1. Ned Potter
@theREALwikiman
New librarians:…
This is your Time!

2. Talk for the University of
Latvia’s Information
science students
April 2012

3. librarian?

5. physically I‟m here
Harry Fairhurst Building, University of York Library

6. but I‟m virtually everywhere
I am stronger (and more useful) because I am connected

7. When this came
out, the world‟s
population was
less than half
was it is now.

8. Now every day 350,000 babies are born - into an…

9. New technology has never
been so focussed on access
to and use of information

10. (In development terms, we
think we’ve gone from here…
to here) (When actually we’re still here…)

11. Take a look at
http://www.worldometers.info

12. 4 billion

13. We used to be scared of
Google, dismissive of it- then we
accepted its value but said „but you
still need libraries!‟
But really we should be confident in
our own value, and just tell people
how we can help them use Google
better.

14. Because we live in a world of
INFORMATION
OVERLOAD

15. If we’re to generate more unique information this year
we
Than in the previous 5000 YEARS put together

16. Then now more than EVER
the world needs information
professionals to sort, assess,
collate and present information

17. For a lot of people, trying to get good information
off the net is like trying to drink from a waterfall

18. information professionals
have never been so vital

19. TOO MUCH
INFORMATION

20. is as bad as too little

21. Your job is to help people with either.

22. Librarians are no longer
the gatekeepers
of information

23. The gates are wide open.
Our job is to light the path for people once
they‟re through.

24. We used to
be the
information
vault

27. We are no longer
defined or limited by
our library buildings

28. The embedded librarian.
(Independent, roving, or
just online.)

29. People want to
choose their own
tools – libraries will
position themselves
within the
technological
landscape

30. MOBILE
MOBILE
MOBILE

31. Programmes not
collections, services not
content
It used to be just about
information, now it’s about
leverage: turning information
into knowledge

32. Most of
all, though, we
will be the
guide

33. Most of
all, though, we
will be the
guide
(We don’t own the mountains; we
just take people where they need
to go because we’re experts in the
terrain of the information
landscape.)

34. And we still have, you know, books, too.

35. We’re changing to suit people.
But it isn’t easy – it’s
hard to attract new
demographics whilst
retaining the old ones.

36. In 2010 a UK survey asked
What would most
encourage you to visit
the library more?

37. In 2010 a UK survey asked
What would most
encourage you to visit
the library more?
The winner, with 32%


38. In 2010 a UK survey asked
What would most
encourage not you to
visit the library more?

39. In 2010 a UK survey asked
What would most
encourage not you to
visit the library more?
The winner, with 23%


41. MODERN LIBRARIANSHIP IS AWESOME
Almost whatever you like to do, you can tie this in with
librarianship.
Helping people, inspiring people, design, social
media, writing, community, speaking, research, –and
anything else you can think of.
Pursue your passion via the information profession.

42. LIBRARIANSHIP IS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE
“...people, people, people, you wouldn‟t believe the
amount of interviewees who sit before me talking about
books and procedures who never mention
people, interaction or users/patrons once. Its a big
giveaway to me that they don‟t understand what
librarianship is about and aren‟t right for the profession.” –
Andy Priestner, University of Cambridge

43. IT IS ALL ABOUT TECHNOLOGY
“Libraries should wake up to technology” –
David Cameron
Guess what Dave, WE ALREADY DID.

44. THE COMPETITION IS TOUGH
More people qualify in librarianship each year than retire.

45. YOU NEED TO BE READY TO FIGHT
“There is no such thing as abstaining from library
advocacy. You are either doing it, or ur doin it wrong.”
Me 

46. YOU HAVE TO BE OKAY WITH CHANGE
“The mission is static. The implementation is dynamic.” –
Andy Woodworth
“All bets are OFF.” – Phil Bradley

47. YOU NEED TO NETWORK
“It‟s not about exploiting who you know, or shameless
self-promotion, or accumulating and dispensing as
many business cards as possible. It‟s about sharing
advice and support. And that support can be as small
an act as smiling and listening intently to a nervous
speaker. Or leaving a comment on a blog post.” –
Adrienne Cooper

48. THERE ISN’T A CAREER LADDER
It‟s more like a climbing wall.

49. JOIN A PROFESSIONAL BODY
If you join LLA, SLA-Europe, IFLA, the ALA or any other
library association, you‟ll be plugged in to the
profession.

