Two questions:

1. Are there benefits or advancement differences between a librarian and
technical position at your institution?

2. Is the MLIS requirement strict or do you consider also equivalence such
as experience plus technical degrees?

Kate Deibel

-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Martin, Will
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023 6:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CODE4LIB] Systems - to librarian or not to librarian?

All,

We're considering taking our Systems Librarian position and removing the
requirement for a library degree, making it a technician position instead.
The job's primary focus is in working with Alma configuration and
troubleshooting the perennial off-campus access issues.  The hope is that
removing the library degree requirement will make recruiting easier. In past
we've had difficulty getting candidates who had both the library degree and
the requisite technical proficiency.

I am curious to hear from other universities: do you require your systems
person to hold a library degree?  Why or why not?  If you do require one, do
you find you have to do extensive technical training with new hires?  If you
don't, do you wind up having to train people on library-related stuff?
Either way, how has your approach worked out?

Will Martin

Head of Digital Initiatives, Systems and Services Chester Fritz Library
University of North Dakota he/his/him

701.777.4638