The Digital Shift: Becoming the Modern Information Professional
By Janel Kinlaw
Each year at the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) Conference, the Past Presidents fund the Roger Summit Lecture Award to bring in an inspiring and stimulating speaker.
In April 2023, the Lecture was delivered by Tony Zanders, CEO of Skilltype, Inc.
Tony Zanders’ journey into the library and information management industry started from entrepreneurship. He created applyful.com in 2012 and Libdot Labs R&D in 2018, and he was the Entrepreneur in Residence at Boston University in 2019. This entrepreneurial mindset and his library information management background was the perfect combination for speaking to AIIP members in Milwaukee.
In 2020, Tony launched Skilltype to support libraries in their talent management and skill development needs. He had asked his library colleagues “What keeps you up at night?” and they responded, “Having the right staff and skills to support our libraries.” Skilltype allows library systems to detail what skills each staff member has and allows for gaps to be identified along with recruitment needs within the system. Library management can now be strategic about hiring and staff needs instead of being reactive.
Digital Shift
Since 2010, there has been a digital shift within the library and information management industry. Collections have moved from print to digital, software is less on-premises and more in the cloud, and reference that used to be only in-person now includes virtual options. While this digital shift has happened, iSchools have struggled to update their curricula, there has been a delay in the retirements of some staff, and conference topics are not always aligned with the skill development that library staff need. Consider what skills and tools you have learned since 2010. How are you keeping on top of the latest trends?
Strategies to Embrace the Digital Shift
Tony shared three strategies to embrace this digital shift and position yourself for new opportunities. First, embrace lifelong learning, taking time to self-disrupt and reinvent yourself every once in a while. Second, become your own media outlet and don’t rely on anyone else to tell your story. And third, outsource everything possible. Focus on your unique expertise and leverage no-code and AI-related tools to support you.
Becoming the Modern Information Professional
Tony sees the modern information professional as someone who:
- Thinks bigger and sees the global opportunities
- Is in the right place at the right time by being mobile
- Engages in regular storytelling on social media
- Improves the local community
Learn more about Skilltype and the future of library talent management on the Skilltype blog.
Janel Kinlaw launched Refining Workflow in March 2018, where she provides project management and business analysis to her clients. She is currently the President of AIIP.
