What’s the Most Important Thing a News Librarian Can Contribute to Her Workplace?
A colleague at the Los Angeles Times asked this question a long time ago. I’ve been pondering different answers, but I keep coming back to flexibility, so that’s what I’m going to say. Flexibility is the most important thing I can contribute to my office. Flexibility in the sense that I can drop everything I’m doing in an instant to help with a crisis. I can change my plans for the day to work on a project on deadline. I can help with a variety of different areas of the office beyond my job description. The range of regular tasks I do every day requires shifting from first gear to reverse via fifth. The ability to jump from one question to another very different inquiry is crucial. Also, being able to speak up when there’s an error in the newspaper as its being laid out or helping handle media visiting campus during big events all show I’m a team player who’s working for the good of the office, not just someone focused on her own job.
