The possibilities for innovative library products and services offered by the web and handheld devices are almost limitless. This make the profession especially exciting to be in. Ngian Lek Choh, Director, National Library A good librarian is one who is conﬁdent and comfortable when dealing with people, is an independent learner and has a strong sense of curiosity. This person will ﬁnd librarianship an attractive profession. Choy Fatt Cheong, University Librarian, NTU Increasingly too, we are delivering services to users in their own space....The greatest satisfaction in the job is to be able to help users in their use and search for information. Sylvia Yap, Director, NUS Libraries Become a librarian, grab opportunities and see the world! Ruth A. Pagell, University Librarian, SMU Librarians bring value to companies in many industries through their professional expertise in managing information. The challenges are both rewarding and varied. Joseph Kennedy, Library and Information Services Manager, Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow Library Association of Singapore Being a Librarian Why be a librarian? If you As technology allows the storage and uploading of information at ever greater speeds and quantities, people are becoming oerwhelmed by the “information overload”. The information professional is a much needed guide to aid people in their search for knowledge. Are interested in new technologies and how they can help people Enjoy doing research Communicate well and enjoy teaching others Like surﬁng the web for information but are frustrated by the way information is organized • Would rather read the news on the web than on paper • • • • It takes all kinds to run a library! What do librarians do? Librarians: • Help users ﬁnd the information they need for assignments, business, research or leisure • Teach information literacy to children, adults or university students • Inform professionals of the latest research ﬁndings • Provide competitive intelligence • Develop programmes and events • Organize and classify information • Manage personnel and budgets Librarians work in: • • • • • Corporations : Law ﬁrms, banks, news agencies, hospitals etc... Academic institutions : Polytechnics, Universities, Research Institutes etc... Non-proﬁt organizations and non-governmental organizations : UNESCO, Amnesty International, etc... Public and National libraries The librarian learns to seek, organize and locate information from a wide variety of sources, from print materials such as books and magazines to electronic databases. This knowledge is needed by all industries and ﬁelds, allowing librarians ﬂexibility in choosing their working environments and in developing their areas of expertise. The librarian keeps apace with the latest technological advances in the course of their work. They are web authors, bloggers, active in Second Life. They release podcasts, produce online videos and instant message their users. The librarian rides at the forefront of the technology wave, always looking out for new and better ways to organize and retrieve information for their users. At the same time, librarians remember their roots, in traditional print and physical libraries, and continue to acquire and preserve books, journals and other physical media for their current users and for future generations. How do I become a librarian? You have several options: • A basic university degree in any subject and a Master’s in Library Science • A basic university degree in any subject and a postgraduate diploma in Library Science • A basic university degree in Library Science The qualiﬁcation in Library Science may be known by different names, depending on the university or college you attend. An apprenticeship or training period in a library is usually mandatory. This is a good opportunity to work in a library and ﬁnd out what kind of library work interests you. The Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information in NTU offers a Master of Science in Information Studies. Library Association of Singapore About LAS LAS started in 1955, when a group of 36 enthusiastic librarians gathered in Singapore to formally adopt the Constitution of the Malayan Library Group. After Singapore’s separation from Malaysia, the Association members decided to adopt the name Library Association of Singapore as its ofﬁcial registered name on 25 March 1972. Today, the LAS remains the main national organization representing the interests of libraries and librarians in Singapore. It continues to be run by a Council of 11 members. LAS is at: National Library Board 100 Victoria Street #14-01 Singapore 188064 Website: www.las.org.sg Email: [email protected]