[Web4lib] Skillset for new librarians

[Jesse Ephraim]

I agree with Laura.  Tech skills are a major part of librarianship today.  Students who don't want to learn them shouldn't be librarians, for the most part.  

I would add that it is important for librarians (new and old) to be willing to learn and explore on their own time, as well.  There are very few libraries out there that can afford to send their students to endless training courses.  

Jesse Ephraim

Director, Roanoke Public Library
308 S. Walnut
Roanoke, Texas 76262
(817) 491-2691
jephraim at roanoketexas.com



-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Laura Krier
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 4:13 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Skillset for new librarians

One of the things I found most useful in our Intro to Lib Tech class
at Simmons was a focus on how to stay up to date with new library
tech. We spent one or two class sessions just talking about good
resources in the field, and how to effectively manage your own
continued learning in this area.

I think it's important for librarians to understand database
structures, networks, and how the web works. All librarians should at
least be comfortable talking with technologists about the systems that
make the library run.

I would have appreciated better knowledge of how all the different
library technologies work together (OCLC/cataloging services, ILSes,
acquisitions tools, databases and e-resources, proxy servers, etc). It
would have been awesome to have some hands on ILS experience, even
just to see what they look like and how they work.

So much depends on what students already know and what they want to do
in the field. I completely agree, though, that if students aren't
interested in computers and what they can do online, they shouldn't be
librarians. If students are aghast at the idea of ebooks and
ejournals, they probably shouldn't be librarians. If they don't want
to use email or chat clients or social networking or IM, they
shouldn't be librarians (and yes, I had fellow students who didn't
like to use email. It was too impersonal). If they don't see the point
of technology like smart phones or iPads, they probably shouldn't be
librarians.

Just my $0.02. :-)

laura

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 2:00 PM, Jesse Ephraim <jephraim at roanoketexas.com> wrote:
> The ones who are dragging their feet when it comes to tech skills
> definitely need to be scared.  There's really no excuse for that these
> days.
>
> Jesse Ephraim
>
> Director, Roanoke Public Library
> 308 S. Walnut
> Roanoke, Texas 76262
> (817) 491-2691
> jephraim at roanoketexas.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Hess
> Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 3:54 PM
> To: Elizabeth Beers; web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Skillset for new librarians
>
> It might be a fun exercise to supply a range of technical skills that
> librarians can exhibit, say from no html to web server administration
> pro
> and have your students rank themselves. This would give them the
> opportunity
> to see where they fall in the competitive market (could be anonymous)
> and
> against their in-class peers.
>
> Nothing like the "scared straight" methodology to teaching...
>
>
> M Ryan Hess
> Web Services Coordinator
> DePaul University
> JTR 120, DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus, 2350 N Kenmore Ave.,
> Chicago IL 60614
> office: 773-325-7829 | cell:  650-224-7279 |  fax: 773-325-2297  |
> mhess8 at depaul.edu
>
>
> On 1/3/11 11:36 AM, "Elizabeth Beers" <brixton at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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/
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Laura Krier

http://www.lauraek.net
http://kitchenilliterate.wordpress.com


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