contribute directly to their organizations' bottom line.
Outsell...a worldwide research firm that provides data and advice to publishers and information providers....recently reported that respondents to a survey conducted last spring save an average of nine hours on information-related tasks every time they initiate a meaningful request from their corporate library or information center.
Based on Outsell's calculations...these nine hours amount to a savings of more than two hundred thirteen thousand Yen in direct costs. That is more than two hundred thirteen thousand Yen that go right to the bottom line every time a respondent seeks meaningful answers from a librarian or info pro.
In another survey of middle managers released by the consulting firm...Accenture...last year, researchers found that middle managers spend up to 25 percent of their time searching for information required to do their jobs. Perhaps that would not be so bad except for the fact that more than half of the respondents said the information they found was completely useless to them.
As significant as this type of research may be...it only tells part of the story.
The value information professionals add to the quality of strategic decision-making or to the avoidance of risk may be incalculable...but it is... nonetheless...real. While many info pros have experience in quantifying their professional contributions...they may want to consider the next step.
This involves making known the more strategic contributions they make to their organizations' high-profile successes...such as landing new accounts or creating strategic business alliances.
It is up to librarians and info pros to tell this story because...if they do not...no one else will. And... if that means being creative or taking risks to get in front of senior managers...that is what they must do.
Early in my career...I had a boss who was usually in his office around 7:30 in the morning. I made a point of being in by 8:00 so I could talk to him when he was not distracted by 20 other things. More importantly...it gave me an excellent opportunity to tell him what I was working on AND how important it was to the organization.
Successful info pros in the future have to create opportunities to make the case for the value they provide. They must seek imaginative ways to communicate with key executives every chance they can...and make the most of it.
They also must make a point of compiling documentary evidence... such as... testimonials... letters of commendation...or even notes or emails of appreciation from internal or external customers who have benefited from their efforts.
Info pros also must be willing to assume more responsibility. The best performers in any organization are those who solve problems and those who look for problems to solve.
Info pros must view themselves as problem solvers... and...when they think they can help...volunteer their expertise even if it is not in their job description or portfolio.
And finally...when info pros see opportunities for advancement in an organization...they must seize them. Even if there is no formal job...but they can identify something that should be done...they ought to think about whether they could do it.
And that means not being dissuaded because a position may not be located in an information center or have the word "librarian" in the title.
I know it is a cliché...but...no matter what information pros do...they should always be prepared for the unexpected and be ready to identify opportunities resulting from it. That may well be the very definition of flexibility.
Another way librarians and info pros can assure themselves of maximum flexibility in their careers is through continued learning and professional development. By continuously expanding their skills and knowledge base...they position themselves to take advantage of unexpected opportunities.
As I mentioned earlier...the speed of technological change in the information industry and society today is accelerating and the expectations of info pros to understand technology are growing.
For those working on the leading edge of technology ...they are always running to keep up with the latest developments. This is also true of librarians and info pros. But in some ways...it is even tougher for you.
Not only must you be knowledgeable about important developments in the retrieval and management of information...you must also keep abreast of developments in the industries in which your organizations operate. Again...this is consistent with what is expected of info pros in the Managing Information Resources section of the SLA competencies document.
While a fair amount of this information is available on the job...info pros must consciously seek ways to enhance their expertise in all facets of their careers. This is the primary reason SLA has made a significant commitment to the continued development of our Click University that offers a wide variety of online and classroom- oriented instruction to members.
We recognize we must provide our members with the very best professional education possible in ways that are easily accessible and affordable.
Among its offerings...Click U includes graduate degrees in library and information science at a substantial discount...certificate programs in Competitive Intelligence...Knowledge Management and Copyright Management....interactive Web-based presentations...and an extensive leadership and management library online that is free to members.
SLA's commitment is to keep info pros at the forefront of knowledge in their profession.
Finally...to ensure themselves of as much opportunity as possible in their careers...I urge all librarians and info pros to adopt the strategic mindset of a senior executive. A colleague once told me that while she is not a CEO...she regularly asks herself... "What would I do if I WERE the CEO?"
Why is this question important?
