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Today's Leaders/Tomorrow's Libraries event featured library and information science leaders.jpg)
Student organizers pose with Leslie Burger, president-elect of the American Library Association. From left to right, Michael Habib, Valerie Gillispie, Leslie Burger, Stefanie Warlick, Amanda Allgood, and Rebecca Pappert. Photo by Brad Burrow
Dec. 11, 2005 - Leslie Burger, president-elect of the American Library Association (ALA), was welcomed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as the keynote speaker at the Today's Leaders/Tomorrow's Libraries lecture and panel discussion in November. The event provided students, faculty and staff of the School of Information and Library Science the opportunity to discuss how library schools prepare students for professional positions.
Burger's keynote lecture entitled “Transforming Libraries for the 21st Century: A Call to Action,” highlighted suggestions for current and future information professionals and the importance of membership and involvement in ALA. She advised on establishing libraries that reflect user interests and values, and creating a culture that allows staff to use their knowledge, skills and abilities to provide excellent service.
In addition, Burger listed the following tips for new professionals entering the workforce:
- Don't be afraid to take chances and be creative.
- Think strategically. Have a personal mission and respond to the needs of the community.
- Step outside of the box (as much as possible). Think critically about how to fundamentally change the way people view your library.
- Identify areas of excellence. Assess current policies and work with staff to make improvements.
- Create a team of people who share your vision. Change happens best in a collaborative way.
- Raise the profile of the library. Continually plug the library and contribute to efforts that will make your library the centerpiece of the organization it is operating in.
- Think about the library all of the time.
- Build partnerships with people who surround your organization and people within the organization to accomplish agendas.
- Communicate your message often and let people know that you are committed to your goals.
- Most importantly, believe that with energy, vision and passion everything is possible – never give up.
The panel discussion, “Uniting Education and Practice: Preparing Students for Tomorrow's Workforce,” featured Burger and panelists Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, dean of SILS at UNC at Chapel Hill; Dr. Irene Owens, dean of the School of Information and Library Science at North Carolina Central University; Rebecca Vargha, president-elect of the Special Libraries Association and UNC SILS head librarian; and moderator Dr. David Carr, SILS professor at UNC at Chapel Hill.
Panelists discussed preparation for entering the profession, noting that while new librarians are comfortable with the technical skills required by the job, it is in the “softer skills” such as management, leadership and strategic planning that they will need as well. Dr. Griffiths emphasized that the workplace is an opportunity to apply the theory that students gained in school, and encouraged them to network with colleagues, talk with practitioners and assess organizational cultures. Burger highlighted the necessity to know the organization that you are working for and understand what leaders are looking for in a professional. All panelists participated in the lively discussion.
The successful event gave future professionals the opportunity to hear the advice of four leaders within library and information science, who all emphasized the social roles that libraries play and the importance of research.
Sponsorship was provided by UNC at Chapel Hill organizations including the Graduate and Professional Student Federation, the Student Chapter of the ALA , the Student Chapter of the SLA, the Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists, the Information & Library Science Student Association, ILSSA, the University Libraries and the School of Information and Library Science.