1. Hong Kong Library Education and Career Forum
Steve O’Connor
University Librarian
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
and
Editor Library Management ,
Library Management China

2. Library and Information Science is ..
A good career
A varied career
A career at the edge of informational change
A career with good prospects for a small-ish profession
A career suited for people who like working with people
A career requiring courage, commitment and progressive thinking!!
HK LA Career Day August Steve O'Connor

3. HK LA Career Day August 2009 Steve O'Connor
A Profession in change
The traditional library model is dead!
No more bookworms, hair in ‘buns’, silence in the Library!!
New model is evolving! Be part of it!
Service is much ‘push’ focused
Librarians ‘Out-Reach’ to customers
Library has a schizophrenic existence
HK LA Career Day August Steve O'Connor

4. What skills are required?
Strong expertise in a chosen discipline
Ability to work and draw down ideas from different disciplines
To construct an operational framework but to be always able to think outside of it.
HK LA Career Day August Steve O'Connor

5. HK LA Career Day August 2009 Steve O'Connor
In Hong Kong?
There are over 1,000 professional positions in Hong Kong
Prospects are always good for working overseas
There are allied careers in publishing, research, internet, information management, archival management and records management
So, prospects are pretty good
HK LA Career Day August Steve O'Connor

6. Do you qualify and then rest?
An emphatic ‘NO’ !!!!
You will undergo many changes in a career lifetime
You will need to study, read widely, attend conferences and think
You will need to contribute openly and thoughtfully in your working environment… you are a Professional
HK LA Career Day August Steve O'Connor

7. HK LA Career Day August 2009 Steve O'Connor
What have I done?
I fell into this career
I have had such fun
I have been privileged to try and lead my sector of the profession
Through Leading the professional association in parts of Australia and Leading an ALIA conference
Being a University Librarian in two Universities and a CEO of a company
Being an Editor of Library Management
Creating Library Management China
HK LA Career Day August Steve O'Connor

8. HK LA Career Day August 2009 Steve O'Connor
What have I done 2
I have now worked in two countries
I have travelled all over the world with a very wide network of wonderful colleagues
I am welcomed, as you will be also, into any library in the world
HK LA Career Day August Steve O'Connor

9. HK LA Career Day August 2009 Steve O'Connor
Collaboration will be the
mode of work into the future
so get to know your colleagues
in similar libraries… you can
and should work together
HK LA Career Day August Steve O'Connor

10. HK LA Career Day August 2009 Steve O'Connor
What not to do
Never go to a conference without coming away having met 5 new colleagues
Never come away from a professional meeting without a short list of things you could apply in your own Library
Never fail to engage with your profession! It has a long and treasured history and you can contribute to its future directions.
HK LA Career Day August Steve O'Connor

11. HK LA Career Day August 2009 Steve O'Connor

12. Xie xie dajia
HK LA Career Day August 2009
Steve O'Connor