Look like things are getting more and more fun as the conference on Bridging Worlds Conference 2008 comes in. I heard that the delegated visited my library this morning. Sadly, my office, Library Technology & Service Division, is too far away from the main library or any other libraries to capture such event. Till today, I don’t really know why IT system librarians have to sit one corner of in the library, isolating themselves from the rest of the world. Apparently, in today’s context, 60% of the library’s operation is fully technology operated via the advent of information technology and communication technology (ICT).
Well, maybe the recent podcast on The Wired Campus below explained “Why Can’t Librarians and IT Departments Just Get Along?”
The differences? Start with gender: Librarians are stereotypically female, and IT staff members are stereotypically male. Libraries have a long tradition, while IT departments are relatively new. Libraries are very mission-driven, IT departments less so.
But the similarities are striking. “There are three major industries that refer to their customers as ‘users’: IT, libraries, and illicit drugs,” says Tech Therapy’s co-host, Warren Arbogast. Going deeper, both IT staff members and librarians often feel like second-class citizens on campuses. Both groups inhabit a rapidly-changing work environment. Both have insecurities about the future of their professions.
Gosh, and my fate? I am now stuck into two worlds. Because, I am an assistant librarian (Library Technology & Systems) and also as business librarian (IT & Operations Management). Does that mean I have a fruits to two worlds?
So which is truth about my career path?
But again, I still feel that graduate school (especially providing librarianship path), they should teach their student IT Strategic Planning. Understanding the important between IT and operation in a strategic alignment model. Well, just like these conference, Bridging Worlds.
Personally, I only feel that the hype is only among the presenters themselves. Is this going to be another presenter get-together sessions?
Well, the organisers should also focus on the delegate. Find out who are their delegates too. I believe are quite equivalent as good as the presenters. Since, they did not cover on their blogs, let’s me focus more on the delegates and their works too. Some of them, of course, and I hope this would be a chain reaction as each delegate starts to introduce another, strategically align the theme with the technology on achieving the objective in:
KNOWING >> LEARNING >> SHARING
Firstly, Kathryn Greenhill. She blogs at librariansmatter.com. I remembered she demonstrated to the Australian’s librarians about 2nd Life and what Librarians can do in the virtual environment. And, it is a live demo. She will be one of the delegate that you guys should say hi if you bumming to her tomorrow and she’s now in Singapore
“I’m here to attend Bridging Worlds 2008 Conference:: knowing • learning • sharing run by the National Library Board of Singapore. Just check out the lineup – there are so many excellent library thinkers that I can’t list them all. I’m sooo excited.”
Next is, I have checked lists again, but .. it seems only that I know Kathryn’s work. The rest are mostly Singaporean librarians. That’s actually brings me to another send of questions:
- Does Singapore Librarians afraid to blog & share?
- Does the technology competency knowledge of Singapore Librarians is limited?
- Or does their library (organisation) does know them to blog?
Or, are Singapore Librarians is just one of this roles: (i) Creators, (ii) Critics, (iiI) Joiners (iv) Spectators or (vi) Inactive. Well, which ever roles we are, it is not easy for us to be a full knowledge workers who align the three elements of knowing, learning and sharing. If this elements take place, this will lead to a knowledge revelation and eventually mobilisation will take in place.
Well, as written, on Bridging Worlds’ official blog, these are the othe folks who linked to them.
Also, check out this:
Okay, I purposely show this slide, because there is my name under one of the references.
“Thanks, Ivan. I guess the piece of information that I share with you is quite usefully too. And, I am looking forward to see your presentation tomorrow.”
The rest of the presenters slide you can check out at slideshare. The url is: http://www.slideshare.net/bridgingworlds2008/slideshows.
Another interesting about this blog, they are doing to have Live Blogs. To be frank, this is new to me.
Something new for me to try out too. Well, I see you guys at the conference tomorrow.
Possibly Related Posts:
- Building The Sphere of Movers & Shakers (FB-Malay Community)
- Should not be a librarian anymore
- What’s wrong being a Normal (Academic) student
- Postings in Facebook
- The White House – Blog Post – Taking on Education
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See you at the conference, Hazman. And thanks for generously giving your help when I sought for it, for the presentation. Crediting the people who helped was the least I could do
Sure, my honour to help you out in your research and presentation too.
Interesting summary (and questions), Hazman!
Can I add another differences between IT staff and librarians? IT staff think that librarians know nothing about information technologies and librarians think IT people have zero information literacy skills
Hi Yuyun,
Thanks. Sure, share you thoughts too.
That is normal. It is not only between librarians and IT. I used to work in a Healthcare sector, when I first started working. Same situation I am in now.
Hi Hazman,
A really interesting post – thank you. It raised a number of issues me which I am still thinking about. I trained firstly as a librarian and then studied IT so I could talk with our IT guys and actually be able to contribute! It is a problem and I solved it by learning the language but its changing so fast that I constantly have to be reading just to keep up…. but then most librarians are continually scanning the technocal horizon for emerging technolies. Probably the most useful thing I learnt is that IT is not rocket science and that if you can describe it an IT person can do it!
I was a presenter at Bridging Worlds, and I discovered that the delegates did include a number of really interesting people; I met some but there were many more I didn’t meet. The question is how to address that?
Its a bit tricky as a presenter in a different country; you don’t actually know anyone (or only a few at best). Delegates are often hesitant to approach us and chat and talk about their knowledge and skills . . . yet we so love it when you do! Speakers really are just ordinary people and the best part of going to international conferences is meeting new people who often do things differently. . . and I wish I had met you!
cheers Jo.
Hi Jo,
Thank and your welcome. Firstly, I hope that you enjoy your stay in Singapore.
Yups, during the conference, everyone is running around. It is tough to catch each and one of them. But, there is always Facebook and linked.com. The wonders of web 2.0, we can keep in touch and keep updated through that platform.
Let’s me recap which presentation that you have presented .. Gosh, I am sorry, cos I have a rough 1 week after that conference. I will trying to check again later when I am back in the office and match with the podcast. I have yet to upload the podcast too.
Now, I remember. The presentation on Horowhenua Library Trust, New Zealand. Interesting. I am actually in the middle of building two website (maybe like a library site) that focus on cultural exchange. 1) French – Singapore (http://lfca.hazmanaziz.com) and other is selling 2) Malay Culture and Stories to the world. Both are actually funded by students with passion in using new media. I just supporting the technology.
Greats … yups, we should met that day. Maybe one day , we will again in a conference. Or, if I drop at NZ, I can visit you. I am actually in the middle of thots doing my PhD there , once completed this Master programme.
Glad to know you.
Hazman Aziz
http://hazmanaziz.com