It's important to recognise that in public libraries anyway we're not talking about qualified Librarians but Library Assistants (who do the lion's share of ICT support) so it's all very well to say these staff should be professionally engaged and motivated to develop themselves but where's the incentive for them? It's not realistic to expect them to relentlessly pursue technical excellence because they're often on something approaching minimum wage. As soon as they became highly ICT skilled they'd be off for a much more highly paid job in ICT support!
If we want tech-savvy and highly-motivated Library Assistants then we're going to have to pay them better and possibly even consider linking pay rises to performance. Given the massive range of skills they need to do their jobs compared to other council workers it's surprising they aren't better paid.
Phil Jones
ICT & Information Coordinator
Coventry Libraries and Information Services
Floor 1, West Orchards House
28-34 Corporation Street
Coventry
CV1 1GF
Tel: 024 7683 2329
Fax: 024 7683 2180
Email:[log in to unmask]
Visit us at www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries
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