[Web4lib] Skillset for new librarians

[Gillian Wiseman]

Off the subject of technology per se, the best class that I took in
Library School was a class on indexing and abstracting. It also covered
the basics of relational databases, as I recall (it's been 17+ years
since I took the classes, so I might be merging two classes together in
memory). The concepts of how indexes are drawn, how databases used those
indexes, and how and why abstracts are written, have helped me
tremendously in my computer database researching.

As far as anything else goes, my best pre-library training was five
years as a desk clerk in a busy hotel. Dealing with rude, demanding,
drunk, homeless, spoiled, confused, etc... people is the same in every
business, and having that experience to fall back on was endlessly
useful in my first years as a librarian.

Gillian Wiseman
Electronic Resources Librarian
Waco-McLennan County Library
1717 Austin Ave
Waco TX 76701
254-750-5944
gwiseman at ci.waco.tx.us

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Norma Jean Hewlett
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 4:57 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Skillset for new librarians

What I learned in Library School was how to be a professional. I also
learned a great deal about how libraries operate and about theoretical
concepts that I'd never considered before, such as the nature of
information. It's quite true that none of the information technology
applications I learned there are in use today, but the fundamental
concepts
I learned through using them still apply.

I had years of previous experience at bookstores and in computer
programming. They didn't teach me how to think and act like a library
professional.

Jean Hewlett
University of San Francisco

On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 5:28 PM, James Day <mail at jamesday.net> wrote:

> You don't need to teach online forums, because librarians can't seem
to
> give
> up their listservs.
>
> James
>
> -----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
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