I don’t know. I’ve not long come into the profession (well, not strictly qualified yet but still…) and I have a clear idea of what a library service should offer.

Ian Clark

Library Systems Officer,

Augustine House,

Canterbury Christ Church University

Email: [log in to unmask]

Tel. 01227 767700 ext 3141

From: Caroline Downie [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 19 March 2012 13:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: IT in the library

I suppose what this discussion is really highlighting is that those of us who have been around a long time had a sense of our own purpose, and had more time to spend with readers and their questions whether it was how to use the photocopier, know the correct sequence for all the Harry Potter books or how to find the address of the Citizens' Advice Bureau.  Or just listen to some of our more lonely or eccentric readers.

Now no-one is quite sure what a library is for, what the jobs of staff entail, and staff are feeling pressured and stressed by uncertainty, management are trying to make savings everywhere and where are we left? Stuck and confused about what a library service is and should offer.

Caroline Downie
www.carolinedownie.co.uk

From: Diana Nutting <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, 19 March 2012, 12:15
Subject: Re: IT in the library

I found this question a little depressing. When I was a young librarian we helped people use photocopiers and microfilm readers. Of course it's part of the job. The job is to facilitate access information which is in the public domain in whatever form it happens to occur. And a useful spin off is that such helpfulness will encourage people to be positive about the necessity for libraries, which at present is absolutely key.

From: "Riddick, Amanda" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, 18 March 2012, 18:44
Subject: IT in the library

Hi,

The other day, during a very quiet time at the library, I spent a good 20 minutes helping a customer with checking-in online and printing out her boarding passes and car hire insurance, and that wasn't the first time I've helped people with IT stuff that isn't to do with the library (eg formatting, saving onto USB stick, selecting the colour printer). Do you find that you and/or your colleagues get involved with what I'd call "informal IT", ie dealing with IT queries that are unrelated to your library's services and that take place outside formal IT classes? Do you feel resentful about it, that it's taking you away from what you're really there to do, or don't mind doing this as part of your job?

I'd appreciate any feedback, but I will probably be writing an essay about this and may want to quote you (with due references and all, of course), so please let me know if you're OK about that or not.

thanks and best wishes,

Amanda Riddick

Library Assistant

MA Student, Library and Information Studies, University College London