When I was a "Systems Librarian" I was roughly 1/2 network/server admin 1/2
project/budget manager.




Rogan Hamby, MLIS

Data and Project Analyst

Equinox Open Library Initiative

phone:  1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457)

email:  [log in to unmask]
web:  http://EquinoxInitiative.org


On Thu, Sep 27, 2018 at 8:52 AM Thomas San Filippo <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi Christine,
>
> I just got my first professional appointment after being out of library
> school for 18 months (exactly how long I was warned it would take). My
> title is Systems and Educational Technology Liaison. While I was in grad
> school, I was very much on the research and instruction track but,
> towards the end, I had a really great instructor in a basic web
> development course, and I finally saw how useful those skills can be. I
> suppose I always knew it in the back of my mind but dismissed web
> development as not one of my strengths.
>
> The job description I applied to was very kitchen sinky, and I
> introduced myself during my remote interview as a "noob." I was a
> humanities major as an undergrad, and though I've been using HTML since
> MySpace days, that was pretty much the extent of my hands-on experience
> until halfway through grad school. Since graduation, I've learned
> command line Linux and I'm working on Python, but my lack of experience
> does keep me up at night. I do not feel as well-prepared from my
> Masters' program as I would with a BS in CS. With your IT background, I
> see no reason why you should hesitate to apply to a systems job.
>
> Though I do feel significant impostor syndrome during these early months
> at my new job, nobody here seems to think that I'm not up to the task
> or, if they do, they are being very nice about keeping it to themselves.
> I think what a lot of libraries are looking for is that application of
> LIS principles to the techie work that needs to get done, and it might
> be more about attitude than aptitude.
>
> Best,
>
>
> *Thomas San Filippo*
> /Systems and Educational Technology Liaison/
>
> Pronouns: he/him/his; they/them/their(s)
>
> Madeleine Clark Wallace Library
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> On 9/26/18 7:56 PM, Christine Schultz-Richert wrote:
> > Hi!
> >
> > I am a MLIS student and this question is something that is very
> interesting
> > to me! I am currently researching how well we prepare current and future
> > librarians and library workers for data-intensive or techie roles and
> > responsibilities. It seems like much of the current research points to
> > difficulty in evaluating this question due to the lack of clear
> definition
> > of what these roles look like in libraries and other information centers.
> > In other words, it is challenging to determine how to prepare or evaluate
> > librarian preparedness because we don't have a good understanding of what
> > the actual competencies for these jobs are - which sounds like what
> you're
> > referencing here, Christina, that job postings tend to reflect this
> > "unicorn" candidate or kitchen sink of skill sets. Its really helpful for
> > me to learn about all of your experiences - so thank you so much for
> > sharing!
> >
> > Admittedly, as an IT Data Analyst in an MLIS program, I have a bit of a
> > self-serving interest in understanding the overlap in these fields; I'm
> > fascinated by the application of LIS principles in other disciplines and
> > sectors. And Gem - I am perpetually trying to convince myself to apply
> for
> > jobs I'm exciting about whether or not I fit 100% of the requirements! I
> > agree!
> >
> > Thanks everyone for providing so much color to these topics!
> >
> > Christine
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Sep 26, 2018 at 6:02 PM Salazar, Christina <
> > [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> >> I think a part of why I'm asking is it seems sometimes (oftentimes?) the
> >> folks who are doing the hiring or job postings don't really KNOW what
> all
> >> is involved in many of the techie type librarian positions and so I
> often
> >> see job postings that seem to throw in all kinds of stuff and it's hard
> to
> >> tell how much emphasis would be placed on say writing code or
> maintaining
> >> systems.
> >>
> >> - Christina
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> >> Gem Stone-Logan
> >> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2018 3:52 PM
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Are you a coder/programmer or a systems analyst
> or?
> >>
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> Long-time lurker appearing . . .
> >>
> >> This is an interesting question to me because I considered systems
> >> librarian to be its own thing.  My official job titles have been IT
> >> Application Engineer, Technology Librarian, and Systems Librarian but I
> >> always introduced myself in the library world as a systems librarian
> >> because it seemed to cover what I do more than anything else.
> >> Broadly, I consider a systems librarian anyone who is primarily
> >> responsible in a library for making library-related software work better
> >> (either at the application level or the code level).  Exactly how you do
> >> that depends on your organization's resources and focus.
> >>
> >> One of my favorite parts of the job is tracking down system quirks. I
> love
> >> a good mystery. Most of the coding I do is either to supplement things
> the
> >> ILS can't do or can't do efficiently.
> >>
> >> (As an aside, I vote for applying to any job you think looks interesting
> >> regardless of whether or not you fit the exact requirements. Sometimes
> it's
> >> hard to tell in job descriptions what the organization really needs.)
> >>
> >> Gem
> >> Systems Librarian (Actual job title at the moment ;) )
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Wed, Sep 26, 2018 at 2:23 PM Salazar, Christina <
> >> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >>> Hey Everyone,
> >>>
> >>> I'm going to be so old skool about this and ask this question on the
> >>> mailing list, but I'm curious to know if you believe your work is more
> >>> coder/programmer or systems/applications analyst or project management
> >>> type work? I'm also curious about what types of job titles you have
> >>> that do/do not correlate to the work you do on a day to day. (I'm
> >>> painting with broad strokes I guess.)
> >>>
> >>> My job title has pretty much been systems librarian since 2001 and in
> >> that time have more closely identified with systems analyst type tasks.
> I
> >> can code but it's mostly in aid of fixing broken things, not creating
> new
> >> applications. I guess I also LIKE fixing broken things MORE than making
> new
> >> ones. I'm also sort of kind of a project manager since I've now assisted
> >> with implementation of perhaps a dozen or more library applications
> >> (including I think 4 ILSs).
> >>> I'm trying NOT to reignite that whole "imposter syndrome" conversation
> >>> but focus more on our actual skills and experience (believe me, that
> >>> previous paragraph, while empirically true makes me feel all wormy
> >>> inside.) I'm contemplating all this in hopes of better marketing
> >>> myself for future and current job possibilities (as in, maybe I should
> >>> not apply for systems librarian jobs any more since I am not really a
> >>> full time coder but more of a "fixer.")
> >>>
> >>> Thoughts anyone?
> >>>
> >>> Christina Salazar
> >>> Librarian About Town
> >>> California State University, Channel Islands John Spoor Broome Library
> >>> 805-437-3198
>