[WEB4LIB] Webmasters s/b librarians (was Communication between Librarian &

[Charlotte G. Greenhalgh]

Okay, this is a controversial topic, but here goes. ..

I think that library systems managers/webmasters should be from both
worlds, but if its one or the other I think its best to start with an MLS
and train into a tech person, rather than the other way around. 

Librarians are trained (hopefully) in the needs people have to access
information and find what they need, and librarians also experience the
frustrations associated withe technology as endusers, which can help
define how things should be accessed, how the software needs to run, etc. 
It has been my experience that people on the tech side are too accepting
of glitches, too willing to accept work arounds and not well versed in the
needs of a library and/or patrons.

And as to whether we would train a librarian for electrical work,
graphics, accounting and public relations I bet most librarians would
agree that they end up trained in all of that by default, since that is
the nature of the job. (Electrical work may be pushing it a bit.)

{As an aside ... I do come from both worlds}





Many thanks,
Charlotte 



Charlotte Greenhalgh
Systems Librarian
Antioch New England Graduate School Library
40 Avon Street    Keene, NH  03431     603 367 3122 x330
cgreenhalgh at antiochne.edu

"In this world hate never yet dispelled hate. Only love dispels hate. This
is the law, ancient and in exhaustible."  -Budda,  from the Dhammapada.