THE LIBRARIAN’S EDGE: POLYMATH OF THE DIGITAL AGE
Librarianship is
a profession often underestimated and misunderstood by many. Despite its
crucial role, it receives criticism from various quarters. The value of
librarians and their deep understanding of information is frequently overlooked
by both the educated and the uneducated. Many fail to appreciate the profound
nature of the profession and the extensive knowledge it offers, especially
through the study of library science. This field immerses one in the vast world
of information and equips librarians with the skills to discern and classify a
myriad of writings.
In library school, several courses delve into the intricacies of various types of writings and their sources. It is here that students learn that different collections of writings each have their distinct goals and target audiences. Examples include abstracts, bibliographies, indexes, memoirs, prose, poetry, biographies, autobiographies, gazettes, directories, almanacs, atlases, magazines, academic journals, technical reports, conference proceedings, brochures, textbooks, monographs, ephemera, gray literature, booklets, and posters/flyers. The unique advantage of a librarian lies in their ability to distinguish among these documents and understand the specific information they contain.
If you need a
comprehensive summary of a document, an abstract is your go-to resource. It
provides a concise explanation of all aspects of the document. There are
different types of abstracts depending on their purpose, including slanted
abstracts, executive summaries, exclusive abstracts, and standard abstracts.
Typically, an abstract is limited to 300 to 500 words.
A bibliography, on the other hand, is a compilation of related sources about a specific topic, event, or individual. Types include universal bibliographies, subject bibliographies, and author bibliographies. These help to organize knowledge and facilitate easy access and use. An index is another essential guide that serves as a pointer to the location of information within a document. It is often found at the end of books and provides credibility and value to the document.
Librarians are
adept at identifying the right book when seeking an author's memories or
stories about events they have witnessed. This is typically found in memoirs,
which offer a deep dive into an author's experiences regarding events, culture,
family background, and more. A notable example is "A Mouth Sweeter than
Salt" by Toyin Falola, a renowned historian.
In literature
classes, students learn about different genres such as prose, drama, and
poetry. Librarians, however, interact with these genres on a practical level,
handling collections like "The Lion and the Jewel" by Wole Soyinka,
"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, "African Child" by
Camara Laye, "Everything Good Will Come" by Sefi Atta, and
"Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Adichie.
Biographies are
another intriguing form of writing that portray the life and times of
individuals. When written by the subject themselves, it is called an
autobiography. If these personal writings remain unpublished, they are simply
diaries of daily events and experiences. Government employees are familiar with
gazettes, which contain lists of promoted, demoted, or transferred civil
servants. Each state or province typically publishes its gazette regularly.
Directories
provide directions, locations, and lists of companies, professionals, historic
locations, and details of organizations within a state, province, or country.
Similarly, an almanac offers historical landmarks and geographical details of
events from the previous year. An atlas is a geographical information source
that includes various types of maps, such as those showing mineral resources,
agricultural areas, population densities, and transportation networks.
Information can
be found across different types of writings, but the format and purpose of each
document vary. Magazines, for example, are light reading materials designed to
relax and entertain the reader. They are typically colorful and filled with pictures,
in stark contrast to academic journals. These journals are serious reading
materials that document scientific discoveries with evidence from existing
literature. They contain verified facts and figures, technical jargon, and
cater to a stringent audience.
Technical
reports explain events and experiments in organized detail. Conference
proceedings provide expert opinions on particular themes discussed at
conferences, summarizing the pros and cons presented by professionals in a
readable manner. Brochures outline rules, regulations, and guidelines about
specific groups, events, products, or programs, helping potential clients
navigate processes.
All this
knowledge makes library science a dynamic and ever-relevant discipline.
Librarians are information professionals and the gatekeepers of knowledge.
Their in-depth understanding of these writings makes them the new polymaths of
our generation. Textbooks are another form of writing, structured by experts in
a field to present material from known to unknown, general to specific, and
simple to complex. They differ from other reference materials like dictionaries
and encyclopedias. A monograph, similar to a textbook, is a comprehensive,
single-topic work, such as an inaugural lecture by a professor. In contrast,
ephemera are short-lived documents used for specific events, like pamphlets and
programs, often creating clutter in libraries but sometimes serving as
references.
I learned about
gray literature from my professor, Retired Professor Iyabo Mabawonku,
University of Ibadan, during an engaging undergraduate lecture. Gray literature
refers to unpublished documents that have not gone through routine publishing
processes. These rare collections are not mass-produced.
Lastly, booklets
are printed materials with fewer than 20 pages, as defined by IFLA standards.
These are just a few examples of what one gains from studying and practicing
librarianship. Although many of these writings are now available in electronic
formats, understanding their distinct identities and knowing how to locate or
create them is a true asset. The field of librarianship is experiencing a
renaissance. The revolution of technology and artificial intelligence has
revitalized the profession, ushering in a new era for the modern polymath: the
librarian.
Azeez ADEOYE
Wizard Librarian
+2347030292959
#LibrarianLife #InformationExperts
#LibraryScience #KnowledgeGatekeepers #DocumentDifferentiation #LiteraryDiversity
#ModernPolymath #GrayLiterature #LibraryRenaissance #TechSavvyLibrarians #WizardLibrarian
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