Ever wondered what does a librarian do? This view makes many people think that the work of librarians is not much different from “caretaker of a library”. In any case, ‘caretaking the library’ does not make a librarian just sits behind a desk all time. They are also maintaining the survival of the library to maintain the satisfaction of the visitors (library visitors) in finding information in the library. Librarians must be partners in a teaching and learning process. Being a partner means having to take an important part in academic or research development activities. Therefore, to become a librarian, academic, professional and certified qualifications are required.
Duties of Librarian
The duties of librarianship revolve around scientific and professional activities, ranging from management, service, and system development. In terms of management, perhaps we can see how the books and reading material in the library are recorded, arranged, classified, and given a number to facilitate service. So, when we look for certain reading material, the librarian can easily and quickly provide. That’s what came to be called technical service.
Furthermore, librarians, as mentioned above, must be able to become partners in academic or research development. The job of librarians is like the Google search engine, but they are able to give the right and proper answer. In librarian terms, the task is referred to as a reference service. The reference service is actually an individual service, a personal service. Just like when a patient comes to the doctor. If visitors come to librarians with the intention of looking for simple information to complex information, even to difficult information.
A librarian must be able to meet their needs of information. Therefore, it is the duty of librarians to study, criticize, and analyze matters relating to libraries and library development. So that the librarians can develop the library and the library can achieve the expected goals. The library aims to provide services to users, increase reading fondness, and broaden their insights and knowledge to educate the nation’s life.
Librarian Profession
The librarian profession is apparently not an easy profession to carry out. As of 2016, the number of librarians certified by the Librarian Certification Institute in Indonesia is 3,179 people, and is targeted to reach 358,975 in the future. That means, until the end of last year, we only reached 0.8 percent of the target. There is still a long way to go, right?
The current era is an era where the fast will defeat the slow. Back then, you came to the library. Now, the library comes to you. The era of digitalization is a challenge for librarians. The ability to process information technology is one thing that cannot be avoided. The availability of online library services in the form of websites or applications is a trend that is and must develop in the world of librarianship.
The challenge in the digital world is not just a matter of technical service improvement. In the midst of the current rampant hoax, a librarian must be able to provide and disseminate information that is accurate and not misleading. In the midst of hectic cyberspace and information milling everywhere, a librarian is expected to be a consultant in carrying out information literacy. So that visitors can interpret, use, and be empowered with the information they have.