I've never hired someone myself, but as a programmer here's what I'd consider a bare minimum for the majority of tech positions out there. They don't need to be experts in every single one of these, but they need to be able to give a coherent explanation of what the technology does, and should be comfortable going into files in any of these languages and changing or fixing them. - HTML - XML - CSS - JavaScript - At least one of ASP.NET, C#, Java, Perl, Python, or PHP - SQL Ideally they should be comfortable with administering your production operating system of choice, at least at the level of a personal development instance or workstation. Hope this helps, Steven Huwig > -----Original Message----- > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of > Sanchez, Edward > Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2012 3:32 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [CODE4LIB] Library programmer skills > > Hey code4libers, > > I would welcome your suggestions as I develop a proposal for a new > full-time programmer line hopefully to be added to my current Library > IT department of four (including myself). > > We are an Innovative/Encore/Research Pro/Synergy Library so we do > little programing in terms of discovery. We are however involved in > beta-testing for Sierra which when ready will have a new open DB > architecture and API's. I would like this position to help the Library > leverage that somehow. > > Something you should know about our campus ... the university powers > that be have been successful so far at limiting open source platforms > on campus to the single campus web server (RHEL, Apache, PHP) that > includes the Library site! Everywhere else OSS is verboten. This is a > struggle for us at times because much of what is grant-funded in the > library world produces open source tools that we cannot utilize unless > hosted elsewhere. > > This means we have SharePoint which we find useful for many solutions > but not feasible for heavy hitting external facing web interfaces. So > we outsource: bepress, libguides, contentdm, ares, illiad, wordpress, > libraryh3lp, etc. > > Lately during a website migration we had to step up to do some fairly > complex batch text manipulation, that project was followed by another > involving many lines of JAVA code for a program to produce EAD > formatted XML. There were also many database changes and the > development of a delivery platform for that EAD. We have also utilized > JQuery to create a mobile site for the Library and have several legacy > database to web applications that need to be updated. > > Add to this the fact that Libraries are at a moment of great > opportunity in terms of reaching new users (data management), content > digitization (archives and special collections), and linked data. Much > of this is relevant to coding so besides seeking someone who can walk > on water what skills would you recommend we seek in an entry-level > position at a great university? > > Your help is appreciated. > > Ed > > *************** > Ed Sanchez > Head, Library Information Technology > Marquette University > V: 414-288-6043 > M: 414-839-9569