I have been following the discussion about men versus women, about IT &
knowledge management street credibility versus the public face of
information provision.
I seem to be a lone voice but feel there have already been advances for
librarians particularly within the NHS.
Within our health authority region the libraries works closely with the
IT dept, sharing expertise, with many women involved in the IT and web
developments. I have recently accepted the post of "library and
knowledge services manager", which reflects the titles of many NHS
library service managers. (Incidentally had to be working towards
charteship to get this)
Part of the reason for the new title is the strong networks between the
library and IT dept, also the role librarians have played within the NHS
in developing NeLH and within their own Trusts.
It may be due to the rapidly changing structure of the NHS that has
allowed librarians to jump in quick and fill the niche of managing the
wider knowledge base. It is probably more realistically due to pressures
of finance and the need to get creative, collaborative solutions to IT
based problems, and surely women are ideal candidates for this!?
I will now go and "get me coat" whilst awaiting backlash from
disgrunteld from a. male librarians and b. everyone not in the NHS.
Sam Brown (female)
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