The Hybrid Librarian

20 April 2023

1

Panel Discussion

Doreen Young - UCOLAssociate Director Student Experience

Karyn Thomson – UCOLDirector Student Experience

Mary Weddell – WelTecManager, Resource Centre

2

No Librarians

Where have they all gone?

3

Case Study 1 – Wellington Institute of Technology

Old Library

The Learning Commons

So what do the Customer Service team do?

Circulation servicesReserve collection supportLevel 1 IT help desk including e-learning issuesPastoral supportSupport for distance studentsAppointments for Learning Support –

not just making the appointment but finding out what the student requires and decide on the appropriate support required.

First point of contact for health servicesAfter hours registry services – payments etcPrinting and photocopying servicesLevel 1 reference services (under 5 minutes)Information literacy teachingShelf managementReferrals to Ability Service

What skills do the Customer Service team need?

Reference skillsCustomer Service skillsExcellent IT SkillsAbility to work under pressureCultural understandingEmpathyStudent centricHigh level communication skills

Information Literacy skillsSubject knowledge of the teaching

areasFlexibilityAbility to multitask in complex situationsFinancial skills

No Librarians

Where have they all gone?

Case Study 2 – UCOL

UCOL Whanganui

BEFORE THE LEARNING HUBUCOL

Palmerston North

Weekday Head Count StatisticsDaily Average

2010 % IncreaseMarch 49%April 56%May 22%June 15%

Circulation Statistics

2010 % increaseMarch 72%April 48%May 41%June 12%

Questions

•Is the Library a profession or a place?

•Do we still need Librarians?

•Are the staff in these new roles librarians or do they need a new title?

•Are we training our librarians with the right skills?

•Is this the situation for academic libraries or is it across the profession?

•Why is there so much resistance to change?