Beyond the Classroom: Fostering Soft Skills in Pre-Professional LIS Organizations

Abstract

Are LIS graduates being adequately prepared to work in the information workplace? While students are absorbing valuable knowledge, library school curricula do not foster the essential soft skills students need to thrive in their post-graduate careers. However by being an active member of a graduate student organization, future LIS professionals can gain and hone effective soft skills, such as communication, initiative, curiosity, understanding, and the means to deal with mistakes, while adopting responsibilities that will all ultimately translate to success in the professional workplace, particularly in their first positions following graduation.

KEYWORDS:

• soft skills
• communication
• curiosity
• initiative
• understanding
• professional responsibility
• dealing with mistakes