[WEB4LIB] outsourcing/consultants for library computer programming

[Lori Bowen Ayre]

I agree with you when you say ".. the next steps in delivering libraries
thorugh the web have to do with integrating and customizing systems. To
accomplish these steps, we
need programmers..."  The problem is the pay programmers can command is way
out of line with what libraries are able to pay.  My observation has been
that library salaries for technical staff are easily 1/3 less than what
those folks can earn in the business world.

As a technology consultant who prefers to service the library community, it
puts me in a difficult spot because I have a hard time providing the
engineering talent my customers need at a price they can manage.  Still,
short of dramatically increasing salaries for library technical staff or
focusing recruiting efforts on truly committed library technologists who
won't mind the discrepancy in their earning power, what else can be done?

Lori Bowen Ayre
Library Technology Consultant
The Galecia Group
LBAyre at galecia.com
(707) 763-6869


-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Caleb C Tucker-Raymond
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 4:47 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] outsourcing/consultants for library computer
programming


Hi folks,

The recent discussion about RFPs for websites got me thinking. Do any
libraries outsource or hire consultants for computer programming?

I don't know how much this topic has been covered around here or anywhere.
I did some quick searches on the archives, but didn't see much.

My sense is that:

	Most library organizations have someone on staff with a good
	handle on HTML.

	Some even have a handle people or departments dedicated to website
	hosting, design, architecture, usability, and resource delivery.

	Few have the resources hire and retain programmers, or have
	someone on staff who knows enough about it to build a system that
	won't crash the minute they leave the organization.

I feel like the next steps in delivering libraries thorugh the web have to
do with integrating and customizing systems. To accomplish these steps, we
need programmers.

Right now, we're pretty much at the whim of software vendors who can offer
sub-par (double bogey even) products because no one else is offering a
product at all.

I've been reading a lot of things akin to 'I know a little perl, but not
enough to do a really good job', or 'you could learn PHP and do that
yourself'.

Are there any libraries who maintain their own sites but outsource their
computer programming or hire consultants to handle big programming jobs?

We are a small library, and we currently have a job opening for a Unix
systems administrator that includes a little programming. It's been open
for about a year, and I'm pretty skeptical that we'll be able to fill it.

However, we were lucky enough to hire someone on a temporary basis. In the
few months that he has been here, he's been able to begin to revamp our
web forms structure (which was before based on loose cgi scripts) by
giving us tools and building blocks to work with - subroutines, modules,
examples of how we might begin to integrate things, documentation (which
I have to say is absolutely necessary), and most importantly, knowledge of
how do build new tools for our system.

We still don't have a full-time programmer, but systems staff can handle
filling in the blanks and putting together existing subroutines. Overall,
I feel we are much improved.

Instead of posting a $40,000 per annum programming job because that's all
the funds we have, what if we spend $40,000 on consultants who work 3-4
months?

Does this sound good to anyone else?


          Caleb Tucker-Raymond

      Electronic Systems Librarian
   Saint Mary's College of California