http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6529375.html
John Berry talks about the way librarianship is being eroded by librarians and new library models that make libraries feel like supermarkets and turn librarians into bookstore clerks at best (although, goddess only knows that a good bookstore clerk is worth hir weight in paperbacks.)
Even though he is talking mainly about the public library, I can see this happening in our academic libraries as well. As long as we have wireless access and keep the printer filled we supposedly have done our job. Not true, sez I. Locating, processing and synthesizing information is important and the thing that library schools (IMHO) need to concentrate on is reference, what is now called “informatics”
Definition of informatics from wikipedia:
Informatics includes the science of information, the practice of information processing, and the engineering of information systems. Informatics studies the structure, behavior, and interactions of natural and artificial systems that store, process and communicate information. It also develops its own conceptual and theoretical foundations. Since computers, individuals and organizations all process information, informatics has computational, cognitive and social aspects, including study of the social impact of information technologies.
Sounds like reference to me.
Edited to add KG Schneider’s response to Berry . Apparently I need to read things more carefully.
