Shane Nackerud presented on recent trends and applications available at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Shane demonstrated how a librarian without formal web design/web programming educational background can become a web usability and informatics expert in the library field. He is a powerhouse. He advised future librarians the absolute need to at least be familiar with web design and the theoretical understanding of the planning and creation inherit in web design.
I have often thought that there will be a blending of IT and MLIS skills and qualifications in future permutations of library jobs. At times Shane seems to indicate an MLIS degree would not be needed for what he does but I believe it is very helpful since he focuses his work for libraries and has the educational understanding of the field and the needs of librarians and patrons.
I found both hope for future librarians and concerns about those in the profession ("reference librarians are a dime a dozen").
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