Memorandum

FROM: The Desk of a Serials Librarian

TO: Education Professionals and Information Specialists

Log in to a dynamic career!

SHAPING A SERIALS SPECIALIST

The dynamic nature of serials information requires a serials librarian, a specialist who combines in-depth knowledge, practical experience, and managerial competence with technical, financial and philosophical expertise.

A serials librarian works most often in an academic, public, medical, government, or corporate library. Career options also may include subscription agencies, systems vendors, publishers and database producers.

Password: CHANGE

Variety of formats, publication patterns, title changes, and price increases are a few of the many sides of serials. Serials are complex, constantly changing publications that are intellectually challenging to process, interpret and access.

Password: KNOWLEDGE

A serials librarian completes a master's degree in library & information studies from an accredited program. Specific serials courses are very rare. Much learning occurs on-the-job and through continuing education opportunities.

Knowledge also means:

• familiarity with and use of standards such as ANSI, NISO, EDI, X12, AACR2, MARC
• learning about budgets, developing collections, methods of access to serials information, preservation-- everything related to librarianship in general and serials in particular
• learning and using multiple automated processes, library systems, information databases and systems.

A serials specialist needs to understand and value interrelationships in a library environment, the university or other workplace communities.

Password: SKILLS

A serials librarian must communicate effectively, explain, negotiate, discuss, train, persuade, and listen.

This career demands the ability to understand the complexities of serials and simplify patron access. Title changes, incorrect numbering, mergers present challenges that shout: Enjoy puzzles and problem solving!

A few additional skills include:

• staying current with a broad base of professional literature from librarianship, computer and information science, business and management, and subject disciplines.
• exercising good judgment and paying close attention to details.
• practicing fiscal responsibility with allocations that consume a disproportionate share of a library's budget.

Passwords: THINK. PLAN. ENVISION.

By anticipating reporting needs and the best way to structure data within a system or by devising a new system, the serials specialist demonstrates initiative, leadership, and commitment to service. Additional forecasts include:

• expect a decrease in but not demise of print journals.
• initiate ways to manage the multiplying electronic products and gateways to infinite information.
• determine best sources for ordering materials for your collection.
• work well as a team with your colleagues in acquisitions, cataloging, public services, and interlibrary lending, as well as with vendors and publishers, as we all seek to provide the best and most timely resources at reasonable costs.

Password: PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

Bob Moawad, a motivational speaker, said, "When you're green, you grow. When you're ripe, you rot."

Growth means:

• network (join and become actively involved in NASIG and other professional organizations)
• publish, serve on committees, present papers or join in panel discussions and forums to focus on critical issues
• use electronic listservs as a way to discuss issues, trends, and practical concerns affecting serials librarians in the world of scholarly communication
• seek and create leadership opportunities through professional involvement.

SECURITY CAUTION:

Create strong links with other participants in the serials information chain. Be open to exciting opportunities to redefine your career and maintain the essential goal of providing information access to users.

Your password will change periodically. This safeguard, which implies flexibility, will allow you to stay logged on now and for the coming decades!

Linda Meiseles
Connie Foster
NASIG Continuing Education Committee