the changing role of the systems librarian · •"gatekeepers of the system" –still...
TRANSCRIPT
THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE
SYSTEMS LIBRARIAN
KRISTY EKLUND
OCTOBER 4, 2018
OVERVIEW
• Evolution of the Library
• Evolution of the "Systems Librarian"
• Current State and the Future
EVOLUTION OF THE LIBRARY
• Physical Collections, Services, and Spaces
• Electronic and Virtual Collections, Services, and Spaces
• As libraries evolve, so do systems librarians' educational
requirements, duties, and titles
ORIGINS IN THE 1960S
• Computers!
• 1967 – Ohio College Library Center (OCLC)
• Rise of MARC Standards
• Technology, Automation –Who will implement??
• 1968 – Northwestern Online Total Integrated System (NOTIS)
GROWTH IN THE 1970S
• Growth of technology librarians
• Microcomputers – improvements in storage, telecommunications
• 1975 - Forerunner of VTLS Classic developed and installed at Virginia Tech
• Separation of "Library" and "Systems Office"
RISE OF THE ONLINE CATALOG - 1980S
• Separate processes combined – ILS, OPACs
• VTLS Classic – 1980, Dynix – 1983 – terminals, telnet
• Not necessarily called "systems librarian"
• Instead "head of technical services" or "head of circulation"
performed systems librarian roles
• New technologies – PCs, word processing, databases, software, printers,
desktop client software
• "Gatekeepers of the System" – still didn't work much with public
BEGINNING OF THE SHIFT - 1990S
• World Wide Web
• Beginnings of library websites, digitization, online versions of
resources, online learning
• Shift from technical skills to planning, emerging technology integration,
managing technical staff
2000S
• IT Department – servers, networks, public computers
• New responsibilities for the systems librarian
• User needs – begin helping directly
• Communication!
IN THE ERA OF THE CLOUD - 2010S
• Eliminates need for software, and manual updates by staff – now updated by
the vendor
• Diversification of duties
• Library systems
• Web services
• Digital initiatives
• Communication! Collaboration! Teamwork!
TITLES IN 2010S AND BEYOND
• More specialized duties, new titles
• Digital Initiatives Librarian
• Emerging Technologies Librarian
• Information Technology Librarian
• Web Services Librarian
• Digital Services Librarian
• Metadata Strategist
• Digital Infrastructure Librarian
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
• Importance of integration
• Keep up with issues
• Technology still evolving
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Breeding, M. (2017). Elevating tech skills for the cloud. Computers in Libraries, 37(8), p. 15-17. Retrieved
from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=llf&AN=125837221&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
• Fu, P. (2013). Migrating to Alma: the changing role of the systems librarian. [Presentation at ELUNA 2013, Athens, GA].
Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1022&context=libraryfac.
• Iglesias, E. (Ed). (2010). An overview of the changing role of the systems librarian: systemic shifts. Oxford: Chandos
Publishing. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/wayne/detail.action?docID=1579935.
• Lavagnino, M. B. (1997). Networking and the role of the academic systems librarian: an evolutionary perspective. College &
Research Libraries, 58(3), 217-231. Retrieved from https://crl.acrl.org/index.php/crl/article/view/15126/16572.
• Liu, W. & Cai, H. (2013). Embracing the shift to cloud computing: knowledge and skills for systems librarians. OCLC Systems
& Services, 29(1), p. 22-29. doi:10.1108/10650751311294528.
• MARC standards. Retrieved Sept. 30, 2018 from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MARC_standards.
• OCLC. Retrieved Sept. 30, 2018 from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC.
• Ratledge, D. & Sproles, C. (2017). An analysis of the changing role of systems librarians. Library Hi Tech, 35(2), p. 303-311.
Doi: 10.1108/LHT-08-2016-0092.