In the past decades a wide dialogue had been developing about the role of librarians in the age of digital collections and technological innovations. There weren't few those who claimed that librarians will be gradually replaced by technicians, computer specialists and, of course, machines. On the other hand a large part of LIS researchers and professionals forecasted the change of the roles and the specialization of tasks and skills.
It is commonsense today that technology did not change the mission and the goal of the library, technology enhanced the quality of library organization and services. As technological development is advanced radically, nowadays the situation is clearer, the theories and conjectures of the past now are applied by professionals and taught by professors.
Laura Townsend Kane refers to her preface “[…] Today […] a librarian's job is more flexible than ever thanks to technology. Libraries themselves have gone through physical changes – some don't even have true ‘stacks’ anymore and have gone completely virtual. Because of this, I saw a real need to produce a sequel to Straight from the Stacks (Kane, 2003) that would illustrate how changes in technology have affected the work of librarians and the vision of libraries. Hence the title change with the addition of the word Virtual. While on the one hand so much has changed, on the other, not much has changed. I am referring to the dismal fact that very few librarians seek out librarianship as a first career choice. This was the case in 2003, and it is still the case today […]”.
The important point of the book at hand, is Laura's great idea not only to give the guidelines of every of the new roles of librarians but also to collect descriptions and experiences of professionals.
Laura detects five discrete roles of librarians, the five chapters of the book:
Librarians as subjects specialists.
Librarians as technology gurus and social networkers.
Librarians as teachers and community liaisons.
Librarians as entrepreneurs.
Librarians as administrators.
Every chapter describes a role including the environments that act, the responsibilities they undertake, the skills and competencies that they must develop, their education and training as well as the professional associations that represent them.
The book wisely does not discriminate the roles according to the different kind of libraries. It is not implied it is explicitly referred that every kind of libraries uses librarians in every role. Subject specialists are not a privilege of special libraries anymore and librarians – teachers instruct information literacy in public, special, school, academic etc. library. On the other hand the economic restrictions and the plethora of information enforced libraries to look after an administrative model in order to raise funds and manage their resources effectively and efficiently. Last but not least the knowledge of technological tools and communication is the basis, the prerequisite of all the above.
Needless to say that no one can have all the skills and competencies, but he/she can “obtain” them by involving in group work. The complexity of work environment has brings into play the change of the hierarchical structure from vertical to horizontal.
The book is important because the best practices it contains enhance the design of new careers and the advocacy of the profession and the professionals.
The book is also important because it is a basis for knowledge management records.
The book would be useful to library professionals and decision makers as well as to LIS students and professors.
