Janice Lachance
"Knowledge and information management in today's working world simply do not exist without technology and electronic delivery systems and the ability to understand, use and leverage those tools."
This was the message delivered by Janice Lachance, executive director of the Special Libraries Association (SLA), in her keynote address at the 2004 Federal Library and Information Center Committee Forum on Federal Information Policies held at the Library on March 25. The theme of this year's forum was "E-Competencies for E-Government: Changing Role of the Federal Information Professional."
"There is an awareness gap between the pressing need for information and knowledge management capabilities and the actual hiring of professionals trained to do just that," said Lachance. She speaks from experience, having worked for nearly a decade in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and served four years as the agency's director before joining SLA.
"The Library of Congress and FLICC have been urging OPM for a number of years to tighten qualifications to better professionalize the role of information professionals in government agencies," said Lachance.
At SLA, Lachance advocates the training and hiring of professionals capable of managing government information in electronic formats. She is particularly proud of SLA's revised "Competencies for Information Professionals in the 21st Century" and the organization's preliminary work on developing a competency-based certification program.
"If not professionals formally trained in library and information science, then who?" asked Lachance.
According to OPM data from September 2003, the executive branch of the federal government employs 1,557 librarians—a 7 percent decline over the previous five years. The average length of service is 17.7 years, and many are approaching retirement. So while the number of federal librarians is declining, the demand for government information has increased dramatically. Will those who replace them have the technical competencies to function as "knowledge navigators?"
"What formal training will they receive?" posited Lachance. "What skills do they possess? More important, what competencies and qualifications are federal agencies using when hiring them?"
To answer these questions, Lachance recently searched USAJOBS, OPM's Web site. Of 40 vacancies posted in the GS 1410 librarian series, the majority required at least one e-competency. This ranged from technical knowledge of electronic databases to skill in using World Wide Web technology.
"The challenge is to demonstrate [to government managers] the relevance of information professionals in the flow of data and knowledge through an organization and on to its end-users and in the strategic priorities of an organization," said Lachance.
She urged information professionals to demonstrate their relevance by paying attention to career development, embracing innovation and collaborating with information technology professionals.
"This is how we become strategically indispensable to our employers," said Lachance. "In addition, benchmark your personal competencies and those of your information center," she suggested.
To assist in this effort, Lachance presented a complimentary, one-year membership in SLA to Wilma "Sissy" Riley, National Institute of Standards and Technology Research Library, who was recognized by FLICC as the 2003 Federal Library Technician of the Year.
"There's a lot for us to do both as individuals and as a profession," said Lachance. "I'm willing to roll up my sleeves and join the cause, and I look forward to supporting you as we continue to make the case for the profession and our association within the federal government."
