The Information Professional’s Guide to Career Development Online

Citation

Turner, R. (2002), "The Information Professional’s Guide to Career Development Online", New Library World, Vol. 103 No. 11/12, pp. 488-489. https://doi.org/10.1108/nlw.2002.103.11_12.488.2

First of all, the caveat emptor for non‐North American information professionals. This is a very US biased book which resulted from an identified need in a survey published in American Libraries journal in August 1999. However, the principles discussed in utilising the Internet for professional development can be transferred to any community.

Obviously, most information professionals are used to promoting the Internet among their client group and also developing their own online research skills. This huge glossy paperback promotes the wide ranging opportunities of the Internet for career development among the information professional community. It suggests that making yourself known on the Internet can itself be a positive career advancement.

The goal of the authors is to assist information professionals to integrate the Internet into all aspects of their career development. This is not just for newly qualified professionals, but also more experienced librarians who wish to utilise the new technology.

The 13 chapters of this book are divided into four clear sections. Part 1 is “Learning and growing online” which explores how the Internet can be used for networking with colleagues and for keeping up with professional developments. This includes an overview of the Internet, e‐mail, forums, chat rooms and issues of current awareness – including how to handle information overload!

The second part is about professional involvement. These chapters discuss the importance of professional associations, getting involved in conferences and journal Web pages, producing Websites and e‐mail discussion groups and reading and contributing to professional literature online.

Part 3 of the book addresses the important field of education, including identifying training and educational courses and opportunities, distance learning online and a very US‐based chapter on financing further education.

The final part of the work discusses employment. This begins with the production and use of electronic re´sume´s or CVs. The authors then discuss the pros and cons of online job hunting, where to look and how to apply – again, there is heavy emphasis on the US market.

The whole book is interlaced with useful Websites and portals. There are examples of all the issues discussed, such as re´sume´s, library job postings and Websites. Although the use of examples and case studies is exemplary for the US audience, it means that non‐US readers are reduced to looking for general hints, concepts and theories among the text.

The book is well indexed and has a brief bibliography. An appendix lists Websites of professional organisations and conferences, mainly in the USA but with a brief international perspective. A further appendix lists publishing houses, journals and electronic journals that have an online presence.

This book is therefore quite useful in providing ideas of how the information professional can use the Internet to develop their career or look for jobs, but the specifics are very Americanised. It would be nice to have something like this for each individual country or for a truly international edition.