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- Library
Tech's Have Growing Opportunities in Electronic
Information
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Scope
- Because of the ever-growing use
of library automation and online information resources, there is a
growing need for information professionals with electronic
information skills.
- There is, in fact, a shortage of
librarians with these skills (particularly in industry), so
library
technicians (LTs) have been assuming more-and-more
responsibilities involving information technologies.
- This has been a
result of several factors:
- Increase in
the application of computer and communications technologies to
all parts of library operations.
- Limited
library budgets that precluded hiring the services of enough
systems professionals.
- Unavailability
of potential personnel available to fill positions requiring
information technology skills.
- Greater
acceptance of the ability of library paraprofessionals to do
jobs once considered the exclusive domain of librarians.
Possible
Information Technology Responsibilities Involving
Databases
- Currently, LTs
somewhere are doing some or all of the below jobs:
- Copy
cataloging (and original cataloging)
- Interlibrary
loan
- Reference
- Acquisitions
- Systems
management and maintenance
- Web page/site
design and maintenance
- Circulation
- At Foothill
College Library, for example, LTs have done all of
them.
What the library
employment agencies are looking for in database skills
- The information professions temp
employment agency, AIM
(Advanced
Information Management),
for example, frequently needs
people with skills in such database tools as:
- Dialog
- OCLC
- RLIN
- Lexis-Nexis
- Westlaw
- Dow Jones
- Dun &
Bradstreet
- Medline
- Those people with subject
knowledge in such fields as biotechnology, law, or business are
even more desirable.