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Our jobs as librarians really hasn't changed too much in the past couple thousand years. Basically, as Eric says, it's our core purpose to collect, organize, and disseminate information-- that's always been our job and I hope we stay in business for a long time to come. However, the medium in which that information manifests itself has changed dramatically-- stone tablets, papyrus, books, microfiche, to digital information, and our tools are changing (more) dramatically as a consequence. I think writing computer software is a challenging task-- a task admittedly beyond many people. It takes a special person, first of all, to be a good programmer... I also think it takes a special person to be a good librarian. The combination of these two skills sets is a *rare* thing. Secondly, I also think it's a cultural thing. I'll go ahead and be frank: when I imagine a "typical" programmer, I think of a young male. When I imagine a "typical" librarian, I think of an older female. Thirdly, I believe our library schools are failing us. I couldn't count how many media specialist or cataloging classes were offered each semester at my alma mater if I used both hands and feet. However, there might be one "serious" technical class offered in a semester-- and the level of said class is below what I would consider acceptable for a freshman-level computer/programming class. Sure, the amount of classes in each area is probably a fair representation of the make up of the student body-- which probably means we aren't recruiting the right people... Which is probably a result of a the librarian's image in society (see paragraph above). Just a couple thoughts. ;) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Brad LaJeunesse PINES System Administrator Georgia Public Library Service (404) 982-3581 "Higitus, figitus, migitus, mum. Prestidigitonium!" --Merlin, Disney's "Sword in the Stone" > -----Original Message----- > From: Eric Lease Morgan [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 12:05 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [CODE4LIB] Computer programming > > > To what degree do y'all think computer programming should be > skill aspects of librarianship? > > Since the charter of this mailing lists states it purpose as > "...to provide a forum for discussion of computer programming > in the area of libraries and information science...", and > since the code4lib mailing list now includes about > seventy-five (75) subscribers, I thought I try to get things started. > > Computers are great tools for storing vast amounts of > data/information. Combined with a network, computers are also > great tools for sharing/communicating this information with > other computers, and therefore people. > > Librarianship is (partially) about collecting, organizing, > archiving, disseminating, and sometimes evaluating > data/information/knowledge. These processes seem very similar > to the sorts of processes computers can facilitate. > > Why is it then that more librarians do not know how to create > computer software? > > -- > Eric Lease Morgan > Head, Digital Access and Information Architecture Department > University Libraries of Notre Dame > > (574) 631-8604 >