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I would rather hire a tech savvy librarian than vice versa. *Guy Dobson* Director of Technical Services Systems Librarian Drew University Library <http://www.drew.edu/library?utm_source=FIL_Email_Footer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FIL%2BEmail%2BFooter> 36 Madison Ave, Madison, NJ 07940 (973) 408-3207 On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 9:34 AM Nicole Scalessa <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > For a technical position like that I would state an MLIS degree or > equivalent experience. There is a lot to be said for hands-on library > experience regardless of the actual degree you have. I have been working in > libraries for 25 years and opted to get an MBA in IT management instead of > an MLIS. After having worked in libraries for about 20 years already that > was the degree that would provide the most career opportunities. I had > worked in every area from library assistant to reference to cataloging > while all along the way being taught by brilliant librarians how to do the > work. I was also simultaneously managing the website and IT > responsibilities because I had a knack for it. Now I am in my dream job at > another institution. > > Nicole > > On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 9:21 AM Hammer, Erich F <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > Will, > > > > I am the "Head of Systems" here, and I don't think I would have been > > considered for the job without my MLIS. I had 20 years experience in IT > > (during which I worked through the degree) before being hired, and my > > supervisor and team recognized that I had no actual Library experience. > > They were willing to guide me because of my technical abilities, but the > > first year was completely overwhelming. The complexity and lingo had my > > brain struggling to comprehend how it all fit together. I believe I'm > > doing OK at the job now, but I have to give enormous credit to my > > incredible and dedicated employees and also recognize that the pandemic > > shutdown -- when I was the only person in the building for several months > > -- afforded me the opportunity to catch up and resolve problems that > > couldn't be managed in short, 15 minute segments between meetings and > other > > crises. > > > > What I'm saying is that I honestly don't think the courses I took for my > > degree did all that much to prepare me for this job. What it may have > done > > though is tell the hiring committee that I was/am interested in the > > concepts and philosophies of libraries and information science and am > > willing to continue learning. > > > > Maybe the MLIS degree should be an alternative to x years of library > > experience (along with demonstrated technical skills). > > > > Erich > > > > > > > > On Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 18:24, Will Martin eloquently > inscribed: > > > > > All, > > > > > > We're considering taking our Systems Librarian position and removing > the > > > requirement for a library degree, making it a technician position > > instead. The > > > job's primary focus is in working with Alma configuration and > > troubleshooting > > > the perennial off-campus access issues. The hope is that removing the > > > library degree requirement will make recruiting easier. In past we've > had > > > difficulty getting candidates who had both the library degree and the > > > requisite technical proficiency. > > > > > > I am curious to hear from other universities: do you require your > systems > > > person to hold a library degree? Why or why not? If you do require > > one, do > > > you find you have to do extensive technical training with new hires? > If > > you > > > don't, do you wind up having to train people on library-related stuff? > > Either > > > way, how has your approach worked out? > > > > > > Will Martin > > > > > > Head of Digital Initiatives, Systems and Services > > > Chester Fritz Library > > > University of North Dakota > > > he/his/him > > > > > > 701.777.4638 > > > > > -- > > Nicole H. Scalessa > > Head of Digital Scholarship and Technology Services > > (845) 437-5219 <+18454375219> > > she, her, hers > > [log in to unmask] > > > > Digital Scholarship Services Collaboration > <https://dissco.vassarspaces.net/> > > (DiSSCo) Zoom <https://vassar.zoom.us/j/2989322219> Office Hours Mondays > 2-3PM > > > My working day may not be your working day. Please don’t feel obliged to > reply to this e-mail outside of your normal working hours. > [image: Vassar] <https://www.vassar.edu/> [image: Vassar-Libraries] > <https://library.vassar.edu/>[image: Twitter] > < > https://twitter.com/Vassar?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor > > > [image: Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/vassarcollege> [image: > Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/vassarcollege> [image: LinkedIn] > <https://www.linkedin.com/school/vassar-college/> [image: YouTube] > <https://www.youtube.com/user/Vassar> [image: TikTok] > <https://www.tiktok.com/@vassar_college?lang=en> >