Education for the Successful Geoscience Information Specialist

Abstract

Summary In lengthy interviews geoscience information specialists from government, academic institutions, and the corporate world discussed their views of the ideal education for practitioners in their field. These experts shared opinions and experiences concerning subject specialization, specific competencies and services, users and their information needs, management and administrative skills, and preparation for teaching and research. Common themes in these conversations were those of new technologies, changing paradigms for libraries and information services, funding priorities, increasing and often competing demands on the information specialist's time, and the necessity for marketing and value-added services.