Be proactive: communicate your worth to management!

Information Outlook,  Jan, 1999  by Lucy Lettis

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COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR JUNIOR LEVEL INFORMATION SPECIALIST

(M.L.S. plus one to two years in either corporate or legal information center)(1)

I. Competencies acquired in M.L.S. program:

* demonstrated understanding of the various information professions, concepts and vocabulary, and literature of the field

* demonstrated understanding of current issues and problems in the information profession

* demonstrated understanding of human information behavior as it relates to contemporary problems in library and information services, and as it can serve as a theoretical and professional base for such services; knowledge of various contexts of information behavior, and the processes of information seeking, searching, using, and valuing

* demonstrated knowledge of models of interaction in information retrieval: interactive processes in information seeking and searching; mediation and interviewing process; user modeling; principles and tactics for effective searching; dealing .with end-users; evaluation of search results in information retrieval

* understanding of the changing nature of information centers in organizations: emphasis on the information audit, selecting and evaluating information of value and utility to given user groups; ability to establish criteria for synthesis and the synthesizing process; knowledge of formats and methods of presentation of information for given users

* understanding of the technology and equipment used for the storage, organization, and dissemination of information; laboratory experience with online database searching; basic knowledge of computer applications suitable to the administration of information centers

* knowledge of descriptive cataloging, subject cataloging, and classification of information resources for library systems; emphasis on cataloging and classification in an online environment with attention to machine-readable record formats and cataloging networks (e.g., OCLC, RLIN, et el.)

* laboratory knowledge of computer-mediated communication and information retrieval in a networked environment; conceptual knowledge of and practical experience with variety of Internet search engines; ability to evaluate search and metasearch engines for application in an information service setting

* fundamental knowledge of theoretical aspects and questions underlying digital libraries; knowledge of integration of information resources and relations to traditional libraries

* familiarity with concepts of information systems analysis, and information systems in the framework of organizations; emphasis on information use and user-oriented approaches rather than on technology; familiarity with variety of applications such as competitive intelligence, information retrieval systems, digital libraries and information networks; ability to evaluate quality of information systems from user-oriented perspective

* knowledge of the evolution of information science and librarianship and problems addressed over time; demonstrated knowledge of approaches, methods and trends in research; understanding of disciplinary and interdisciplinary relationships, seminal authors and works