New Professionals Special Interest Group

Sponsoring body: Management of Library Associations Section

Scope

The “New Professionals” are representing a new generation of LIS students and recently qualified professionals.

Nowadays, especially New Professionals are facing various challenges when entering the profession. Amongst others, the spectrum of issues covers the internationalization of careers and new skills required as well as the generational shift at work, changing job profiles and workplace environments. The New Professionals Special Interest Group aims to provide a forum within IFLA for the discussion of these very important issues. We are also concerned with working with library associations and library decision makers to create effective strategies for developing leaders and to streamline action plans for succession planning and passing on knowledge.

It is essential to communicate these topics inside the profession to raise awareness and to help developing the profession. A strong and active community is needed for this purpose. Therefore, the recruitment and active involvement of New Professionals in the IFLA network plays an important role within the activities of the NPSIG.

As extensive networking and early career contacts in the global LIS community are becoming increasingly important in recent years, the NPSIG wants to connect New Professionals worldwide and to whet their appetite for conferences and networking.