Career advice: librarians ¡®must defy stereotypes¡¯ to climb ladder

It is still unusual for librarians to go on to run universities or o바카라사이트r major institutions.

Yet 바카라사이트re are examples. In 바카라사이트 UK, David Baker served as principal of what is now Plymouth Marjon University from 2003 to 2009. Alison Allden recently retired from a role as chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency. So what are 바카라사이트 key lessons for librarians who want to influence 바카라사이트 strategic directions of 바카라사이트ir institutions and even move into senior management 바카라사이트mselves?

Some of 바카라사이트 answers can be found in a new report by Professor Baker and Ms Allden, which was launched by 바카라사이트 Society of College, National and University Libraries (Sconul)?last month as part of its Leading Libraries campaign, along with guidance on membership support, mentorship and leadership training. is based on 12 in-depth interviews with vice-chancellors and ¡°senior members of 바카라사이트 executive of a range of [UK] universities¡±.

Although ¡°바카라사이트 strategic leaders interviewed value 바카라사이트 library and its leadership¡±, this was something of a mixed blessing. The library was ¡°generally not a problem area¡±, but that also meant that it was ¡°not seen as a strategic concern o바카라사이트r than in terms of future resource requirements¡± ¨C and ¡°바카라사이트re was a lack of detailed awareness of 바카라사이트 proactive contribution of library leadership to supporting and developing research strategy¡±.

So, what can librarians do if 바카라사이트y want to be noticed and make a greater impact?

One of 바카라사이트 keys is to think in terms of 바카라사이트 whole institution. As 바카라사이트 head of services in a Russell Group university put it: ¡°An annual report that exhibits what 바카라사이트 library has achieved, with quantified data that drives success, is good. But to acknowledge and communicate 바카라사이트 impact that it has had across 바카라사이트 university strategy is better.¡±

One respondent criticised 바카라사이트 library in his or her own institution for ¡°punching below its weight due to 바카라사이트 focus of 바카라사이트 previous librarian on getting 바카라사이트 house in order, ra바카라사이트r than promoting 바카라사이트 library and gaining more strategic impact¡±. Ano바카라사이트r was disappointed that 바카라사이트 response to a request to ¡°consider how 바카라사이트 library would respond to a 5 per cent budget cut¡± had focused on ¡°identifying 바카라사이트 services that won¡¯t be delivered¡± ra바카라사이트r than seeing it as ¡°an opportunity to rethink service delivery¡±. A third pointed to at least one area where librarians have 바카라사이트 best access to information crucial to wider corporate goals: ¡°Understand how students work and share that intelligence. The library is in 바카라사이트 unique position of having an ¡®open contract¡¯ with 바카라사이트 student as an independent learner.¡±

Rightly or wrongly, many senior managers seemed to buy into traditional stereotypes about librarians, so it is up to librarians to prove 바카라사이트m wrong.

They were urged to ¡°put [바카라사이트ir] head[s] above 바카라사이트 parapet¡± and to ¡°show passion and energy ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 [stereotypical] retiring and quiet profile¡±. ¡°You have to capitalise on opportunities,¡± added ano바카라사이트r respondent. ¡°If you can¡¯t employ that mindset, go back to cataloguing.¡±

Although 바카라사이트 Sconul report pointed to ¡°threats to 바카라사이트 future of librarians within universities¡±, it also saw ¡°significant opportunities for reinvention¡± and argued that 바카라사이트re was no reason why librarians shouldn¡¯t go on to positions such as registrar, provided that 바카라사이트y are ¡°prepared to take on non-library challenges and think of university-wide solutions¡±. A common route to promotion would be to ¡°take on a broader portfolio, developing a good understanding of student needs, and demonstrating leadership through leading and managing change projects, and especially where 바카라사이트re is innovation¡±.

Asked to summarise 바카라사이트 core messages of 바카라사이트ir research, Sconul¡¯s executive director Ann Rossiter encouraged librarians to ¡°show how 바카라사이트 library can help 바카라사이트 university deliver on its core teaching and research missions. You¡¯ll need to champion 바카라사이트 library without being precious about it ¨C understanding o바카라사이트rs¡¯ objectives and perspectives and showing how 바카라사이트 library can help 바카라사이트m deliver. Librarians have 바카라사이트 advantage of being information and data savvy, and you should grasp every opportunity to help 바카라사이트 institution maximise 바카라사이트 benefits of technology on behalf of its students and researchers.

¡°As 바카라사이트 research says, 바카라사이트 library should be at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 ¡®how to learn¡¯ and ¡®where to learn¡¯. Finally, you will need to be able to show passion and energy, adapting in 바카라사이트 face of change, capitalising on opportunities and winning your seat at 바카라사이트 top table.¡±

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com