Synthesis

At its root, librarianship is the art of standing in the user's shoes. We catalog, classify, and control so that others may access resources - we must use methods as transparent, as intuitively obvious, as we can. By necessity, we have to facilitate interaction with the information we store because we have not yet mastered the interface for the public such that they can reliably find the best information themselves. But we're getting better. My experiences have underscored both that I must understand my community at a fundamental level and that I must stay current with today's rapidly evolving field of information management.

The art and science of computerized searching has revolutionized libraries and information storage to the point where patrons can guide themselves to some kind of information more easily than ever before. This seemingly easy searching may seduce users into a false sense of confidence that they are fully satisfying their information needs without professional help. Paradoxically, the goal of librarians is to improve access to all formats of quality information while reducing the need for professional intervention. Will we render ourselves irrelevant by achieving this goal? No. The proliferation of information sources has made librarians more important than ever. The need for understanding the nature and reliability of information has grown. Our patron communities change and evolve, and therefore we must adapt our strategies and expand our services. Our role is changing very quickly; these are exciting times.

Today's information professional must possess the right attitude and a broad range of skills to complement her theoretical education. The ability to teach requires a sense of responsibility in order to properly communicate our methods for finding information with others. Leadership demands courage and vision. A commitment to serve our community by sharing our knowledge of the best resources demonstrates the profession's undiminished relevancy. Comfort with the ever-advancing information technologies is fundamental, while a talent for theoretical exploration and intellectual expression will keep librarianship moving forward.