Introduction
| Date | 01 September 2003 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830310494436 |
| Published date | 01 September 2003 |
| Pages | 270-272 |
| Author | Susan Cleyle |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Introduction
Susan Cleyle
Systems librarianship has been dissected and
analyzed numerous times over the years. Some
in our profession view this unique breed of
librarian as a necessary evil, keeping the library
technologically connected and serving as a
conduit to the underworld of computer
improvements and advancements. Others see
us as vital innovators implementing services
that allow the library to maintain a valuable
place in the lives of our patrons. From either
perspective, technology and libraries are here to
stay. But technology is becoming less
library-specific and more Web-related, and
although it is clear there will always be a need
for library systems support, will libraries always
need professional librarians in the systems
office?
The authors of this themed issue
unanimously agree that there is a role for
librarianship in the library systems. Eight
articles showcase systems librarians from all
over the globe who have gathered their thoughts
on how their careers have progressed, and how
the organizational structures of their libraries
have progressed with them. The papers break
out into three areas: the education of a systems
librarian and the skills required to do the job;
national perspectives on how systems
librarianship has or has not developed from two
very different countries, Australia and Mexico,
and finally a collection of papers that focuses on
the evolution of systems librarians in their
organization, the primary aspects that moved
them forward, and what factors are on the
horizon that will change their role in the future.
It has always been very difficult for systems
librarians to get formal systems education at
library schools. These schools, addressing the
traditional roles, often ignore the specific skills
that students interested in systems work must
learn. Both Jordan and Goddard discuss library
schools and their collective disregard for this
area of study. Both left to acquire the skills
outside library school, and both authors offer
very different approaches to acquiring the skills
required to be a systems librarian.
Jordan, in his article, outlines the common
duties and responsibilities of systems librarians
today and what those interested in the entering
the field can do to educate themselves.
Interested library school students and others
can take advantage of freely available tools to
The author
Susan Cleyle is Interim Associate University Librarian and
Systems Librarian, Memorial University of Newfoundland,
St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Keywords
System monitoring, Library and information networks,
Library systems, Librarians
Abstract
It is clear there will always be a need for library systems
support, but will libraries always need professional librarians
in the systems office? The authors of this theme issue
unanimously agree that there is a role for librarianship in the
library systems. Eight articles showcase systems librarians
from all over the globe who have gathered their thoughts on
how their careers have progressed, and how the
organizational structures of their libraries have progressed
with them.
Electronic access
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
270
Library Hi Tech
Volume 21 .Number 3 .2003 .pp. 270-272
#MCB UP Limited .ISSN 0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830310494436
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