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The library and information sector: core knowledge, skills and attributes

Core knowledge statement

ALIA objects addressed

To promote and improve the services provided by all kinds of library and information agencies.
To ensure the high standard of personnel engaged in information provision and foster their professional interests and aspirations.

Principle

The library and information sector has a distinctive area of knowledge and skills which is required for effective professional practice. Library and information professionals need to acquire the relevant disciplinary expertise, demonstrate employment-related skills and be prepared for a challenging and dynamic future.

Statement

The library and information sector in Australia serves the information needs of a democratic, progressive, technologically sophisticated and culturally diverse society. A key focus of the sector is enabling people to connect with the world of information, interacting with information and utilising information in all aspects of their lives. The sector fosters lifelong learning, personal fulfilment, improved decision making, knowledge development, innovation, imagination, creativity and cultural continuity.

People who work in the sector will have specialist subject knowledge and skills as well as generic attributes. The level to which individuals have requisite knowledge, skills and attributes depends on their formal qualifications, work experience, professional development, and the role/s they perform.

Professional librarians and information managers require the knowledge and expertise to design, plan, develop, manage and evaluate the delivery of library and information services to meet the information needs of their clients and assist them to become information literate. Through professional education, librarians and information managers will have the ability to analyse, evaluate, organise and synthesise information and to develop programs that will encourage their clients to acquire the skills necessary to effectively seek, locate and use the information they need.

Library and information technicians require sound practical knowledge and skills in order to effectively support the delivery of these library and information services. Experienced technicians provide additional support by supervising staff and assisting in planning, implementing and evaluating services and systems.

The library and information sector is characterised by a workforce that is successful in:

Promoting and defending the core values of the profession;
Understanding and responding to people's information and learning needs;
Managing the storage, organisation, access, retrieval, dissemination, preservation and use of information;
Developing, delivering and evaluating information facilities, services, sources and products;
Envisioning and planning future directions for the library and information sector;
Advancing library and information science and its application to information services.

Core knowledge and skills

The core knowledge and skills for library and information professionals include:

Knowledge of the broad context of the information environment, demonstrated by the ability to:

understand and interpret the contexts in which information is originated, stored, organised, retrieved, disseminated and used;
comprehend the ethical, legal and policy issues that are relevant to the sector;
envision future directions and negotiate alliances for library and information sector development aligned with corporate, social and cultural goals and values.

Information seeking, demonstrated by the ability to:

understand and investigate how information is effectively sought and utilised;
identify and investigate information needs and information behaviour of individuals, community groups, organizations and businesses.

Information infrastructure, demonstrated by the ability to:

understand the importance of information architecture to determine the structure, design and flows of information;
forecast, plan, facilitate and evaluate appropriate resource management to library and information services.

Information organisation, demonstrated by the ability to:

enable information access and use through systematic and user-centred description, categorisation, storage, preservation and retrieval.

Information access, demonstrated by the ability to:

provide and promote free and equitable access to information and client services;
facilitate the acquisition, licensing or creation of information in a range of media and formats.

Information services, sources and products, demonstrated by the ability to:

design and deliver customised information services and products;
assess the value and effectiveness of library and information facilities, products and services;
market library and information services;
identify and evaluate information services, sources and products to determine their relevance to the information needs of users;
use research skills to provide appropriate information to clients.

Information literacy education, demonstrated by the ability to:

understand the need for information skills in the community;
facilitate the development of information literacy and the ability to critically evaluate information.

Generation of knowledge, demonstrated by the ability to:

systematically gather and analyse data and disseminate the findings to advance library and information science theory and its application to the provision of information services;
demonstrate a commitment to the improvement of professional practice through a culture of research and evidence-based information practice.

Generic skills and attributes
The generic skills and attributes for library and information professionals include:

effective communication skills;
professional ethical standards and social responsibility;
project management skills;
critical, reflective, and creative thinking;
problem-solving skills;
business acumen;
ability to build partnerships and alliances;
effective team relationship skills;
self management skills;
a commitment to life-long learning;
relevant information and communications technology and technology application skills;
appropriate information literacy skills.