Task Force Recommendations
What do we think you should keep in mind?
Recommendation 1:
Incorporate core competencies when writing job descriptions or hiring.
You might be missing something!
Recommendation 2:
Include core competencies when monitoring and planning for professional development. These can be indicators for evaluation.
Recommendation 3:
Exploit those competencies that staff have demonstrated. It could lead to new services, new products, new ventures.
Top Resources: Documents
- Competency Index for the Library Field, 2014OCLC Web Junction
- HSICT Hospital Library & Information Services: Scope of Practice(2014) A list of services and products that health library and information services have to offer
- Top Ten Competencies for Health Reference Librarians, 2012Prepared by Dean Giustini, UBC Biomedical Branch Librarian. In depth list of competencies required for medical reference.
Top Resources: Links
- Health Librarian CompetenciesFrom Managing Health Libraries, wiki by Dean Giustini, UBC. Links to many resources.
- Linking Research to Practice: The Rise of Evidence-Based Health Sciences LibrarianshipJoanne Gard Marshall. Janet Doe Lecture, MLA 2013. Published in JMLA. A look at the continuing evolution of EBLIP (Evidence-Based Librarianship and Information Practice).
- OCLC Web Junction: CompetenciesWebJunction is an open, online learning community for library workers. The Competencies page has the updated, 2014, Competency Collection.
Image credits
Figure with checkmark: Image courtesy of [Master isolated images] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Skills: Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
What is this?
This section is dedicated to identifying some of the core competencies of librarians and health library services through:
- Core Competencies: How does this fit in?
- Give me an Example!
- Top Resources: Documents
- Top Resources: Links
Core Competencies: How does this fit in?
Competent staff is a key 'input' to any program or service.
When new staff is hired, competencies must be identified that are required for the activities and outputs of the position. For current staff, competencies must be evaluated and monitored. Opportunities for professional development, both formal and informal must be provided.
Defining and making others aware of our core comptencies help us to promote our skills and the value we offer our organizations.
Make sure to check out the HSICT Scope of Practice Document under our Top Resources: Documents section.
Give Me an Example!
![Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net](http://lgimages.s3.amazonaws.com/data/imagemanager/79164/id-100179268.jpg)
Core Competencies from CARL
Holistic Compendium of Core Competencies from CARL Report (Canadian Association of Research Libraries)
Emphasis depends on position. For Research Librarians, but adaptable.
- Foundational Knowledge - Know your Subject Area, your Organization, the Extra-institutional Environment, etc.
- Interpersonal Skills - Adaptability, Communication, Change Management, Advocacy, Marketing, Decision Making, etc.
- Leadership & Management - Financial Management, Project Management, Risk Management, etc.
- Collections Development - Digital Curation, Collection Management, Publishing Cycle, etc.
- Information Literacy - Reference Services, Learning & Teaching, Critical Thinking, Patron Engagement, etc.
- Research & Contributions to the Profession - Research & Publications, Conferences, Professional Associations, etc.
- Information Tech Skills - e-Resource Management, Emerging Web Technologies, ILS, Database Management.
*TASKFORCE NOTE*: We'd like to add our own additional competancy, that may be engrained in all of the above but being in the industry we're in, Service Excellence is definitely another core competancy.