Future dreaming VIII #futurelibraries

How can New Zealand Librarians collectively participate in the future of the profession on a global scale?

We may be a small country, all the way at the southern edge of the Pacific Ocean, just slightly north of Antarctica, but we have fantastic opportunities to be part of the global professional librarian network. Connectedness via the internet to allows us to create broader international professional networks.

In reality, individually & small groups of New Zealand Librarians are already participating on a global level in the profession – from the significant New Zealand presence in #hyperlibMOOC, connections to the global 23 Mobile Things program networks, presenting at & attending international conferences, participating in IFLA events.

We are already taking our place on the international stage on an individual level, and perhaps that is enough, for now. It’s possible that we don’t need to be doing this at a collective level right now, because the collective view may be that we don’t need to *all* be connected globally, yet. I so think that the tipping point is fast approaching though, as more globally-looking and hyper-connected graduates join the professional librarian ranks.

Future dreaming Part VII #libraryfutures

How can we collectively contribute to the future of the profession?

I recently attended a talk given by Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith where she shared her experiences of being a researcher. She spoke of the importance of creating spaces for emerging practitioners to learn how to be part of the research community of their discipline and the wider national & international research communities. She shared anecdotes about providing both physical and mental space for PhD & postdoctoral students to be able to safely learn and practice how to be confident public speakers, committee members, lecturers to become active participants in the professional community. She spoke about service back to the profession and about the importance of giving people the space and support to learn how to contribute to the profession.

When I turn this lens to librarianship, I see a number of ways (big, small and every level in-between) in which we can give service back to the profession, which both strengthens the profession and supports its future.

Future dreaming Part VI #libraryfutures

How can I encourage others to actively contribute towards the future of the profession?

For me, being a qualified professional means that I don’t stop contributing to the ‘tribe’ now that I have joined it. I want to grow the tribe to ensure its future. I want the tribe to change & adapt to the future. I can’t, & won’t, be able to do that alone.

As I touched on in my video assignment for #hyperlibMOOC, tribes with members who actively recruit others to the ‘tribe’ (such as followers of Amanda Palmer’s tribe or the #nerdfighters tribe led by John & Hank Green – links are over on my #hyperlibMOOC blog) are engaged, passionate and enthusiastic. That’s what I want for the profession.

Step away from your desk. Turn around and look at your work colleagues.

Future dreaming Part V #libraryfutures

How am I contributing to the future of the profession?

I’ve finished reading Derek Handley’s heart to start. Amongst other things, he talks about carving out dedicated time to focus on your plans-for-action in distinct chunks of time – 10, 100, 1000 days. While it is sometimes hard to justify allocating work time for action planning, as well as allowing ourselves legitimate time & space for future dreaming, ideas, planning, by not making this time & space a priority, we are not giving ourselves permission to succeed.

Future dreaming Part IV #libraryfutures

How will I make a difference?

For me, changing the world and influencing the future starts firmly with me. If I want my current & future world to be a certain way, then I have to take responsibility to contribute to creating the reality that I want to be part of. I can’t change other people’s minds by dictating what they should do, but in being the best of myself, then I can demonstrate how it is for me.