Hi Patrick,

Clearly, folks here have some strong feelings on this topic.

My advice is that you inventory your basic skills, set your goals, and
create a plan. Clearly, unless you can come up with a unique and essential
product, or claw your way to the top of a vendor organization, you are not
going to get rich in the library business. I got involved with the internet
and libraries before the web, and later built my business on that
foundation. I've had a lot of fun doing it.

I was fortunate to get some introduction to computer science in school, in
the age of punchcards and building-sized computers less powerful than my
watch. CS is much different now, but still it is a good place to start. It
doesn't matter if you go to a Community College or to MIT, as long as your
instructors are engaging.I learned Fortran and assembler, then C, then
Basic (non-visual), and moved on from there. I spent a lot of time
mastering SQL, and found that my math background came in very handy there.
When I started working with libraries, I found that the many faces of XML,
and markup languages, in general, were very useful and brought me a lot of
opportunities,

I also spent a lot of time learning about computers and their operating
systems. I learned Unix by working on my first web server, a DEC Alpha,
then using a Sun workstation. This put me in good stead for working on the
Linux-based servers that we use now.

I think that the key is to keep your ear to the ground, and stay up-to-date
with new tech. Code4libCon, BTW, is a great place to do that.

Feel free to reach out.

Thanks,

Cary

On Thu, Dec 15, 2022 at 3:14 PM Patrick Pletcher <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi, this is my first time posting to a list like this. I am a circulation
> clerk who is learning to code at freecodecamp.org. Right now I am
> studying html and css, but I plan on going through all the lessons on the
> website. I enjoy working in libraries, and I also enjoy writing code. I am
> not sure where I am going with this. Do I stay in the library field, or do
> I go off in a completely different direction? I would appreciate your
> input. I think I would like best to work for a company that provides access
> to eBooks or audio books. I like print, but I don't see people using ink
> printed on dead trees 50 years from now, with all of the environmental
> issues the planet is facing.
>


-- 
Cary Gordon, MLS
The Cherry Hill Company
http://chillco.com