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Title:
The New Information Professional: How to thrive in the Information Age doing what you love
Review:
From the title of the book I had expected a practical guide, full of
hints and tips, on how information professionals could develop skills
and attitudes that would help them to survive and flourish in the
current trend towards the use of ICT in the library profession.
However, it soon became evident that Myburgh approached the topic from
a more theoretical perspective, drawing on her two decades of teaching
in academia.
The book covers topics such as 'What is information work anyway?' and
'What is the Information Society anyway?' Principally aimed at those
who teach future information professionals and information
professional students themselves, the book covers a range of
interesting topics. Myburgh calls for those that run such courses to
reassess the core modules in order to give future information
professionals the skills they will need, so that they are capable of
diversifying into the many areas of information work, and not just
those of academic and public libraries.
Myburgh deals in detail with the political and social aspects of the
Information Age, stating that information professionals largely lack
political acumen and are seldom politically active. She also discusses
the implications of the information divide between the technology rich
and poor and the globalisation of information. Due to this
globalisation, Myburgh believes that it may soon become essential for
the information professional to speak, read and write at least one
other language.
Although interesting at times and theoretically useful, this book is
similar to Susan Horby's and Zoe Clarke's edited work, 'Challenge and
Change in the Information Society'. And for those new to the
information profession and wanting practical tips on how to thrive as
part of the information age, Sheila Corrall's and Anthony Brewerton's
book, 'The New Professional's Handbook', is a good starting point.
Free Pint Reviewer:
Lisa Anderson is a Learning Advisor for Law working in Information
Services at The University of Birmingham. Lisa is also a committee
member of UC&R West Midlands.
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