Whilst agreeing with the points that Nick makes about profile-raising,
I'd like to remind CILIP that not all professionally-qualified staff
(and indeed most para-professionals) in university libraries are on the
academic-related grading scales. Indeed, AUT is not the only union
representing university library staff - NATFHE and UNISON also spring to
mind. The picture is rather more fragmented than implied below and I'm
sure that CILIP will ensure that any discussion will recognise this.
Ian
Ian Haydock
Information Systems Manager
Staffordshire University
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A general Library and Information Science list for news
> and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> James, N.J.A.
> Sent: 24 May 2005 16:43
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Job description and pay grading
>
>
> In addition to the points already made, it's worth adding
> that CILIP and AUT have taken the first steps in actively
> developing a closer working relationship aimed at protecting
> and promoting librarians and libraries in Higher Education.
> In AUT, the Academic Related Committee is organizing a series
> of regional meetings to raise the profile of Academic Related
> staff in universities, which enable members to discuss issues
> such as these, to ensure that we are all armed with the best
> arguments to defend ourselves.
>
> Cataloguers may currently be viewed as being in a
> particularly vulnerable position, partly because of
> developments in information retrieval mechanisms, and partly
> because they have tended to undersell their skills in the
> past (and perhaps be perceived as indulging in an arcane art,
> irrelevant to the developments to which I refer). Of course
> these skills are essential to library and information
> services, in terms of metadata in its broadest sense (not
> only its narrower Dublin Core manifestation). However, in
> order to provide the services institutions require
> cataloguers need to be professionals in every respect, and
> that includes being proactive with regard to metadata
> developments. In this environment particularly, cataloguers
> should be qualified professionals whose roles are broader and
> more dynamic than they have tended to be in the past.
>
> Best wishes,
> Nick
>
> Nick James
> Vice-Chair, AUT Academic Related Staff Committee
> and Catalogue Database Manager, University of Leicester
> Library (in a personal capacity!)
>
> 0116-2522037
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A general Library and Information Science list for news
> and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
> Mel Eyeons
> Sent: 24 May 2005 13:14
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Job description and pay grading
>
>
> Dear all
>
> I am writing to ask for advice on how to approach a problem
> that I am facing regarding my job description and pay
> grading. I work as an Assistant Librarian in a university and
> am having to update my job description. After initial drafts,
> my employer argues that they need precise information about
> why the job I do requires me to be professionally qualified
> and educated to degree level.
>
> I am primarily responsible for the bibliographic services
> (cataloguing and
> classification) in our Education Library, and therefore need
> to describe why I need to be qualified in order to catalogue
> and classify library material. This is primarily book
> material but also some audio-visual material. I also carry
> out user education, deal with enquiries and do some
> supervision of library assistants.
>
> I was wondering if anyone has any experience of this kind of
> situation or knew of any publications (papers, guidelines
> etc) that I could use to strengthen my case as I am aware
> that there has been some debate recently about the employment
> of unqualified vs qualified cataloguers.
>
> I would be extremely grateful for your help.
>
> Regards
> Mel Eyeons
>
>
> --
> Mel Eyeons
> Assistant Librarian
> University of Cambridge
> Faculty of Education
> Library & Information Service
> 184 Hills Road
> Cambridge
> CB2 2PQ
>
> 01223 767700
>
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