Versatility and a law degree-technical services librarians new challenge

Readings for 6/28/06- reflectionAyanna LewisLIS 578LE, Summer 2006 

            The readings challenged me to think out of “traditional” library duties or what I perceived as being those duties and look to what is now required of the profession-versatility and knowing business and legalese being some of those duties.  In the Herbert White piece, the quote that stayed with me throughout the rest of the readings was that in the findings of a reviewer of library sources it was found “that the greatest number of applications is not for hardware or software to increase librarians expertise, it is for tools to make users totally independent of us.”   This Herbert warns leads librarianship away from professionalism and toward a state of being “keepers of the warehouse.”  What then is the challenge to librarians –in particular in technical services?  It is the challenge to not become “keepers of the warehouse, but integral professionals and “information specialists” that have the ability to fine tune how information is accessed in the institution for the patrons it serves.  The world of e-books and negotiation of contracts for electronic resources- I have first hand experience watching from afar others in my organization work skillfully on behalf of libraries within the large system.  I believe now, that along with that essential “Cataloging” I , and ( in my opinion) preservation course, graduate library ( and “information”) programs should have “versatility” and “how to affect change in your library system for the benefit and future of the community served”-courses.  I’m not sure how to make that title get more concise.

Add comment June 28, 2006

Reflections from Readings (on-campus & 6/21/06)

On campus readings- reflectionAyanna LewisLIS 578LE, Summer 2006 

            So when I signed up for this course, I was so nervous.  I was even more so when I looked over the syllabus and the reading list.  But after having spent the two days on campus and having read the first set of readings, I have found myself to be on surer ground.  I kept commenting to myself as I read each article things such as, “ I do that all of the time”, or “preservation is part of technical services?”.  I guess I too, had preconceptions about technical services being more about the operations and physical side and less about being part of user services.  This split in the field between “tech services” and “public services” as Boissonnas calls it is the divide that needs refinement and redefinition.  From this basic understanding, which previous to these readings, I had not been keenly aware of, I viewed the various schools of how technical services should evolve or change.  Ross Atkinson seems to be of the school of thought that “disintermediation” (I had to read that one over again and revisit some earlier notes from another class) is what libraries what to achieve.  Focus and attention should be given to the systems that can support archival function, quality records and information about them(metadata) and so forth will support the user being able to access information without the library’s traditional mediation seems to be what Atkinson is advocating.   Gorman’s assertion that library schools have lost it by allowing students to graduate with MLS degrees without cataloging is preposterous because these types of functions are integral to the nature of the librarian-no such thing as a “user services” librarian without technical sensibilities, truly began to challenge me to think even more critically about the direction of technical services.  The phrase that has stayed with me throughout my reading is that of Allen and Williams.  These authors stated that “the underlying stimulus for change in library operations is technology.”   This seems true along with the ability to change in ways that support the library’s mission being dependent upon library leadership’s  ability to do more( meet changing needs) with less( actual money to operate with).

Readings for 6/21/06- reflectionAyanna LewisLIS 578LE, Summer 2006 

So collection development tools and acquisition set ups that involve approval plans and provide reports that help manage aspects of the collection – this is the direction of libraries?  I felt as I read the articles for this week that the emphasis was to encourage libraries to embrace these methods of interaction with vendors with the assurance that the benefits that far outweigh any problems.  Having services such as Blackwell’s Collection Manager and doing business with vendors that provide analysis tools is a must in terms of cost saving?I guess my separation from the academic library world is beginning to show in that I have this perception that the traditional mandate or practice of collections in academic being as large and extensive as possible is quite acceptable.  Maybe it was once upon a time.  I kept waiting for the aspects of collection development to emerge in the conversation such as –weeding, dealing with migration( book-cassette-cd-other forms and the machines that are used to view these various formats).  I kept waiting for more emphasis on the needs of the community served in collection development and acquisition, but again perhaps I am thinking in terms of my school library experience. 

Add comment June 21, 2006