Competency B
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Describe and compare different organizational settings in which information professionals practice.
Introduction
Libraries and information centers play a vital role in the information landscape, serving diverse populations and fulfilling unique community needs. As essential institutions, they not only provide access to a wealth of resources but also foster literacy, promote lifelong learning, and support the development of critical skills necessary for navigating an increasingly complex information environment. The specific goals and objectives of different types of libraries and archives can vary in funding structures, governance, and programming initiatives, reflecting their unique missions. However, on top of these differences, access to reliable information and educational resources, all generally align with the shared mission of enhancing community engagement, supporting education, and preserving cultural heritage.
Public Libraries
Public libraries serve the general public within a specific service area and are an integral part of the communities they serve. This includes ages ranging from birth with librarian-led storytimes, all the way to end of life with outreach services and every age in between. The collections in public libraries tend to focus on both popular and general interests but can include an emphasis on certain materials depending on patron requests, demographics, and geographic location. Public libraries provide programming focused on promoting literacy and building community. Literacy in public libraries does not stop at proficiency in reading but is in the broader context of developing the skills and knowledge for success in the digital age (Freudenberger, 2022).
Public libraries are primarily funded by local counties through taxes, but some receive additional support from state and sometimes federal grants and funding initiatives. For example, the state of Ohio has the Public Library Fund, which allocates a portion of state tax revenue to support public libraries (Ohio Revised Code Section 5747.48, 2008). Public libraries are often governed by a board, to which membership is either appointed or elected by the local governing entity, such as a city council or county commission. The Public Library Association (2022), or PLA, provides resources and advocacy for public libraries, helping to enhance their role in fostering community engagement and access to information.
Academic Libraries
Academic libraries serve higher education students, faculty, and staff but can sometimes include the general public to a lesser extent. The primary focus of academic libraries is to provide academic support through access to a wide range of scholarly resources, including books, journals, databases, and digital media. Academic libraries provide research assistance, instruction, skill-specific workshops, and information literacy programs to help users navigate complex information landscapes. Entering the twenty-first century, academic libraries became an essential hub for searching focused student services like providing writing centers, IT help desks, and career services (Mavrinac, 2022). Within the last decade, academic libraries have begun to provide holistic services aimed at developing student well-being, such as programming with therapy animals, massage therapy sessions, and mindfulness workshops. Academic libraries are often funded by the larger school they are a part of, with budgets typically allocated from the institution's overall funding. A dean is often appointed by the administration of the college or university to oversee library operations and strategic direction. The Association of College and Research Libraries (n.d.), or ACRL, offers resources, guidelines, and advocacy for academic libraries, promoting best practices and collaboration among institutions to enhance the educational experience of students and faculty.
Special Libraries
Special libraries exist to support a broad range of specialized information for specific organizations, such as corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and research institutions. These libraries focus on providing tailored resources and services that meet the unique needs of their users, often including access to proprietary databases, industry reports, and specialized collections. On top of specialized area knowledge, special librarians usually have an MLIS degree and need to be proficient in information systems, data retrieval, organization, ethics, critical thinking, research, and analysis (Megaridis, 2022). Funding sources can vary greatly depending on the type of organization that a special library serves, with budgets typically derived from the organization's overall funding, grants, or sponsorships. Special libraries often play a critical role in supporting decision-making processes, innovation, and research initiatives within their respective organizations by providing timely and relevant information.
K-12 School Libraries
K-12 libraries serve students and teachers by providing access to a wide range of resources, including not only curriculum-related materials but also materials tailored to the specific age group of students. These libraries play a crucial role in supporting fundamental literacy and research skills, helping students develop critical thinking and information literacy competencies. K-12 libraries often offer instruction and activities that promote reading engagement, digital literacy, and collaborative learning. The role of the school librarians is part program manager and part instructional leader in that they often oversee all administrative duties that fall under the library, as well as the design and implementation of all library instructional activities (Harlan, 2022). Funding for K-12 libraries falls upon the school district from which they are a part of, with budgets typically derived from local, state, and sometimes federal sources.
Archives
Archives are institutions that collect, preserve, and provide access to historical documents and records. What unites all archives is the goal of both preserving materials and facilitating access to archived materials for researchers, historians, and the general public. Often, historical documents or other records important to the cultural heritage, governance, or identity of a community or organization are housed within archives. These materials can include manuscripts, photographs, audio-visual recordings, and digital files that hold significant value for understanding the past. Archives play a crucial role in ensuring that valuable information is maintained for future generations while also promoting transparency and accountability. They often collaborate with historians, educators, and other stakeholders to provide educational resources and programming that highlight the importance of archival materials in understanding history and culture. Funding for archives can come from a variety of sources, including government grants, private donations, and institutional support, which can impact their ability to preserve and provide access to their collections.
Additional Environments Where Information Professionals Practice
There are also non-information-specific fields and industries that information professionals practice in or careers in which there is a significant overlap in knowledge and skills. Some examples include records and information management (RIM) and digital asset management for larger government, non-profit, corporate, and private organizations. Additionally, research and investigative roles, such as those in business and competitive intelligence, involve the collection and analysis of information, as well as source verification and fact-checking. Positions like these are often critical to the organizations they serve, and information professionals are more than equipped to fill.
