What does professionalism mean to you?
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I’ve been thinking a lot recently about what makes librarians professional. According to Bonnie A. Osif in a 2006 Library Administration & Management article there are many aspects to professionalism. She includes professional degrees and training, attitudes and behaviours, having positive, constructive interactions that create and maintain an encouraging environment that nurtures growth, mutual respect, and a shared mission (p. 154). I think it’s safe to say that most librarians would agree with her definition of professionalism. But, for academic librarians this notion of professionalism can become much more complicated. Many of us have the same contracts as traditional faculty, but the nature of our work (from reference shifts, to information literacy sessions, to professional obligations) makes us different from traditional faculty. In my opinion there’s nothing wrong with being different from traditional faculty. Our skills and expertise are different and our goals as academic librarians are (in part) to further the teaching and research goals of our larger institutions. But, we spend a lot of time worrying that our users don’t see us as professionals.So, with all that in mind, what does professionalism mean to you?For further reading check out:White, H.S. (1996). Faculty status for academic librarians: The search for the Holy Grail. Library Journal, 121(19), 39-40. It’s a bit old, but an interesting read.Cronin, B. (2001). The mother of all myths. Library Journal, 126(3), 144. Pretentiously written, but good food for thought.Osif, B.A. (2006). Professionalism, part 1. Library Administration & Management, 20(2), 96-100.Osif, B.A. (2006). Professionalism, part 2. Library Administration & Management, 20 (3), 154-158. (Source: Re:Generations)
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