The Personal Information Trainer

Stuart Basefsky an Information Specialist and Lecturer at Cornell has a fantastic article in the November issue of Information Outlook (SLA membership required to view online), called “The Personal Information Trainer.” Apparently this is based on a presentation he made earlier this year at SLA, as covered by the DIY Librarian.

The concept behind the Personal Information Trainer (PIT) is that this person would provide professional, personal, information services to key individuals within an organization. This goes beyond just training on research and library services and would actually assist these key individuals in becoming better internet users. The PIT would also go beyond simple “teachable moments,” times when a librarian seizes an opportunity to train an individual. Basefsky suggests that PITs should have regularly scheduled meetings and sessions with these key individuals.

Basefsky also suggests that PIT services should be included as part of an employment contract as an employee benefit. But won’t this cause some resentment and jealousy with other individuals in the organization? That’s the point according to Basefsky. He says that by creating that jealousy you make that service, and thus the library/information center providing that service more valuable in the eyes of key stakeholders.

It’s this last point that many librarians may have a problem with, indeed it is a little awkward to my sense of “egalitarianism” as he points out. But even from a simply practical standpoint this level of service would have to be limited based on staff availability.

Whether or not setting up a service like this, exactly as Basefsky imagines it, is feasible, it is a great jumping off point for exploring the types of services that librarians could provide which might enhance their perceived value in an organization. At the very least the article proves for good reading, and should get you thinking about how librarians are perceived in organizations, and how they might be able to challenge and change those perceptions.