Dear All
I completely agree that it's now an essential part of the service we offer. Having worked in Libraries for 5 years, with 4 years working on the frontline I am familiar with the sort of situation where people expect you to type up letters for them or draft entire CV's but you just have to manage their expectations and explain the level of help you can offer.
I understand the reticence of some staff to help because it might be that Libraries have changed a great deal since they first started working in them and they may not have the ICT skills of someone who was born and brought up with computers. No-one likes to do something they don't feel confident in especially where the task is open-ended and the customer might be ungrateful for or critical of the help afforded but there's often training available either through the local authority or informally from peers/family.
From the library side perhaps more attention needs to be paid to ICT skills in the recruitment process. Job descriptions tend to mention ICT skills but perhaps a practical task could be set at interview to ensure that candidates have the necessary competence?
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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