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.

The Perfect Special Librarian

Working in a corporate library my role was classed as a Special Librarian. To be classed as Special, my colleagues and I honed our personal competencies. To make sure of this we all had a commitment to Service Excellence.   
  
We always managed to seek out performance feedback and used  it as a source for continuous improvement. Many times we tried to conduct regular user surveys. Asking library users if they found what they were looking for. This meant we took  pride in a job well done. I was always at the centre of sharing especially in terms of new knowledge with others at conferences and in the professional literature. We had an inclination to improve services.

Seeking out challenges and sees new opportunities both inside and outside the library. Sometimes I took on new roles in the organization that required an information leader. I was able to use library-based knowledge and skills to solve a variety of information problems in a wide range of settings, both for individuals or for organizations. We did not limit the library collection or the information search to traditional media such as books and journals, but we went on to use RSS feeds and internet based data subscriptions.

Even students learning about Librarianship will tell you that being a Librarian is seeing the Bigger Picture.  Information-seeking and use is part of the creative process for individuals and for organizations. I perceived the library and its information services as part of the bigger process of making informed decisions.  I was able to give the highest priority to urgent demands that are critical to the organization's competitive advantage. i fought to  monitors major business trends and world events. I saw and anticipated trends and pro-actively realigned library and information services to take advantage of them.  

We took advantage partnerships and alliances, whenever we could. As long as we were able to find alliances with management information systems (MIS) professionals to optimize complementary knowledge and skills. We communicated with other libraries or information services inside or outside the organization to optimize resource sharing. We communicated with database vendors and other information providers to improve products and services.

We managed to create an environment of mutual respect and trust. Without even saying we treated all users with respect. We made sure we always delivered on time and on target and expected others to do the same. I created a problem-solving environment in which everyone's contribution is valued and acknowledged.

Effective Communication Skills were a must.  We managed to runs meetings effectively. We also presented ideas clearly and enthusiastically. With my background in communications I was able to write clear and understandable text.   In all of this I was a team player. I always tried to seek out opportunities for team participation.  The Leadership role was played to a Tee. I was able to acknowledge the contribution of all members of the team.

While Planning, prioritizing and focusing on what is critical, I recognized that in order to use resources most effectively, ongoing, careful planning is required. I developed an approach to planning and time management that incorporates personal and professional goals. I reviewed  goals on a regular basis, prioritized them and made sure that an appropriate proportions of daily activities are related to the most critical personal and professional goals. i also mentored others to do the same.

As all Librarians I am and always will be committed to lifelong learning and personal career planning.  I have always been committed to a career that involves ongoing learning and knowledge development. I was able to take on a  personal responsibility for long-term career planning and saw opportunities for learning and enrichment. I advocated an approach that encouraged and supported ongoing knowledge development and that valued the contribution of people. I always maintained  a strong sense of self-worth based on the achievement of a balanced set of evolving personal and professional goals.


As a special Librarian I used my personal business skills and created new opportunities. I recognized that,  in the changing world of work, entrepreneurship and the ability to function as a small business professional are essential skills. I saw opportunities to develop these skills. I used the entrepreneurial spirit in the organizational environment to revitalize products and services. I also realised the value of professional networking and solidarity. I used these opportunities to share knowledge and skills, to bench mark against other information service providers and to form partnerships and alliances.  I recognized the need for a forum where information professionals can communicate with each other and speak with one voice on important information policy issues. 


I tried to be  flexible and positive in times of continuing change. It is at this point that I took the wheel and I tried to take on different responsibilities at different points in time and to respond to changing needs. I tried to maintain  a positive attitude and helped others to do the same. I instantly looked for solutions. A librarian is not a librarian until he/she helps others to develop their new ideas by providing appropriate information. As the Ideas person I am still always on the lookout for new ideas. I was able to see and use or embrace technology as an enabler of new information ideas, products and services.

In fact you can say a Perfect Special Librarian  has all these skills and personal competencies. But who am I to blow my own trumpet? So with all these competencies, where is the margin for error, indeed what can go wrong in a perfect world?