Redifining the Special Library

The corporate library I worked in was very non traditional because it was redefined from a place to access paper records or books to one that also housed the most advanced electronic resources, including the Internet, digital photo-library, and remote access to a wide range of information sources.

I often refer to my nigerian colleague who was of the old school but really he was a mine of library Knowledge and a mastermind of Library science. He always suggested that we should not be referred to just as special librarians per se, but now could be known as  information professionals or knowledge managers.

Increasingly  we have combined traditional duties with tasks involving new and emerging technologies.  I mean how many times do you see that there is a need for an emerging technology Librarian.

As librarians, we  help people find information and use it effectively for personal and professional purposes. We are bowls of  knowledge of a wide variety of scholarly and public information sources and we follow trends related to publishing, computers, and the media in order to oversee the selection and organization of library materials. On the whole and as best as we can we manage staff and develop and direct information  and literacy programs  for all and ensure that information is organized in a manner that meets users’ needs.

As special librarian in a small library we worked in all areas, including user services, technical services, and administrative services.

At intervals we used surveys to  analyze users’ needs to determine what information is appropriate and searching for, acquiring, and providing the information. As an information literacy expert  I used my role to  instruct, by showing users how to find information.  Our role as librarians usually to help users navigate the Internet so they can search for and evaluate information efficiently. Special Librarians in technical services, such as acquisitions and cataloguing, acquire, prepare, and classify materials so that patrons can find it easily. Abstracts and summaries are now ready made and can even be found on the internet.

However, because we were jack of all trades... we worked as special Librarians in administrative services overseeing the management and planning of the library. We negotiated the contract for services, materials, and equipment. As much as possible we supervised library employees; performed public-relations, prepared budgets; and directed activities to ensure that everything functioned properly.

Libraries are a necessity

Libraries are portals to all of the world’s knowledge. Librarians make sure that knowledge continues to be recorded and saved for the future, even as information-storage devices and formats change.

The information kept in libraries helps everyday people start their own small businesses, which helps grow the economy.

 Some of the world’s smartest and richest people (such as Andrew Carnegie and Bill Gates) poured their time and money into Libraries.

 Librarians are trained to do high-level research, which supports scientists, doctors, lawyers, professors, writers, government officials, and other important professionals every single day.

 Without the aide of librarians, all of these people would be making decisions without having all of the relevant knowledge they need on their topics.

Libraries are economically efficient. Their model of sharing allows them to serve many people with few resources. And they often join to create consortia in order to buy hardware, software, and information at lower group prices. Libraries often have exceptionally high rates of Return on Investment; some have been measured at more than 600% ROI. This means that librarians are excellent stewards of public monies; they use their budgets carefully and get the most value out of every dollar. Contrast this to the way many corporations waste money.

 Many public libraries offer online services that they subscribe to in order to support students’ learning.

 Librarians have always been major defenders of intellectual freedom, long before most people even knew what it was. This means that they are watchdogs on topics like free speech, copyright, privacy, and the right to know what governments and corporations are doing. They and their associations lobby for these rights and fight alongside other citizens to preserve them.


 Librarians have actually saved lives by providing information to doctors who were dealing with difficult cases.

 Only a tiny fraction of the world’s information is available for free on the internet. But all of it is available through libraries.

Libraries stop wars, and build countries. They form the basis of the economy. They build the foundation of what is good and right for society. They are holders national treasure, the power and the knowledge of Intellect and what is right in our life. They are beacons for all kinds of information.

 Librarians are the original, and  the best, search engines.

 Libraries have always been “green,” because they purchase a limited number of items that many people can share. For instance, people can borrow DVDs, magazines, and books rather than every person having to buy his or her own copy. Likewise, people can use shared computers, photocopiers, fax machines, and even meeting rooms.

 Libraries serve a vital social service by helping bridge the gap between the haves and the have nots, especially when it comes to literacy and computer skills training.

 Libraries offer services and products that level  intellect. That means that they allow people of any income level or background to access high-quality information, to use computers, or to borrow what they want. The existence of libraries ensures that knowledge and technology are available to everyone, not just to those who can afford their own. This is more than charity work; this helps raise the education levels of society as a whole.

 Studies have shown that the presence of libraries is good for towns and cities; people find more value in areas that have libraries nearby.

 Libraries have been around for 5,000 years. If they were not essential institutions, they would have died out long ago.

 Libraries change lives.

 Libraries are spaces where people of all ages can practice lifelong learning.

 Some say that the internet and e-books have taken over libraries, but that is still a debatable topic.