Changing Our Future: Issues in Leadership and Management Skills and the Information Profession.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 7-8. Download from http://conference.alia.org.au/alia2000/proceedings/prue.mercer.html).

This paper explores the issues and opportunities for information providers in a digital environment where the skills of management of change and leadership are necessary to create vital and healthy organizations. The first section discusses challenges of the digital environment and skills for the information profession, including the impact of technology, the changing role of the library, and core skills for library staff (E.G., management, information technology, teamwork, strategic thinking, and customer service skills). The second section describes how the State Library of Victoria (Australia) is addressing these challenges with staff and management development programs, including: (1) staff workshops on information service values related to customers, knowledge, teamwork, collections, and environment; (2) staff, leadership, and management training focusing on communication/interpersonal, marketing/promotion, technology self/team management, change management, problem-solving, mission/vision/values, and task-specific skills, as well as five leadership values (self-awareness, stands in the future, customer focus, collaborative spirit, and bias for action); and (3) management development training developed in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University. The third section covers ways of thinking about organizations and managers, including organizations as many things at once and the roles of managers and leaders. (Contains 17 references.) (Mes).

English.

NLJCols20082021