It helps focus on the big picture. It is said that one of the most important qualities a CEO must possess is the ability to anticipate what will happen next. I agree with that.
Unfortunately...some CEOs are rather myopic when it comes to looking at the future. As a result...they seem to adopt strategies that may appear comfortable and safe when what their organizations need are strategies that are bold and can stand the test of time.
Futurist and author Andy Hines makes this point when he says, "Developing a strategy based on, and solely aimed at, the short term provides the comfort of a sharp, narrow focus, but it runs the risk of missing critical trends and developments that a strategy based on foresight is more likely to catch."
In order for a CEO to anticipate what will happen next...she or he must have a broad, comprehensive understanding of her or his organization's current operating position today. They must also...however... have a clear, unobstructed focus on its goals and objectives for tomorrow.
A good CEO is always thinking about the whole as a sum of its parts. I believe that is very good advice for any info pro.
Executive coach and author Stephen Robbins says... "Executives think about making the entire business succeed... not just their own domain."
One of the strategies info pros should employ to gain a better understanding of their company's overall strategy is to forge alliances or partnerships inside their organization with those who are leaders or natural allies. They should seek to develop relationships with leaders and agents of change throughout their organizations who will, in turn, champion their work.
This will help info pros understand more clearly the priorities of the enterprise... and help reinforce perceptions of their value throughout the organization.
Developing alliances or relationships with those who may not be in one's immediate field of vision today could very well be in the best interest of the organization overall. It could also help bring info pros and their skills to the desks of important decision-makers throughout the enterprise.
If info pros understand their part in the broad strategic objectives of their organizations...I believe they will not only be more effective in their present positions...but will be in a much better position to seize on opportunities that may arise unexpectedly, anywhere at anytime in the organization.
Finally...I think info pros must be able to lead...and...more importantly...willing to lead change inside their organizations.
What does it mean to be a leader?
I have always appreciated the sentiment described by the word "Kaizen." As I understand its meaning....it is a continuing quest to do better. In my view...that is the role of a change agent. That is the role of a leader.
More than anything else...I believe info pros have the ability to take on this role inside their organizations...whatever those may be.
If I were asked to sum up the word "leadership" in one word...I would likely say..."preparation." If librarians and info pros are prepared to think strategically like a CEO...understand and employ sophisticated information technology like a Chief Technology Officer...and implement positive and transformative change like a Chief Operating Officer...there is no reason they should not be able to enhance...and even ignite...their careers and the entire profession.
I have tremendous belief in the strength and intellect of information professionals. That is why I believe so strongly that if they are willing to assume a measure of risk...never stop learning more about their profession...begin thinking strategically about the big picture...and have the courage to be a leader of change...they will be ready to meet any and all challenges in the marketplace...no matter which way the winds may blow.
SLA members understand that with the challenges they face today and may face tomorrow...they do not face them alone.
That is because of the important role networking plays in SLA's mission.
Networking has the ability to draw librarians and info pros closer together...no matter where they live on the planet...while...at the same time... expanding their horizons in ways many may have never dreamed.
Networking has proven to be a valuable source for solving tough business problems... expanding personal and professional relationships...and...even...seeking new employment opportunities. It is not surprising then that networking ranked as the most important member benefit in the most recent SLA membership survey.
Whether through social networking online...or inter-personal networking at SLA's annual conferences or at local chapter events...networking creates energy...and excitement...and propels the profession forward.
I submit...it is why we are here today.
In 2009...SLA will celebrate its Centennial....honoring our Association's one hundred years of service to librarians and information professionals. As a lead-up to this important milestone... SLA is undertaking a far-reaching and thorough examination of the information profession...and the role info pros will play in the future.
We will also be looking at how the Association can grow to meet the changing needs of our members in the years ahead. There is no doubt in my mind... we will identify new trends and continue to anticipate new ways to provide learning...advocacy and networking for our members.
SLA and JSLA exist to meet the needs of highly trained...skilled...and knowledgeable librarians and information professionals.
We have a responsibility to our members and the organizations we represent to ensure that these highly motivated and intelligent professional have the training...research...and support they require to grow...lead ...and flourish in the global information age.
Thank you very much.
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