I posted this message earlier this week on the DC_SLA listserv and recieved several requests to post this to a wider audience. Here goes:

While I personally think that Librarians should "rule the world"--- my decision to support the name change is based on my almost 30 years experience as a Law Library Director. I think this issue looks very different from the perspective of someone who wants to spend their career practicing some aspect of librarianship such as being a reference librarian or a cataloger. When you are leading an organization "defined" as a library it is impossible to ignore how preconceptions and prejudices continue to limit opportunities for professional growth and influence within organizations. The professional trajectory of librarians in any role will be impacted by our ability to redefine ourselves as having a strategic mission that is aligned with core success metrics of the larger  organization. "Libraries" are not perceived as core to the mission of most organizations - access to "strategic knowledge" is.

Let's look at the history of law librarians in law firms. Law librarians are often the most well educated administrative professionals within law firms. Many have some combination of multiple advanced degrees: MLS, JD, MBA or PHD.  Our existence predates the creation of most other administrative roles in law firms but has this long tenure resulted in enhanced leadership opportunities and influence? Several years ago I conducted some research tracing the history of administrative roles in law firms. Law librarians appeared in law firms in the 1930's.  IT Directors in the 1980's and Marketing Directors in the 1990s. Librarians introduced the internet, KM and competitive intelligence into law firms, but who got the "C" level positions?  Almost all large law firms have promoted IT Directors and Marketing Directors to the "C level" but not Library Directors. It is not for lack of innovation and strategic thinking by librarians. 

I am convinced that  we face irrational cognitive blocks which -- advanced degrees, decades of innovation and  strategic thinking alone can't pierce.  I am convinced that it is time to  define ourselves in language of our organizations. Continuing to define ourselves as "librarians" comes loaded with a negative "double whammy." 1) "Librarianship" whether we like it or not is historically a feminized profession (historically identified as a female role but continuing to experience  diminished pay and prestige)  and 2) physical  libraries in our organizations are shrinking if not becoming completely virtual. If we want to counter the risk of further marginalization and embrace the opportunity to enhance our profession we should welcome the opportunity to discuss and reintroduce our profession as Strategic Knowledge Professionals.

Jean O'Grady, JD, MLS