Library Technician

Ok, at last I feel I have something new to post about.

 

Learning 2.0, originally started by Helene Blowers, Public Services Technology Director, The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, taken up big time by libraries in Victoria (Oz). Come on already! There's only a small amount of pick up by other states. Everyone is going to fall behind Victoria very quickly. 

 

If your library doesn't pick up on this go do it yourself. Don't wait for slow coach, freaked out, introverted managers and administrators to decide for you. I haven't started yet, but apparently we can do this through the original site: http://plcmcl2-about.blogspot.com/ :

 

If I'm not a PLCMC staff member, can I still participate?
Yes, by all means. However, PLCMC cannot award you any incentives or prizes for completion. You can track your progress through the 23 Things list found on the 43Things site -- I know it sounds confusing 23..43 ..23 doesn't it. ;) Anyway, we welcome participants from other libraries to join in the fun and follow along. 

 

The most common concern I heard from people at the LT conterence was that they weren't sure what to write about in a blog. My advice is just find a subject you're interested in. Whatever takes your fancy. Does personal blogging do it for you? It doesn't for me, I always have to have a subject. So, do you grow roses? Do carpentry? Make porceline dolls? What about an issue you are involved in or feel passionate about? Environment? Disabilities? Bullies?

 

Do you want to be anonymous? Obviously I do. Get started. Don't worry, you'll be addicted very quickly.

I got the job!

I'm exhausted from all the excitement. I'm starting to feel like it's real, it's actually going to happen. And I don't care if it turns into a strange workplace, I'll just be able to have paid holidays. I counted it up and realised it's been 5 years since I've had a paid holiday. Too long. Glad to be back in.

And here I was thinking when I started this project that I'd never run out of things to say about libraries. I now feel that even thought I might continue to find stories of various sorts it would mostly be rehashing material I've already covered. I have learned more about my own connection with libraries through doing this blog. I love libraries, and will always have some connection. I will always recommend that people use libraries. I won't recommend that anyone trains for a library career.

My main points in this blog:

The bottom has dropped out of the library industry.

Too many library staff can't or won't promote library services.

Too many managers are short sighted about the value of information and therefore won't commit funds.

Too many library staff can't or won't promote library services (in order to stem the rot).

Too many librarians treat technicians with disrespect.

Too many managers treat librarians and technicians with disrespect.

If you work in a library there are (sometimes strange) ways to cope without a budget and still provide services.

Contracting is hell. The companies know that the bottom has dropped out and so they can get away with offering less pay and still no pay for leave of any sort. Only someone desperate does library contracting.

Some library systems are crap. Always go with a native marc system.

People should never work in a small library unless they are multiskilled. And that includes understanding cataloguing.

Don't catalogue unless you intend to follow standards. Basic standards are fine, no standards are not.

Small libraries usually suffer from Small Library Syndrome, very different problems to large libraries.

I think gov dept libraries are probably worse off than anyone.

If you are thinking of studying for a career don't do libraries unless you're a masochist. There just isn't enough work out there.

btw, I did ask my lib'n about deleting holdings for weeded material from the national database and she said it costs too much to search for them. This from the woman who today said we should return all our ILLs by registered post because one cranky lib'n in another library is hassling her about an overdue.

And the interview went well and I know I've been short listed because my referees told me they had been called for references. I'll probably post here if I get the job.