Expectations of Librarians in the 21st Century

Expectations of Librarians in the 21st Century. Ed. by Karl Bridges. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 2003. 235p. $67.95 (ISBN 0-313-32294-5).

This book, part of the Greenwood Library Management Collection series, consists of fifty-three essays on the characteristics and qualities of today's librarian. The contributors are practitioners in the field, some relatively new and some more seasoned, who provide their personal reflections on what it means-and what it takes-to be a librarian. The intended audiences are primarily those entering the profession as well as those hiring them, but there are observations that are useful even for those of us who have been around a while.

In her foreword, Leigh Estabrook characterizes the collection as being about "the knowledge, skills, and attitude required of new librarians" (x). While some of the knowledge and skills are subject-oriented, many are general (e.g., knowledge of human behavior and skills in working in today's organizations). Most of the essays are brief, and many are refreshingly informal. The overwhelming majority of the contributors come from the academic environment (there are three from public libraries), but at least there is a wide range in the types of academic institutions represented.

The most frequently mentioned skill is flexibility. This quality appears in nearly one-third of the essays. Given the fast-changing library world today, this is not surprising. The next most frequently mentioned skill is technological ability-not so much particular technologies as knowledge of how technology is and can be used and willingness and ability to continually update one's skills. Customer service is a close third, followed by teamwork orientation and communication skills. There is relatively little emphasis on specific knowledge (with the exception of essays dealing with information literacy or instruction), and there is an interesting focus on general personal characteristics...