The Librarian as Intermediary

To be a successful intermediary demands knowledge and exploitation of resources and understanding and knowledge of the users. This entails a disregard for the traditional labels which librarians are typecast with and a realisation of the existence of information outside the unit as well as within it. This presupposes a continuing systematic effort towards maintaining a network of contacts and communications and personal current awareness outside the organisation. Good communication between the librarian and management is stressed, as is the need for user education. The librarian must be a channel of communication into as well as out of the organisation. Communication is examined in terms of interpreting what others say, how the librarian communicates and how he or she presents the findings.