I wonder whether it has occurred to those responsible for this proposal,
that if students and researchers no longer need the help of librarians
because technology has replaced them, why should they need university
teachers? Surely students can access all the material they need in the
University Library without the need to attend lectures and seminars!
Perhaps the proposers are unaware that the advantage of librarians, as with
teachers, is that they can think. Machines can't.
Alyson Hogarth.
Stock Manager
Middlesbrough Libraries and Information.
"J.Wright" <[log in to unmask]>@JISCMAIL.AC.UK> on 26/01/2005 12:53:12
Please respond to Chartered Library and Information Professionals
<[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
<[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
cc:
Subject: Restructuring at Bangor University
The University of Wales Bangor in the UK no longer feel that subject
librarians / academic liaison librarians are needed in the modern
academic library. They have made restructuring proposals which include
removing all bar one of the subject librarians and a tier of the library
management, including the Head of Bibliographic Services. The university
management thinks that technology has 'deskilled' literature searching.
As far as I know, this proposal is unprecedented in the United Kingdom.
In essence, there will remain 4 professional librarians serving a
'research-led' university of 8,000 plus FTEs and with 8 library sites.
These will be the university librarian, cataloguing librarian,
acquisitions librarian and Law librarian.
Has anything like this happened anywhere that you know of? If so,
what have been the effects? We are in a consultation period that
lasts until 25th February and any evidence we can gather to help us in
our fight against these proposals would be warmly welcomed. If you
would like to receive a copy of the consultation document please reply
to Angela Jones-Evans ([log in to unmask]).
Letters / E-mails of opposition to the decision, and support for those
affected would also be welcome. They can be addressed to:
Dr Kevin Mundy
Senior Assistant Registrar
University of Wales Bangor
College Road
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2DG
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
and importantly should also be copied to:
Angela Jones-Evans
Head of Information Support Group
Unievrsity of Wales Bangor
Main Library
College Road
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2DG
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
--
John Wright BA DipLib MCLIP
Subject Support Librarian
University of Wales Bangor
Main Library
College Road
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2DG
Tel: 01248 382
email: [log in to unmask]
John Wright BA DipLib MCLIP
Llyfrgellydd Cefnogi Pwnc
Prifysgol Cymru Bangor
Prif Llyfrgell
Ffordd y Coleg
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2DG
Ffon: 01248 382
e-bost: [log in to unmask]
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