Are Information Specialists part of a Profession? Is Information Service a true Discipline?
 
 

These questions have been discussed as far back as the nineteenth century (substitute "librarian" for "Information/Media Specialist"). Society as a whole may never reach full agreement on these issues, and anyway, most of us are more concerned about the practical ramifications ensuing from such a dialogue (e.g., what is a fair salary for our services, should we be held in higher esteem than, say, social workers or psychiatrists) But if you care, perhaps a listing of the chief characteristics of each might help clear up matters.
 
 

Characteristics of a Profession

A body of knowledge and theory essential for professionals to master;

A knowledge base resulting from prolonged study or training, or socialization in the profession;

Application of knowledge ad services to human problems;

Service orientation "based on some theoretical structure or department of learning" and "practical experience";

A demand for the service and a willingness to help others;

Practitioners are recognized as professionals and as meeting a need; "practitioners are clearly distinguished from non-practitioners";

New professionals receive training and education;

Professional organizations exist;

The organizations identify professional functions and set norms of professional conduct;

Practitioners render impartial services to the public;

Society holds the profesion in esteem;

A sense of community, commitment and autonomy--belief that one's work is a life-long calling and does not require supervision from someone outside the work group or profession;

A relationship with academe;

A professional-client relationship;

An expected level of educational attainment;

Expected norms for entrance into the profession;

A system of rewards;

Certification of competence and a high level of professional standards;

Criteria for evaluating achievement and excellence;

Practice of the profession is a full-time commitment and "involves a life-time commitment"; and

"Practitioners have a monopoly on the right to deliver their particular service," and "practitioners hold that only practitioners are competent to judge services delivered."
 
 

 Characteristics of a Discipline A recognized area of study;

Department status, autonomy and formal recognition in academe;

A substantial body of knowledge and theory;

A "common state of mind," including a sense of agreement on areas of inquiry and methods for studying problems, and a common belief that extending the discipline's insights is a worthy endeavor;

A belief that the continued development of the discipline depends on the generation of basic and applied research;

A number of people, well known within and outside the discipline, revered as contributors to knowledge, research, and practice;

Support from a learned society;

Its age; and

A number of people interested in its study.