Mark Chillingworth

Attach the word “academic” or “specialist” to a sentence and for many people an image will spring to mind of dinosaurs grazing on a verdant plain, oblivious to commercial realities and impending doom. At this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, the only mention of dinosaurs was on the children’s publishing stands. Academic and specialist publishers were talked of with a warm glow by technology providers and trade publishers.

The keep-your-head-down professionalism of the information providers reminded me of information professionals. There’s no need for info pros to talk about themselves. Unlike sales reps or marketing managers, they (and the vendors that supply them) barely use the word “I”. Why? Because they’re too busy being damn good at what they do to shout about it.

And that’s how it went down at Frankfurt. There were some great stands, especially 200-year-old Wiley’s, but little bragging. It was all about business, talking to users and the industry at large. But there were many at the fair, especially those from well-known trade publishers, who looked up to the academic sector for its quiet professionalism, vision and bravery for marching (quietly) headlong into the digital information age.

On my return from Germany, I was saddened to hear from more than one senior information manager that their departments, which have demonstrated the value they add to the organisation, are to face financial or staffing cuts. As the economy slows, the money men look to those who schmooze the slickest or shout the loudest about the revenue they claim they deliver; the professionals with a long-term vision for better business or innovation are ignored. Doubtless, when the economy picks up and a rival steals a march, they’ll wish they listened to the professionals.

Thankfully, at Frankfurt, the professionals were being listened to.

mark.chillingworth@incisivemedia.com

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