wiki: Joyce Valenza and 21st Century librarians

From some time back, this exceptional post has me checking, verifying, confirming, and planning for activities in my library. This discussion is nexus of the threads of this course: library leadership and technology.

"You know you're a 21st century librarian if . . . :   Manifesto for 21st Century School Librarians"

Joyce Valenza, October 2010

Information Fluency wiki

count: 3 pages

This length and wide-ranging post came about in response to a new librarian's question to Valenza: "In the 21st century, what does a school librarian do?" 

Valenza's thoughts provide an excellent discussion about the incredible pace of change in our field of librarianship. In view of that dramatic change, she suggests aspects that she considers to be "nonnegotiable" emerging practices.

These aspects fall into distinct areas:

• Reading
• Information Landscape
• Communication and publishing and storytelling
• Collection development
• Facilities of the physical space
• Access, Equity, Advocacy
• Audience and collaboration
• Copyright, "Copyleft," and Information Ethics 
• New technology tools
• Professional development and professionalism
• Teaching and Learning and Reference
• Into the Future (acknowledging the best of the past)

Readers will also benefit from her closing 24-points about what a librarian should NOT be doing.

This would a great starting point for beginning librarians and library students. It's also a great self-check for the more experienced -- lest we begin to fade.