PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND THE LABOUR PROCESS: ACADEMIC LIBRARIANSHIP AT THE MILLENNIUM

Abstract

This study takes the position that the vitality of academic libraries is grounded in the working experiences of its librarians. It suggests that a full understanding of problems facing contemporary information professionals in the post-industrial workplace requires an analysis of the labouring aspects as well as the professional nature of their work. The study of changes in the academic library work experience thus depicts the state of the library, and has implications for other intellectual workers in a social environment characterized by expanding information technologies, constricted economic resources, and the globalization of information production. Academic librarians have long recognized that their vocation lies not only in the classical role in information collection, organization, and dissemination, but also in collaboration with faculty in the teaching and research process, and in the contribution to university governance. They are becoming increasingly active in the protection of information access and assurance of information quality in view of information degradation on the Internet and various compromises necessitated by interaction with third party commercial information producers.

Citation

Carson, J. (2004), "PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND THE LABOUR PROCESS: ACADEMIC LIBRARIANSHIP AT THE MILLENNIUM", Advances in Library Administration and Organization (Advances in Library Administration and Organization, Vol. 21), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 3-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0732-0671(04)21001-X