Considering the glorious weather and overlap with this year’s London Book Fair, the Library Information Show enjoyed busy crowds on both the exhibition floor as well as seminar theatres on its opening day.
One particular seminar IWR popped in to see was a popular session from speaker Lesley Robinson, of Lesley Robinson Corporate Services. Her career background has spanned both the public and private spheres of the information professional where it seems, she is on a mission to help her peers promote their profession in the workplace. The long awaited seminar was originally scheduled for the 2006 LiS event but Robinson was forced to pull out of speaking due to torn ligaments suffered from taking part in the London Marathon days earlier, so judging from the standing room only in the theatre we were all eager from twelve months of waiting to hear what she had to say. Entitled, “The Corporate Need for the Information Professional, the presentation confirmed what we already know, but are failing to get genuinely recognised, is that often the rest of an organisation might not even be aware of the real value of information professionals to a business, rather than being perceived as mere administrators.
Robinson addressed how the changes in business practices and information delivery have altered the role of the info pros, into lean and able knowledge forces but that the perception in a business hasn’t altered much from that of a dowdy librarian drowning under a sea of documentation.
Robinson explained how the job role and requirements have changed over time from that of searcher and gatherer to trainer and advisor on information - essentially a central cog in the businesses operational wheel. The core theme that kept rearing its head was not so much the value of info professionals, but their lack of positive press where they work; this in part she argues is down to how they present themselves.
Unfortunately, it is also manifested with an unprofessional appearance (such as a lack of appropriate business wear) and not making the effort to promote what their departments do, failing to demand a voice in the planning of projects rather than reacting towards peoples panicked needs at the end of them and ultimately, living up to the stereotypical shy and socially evasive librarian. Robinson was quite right to ask, “Do you look like your colleagues, like a professional?” The risk of not taking action and keeping your head below the parapet is to end up perceived as superfluous, non-essential and isolated.
She finished up with three pieces of advice, for the under-appreciated information professional; change your mentality, think more broadly and network widely across the organisation; a change it seems will need to come from you.
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