Honestly, this is one of the reasons I decided last year to apply to online MLS programs despite having a PhD in computer science. While I love doing library technology work, I didn't want to be stuck doing just development or have to go the ITS manager route. Some positions do list "or equivalent" but it's always a crapshoot.
Of course, I somehow managed to find this sweet librarian gig involving my accessibility tech skills without the MLS. I'm still going to do it, though, since I now work for the school whose online MLS program I signed up for. Tuition remission benefits rock!
Katherine Deibel | PhD
Inclusion & Accessibility Librarian
Syracuse University Libraries
T 315.443.7178
[log in to unmask]
222 Waverly Ave., Syracuse, NY 13244
Syracuse University
-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Haitz, Lisa (haitzlm)
Sent: Thursday, December 7, 2017 2:33 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Systems Librarian / software developer
Interesting… I too have worked on web dev for years. Have been thinking of doing an MS; our university does not have an MLS. But to move into faculty here, I would need the MLS, and pay somewhere else, the MS doesn’t do me any good here.
On 12/7/17, 2:27 PM, "Code for Libraries on behalf of Jason Bengtson" <[log in to unmask] on behalf of [log in to unmask]> wrote:
If you want to go that route, I'd be prepared to worry less about education
and more about experience. Using myself as an example, I have no CS degree.
In fact, two of my degrees are in English. But I've been doing complex,
full stack web development for years. I'm glad you're broaching this . . .
IMHO, many libraries are still doing a very poor job of adapting to a
modern footing. Where I'm at now, because I manage IT, I'm basically locked
out of faculty, despite my record of scholarship.
Best regards,
*Jason Bengtson*
*http://www.jasonbengtson.com/ <http://www.jasonbengtson.com/>*
On Thu, Dec 7, 2017 at 6:10 AM, Samson, Bob <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I have a question regarding staff development and I am hoping someone can
> provide some advice. I have two vacant librarian positions in my Library
> Systems department. I need to fill those vacancies with software/systems
> developers in order to move our initiatives forward. We have encountered
> reluctance on the part of our human resources to repurpose those librarian
> positions into developer positions.
>
> Has anyone had success in posting Systems Librarian positions using
> education and experience requirements consistent with software developers?
> We have sufficient flexibility in hiring librarians, but the skill sets
> differ significantly between librarians and developers. Ideally, we would
> want someone with backgrounds in computer science rather than library
> science, for example. I'm curious to know if anyone has tried this and
> been successful.
>
> Bob Samson
> Head of Library Systems & Technology
> University of Texas at Arlington
>
