by Adrienne Smith, Virtual Event Co-Chair (Published September 1, 2012)

Spotlight Session: The New Knowledge Services – Next Steps for Career Professionals

Speaker: Guy St. Clair, President and Consulting Specialist at SMR Strategic Learning Consultant for Columbia University’s M.S. in Information and Knowledge Strategy

Presenters: SLA’s IT and KM Divisions

Sponsor: Dow Jones & Company

Guy St. Clair has a new job title for us – knowledge strategist. During his session covering next steps in the information profession, St. Clair argued that special librarians are uniquely positioned to take on the role of aligning organizational strategy with information and knowledge strategies, thus driving

If you’ve been paying attention to the SLA’s previous “Future Ready” and current “Future Now” themes, you’ve heard a lot about adapting your role and marketing yourself to stay ahead of the massive changes both the technological and economic times have brought to our profession. St. Clair believes that we have an advantage as information professionals to fully inhabit this increasingly important role.

Why are special librarians well-positioned to become knowledge strategists?

• we are thought leaders
• our professional allegiances are to the organization or company that employs us
• we care about making sure that knowledge management (plus knowledge development and sharing) is happening at the highest standards
• we understand our organization’s management structure because we work within it
• we understand how leadership impacts results

Knowledge strategy (KStrat) is emerging as a new and in-demand management discipline. According to St. Clair, embracing it is an effective way to adapt your job and take it to a new level, simultaneously enhancing your value as a professional and the value derived by your organization.

KStrat is a key driver of organizational efficiency. It is in essence an alignment of information/knowledge strategy with business strategy; from this alignment, a company can more easily succeed.

St. Clair’s engaging speaking style and unique twist on what has become a common theme made this session a thought-provoking kickoff to SLA Chicago. In his dual roles as practitioner and academic, St. Clair’s perspective allows theory to be informed by practice, and vice versa, ensuring always valuable insights.