Sunday, September 16, 2007
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About Me
- Marina Morgan
- Oakville, ON, Canada
- First year student at FIS, Library stream. I am a Certified IATA Instructor with more than 5 years experience in the travel and tourism industry.
7 comments:
I do not think that librarians will disappear. Technology and user accessibility may change but there will always be a need for trained professionals to help muggles navigate the sea of information.
That is interesting, I didn't know travel agents were facing this kind of challenge. I agree with Max, that librarians are unlikely to disappear, but the way they work will change. Hope the same for the travel agents too.
I think all industries face the challenge of "computerization" and technology becomes integral part of any job... It's evolution, better embrace it rather than oppose it.
It is interesting, Travel Agents are in many ways Information Professionals as well. I don't think Librarians will go the way of the do-do but that doesn't mean that we can just rest on our past achievements, I think we really need to seriously re-think how we deliver and search for information.
Your comparison of librarians and travel agents is interesting, and I can see the similarities. I don’t consult a travel agent to book flights within Canada that can be booked online easily. However, for more complicated purchases, such as round-the-world flights or participating in work abroad programs, I would be more inclined to speak to someone who is an expert in these areas of travel for guidance. I think that librarians have a similar role in that they provide assistance with more complex information needs that can’t be answered easily just by plugging terms into google.
Very interesting point, and I appreciate the perspective that you bring to this discussion... I never would have thought to relate the travel industry to libraries. This is the same issue that bank tellers were facing over ten years ago. I agree that we will always need trained professionals who will "help muggles navigate the sea of information."
Good for people to know.
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