There are many varied skill sets that different types of librarians
have.  Just as not all librarians are catalogers, not all librarians
need to be programmers. Should there be technology/programming tracks in
all library and information science schools?  Definitely.   Should some
of us be taking programming and networking classes as part of our
professional development, and integrating those skills into our work?
Of course.  Should all librarians be capable of programming?  Definitely
not.  I can envision a world where libraries have CS librarians on staff
just as they have catalogers and reference librarians.  Hey, wait, I
think I'm in that world now!

Eric Lease Morgan wrote:

>To what degree do y'all think computer programming should be skill aspects
>of librarianship?
>
>Since the charter of this mailing lists states it purpose as "...to provide
>a forum for discussion of computer programming in the area of libraries and
>information science...", and since the code4lib mailing list now includes
>about seventy-five (75) subscribers, I thought I try to get things started.
>
>Computers are great tools for storing vast amounts of data/information.
>Combined with a network, computers are also great tools for
>sharing/communicating this information with other computers, and therefore
>people.
>
>Librarianship is (partially) about collecting, organizing, archiving,
>disseminating, and sometimes evaluating data/information/knowledge. These
>processes seem very similar to the sorts of processes computers can
>facilitate.
>
>Why is it then that more librarians do not know how to create computer
>software?
>
>--
>Eric Lease Morgan
>Head, Digital Access and Information Architecture Department
>University Libraries of Notre Dame
>
>(574) 631-8604
>
>