Constant Change: Habits for “Experts” D. Gail Stahl The Boston Consulting Group Internet Librarian International March 22, 2000

Definitions Constant change Habits Experts

Constant Change “Internet Time” Learning organizations Life-long learning

Habits Attitude Not necessarily instinctive A matter of choice

“Experts” Experts may not know the answer off the top of their heads, but know where to locate it. Share knowledge efficiently Always interested in learning

Professional Development Historical definition – An annual plan of activities and conferences – Activities – Events – Tangible evidence – Static, measurable, not ”real time”

Oscar Wilde “It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information.”

Technology Push or pull? Network of friends and colleagues Enables new habits

Information Resources Association websites Websites for journals and “e-zines” Discussion lists or listservs Automatic updates

Guides to New Information Your organization’s intranet – people & information Association websites for your industry Sites for our profession General Internet/e-commerce sites

Professional Sites LibraryLand – Index to Resources – Librarians’ Index to the Internet – SLA-Toronto, Canada - Librarians’ Resource Center – “The Toolbox” – e/cover.html e/cover.html

Professional Sites BUBL Link (Strathclyde University) – Libweb – Library servers via WWW – Buley Library, Southern Connecticut State University (USA) – Resources on WWW –

Professional Sites Internet Library for Librarians – html html Berkeley Digital Library – Librarian’s Internet –

Internet/E-Commerce The Industry Standard – Business 2.0 – E-Commerce Times – Internet News – CIO (Chief Information Officer) –

Listservs Directory of Scholarly and Professional E- Conferences – CataList, catalog of LISTSERV lists – Business Librarians’ Discussion Group – 1.html

Internet/E-Commerce Tech News World – Internet.com/CyberAtlas – – Nua Internet Surveys - worldwide – U.S. Bureau of the Census: Retail e-commerce sales –

Habits & Goals Keep a list of “sites to explore” – and explore them Host a “Surfing Brown Bag Lunch” Ask colleagues for news of useful new websites Share new discoveries with others Explore a new site every day/week/etc. Utilize the “push” of updates

T. H. White’s The Once and Future King T. H. White’s The Once and Future King “The best thing for being sad, replied Merlin, is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails….There is only one thing for it then—to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the thing for you.”