Dr. Sandra Hirsh, professor and director of the School of Library and Information Science at San José State University, delivered the opening keynote presentation at the Library 2.012 Worldwide Virtual Conference. She explored changing perceptions of the information profession and suggested how information professionals should respond.

In her presentation, titled “How to be a Catalyst for Change: Redefining the Library 2.0 Information Professional,” she discussed how the profession is continuing to evolve, yet perceptions of our profession are not always keeping pace with those changes. Hirsh encouraged her audience to address outdated perceptions and presented three calls to action:

1. Proactively redefine the information profession and the role of information professionals in a changing landscape.
2. Leverage our skills as technology evolves and find ways to creatively use emerging technology to better serve our clients.
3. Be catalysts for change in the profession through advocacy, making our value clear to employers, to people considering a career in our profession, to the public we serve, and to agencies that invest in research in our field.

Hirsh encouraged her listeners to inspire others to consider the relevancy of our profession in a changing landscape. She reminded her audience that job prospects are expanding for information professionals, including jobs outside of libraries. She urged all information professionals to explore ways to use new technology to serve our communities.

Click on the link below to view Hirsh’s 30-minute presentation, which was followed by approximately 20 minutes of audience questions and answers.

The presentation was held via BlackBoard Collaborate Web Conferencing. If you are unfamiliar with BB Collaborate, a tutorial is available, as well as a Quick Reference Guide. (Please see Guide to Using Collaborate).

Click Here to Watch Recording (BB Collaborate)

The free, online global event about the future of libraries in the digital age featured 150 presentations and 11 keynotes. The global event took place during October 2012. All the presentations were recorded and can be viewed on the Library 2012 conference website.

For more information about the Library 2.012 Worldwide Virtual Conference, please visit: http://library2012.com

The San José State University School of Library and Information Science is a founding partner of the Library 2.012 Worldwide Virtual Conference.