Are you fit to run an electronic library?
| Pages | 303-308 |
| Published date | 01 June 1986 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb044716 |
| Date | 01 June 1986 |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Editorial
Are you fit to run
an electronic library?
The introduction of computers — especially microcomputers — into libraries is having an
enormous effect on the way information is being acquired, processed and used by the library
staff,
the public or end-users and organisational management. An electronic library is an
investment for a company, a university or local government — it costs money for the
machines, for the software, for the staff to operate them, for access to the sources of electronic
information. Thousands of dollars can be wasted if appointments of managers to run these
expensive facilities are made without proper screening of personnel who are adaptable to this
new and upcoming environment.
Faced with awesome responsibilities, the electronic library manager is a complex character
—
a
meld of many antithetical facets and
traits.
The would-be electronic library manager must
possess flexibility and adaptability, yet be firm when occasion demands; s/he must be a
mixture of an entrepreneur and an intrapreneur; someone not only with a
carte blanche
to do
anything and everything, but with the ability
as
well;
a person who considers that it's kinder to
be cruel and who believes that being an electronic library manager is not all work and no play.
While psychological tests abound, an electronic library manager fitness index, to my
knowledge, has yet to be developed. But to
see
if you are fit
to be
an electronic library manager,
here are some questions to try on
yourself.
Reflect carefully on each question before answer-
ing. When you have responded to them all, turn to page 306 for how to score and how to inter-
pret your score. (NB. This little test is not claimed to be fool-proof).
1.
My first task on being appointed to create and run an electronic library would be to:
a. immediately raise staff salaries
b.
get the biggest and best Lan-based multi-micro system with all mod cons (plus
supporting software of course)
c. close the library and work from home via the ether
d. call a meeting to tell staff my ideas and hear theirs
e. get passwords to every host service under the sun
2.
Someone comes in wanting your assistance with searching the online public access
catalogue at 6pm just as you're putting your coat on to go home. Do you:
a. take off your coat, say don't worry, you're proud and happy to oblige, and do the
search?
b.
tell him/her politely (or impolitely) that the library closes at 6pm and to come back
tomorrow?
c. let him/her know (subtly or sarcastically) what a fool s/he was for even thinking s/he
could get you to do a search at all let alone at that time?
d. make him/her feel a complete idiot for not being able to do it himself/herself?
e. smile sweetly and unblushingly explain that the computer has already been taken over
by the computer room for back-up and maintenance?
f. pretend you haven't seen him/her, ostentatiously look at your watch and rush off
muttering something about having to pick up your wife/husband from the station?
3.
When you last had a free evening did you spend most of the time:
a. watching tv/reading a novel/playing tiddly-winks?
b.
reading up the latest issue of
The Electronic
Library}
c. filling in job applications for electronic library manager posts?
d. practising karate?
editors
PAGE
The Electronic Library, December 1986. Vol. 4, No. 6. 303
To continue reading
Request your trial