Introduction

This chapter will discuss a research project that identifies the skills, knowledge and attitudes of the m-librarian. Six library and information professionals engaged in the provision of m-library services throughout Australia were interviewed. Six themes emerged as being critical for the m-librarian: technology, personal traits, user focus, communication, collaboration, and research and development. The research is significant because it establishes an open dialogue between current industry professionals, library science educators and the professional association on the evolving skills and knowledge required by information professionals in a world of rapidly changing technology. This dialogue will guide the development of current and future education for library and information professionals.

Mobile technologies are changing the ways people live, work and play. They are significantly altering the nature of human interaction and the manner in which individuals and communities connect, communicate and use information. A small but growing number of libraries are beginning to apply mobile technologies to provide new services or to enhance traditional services. In doing so, these libraries are making themselves not only more available but also more relevant to their users. Recent discussion within the library profession has explored the trends and developments in mobile devices and their impact on library services. Interestingly, these discussions have not considered the impact these new devices will have or are having on librarians. What, if any, skills, knowledge and attitudes do librarians need to add to their existing toolkits to help them to design and deliver mobile services and collections? This chapter will fill the gap by providing the preliminary findings of a study aimed at exploring the changing skills and knowledge needed by the successful m-librarian.

Brief review of the literature

To date, there has been little discussion in the literature about the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed by librarians to operate successfully as m-librarians. The little literature that is available, however, indicates that m-librarianship represents a shift in practice that may require a different professional make-up for library staff. It is also useful to consider the literature related to skills and knowledge requirements for ‘Librarian 2.0’, as there are similarities between the changes heralded by both m-librarianship and Library 2.0.

Gavgani, Shokraneh and Shiramin (2011) did a content analysis of syllabi from Iranian universities offering a qualification in medical library and information science (LIS). The analysis aimed to identify instances within the syllabi of emerging trends and issues in LIS.