The flexible professional: a fusion of cultures to support learning and teaching

This lecture will provide an overview of national developments in library convergence and multi-professional working, focussing on a “one stop shop” approach, becoming known as “super convergence”. Focussing predominantly on academic libraries in the UK, it will also explore the various factors contributing to these changes. The cross boundary working that is emerging as a result is presented through the lens of one higher education institution - the University of Cumbria. Building on the previous work (1) to create a different kind of University in the north west of England, the lecture outlines the next stage in the University’s strategic reshaping. This has involved a realignment of the campuses estates to meet the academic vision and a reconsideration of the workforce requirements. Consequently, the next generation of “new academic teams” is emerging which fuses professional services staff from an every widening array of departments. This further blending of student facing services requires Information Professionals to be increasingly flexible in their approach to both self-development and service delivery. The lecture aims to involve the audience in bringing out the implications for role design and future leadership programmes in order to support an increasingly holistic approach to collaborative working. (1) Weaver, Margaret, and Beaty, Liz. (2009) The flexible campus – joining up people, pedagogy, place and process.