I come from a background in LIS and English (none of my degrees are in CS), but I’ve also been writing code since I was a kid, writing in BASIC for commodores and Apple IIes. I started writing modern web code in library school, but only dabbled in it until I moved into the Emerging Technologies Librarian job at the University of New Mexico’s HSLIC. Since then I’ve been building increasingly sophisticated apps in a number of languages. And to think that I, at one time, planned on becoming a successful novelist. Suffice it to say, none of my books ever really panned out for me.

Best regards,

Jason Bengtson, MLIS, MA
Head of Library Computing and Information Systems
Assistant Professor, Graduate College
Department of Health Sciences Library and Information Management
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
405-271-2285, opt. 5405-271-3297 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
http://library.ouhsc.edu
www.jasonbengtson.com

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On Jul 7, 2014, at 10:11 AM, Jacobs, Jane W <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I think I'm coming from the opposite end from most of the group. I have an MLS and got into cataloging.  I was always looking for better ways to tidy up the catalog.  I somehow got on Code4Lib or and joined up with another Code4Libber for a project.  I was hooked; I even managed to get a one day live course on Perl and a couple of E-learning courses.  This unusual sequence has all lead to a profound understanding of cataloging and indexing coupled with seat-of-the-pants programming/technical skills.  
> 
> Suspect as my programming is, it beats trying to write perfect specs for real programmers and then trying to explain to them half-way through that I've figured out a dozen ways to tweak the original plan now that I've seen it in action.  And besides coding is so much fun!
> 
> I couldn't have managed without the help of other code4libbers who have been gracious over the years in answering questions even when a few of them should have been really obvious. So I'll take this opportunity to thank those you who have been so generous with your knowledge and help.
> 
> JJ
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Miles Fidelman
> Sent: Monday, July 07, 2014 10:36 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [CODE4LIB] coders who library? [was: Let me shadow you, librarians who code!]
> 
> This recent spate of message leads me to wonder: How many folks here who 
> "code for libraries" have a library science degree/background, vs. folks 
> who come from other backgrounds?  What about folks who end up in 
> technology management/direction positions for libraries?
> 
> Personally: Computer scientist and systems engineer, did some early 
> Internet-in-public library deployments, got to write a book about it.  
> Not actively doing library related work at the moment.
> 
> Miles Fidelman
> 
> 
> Dot Porter wrote:
>> I'm a medieval manuscripts curator who codes, in Philadelphia, and I'd be
>> happy to talk to you as well.
>> 
>> Dot
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 10:30 AM, David Mayo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>>> If you'd like to talk to someone who did a library degree, and currently
>>> works as a web developer supporting an academic library, I'd be happy to
>>> talk with you.
>>> 
>>> - Dave Mayo
>>>   Software Engineer @ Harvard > HUIT > LTS
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 10:12 AM, Steven Anderson <
>>> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Jennie,
>>>> As with others, I'm not a librarian as I lack a library degree, but I do
>>>> Digital Repository Development for the Boston Public Library
>>> (specifically:
>>>> https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/). Feel free to let me know you want
>>>> to chat for your masters paper.
>>>> Sincerely,Steven AndersonWeb Services - Digital Library Repository
>>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>> 
>>>>> Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2014 13:51:07 +0000
>>>>> From: [log in to unmask]
>>>>> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Let me shadow you, librarians who code!
>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hey Jennie,
>>>>> 
>>>>> I'm waaay south of MA but I'm pretty addicted to talking about coding
>>> as
>>>> a library job O_o. If you are still in want of guinea-pigs, I'd love to
>>>> skype / hangout.
>>>>> Michael Schofield
>>>>> // [log in to unmask]
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
>>> Of
>>>> Jennie Rose Halperin
>>>>> Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 3:58 PM
>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>> Subject: [CODE4LIB] Let me shadow you, librarians who code!
>>>>> 
>>>>> hey Code4Lib,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Do you work in a library and also like coding?  Do you do coding as
>>> part
>>>> of your job?
>>>>> I'm writing my masters paper for the University of North Carolina at
>>>> Chapel Hill and I'd like to shadow and interview up to 10 librarians and
>>>> archivists who also work with code in some way in the Boston area for the
>>>> next two weeks.
>>>>> I'd come by and chat for about 2 hours, and the whole thing will not
>>>> take up too much of your time.
>>>>> Not in Massachusetts?  Want to skype? Let me know and that would be
>>>> possible.
>>>>> I know that this list has a pretty big North American presence, but I
>>>> will be in Berlin beginning July 14, and could potentially shadow anyone
>>> in
>>>> Germany as well.
>>>>> Best,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Jennie Rose Halperin
>>>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
> In practice, there is.   .... Yogi Berra
> 
> 
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> 
> 
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