Operational agility
Operational agility is the ability of an organization to flex and adapt its operations, technology, and information to the constantly evolving business requirements brought on by digital transformation, market dynamics, competitive pressures, and business turbulence. It is regarded as the next level of business resiliency. Organizations with operations that are flexible enough to adapt to change are in a better position to maintain continuous business operations while safeguarding their people, customers, business, and information flows.
To become agile, libraries need to identify their strengths, existing opportunities, and the threats they face and to focus on interdisciplinary teamwork, plan their regular maintenance and development needs, and encourage innovation.
Customer centricity
One of the strongest characteristics of librarians has always been their strong relationship with customers and their orientation toward the delivery of high-class customer services. The focus of digital transformation is on customers, which gives a considerable advantage to library professionals in meeting the needs of future libraries and new work environments.
The sustainable future of libraries lies not so much in efficient information retrieval and successful document management, but rather in top-notch customer service. This requires high-quality communication and listening skills, patron-focused spaces, personalized customer service, customer satisfaction, and the use of proper analytics. The goal of libraries should be to provide customers with a positive experience and to build long-term relationships that keep them coming back.
Workforce competencies
The impact of digital transformation will be felt by information managers and library workforces alike. It is assumed that the changes will be substantial and will require the following competencies:
- Digital literacy or technical knowledge
- Full engagement
- Dealing with information and cognitive overload
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Lifelong micro learning and personal development
- Emotional intelligence and social skills
- Cultural and other types of diversity
- Transdisciplinary approach
- Mobile force and remote work
- Understanding of the generation gap
- High-level digital ethics
According to the World Economic Forum’s October 2020 “The Future of Jobs Report 2020” (www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_ Future_of_Jobs_2020.pdf), augmentation of existing jobs through technology may free up workers from most of the data processing and information search tasks. In other words, there will no longer be a need for jobs that are predominantly oriented toward information retrieval, search, and information delivery, such as is currently the case with many library positions.
The workplace will also undergo major changes. It should be noted that the advance of technology almost always outpaces existing workplace structures, and this is also the case with digital transformation. Lines of command, strict hierarchy, no agility, long decision-making processes, lack of flexibility, complex structures, and legacy human resource solutions are just some of the issues companies undergoing transformation must deal with.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Digital transformation is bringing unprecedented changes to the world as we know it today. The world of libraries has already undergone some considerable changes regarding the nature of collections, ownership, electronic access, and services offered. Librarians, leaders, and managers need to acquire new skills to become proactive and agile. Teamwork and cooperation need to be promoted, creativity maximized, and innovation fostered. Available technology must serve library users while improving quality and offering faster library services.
The future of libraries, information management, and knowledge sharing contributes to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, for libraries themselves to be sustainable, librarians must follow modern IT trends; make use of their training and experience in managing data, information, and knowledge; enhance their skills and become fully agile; promote cooperation with other information stake holders; and strategically position their services as a major part of future solutions.
The 2,700-year history of libraries will continue!
