The Naked Librarian

Abstract

In the changing information environment, it is crucial for us as Information Specialists, to be able to adapt, almost on a day to day basis. Our skills, the technology, even the physical environment, are ever-changing. This presents our profession with many challenges and opportunities and requires us to constantly re-evaluate our roles and environment, in order to best satisfy the information needs of our clients.

Today the health sciences libraries at the University of Pretoria, boasts with a vast virtual information network, including: E-journals, top Health databases, access to E-books, Webpages, electronic document delivery, etc. All this assists us with our increasing involvement in the e-learning environment.

The physician, Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote: "Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions." This illustrates that the role of the Information Specialist should be flexible and adaptable. It is clear that the skills and abilities of the information specialist should be enhanced to adapt to the changing virtual information network.