50. YOU NEED TO GET ON TWITTER
Twitter is the one social network to rule them all –
because it carries links to the best content on all the
rest of them. All the arguments you‟ve ever heard
against Twitter can be rebuffed with the phrase: “It‟s a
conversation.”
(More on this here.)

51. START A BLOG
Your blog is your platform, your outlet, your chance to
document your views for the world to discover. Amazing things
can come from having a blog!

54. •Simon Barron’s list of Librarians using Twitter (well):
http://twitter.com/SimonXIX/library-and-info-pros
•New to Twitter? Here’s what you do:
http://thewikiman.org/blog/?p=979

55. www.lbbjss.wordpress.com .
New Professionals chapter (follow its
chair, @daceudre, on Twitter for more)

56. http://www.sla-europe.org/tag/first-five-years/
SLA’s First Five Years resources

57. http://www.ifla.org/new-professionals
IFLA’s New Professionals Special Interest Group

58. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/committees/rts/nmrt/index.cfm
ALA’s New Members Round Table

59. Try these for some New Professional stuff:
•http://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/ •http://bethaninfoprof.wordpress.com
•http://www.bohyunkim.net/blog/ •http://woodsiegirl.wordpress.com/
•http://thewikiman.org •http://www.beyondthejob.org/
•http://librarianbyday.net/ •http://hacklibschool.wordpress.com/

60. Over 150 information professionals from around the
world have documented their career paths at
www.libraryroutesproject.wikkii.com

61. Follow thousands of librarians to see what they really get
up to in an average day in the life of a 21st century info
pro, at
http://librarydayinthelife.pbworks.com

62. A dedicated global network for New Professionals, with
forums, downloadable resources, competitions, and face-
to-face meetups:
www.lisnpn.spruz.com

63. ONE LAST
Piece of advice

64. ANYTHING!
There are so many tools freely available, the filter between
idea and reality is almost non-existent. As soon as you think of
something good, make it happen.

65. THANK YOU FOR

66. PRESENTATION BY NED POTTER. FOR MORE
IDEAS ABOUT INFORMATION, GO TO
WWW.THEWIKIMAN.ORG
Continue the conversation on Twitter:
ALL ICONS VIA
@theREALwikiman

67. Timepiece: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/101610
LP: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_television/418198748/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Baby: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seafrost/515393926/sizes/l/in/photostream/
TEXTURES Computer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/61444548@N00/118999076
Highway: http://www.flickr.com/photos/91351004@N00/452412873
Web 2 icons: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zipckr/3925513417/sizes/l/in/photostream/
NY times building: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scallop_holden/2330962137/sizes/z/in/photostream/
ADAPTED FROM 18th century pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30432726@N05/2860104097/sizes/z/in/photostream/
5: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simax/3390895249/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Waterfall: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joiseyshowaa/3646698276/sizes/o/in/photostream/
CC IMAGES BY Broken shelves: http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_mistress/1248479255/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Empty shelves: http://www.flickr.com/photos/create_up/1478123817/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Help: http://www.flickr.com/photos/81398303@N00/1878956841
ERVIN BARTIS Compass: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7542997@N03/2473782602/sizes/z/in/photostream/
Lock: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamchenkov/300476203/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bartiservin/ Path: http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmollmolch/4242099982/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Vault: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anonymouscollective/2291896028/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Rocket: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathancohen/3997542246/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Globe: http://www.flickr.com/photos/97177054@N00/5051447015
Seatle Library: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75905404@N00/371038175
THIS PRESENTATION IS Computer hands: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43698630@N00/839984821
Latop: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37182073@N06/4441387125
AVAILABLE UNDER CC Google: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31991771@N00/2856173673
ATTRIBUTION LICENCE Google in a box: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16429872@N04/4670747540/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Coffee: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30928442@N08/3668169284
Vancouver: http://www.flickr.com/photos/selva/90046278/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Spain: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30982194@N05/4147356245
Berlin: http://www.flickr.com/photos/67499195@N00/4119691598
Seattle: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vs/29582361/sizes/l/in/photostream/
ALL ICONSwww.iconfinder.com
Icons via VIA Stockholm: http://www.flickr.com/photos/94852245@N00/530293086
Vancouver interior: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecstaticist/3458914518/sizes/o/in/photostream/
All photographs are via creative commons