Information specialists of the future: Professional development and renewal

The electronic library and networked information services have prompted a review of the roles and responsibilities of information professionals. The technical demands of the job are expanding and at the same time a wider set of management and business skills will be required as the focus shifts from providing information to facilitating access for end-users. The implications for education and training are significant and continuing professional development has become more important as the pace of change quickens and environmental factors exert pressure on financial, physical, and human resources. Flexible responses will be essential to meet the needs of the 21st century. Some commentators predict the demise of the information professional, others envisage an enhanced role, emphasising the expertise required to assess the cost-effectiveness of different options for information delivery. Survival of the species will depend on competence, commitment, and capacity for change. The knowledge, skills, and attitudes required must be fully understood by all, and both organizations and individuals have to take responsibility for creating a framework for growth. Management development has become a strategic priority for all types of library and information services, and education and training providers need to devise new programmes to develop “Information Superprofessionals” for the Information Superhighway