Skills for Reference Staff

[Robert J Tiess]

I agree all librarians should have a minimal amount of
computer literacy, should know the difference between a
floppy drive and a hard drive, uploading and downloading,
and a minor continuance of that.  However, it's impractical
to expect librarians to be so thoroughly versed in all matters
digital so they would be able to address and solve any given
technical problem that arises.  Paper jams are one thing,
but upgrading operating systems, configuring servers are not
the types of activities I believe librarians should be expected
to master and accept as part of their duties.  Librarians
are busy enough addressing the daily flow of queries.  And
then there are the 'older librarians' who have had little time to
prepare for the mass digitization of library resources and
services, such as the Internet.  They can be trained, but
training takes time and money.

As to present and future ALA-accredited degrees, my own
humble take on the matter is that, yes, librarians should
know of and about various computer systems, online
services, be fully experienced with the Internet and related
IT.  As job descriptions expand and salaries edge upward
ever so slightly, how much can we honestly expect a given
public librarian to do before she or he is doing, in effect,
a job and a half, or what amounts to two jobs?  Computer
maintenance in general public libraries is on the rise, as
more materials go the digital/cyber route.  As you know,
computer technology expands so rapidly, no librarian will,
without neglecting primary duties and not without attending
extensive workshops and training sessions, even see or
comprehend technology's edge.  This is the scenario taken
to the extreme, perhaps; yet, with computers, IT, Internet,
every week yields unforeseen problems, questions,
abilities, sources of information, and so forth.  Once we
place librarians in the position of having to learn and perform
these purely-technical duties, we are doing so with no end
in sight--an act unfair to what I believe would be a
disproportionately-for-the-duties underpaid librarian, as well
as an act unfair to the public, which will increasingly expect
librarians to be able to solve technical problems and do so
swiftly.  Those are unnatural expectations.

As a Computer Maintenance Specialist, Webmaster, trainer,
researcher and consultant for my library (www.thrall.org), I
spend every day dealing with a combination of over 30
computers and terminals, not to mention printers, copiers,
fax machines, and anything else remotely technical.  I am
the designer and maintainer of our web site.  I research
vendors, create purchase orders, order supplies, track
shipments, do inventories, physically maintain all equipment,
(stocking, testing, cleaning, etc.), instruct the public, assist
in technological policies, assess new technology (software/
hardware), stay current with computer technology (reading
online and printed periodical materials), conduct surveys,
interview personnel, present upgrade options, investigate
technological grant opportunities, do desktop publishing,
assist reference personnel in online searches, create handouts
for the public, guide new users through the Internet, as well
as endless other equally important and engaging duties.

The point here is that I think we need to maintain a
distinctness between librarians and technical assistance
personnel.  The latter positions were created so librarians
could do what they do best: help people find information.
I believe we're all advocates here for technical literacy, but,
due to the changing nature of libraries, I do sense a hasty
reorientation underway, and I believe maintaining a distinct
set of duties for librarians and technical assistance
personnel is a key to increase productivity for everyone--
the librarians, the computers, the networks, and lastly and
most importantly, the general public of library patrons.
It's a difficult balance to be found, indeed, but it's not an
impossible one.

		Robert J. Tiess
		Middletown Thrall Library
		rjtiess at juno.com