Innovation in library services: the value of interdisciplinary collaboration

Abstract

Building on a pioneer project in digitizing and Internet publishing of a clipping file donated by Juan Linz on the Spanish political transition, carried out by the Library of the Centre for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences of the Juan March Institute, a reflection on the role of innovation and interdisciplinary team building is done. It could be said that the traditional principles of conservation, cataloguing and readers’ services within a stable environment may no longer be essential but we are seeing that these principles are applicable to new media as well. Therefore the information professional’s ability to select, evaluate, organize and create easy access is just as essential before the avalanche of electronic information and his participation in the development of new projects that facilitate the use of and broaden the diffusion of electronic information are even more critical for successful projects and broader diffusion. Information professionals need to retool their attitudes and functions, to improve their formation and advance, beyond the traditional confines and redefine their function to be that of innovators. The information professional has in an excellent position to develop new products due to his deep understanding of their users varied needs for information and an awareness of potential advances generated by advancing technology. To further this knowledge and expertise it will be necessary in the future to create new ways of defining information, new tools and new methodologies to insure that the users’ needs are met.