[Web4lib] Skillset for new librarians

[Lin Light]

Your posting is very interesting but viewing the responses is leaving me with 
only one suggestion. Read with a "wink, wink, nudge, nudge"

Have all your students enroll in the Computer Science School and then offer them 
Library Sciences classes. 

Lin


Lin Light
Head of Computer
 & Technical Services
Herrick District Library
300 South River Ave.
Holland, MI 49423
Voice 616-355-3727
Fax   616-355-1426

---------- Original Message -----------
From: "Janice Christopher" <Janice.Christopher at uconn.edu>
To: "Elizabeth Beers" <brixton at gmail.com>, <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Sent: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 14:24:37 -0500
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Skillset for new librarians

> Hi Elizabeth --
> 
> I'm not a full-time techie, but I'd recommend teaching your students
> general troubleshooting skills, whether they're going into systems
> themselves or will be dealing with people who did. Not system-specific
> stuff, but solid basics: questions to ask, knowing your users, knowing
> your systems, etc.
> 
> You know the dance:
> What's the problem?
> Did you clear your cache?/Did you reboot?  ;)
> What should be happening, exactly?
> What *exact* steps cause the problem?
> Can you replicate the problem?
> Are other users/logins/computers having the same problem?
> Are other users/logins/computers accessing a different part of the
> system having a problem?
> Is the problem limited to a browser/OS, to a subnet/IP range, a
> floor/building/branch/campus, or ...?
> If the system is hosted off-campus, is the host generally experiencing
> problems?
> If the host is OK, are the bills paid?
> Can you get to Google? (or whatever your default is)
> ***
> Learning library staff comfort levels with technology: from geeks to "I
> know the steps to do my work"
> Knowing how library staff think about technology: from geeks to the
> staff who don't really understand the difference between their PC, the
> library network, and a remote network
> Communicating about problems to staff and users
> Communicating problems and steps taken to technical staff
> Documenting problems
> Teaching basic troubleshooting
> Developing a "troubleshooting culture"
> 
> Libraries have so many systems, both stand-alone, interconnected, and
> integrated -- we seem to spend a growing amount of time identifying
> *where the problem is* in the first place, before even addressing the
> problem itself.
> 
> janice
> -------
> Janice Christopher
> Systems Librarian/Catalog Management Librarian
> UConn Libraries
> 860-486-2636
> janice.christopher at uconn.edu
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-
> > bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Beers
> > Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 12:37 PM
> > To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> > Subject: [Web4lib] Skillset for new librarians
> > 
> > Hello Web4Lib!
> > 
> > I'm preparing to teach a course entitled Introduction to Technology in
> > LIS,
> > and I'm looking for some input on what you consider critical tech
> skills
> > for
> > new librarians.  The course is intended to provide an overview of the
> > sorts
> > of tech systems and capabilities that librarians will be expected to
> > have or
> > interact with once leaving library school.  Some of these students
> will
> > be
> > taking this class because they want to work with library systems or
> > electronic resources - others will be in much less techy roles but
> want
> > to
> > have some tech experience going into their jobs.
> > 
> > I'm interested in hearing what YOU think are the essential skills for
> > new
> > librarians - taken as broadly or narrowly as you'd like.  I really
> > appreciate your opinions - and your time.
> > 
> > Elizabeth Beers
> > Digital Services Assistant
> > Kresge Business Administration Library
> > Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan
> > _______________________________________________
> > Web4lib mailing list
> > Web4lib at webjunction.org
> > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
------- End of Original Message -------