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One potential pitfall to avoid is conflating specific programming job requirements with a having CS background. I can sling metadata with the best of them; however that doesn't make me a metadata librarian. Similarly, knowing PHP isn't the same as having a CS background. This strict adherence to MLS requirements is a reason that 60 year old ideas, implemented in 20 year old software, still haven't made their way over to libraries yet. I would love to see more institutions bring in outsiders. Having to get them up to speed on academic library-specific issues would be offset by long-term gains coming from cross-pollination. Diversity matters. Tom On Thu, Dec 7, 2017 at 2:46 PM, Kate Deibel <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > 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 > > > >