Competency Development
I have had the opportunity to work in both academic libraries in the past and currently at a public library. This has allowed me to experience many of the differences firsthand. In academic libraries, I observed the strong emphasis on research support firsthand, working with research librarians as a research services assistant. In my current role in a public library, I directly see the focus on community engagement, access to resources, and especially digital literacy. I have also worked as a student worker in the digital services department at a university library, in which the department worked closely with the archives and special collections to digitize and preserve historical documents, providing greater access to valuable resources for researchers and the public alike. During my MLIS coursework, I took electives that also exposed me to some of the other capacities that information professionals work in. For instance, INFO 282, Competitive Intelligence, focused on the techniques and tools used to gather and analyze information about competitors and market trends, which is crucial for organizations looking to maintain a competitive edge. Additionally, I completed INFO 284, Enterprise Content Management, which taught me about the processes and technologies that enterprises use to govern digitized and born-digital content into content management systems and digital archives.
Evidence
This essay explores the critical role of social media in competitive intelligence, highlighting its value in competitor analysis, strategy comparison, and identifying unique customer-attracting attributes. It discusses how organizations leverage social media platforms to gain insights into market trends, customer preferences, and growth opportunities, ultimately enhancing their ability to innovate. The essay emphasizes the importance of tools and methods such as SWOT analysis, benchmarking, and advanced monitoring techniques, which allow information professionals in businesses to track competitors' activities and adapt their strategies. This essay serves as justifying evidence for Competency B by illustrating how information professionals operate within various organizational settings, utilizing social media as a resource for gathering insights on competitor strategies, market trends, and customer preferences, which are essential for organizations aiming to innovate and remain competitive. By comparing the approaches taken by information professionals in non-traditional information science environments, this essay highlights the diverse strategies employed to leverage social media effectively, showcasing the skills needed of information professionals across sectors.
Evidence 2
This post highlights the vital role of information professionals, particularly librarians, in advancing open science and open data practices through their expertise in interoperability, metadata management, and education. By promoting the use of open standards and open-source software, librarians can enhance data accessibility and reproducibility, addressing challenges related to proprietary tools and software dependencies. Their advocacy for open access initiatives fosters a culture of transparency and collaboration within the research community. Additionally, by staying informed about emerging technologies like WebAssembly (WASM), librarians can help researchers leverage new tools that improve interoperability, thus promoting access. In this post I illustrate how information professionals can actively contribute to the advancement of open science and open data through their expertise in data management, education, advocacy, and support for open-source tools. By embracing these roles, librarians can help create a more transparent, reproducible, and collaborative research environment.
This discussion post explores the potential of data mining applications in public libraries, emphasizing the benefits of data-driven decision-making to enhance patron engagement and satisfaction. I highlight tools like CollectionHQ, which assist libraries in managing their collections through data analysis, while also raising concerns about its ownership by a for-profit entity. The post references the Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL) and a case study from the San Francisco Public Library, showcasing how data mining can optimize branch hours based on usage statistics and patron feedback. Additionally, it suggests the creation of mineable databases and open APIs, citing examples like the New York Public Library's digital collections.
My discussion of what data mining, specifically in public libraries, would look like and the mention of tools like CollectionHQ and the Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL) illustrate how public libraries can utilize data-driven strategies to enhance their services. These practices differ in approach and implementation in academic or special libraries. By addressing these differences, I demonstrate a thorough understanding of how public libraries operate within the broader landscape of information organizations, fulfilling the competency's requirement to describe and compare various settings in which information professionals practice.
Conclusion
Thus far, my still brief but varied experiences in a range of libraries and information environments have greatly influenced how I perceive the complex responsibilities that information professionals play throughout society. Every setting that information professionals practice in has its own set of unique qualities, from encouraging literacy and community involvement in public libraries to assisting with scholarly study and conserving historical documents in archives. As my career as an information professional continues, I welcome new opportunities for growth for both myself and the profession.
References
Association of College and Research Libraries. (n.d.). ACRL Guide to Policies and Procedures. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://www.ala.org/acrl/resources/policies/chapter14
Distribution of county library and local government support fund, Ohio Revised Code Section 5747.48 (2008). https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-5747.48
Freudenberger, E. (2022). Community anchors for lifelong learning: Public libraries. In S. Hirsh (ed.), Information services today (3rd ed., pp. 113-126). Rowman & Littlefield.
Harlan, M. (2022). Literacy and media centers: School Libraries. In S. Hirsh (ed.), Information services today (3rd ed., pp. 91-101). Rowman & Littlefield.
Mavrinac, M. (2022). Learning and research institutions: Academic libraries. In S. Hirsh (ed.), Information services today (3rd ed., pp. 102-112). Rowman & Littlefield.
Megaridis, C. S. (2022). Working in different information environments: Special libraries and information centers. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information services today (2nd ed., pp. 127-139). Rowman & Littlefield.
Public Library Association. (2022, June). Pla mission & strategy | public library association. https://www.ala.org/pla/about/mission