In the ever changing Library and Information Science (LIS) landscape, an information professional has to keep up with the latest trends and issues affecting the field. This includes surveying and researching global issues and trends (Hirsh, 2018). Researching and understanding global perspectives in the LIS field can lead to many benefits of how we practice in our field. In order to provide new, current, and cultural competent trends in our service to our communities, we must be willing to understand the innovative and user-defined information services provided globally, implement the ways global information organizations adapt to emerging trends, discover various in-demand professional competencies, and locate and use resources for life-long learning and professional development (Hirsh, 2018). As information professionals, we can learn so much from other voices in the global LIS field.
When it comes to thinking about and locating global issues in the LIS field, where do we start? We can start with getting involved with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). The IFLA is "the global voice of libraries, representing the interests of the profession and working to improve services worldwide" (IFLA, n.d.a). The IFLA makes note of global issues affecting libraries in the hopes that information professionals around the globe can contribute to the strengths and work to correct the weaknesses of the field (IFLA, n.d.a). So, what are some global issues in the library world? For public libraries many of the current global issues fall into the three following categories:
Knowledgeable Societies - The public library has a role in contributing to outreach initiatives to bring in new audiences, keeping communities informed and aware, and providing continued access to information (IFLA, n.d.b). Outreach is an important topic to consider when building knowledgeable societies. In my work experience, I constantly hear people say that they didn't know we existed. This just verifies the fact of how important and serious outreach initiatives are to building more knowledgeable societies.
Remote Access - With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, libraries had to shut their doors to in-person services. The inclusion of remote access services in all public libraries should be highly stressed. Providing remote access is still an issue in many communities due to a number of reasons (e.g., the digital divide) (IFLA, n.d.b). Therefore, public libraries need to assess their communities and develop alternative ways to provide remote access.
Sustainable Development - Public libraries are a beacon for the exchanging of knowledge and ideas, sharing of culture, and promotion of civic engagement (IFLA, n.d.b). Through the activities relating to information, literacy, education, and culture, public libraries can contribute to the construction of more equitable, humane, and sustainable societies (IFLA, n.d.b). Public libraries need to find additional ways to continue initiatives to build sustainable communities for future generations.
These are just three areas that currently face libraries on a global scale. In order to keep up with the information and research on global library issues, we can subscribe to publications such as Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues (includes some open access articles) or World Libraries, an open-access, peer-reviewed LIS journal covering topics of interest to an international audience. And of course, we can always look at the IFLA's website to read up on latest studies and reports.
When considering global issues in libraries, a cultural competence mindset is a necessity in order to serve individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds (Overall, 2009). Cultural competence, or diversity sensitivity, is noted to be one the most essential skills and competencies for information professionals (Hirsh, 2018). When we serve our communities with a cultural competent mindset, we invite underserved and underrepresented individuals into library spaces. So, how do we begin to think about developing a cultural competence framework? We have to keep in mind that there's generally two perspectives we must take; an inward perspective (i.e., developing our own understanding) and an outward perspective (i.e., projecting our understandings to the service we provide) (Overall, 2009). Using these two perspectives, there's three areas of cultural competence we can practice in the cultural competence framework:
Culture -
Inward perspective: developing cultural awareness of self and others, and developing greater self-awareness and knowledge through reflection of one's own culture and the culture of others;
Outward perspective: creating culturally relevant library environments and regular interaction and collaboration with community members (Overall, 2009).
Language -
Inward perspective: becoming knowledgeable about linguistic needs of communities served and building an understanding of language and literacy needs of English language learners;
Outward perspective: building first language literacy experiences to assist English language learners, while offering second language literacy instruction (Overall, 2009).
Ethnicity -
Inward perspective: developing an understanding of distinct ethnic groups and developing greater self-awareness and knowledge through increased self-reflection;
Outward perspective: recognizing and encouraging institutional cultural sensitivity through policies, rules, and regulations, and regular interaction and collaboration with community members to institutionalize equitable policies (Overall, 2009).
Considering culture, language, and ethnicity into our personal and professional lives is how we as information professionals can develop the cultural competent framework to serve culturally diverse communities. Working in a public law library, I have mainly had experience applying the language aspect of cultural competence by advocating for the inclusion of more materials and resources in Spanish and by co-developing a non-verbal communication chart for deaf users. I look forward to working on my cultural competence as I grow in my career by understanding the topic more and by serving culturally diverse communities.
This first piece of evidence demonstrates my appreciation of the diversity of language and culture and my ability to understand global perspectives supportive of cultural well-being. For this project in Info-221, we were tasked with having to create a Libguide with government information sources. I was able to use the ALA's Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT) libguide platform to create this. Noticing the lack of government resource guides tailored to Native American and Indigenous Peoples, I decided to create a guide tailored towards this audience. Even though the guide focuses on American government sources, creating it peaked my interest in learning more about Indigenous issues and resources globally. If given the chance from GODORT again, I would love the opportunity to create another guide that focuses on international Indigenous resources and issues. Completing this project helped me develop my appreciation of the diversity of culture and my interest to consider issues from a global perspective.
This next piece of evidence demonstrates my ability to consider issues from a global perspective and my appreciation of the relationship between the chosen field of study and professional traditions elsewhere. For this blog assignment, we were tasked with having to look at global issues in regards to our chosen information communities. Looking at the transgender community as my information community, I researched and examined issues affecting transgender individuals in the United Kingdom including barriers to access and issues regarding public library services. In the blog post, I mention key findings from a professional report on trans barriers in the U.K. and findings from scholarly research on transgender accommodations in public libraries. This research helped me gain more understanding of global issues affecting my information community including global practices and studies.
This last piece of evidence for this competency demonstrates my ability to further consider issues from a global perspective and apply international standards and practices within the professional area supportive of social well-being. For this assignment, we were tasked with having to write an article on a current issue in web design. After doing some research, I came across the issue of sustainability in web design. I found this topic fascinating as I have never considered web design in the overall sustainability conversation. After reading articles and playing around with online tools, I wrote up a short article on the basics of sustainability in web design including what it is, why it should be considered, some strategies, and what can be done right now. Environmental sustainability is a global issue that impacts people all over the planet. Considering different information science issues and perspectives under the sustainability umbrella is extremely important in understanding global issues supportive of social well-being. Artifact "3a" are screenshots of my online article and artifact "3b" is a document of the links to resources and references mentioned in the article.
This competency had us look at global issues in the LIS profession including understanding global perspectives supportive of cultural, economic, educational, or social well-being. The first step is to understand global issues and stay informed on issues affecting the global LIS landscape. We can do this by identifying scholarly literature on the topic and joining professional organizations such as IFLA. In terms of cultural and social well-being, we can understand and learn more about the cultural competent framework to guide our LIS services towards inclusion for underserved and culturally diverse communities. I think the main takeaway from this specific competency is to think globally, but act locally. Think and consider global issues, but implement them towards the communities we serve.
Hirsh, S. (2018). The transformative information landscape: What it means to be an information professional today. In Hirsh, S. (Ed.), Information services today: An introduction. (pp. 3-13). Rowman & Littlefield.
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (n.d.a). Our vision and mission. https://www.ifla.org/vision-mission/
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (n.d.b). The public library manifesto - 25 years of advocacy, and many more to come! https://www.ifla.org/news/the-public-library-manifesto-25-years-of-advocacy-and-many-more-to-come/
Overall, P. M. (2009). Cultural competence: A conceptual framework for library and information science professionals. The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy, 79(2), 175-204. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/597080
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