Comments on: No thank you, I’m quite insane enough already http://blog.niceperson.org/2004/04/09/no-thank-you-im-quite-insane-enough-already/ Making it up as I go along. Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:34:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dorothea Salo http://blog.niceperson.org/2004/04/09/no-thank-you-im-quite-insane-enough-already/comment-page-1/#comment-272 Dorothea Salo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.niceperson.org/2004/04/09/no-thank-you-im-quite-insane-enough-already/#comment-272 I commented on CavLec once about job postings like these. I'm hard-pressed to see it as anything but a terrific disdain for tech services -- and who wants to work for people who scorn what you do? I commented on CavLec once about job postings like these. I'm hard-pressed to see it as anything but a terrific disdain for tech services -- and who wants to work for people who scorn what you do?

]]> By: Laurabelle http://blog.niceperson.org/2004/04/09/no-thank-you-im-quite-insane-enough-already/comment-page-1/#comment-273 Laurabelle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.niceperson.org/2004/04/09/no-thank-you-im-quite-insane-enough-already/#comment-273 I don't think it's disdain. I think it's a combination of factors, like maybe they have a lot of things that need to be done, so they try to lump them all into one position. It seems like lots of smaller libraries simply don't have pure <acronym title="information technology">IT</acronym> positions; the systems librarians have to do other jobs such as reference or cataloging or management as well. Another factor might be a misunderstanding on the part of management of exactly how much work it takes to make systems run properly. Not disdain, just ignorance. I actually wouldn't mind a systems librarian job that included a certain amount of reference work. I love the reference desk! I love helping people find the information they need, and I value the connection to patrons and front-line staff. My view is that the more I as a systems librarian know about how users interact with the system, the better I can make the system serve them. But the work has got to be manageable. I don't think it's disdain. I think it's a combination of factors, like maybe they have a lot of things that need to be done, so they try to lump them all into one position. It seems like lots of smaller libraries simply don't have pure IT positions; the systems librarians have to do other jobs such as reference or cataloging or management as well.

Another factor might be a misunderstanding on the part of management of exactly how much work it takes to make systems run properly. Not disdain, just ignorance.

I actually wouldn't mind a systems librarian job that included a certain amount of reference work. I love the reference desk! I love helping people find the information they need, and I value the connection to patrons and front-line staff. My view is that the more I as a systems librarian know about how users interact with the system, the better I can make the system serve them. But the work has got to be manageable.

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