The education of librarians for data administration

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Koenig, Michael E.D. | Kochoff, Stephen T.

Affiliations: School of Library Service, Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.

Abstract: The increasing importance of DBMSs (DataBase Management Systems) and the recognition of the information dependency of business planning, are in effect creating major new job opportunities for librarians/information technicians. Furthermore those positions will have an importance and a criticality to an organization far superior to that of the conventional library job. This situation emerges principally from the development of DBMS capability, including the automating of previously technical skills, and consequently the increasing focus upon the development of user views and upon the importance of the DD/D (Data Dictionary/Directory). In such a context, the service orientation of librarianship, coupled with skill in the reference interview, in thesaurus construction, etc., is precisely what is needed in the DBMS environment. However, data administration has not developed from librarianship/information science: it has developed from data processing. If librarians are to be placed in those jobs we must change the style and nature of their education to include the terminologies and technologies involved in data administration and database management systems. Not to do so might be to miss the greatest opportunity librarianship has yet been offered.

DOI: 10.3233/EFI-1983-1303

Journal: Education for Information, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 217-228, 1983