Sometimes you get lucky as I did when I got two developers as
interns/student workers.  If you need someone in that position I would say
put it in the job requirements.  There are MLS librarians with CS
undergrads or developer experience.  They are just few and far between.
I've also seen Systems postions that work with or supervise developer
positions.  Sometimes you can get away with outsourcing the development and
having the internal Systems person act as a liaison/PM.

Edward Iglesias

On Thu, Dec 7, 2017 at 6:10 AM, Samson, Bob <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I have a question regarding staff development and I am hoping someone can
> provide some advice.  I have two vacant librarian positions in my Library
> Systems department.  I need to fill those vacancies with software/systems
> developers in order to move our initiatives forward.  We have encountered
> reluctance on the part of our human resources to repurpose those librarian
> positions into developer positions.
>
> Has anyone had success in posting Systems Librarian positions using
> education and experience requirements consistent with software developers?
> We have sufficient flexibility in hiring librarians, but the skill sets
> differ significantly between librarians and developers.  Ideally, we would
> want someone with backgrounds in computer science rather than library
> science, for example.  I'm curious to know if anyone has tried this and
> been successful.
>
> Bob Samson
> Head of Library Systems & Technology
> University of Texas at Arlington
>