ASK THE DIGITAL LIBRARIAN
Many of the initiatives we facilitate at the Upskill and Connect Village already encourage LIS students and librarians to explore opportunities beyond traditional library settings, redefine how our profession is perceived and visibly impact other sectors of our society where librarians are perceived as people who keep books only. LIS professionals possess skills that are relevant across many industries.
If you are a student, I encourage you to watch my presentation on Redefining Librarianship. The three resources below address your question from different perspectives. I’d love to hear your thoughts after watching them:
- Video – Redefining Librarianship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j41MqB8eqM - Video – Competencies & Opportunities in Library and Information Science
https://youtu.be/o6jLK4Ub0_M?si=rWNvc-n31cWdcroX - In this video, Reno claims that Library Science is dead. Find out what The Digital Librarian has to say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9HZJjax_0k&t=540s
Now, to answer your question directly:
- Librarians need skills that can make them to be highly sought after in different sectors. For example:
- Data Governance and Digital Asset Management – Librarians already have a strong foundation in metadata, information organization, and database management.
- UX Research – Tech companies do not joke with professionals who understand how people seek, access, and interact with information. Librarians can excel in user experience research and information architecture.
- Knowledge Management – Organizations need people who can build and manage internal knowledge bases, repositories, and information systems to ensure their company’s valuable knowledge is not lost.
- These certifications apart from your B.Sc degrees and LRCN Certificates, may open doors for you now or in the future:
- Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate (SQL, Tableau, and data-driven decision making).
- Data Privacy certifications, such as those related to NDPR compliance.
- Google AI Essentials is a beginner-friendly introduction to AI and workplace applications.
- Project Management certifications, which demonstrate the ability to coordinate and deliver complex projects.
- Microsoft certifications such as Azure Data Fundamentals, which provide a foundation in cloud technologies and data services.
- The American Library Association also offers e-learning courses in Collection development, digital services, etc.
- Research Data Management (RDM) and Metadata/Cataloguing courses/trainings can also be helpful
- The way you present your skills matters, especially when you’re applying outside traditional library roles. You need to rebrand your CV and LinkedIn profile. Depending on your experience and career direction, you may position yourself as an:
- Information Strategist
- Research and Insights Analyst
- Content Operations Manager
- Legal Informatics Specialist
- Health Informatics Specialist
- Knowledge Management Professional
Many of the skills employers are looking for already exist within librarianship. In many cases, the challenge is not that we are not competent, but how those competencies are packaged, communicated, and aligned with industry needs matters alot.
At the Upskill and Connect Village, we are passionate about mentoring librarians in this area, so feel free to reach out whenever you need guidance.
Your Friend and Coach,
Sylvester Ebhonu (TheDL)