นิตยสารบรรณารักษ์ ปีที่ ๒ ฉบับที่ ๓  เมษายน ๒๕๕๒|กลับหน้าสารบัญ

Reflection Report English for Information Professionals Training 28-30 January 2009 @ Srinakharinwirot University ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reported by Ajarn Sanhapong Khovong, Chief of Student Development and Ms. Rattirom Bungbongkot, TIM Student Mahidol University International College Recently, ILIS (International Librarians and Information Specialists Group, Thai Library Association) organized the first career training, Training for Information Professionals at the Central Library, Srinakharinwirot University. It was a 3-day course with lectures from real-life experience, role-plays and a number of hand-on activities. Each session was conducted by both experienced librarians and some English-speaking users. English was used as a mean of communication throughout these three days. The responses of the participants were rather positive. This Training for Information Professionals not only gathers librarians from neighboring Bangkok area such as Minburi and Ramkhamhaeng, but also accommodates librarians from other provinces like Nakhonpathom, Pathumthani or from Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai. Regardless the commuting distance, everyone showed good participation for the training as one could observe from the fun and enjoyable yet studious atmosphere. Participants displayed great passion in advancing their conversation skill, creating promotional campaigns, utilizing Audio-Visual supplements to lead a discussion, and encouraging users. Despites the impression of Thais being shy, this group of information professionals revealed a high level of curiosity in learning by asking many questions throughout the sections. English is absolutely important for librarians in terms of the language itself being one of the most widely spoken communication medium, it emerges from one of the origins where the library system comes from and it is inevitable to have English language publications in a library since major academic researches, science journals, economic reviews etc., come from the western world. It is important for a librarian to possess certain level of English skill to accommodate a larger user group: not only locally but also internationally. While globalization predates, many libraries nowadays must react in order to provide services to users from all over the world. In addition, since a library is a service center with a massive number of books that one could probably never finish reading. Therefore, to maximize the service efficiency, which is to increase circulation in a library in order to serve a growing user group, a librarian is at advantage to be equipped with some English skills. Aside from using English as a communication tool to provide service to users, a librarian who knows English gets a greater chance to advance his/her career and knowledge spectrum. Generally speaking, operating systems in libraries are often English based. As a result, a librarian who knows English enjoys the advantage of understanding the working environment with an in-depth angle therefore a comfortable working speed and attitude. On the other hand, as mentioned earlier, most world publications come in English. A librarian with relevant English skill will be able to absorb knowledge from the greater world. This not only keeps librarians updating with current world events but also facilitates their life-long learning process with better understanding of shifting pace of technology and latest librarian field of work.