Mike,



I have my MLIS and MS in Computer Science, and totally understand the feeling of alienation within my organization.  My work is just fundamentally different than most of what my colleagues do; my 'publications' are more along the lines of lightning talks and github pull requests than articles in journals.


I've tried to focus my career around being a translator between the two languages (Librarian and Techie), but it can be frustrating when trying to move quickly on a big project and everyone needs to be introduced to the other side's models and jargon.


On the plus side, though, I think there are quite a few of us in this boat, and many of us have found Code4Lib, so while we may not have like-minded colleagues in our institutions, we can still have a professional network.


Cheers,



Ian Walls

Web Services & Emerging Technologies Librarian


________________________________
From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Craig Boman <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 9, 2018 08:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Librarians and computer science

Hi Mike,

I similarly feel between two worlds as a librarian/coder, sans computer
science degree, but optimistic nonetheless. I started as an entry level ILS
support staff and found myself drawn to lots of coding projects. For me it
was incredibly helpful that I was previously working with/mentored by a
coder with a CS degree and tons of library experience. Currently Discovery
Services librarian at Miami University Libraries of Ohio, working in
python, php, postgres, related APIs, and a long term interest in machine
learning.

BA in Music, MLIS, and nearing course completion for a Ph.D. in higher
education leadership, while learning lots of CS skills along the way.

Have you looked in Meetup or the like, to see if there are any libtech
events in your area, if not starting one?

Best,
Craig

On Fri, Mar 9, 2018 at 8:05 AM, Benjamin Armintor <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Mike,
>
> I have to admit this email makes me a little sad! NYPL has had so many
> insights and innovations in library software, and I'd hate to think that
> one of its employees would feel alienated from the organization by their
> interest in pursuing it (tho there are a recent spate of departures).
>
> Have you reached out to Ashley Blewer, Ben Vershbow, Shawn Averkamp, Josh
> Hadro, Shana Kimball, David Riordan or Matt Miller? They're all recent or
> current employees of NYPL with excellent reputations among our peers in
> library technology and substantial professional networks among the
> NYC-based library and cultural heritage technology sector. I know NYPL is a
> sprawling organization and that might itself obscure its own efforts from
> its own employees, but there are definitely things going on.
>
> There's also local professional communities around and within METRO (
> metro.org), Rhizome (rhizome.org), the School for Poetic Computation (
> sfpc.io) NYCDH (nycdh.org) and of course Code4LibNYC (
> www.meetup.com/code4libnyc<http://www.meetup.com/code4libnyc>). Somewhat more sporadically, there's an event
[https://secure.meetupstatic.com/s/img/286374644891845767035/logo/meetup-logo-script-1200x630.png]<http://www.meetup.com/code4libnyc>

Code4Lib NYC (New York, NY) | Meetup<http://www.meetup.com/code4libnyc>
www.meetup.com
Open to all library staff interested in the coding, deployment, and design of library software, systems, and web services. This local chapter of Code4Lib, known as Code4LibNYC, aspires to channel the


> at NYU or Columbia, both of whose libraries employ a significant number of
> software developers in different capacities.
>
> Obviously this list is a great place to reach out to the national
> community, but there's really a ton going on in the five boroughs.
>
> - Ben
>
> On Thu, Mar 8, 2018 at 6:57 PM, Michael Rios <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Hello I hope you are all well!!
> >
> > My name is Michael I am a public librarian with the New York public
> > library.
> >
> > I have been taking cs classes on and off for the last five years. I
> greatly
> > enjoy them but feel slightly split between two worlds.
> >
> > Are there many of us (librarians) who code?? If so please let me know if
> > you mind having your brain picked.
> >
> > Many thanks!!
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Mike
> >
>