And decisions about collection development and management apply both to print media and to an expanding repertoire of local and remote electronic resources. Librarians must also develop an understanding of information technology. They must know how to select appropriate technological tools and how to implement these effectively. They must be familiar with computer and network operations, technology development cycles, interface design principles, and large-scale IT management. Librarians need to be keenly aware of the newest trends and developments in information technology, and must be able to successfully integrate multiple current and emergent technologies.
Communication skills are another key component of librarianship.
Librarians should be adept in assessing information needs, whether these are the needs of an individual patron, an institution or a community. They must be able to ensure responsive technical solutions to information management problems, and to provide direct and indirect user assistance in this process. They should be able to evaluate the outcomes of technology implementation and to conduct research related to the solution of information management problems. Professional education must imbue future librarians with a commitment to service excellence and to meeting the needs of the user. Given the many facets of the field, professional education must also incorporate specialized learning.