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When I was a "Systems Librarian" I was roughly 1/2 network/server admin 1/2 project/budget manager. Rogan Hamby, MLIS Data and Project Analyst Equinox Open Library Initiative phone: 1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457) email: [log in to unmask] web: http://EquinoxInitiative.org On Thu, Sep 27, 2018 at 8:52 AM Thomas San Filippo < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi Christine, > > I just got my first professional appointment after being out of library > school for 18 months (exactly how long I was warned it would take). My > title is Systems and Educational Technology Liaison. While I was in grad > school, I was very much on the research and instruction track but, > towards the end, I had a really great instructor in a basic web > development course, and I finally saw how useful those skills can be. I > suppose I always knew it in the back of my mind but dismissed web > development as not one of my strengths. > > The job description I applied to was very kitchen sinky, and I > introduced myself during my remote interview as a "noob." I was a > humanities major as an undergrad, and though I've been using HTML since > MySpace days, that was pretty much the extent of my hands-on experience > until halfway through grad school. Since graduation, I've learned > command line Linux and I'm working on Python, but my lack of experience > does keep me up at night. I do not feel as well-prepared from my > Masters' program as I would with a BS in CS. With your IT background, I > see no reason why you should hesitate to apply to a systems job. > > Though I do feel significant impostor syndrome during these early months > at my new job, nobody here seems to think that I'm not up to the task > or, if they do, they are being very nice about keeping it to themselves. > I think what a lot of libraries are looking for is that application of > LIS principles to the techie work that needs to get done, and it might > be more about attitude than aptitude. > > Best, > > > *Thomas San Filippo* > /Systems and Educational Technology Liaison/ > > Pronouns: he/him/his; they/them/their(s) > > Madeleine Clark Wallace Library > <https://wheatoncollege.edu/academics/library/>, G34 > Wheaton College <https://wheatoncollege.edu> > 26 E. Main Street, Norton, MA 02766 <https://goo.gl/maps/d5JvoKZUEXy> > (508) 286-5601 <tel:+15082865601> > Twitter: @WallaceLibrary <https://twitter.com/WallaceLibrary> | > Instagram: /wallacelibrary <https://www.instagram.com/wallacelibrary/> | > Facebook: wheatoncollege <https://www.facebook.com/WheatonCollege/> > On 9/26/18 7:56 PM, Christine Schultz-Richert wrote: > > Hi! > > > > I am a MLIS student and this question is something that is very > interesting > > to me! I am currently researching how well we prepare current and future > > librarians and library workers for data-intensive or techie roles and > > responsibilities. It seems like much of the current research points to > > difficulty in evaluating this question due to the lack of clear > definition > > of what these roles look like in libraries and other information centers. > > In other words, it is challenging to determine how to prepare or evaluate > > librarian preparedness because we don't have a good understanding of what > > the actual competencies for these jobs are - which sounds like what > you're > > referencing here, Christina, that job postings tend to reflect this > > "unicorn" candidate or kitchen sink of skill sets. Its really helpful for > > me to learn about all of your experiences - so thank you so much for > > sharing! > > > > Admittedly, as an IT Data Analyst in an MLIS program, I have a bit of a > > self-serving interest in understanding the overlap in these fields; I'm > > fascinated by the application of LIS principles in other disciplines and > > sectors. And Gem - I am perpetually trying to convince myself to apply > for > > jobs I'm exciting about whether or not I fit 100% of the requirements! I > > agree! > > > > Thanks everyone for providing so much color to these topics! > > > > Christine > > > > > > > > On Wed, Sep 26, 2018 at 6:02 PM Salazar, Christina < > > [log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > >> I think a part of why I'm asking is it seems sometimes (oftentimes?) the > >> folks who are doing the hiring or job postings don't really KNOW what > all > >> is involved in many of the techie type librarian positions and so I > often > >> see job postings that seem to throw in all kinds of stuff and it's hard > to > >> tell how much emphasis would be placed on say writing code or > maintaining > >> systems. > >> > >> - Christina > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of > >> Gem Stone-Logan > >> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2018 3:52 PM > >> To: [log in to unmask] > >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Are you a coder/programmer or a systems analyst > or? > >> > >> Hi, > >> > >> Long-time lurker appearing . . . > >> > >> This is an interesting question to me because I considered systems > >> librarian to be its own thing. My official job titles have been IT > >> Application Engineer, Technology Librarian, and Systems Librarian but I > >> always introduced myself in the library world as a systems librarian > >> because it seemed to cover what I do more than anything else. > >> Broadly, I consider a systems librarian anyone who is primarily > >> responsible in a library for making library-related software work better > >> (either at the application level or the code level). Exactly how you do > >> that depends on your organization's resources and focus. > >> > >> One of my favorite parts of the job is tracking down system quirks. I > love > >> a good mystery. Most of the coding I do is either to supplement things > the > >> ILS can't do or can't do efficiently. > >> > >> (As an aside, I vote for applying to any job you think looks interesting > >> regardless of whether or not you fit the exact requirements. Sometimes > it's > >> hard to tell in job descriptions what the organization really needs.) > >> > >> Gem > >> Systems Librarian (Actual job title at the moment ;) ) > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> On Wed, Sep 26, 2018 at 2:23 PM Salazar, Christina < > >> [log in to unmask]> wrote: > >>> Hey Everyone, > >>> > >>> I'm going to be so old skool about this and ask this question on the > >>> mailing list, but I'm curious to know if you believe your work is more > >>> coder/programmer or systems/applications analyst or project management > >>> type work? I'm also curious about what types of job titles you have > >>> that do/do not correlate to the work you do on a day to day. (I'm > >>> painting with broad strokes I guess.) > >>> > >>> My job title has pretty much been systems librarian since 2001 and in > >> that time have more closely identified with systems analyst type tasks. > I > >> can code but it's mostly in aid of fixing broken things, not creating > new > >> applications. I guess I also LIKE fixing broken things MORE than making > new > >> ones. I'm also sort of kind of a project manager since I've now assisted > >> with implementation of perhaps a dozen or more library applications > >> (including I think 4 ILSs). > >>> I'm trying NOT to reignite that whole "imposter syndrome" conversation > >>> but focus more on our actual skills and experience (believe me, that > >>> previous paragraph, while empirically true makes me feel all wormy > >>> inside.) I'm contemplating all this in hopes of better marketing > >>> myself for future and current job possibilities (as in, maybe I should > >>> not apply for systems librarian jobs any more since I am not really a > >>> full time coder but more of a "fixer.") > >>> > >>> Thoughts anyone? > >>> > >>> Christina Salazar > >>> Librarian About Town > >>> California State University, Channel Islands John Spoor Broome Library > >>> 805-437-3198 >