Not everyone would agree with me, and that’s OK. But here’s something I feel pretty strongly about.
In order to be truly qualified to serve as a professional librarian, I think that there are a number of minimum competencies in technology that must be met. Here’s my list, just off of the top of my head:
- Create a desktop shortcut
- Obtain an IP address
- Create and rename folders
- Save and retrieve saved documents
- Send an email attachment
- Cut, Copy, and Paste text
- Use spell checking
- Create basic documents with a word processor
- Create basic documents with a spreadsheet program
- Working knowledge of Web browser functions
- Connect to a wireless network
- Make an online purchase
- Familiarity with the library’s catalog and its features
I feel that if librarians just had those few basic computer skills, along with a basic comfort level with using a mouse (clicking, scrolling), life would be a lot better in Libraryland. But all too often I encounter librarians who don’t even have these basic skills.
So here we are trying to sell 2.0 technologies and initiatives, and all too often hitting a brick wall. But is it any wonder? Sometimes I feel like if I have to explain to one more librarian how to cut and paste a string of text I’ll just about die. No wonder I get a glassy-eyed look when I mention XML syndication!
And if you think for one minute that the little list above is too much to ask, just ask yourself how many 15-year olds these days would be unable to do those tasks. I’m not asking that librarians become HTML experts or programming geniuses. But for God’s sake, folks, learn how to put a shortcut on your desktop!
This was a quick list off the top of my head. Who has some more to add??
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July 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
I would add a couple of things. One, understand folder structure/hierarchy - this is necessary for people to understand where files go and how to retrieve them. Creating and remaning a folder might be close, but so many people that I work with don’t have any idea of how computer files are organized via Windows Explorer. Second, understand what an IP address is and how naming schemes works. I’m talking basic stuff here - how an IP translates to a domain name. That there are internal vs external IPs. This stuff is critical for so many library applications.
I agree with you that these are basic things that should be part of everyone’s knowledge base. If people don’t understand these things they should not be working in a library. I’m not sure that this type of stuff should be taught in library school. I tend to think one should not be admitted without already having a solid grasp of these fundamentals. I also think we need better methods of educating people who are already working in the library. Things will continue to shift and change - and we need to make sure our staff shift and change with the times.
July 5th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
I think the days of librarians lacking these kind of competencies is disappearing. The new generations coming in are comfortable on the computer in ways my generation had to dig in hard and learn. I’m optimistic!
July 5th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
[…] these lines, Emily Clasper put together a list of technical competencies for librarians over at Library Revolution. Clasper is adament that these skills are an absolute […]
July 5th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
[…] Emily, at the Library Revolution blog, posted about minimum tech competencies she thinks librarians should have. Her list is certainly fine - but I share her frustrations when glancing at that list! Those are all very basic skills that some librarians still don’t have, unfortunately. […]
July 6th, 2007 at 6:22 am
[…] På bloggen Library Revolution er der et indlæg om hvilke tekniske kompetencer en bibliotekar/biblioteksmedarbejder skal mestre: Librarians and Technology: Minimum Competencies. […]
July 6th, 2007 at 7:58 am
I have so, so many colleagues who think sending an e-mail is a huge task. Who don’t know how to scan and save a picture. Who can type a letter in Word, but looks blank if asked to write something on a blog. Just today I had a fellow-librarian under 40 not getting that she’d created two documents with the same name in the same place, let alone being able to figure out what to do with them.
It’s depressing!
What’s worse is that I worry about how long it’s going to change the library culture. Where I live, the average age of employees in the library is 46. That’s old enough that a vast minimum are truly net-savy. Unfortunately it’s also young enough that the majority will hang on for another 10+ years before retiring.
It’s slow going - and slower still because the majority of leaders I’ve encountered are above the magical age-border between people who can use a computer, and people who are net-natives. They just don’t place any emphasis on computers and Internet being important in their own right. The unfortunate thing is… we’re losing a great deal of users below that magical age-border - and they’re going to be difficult, if not impossible, to get back, when the libraries finally get with the program.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:22 am
Good additions, Jennifer! I also agree that library school isn’t necessarily the place to teach these skills. It’s actually hard for me to believe that you can get admitted into graduate school without these basic skills… but of course, I’ve seen it with my own eyes! But where do these skills get taught? In college? High School? What about older students returning to grad school to become a librarian… a lot of them may be missing the “basic computer” skill set, I think… how would lirbary schools deal with that? Interesting questions…
July 6th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Anne-Lise: You bring up an interesting point about the apparent age gap. I’m not always convinced that age is the key. I think you were right in talking about it as more of a cultural shift- that many people don’t see the importance of computers/internet… I guess that tends to go along age lines, but not always.
And I totally agree about losing younger users. I have lots of educated, computer savvy friends and relatives in the 25-35 age bracket. I think my husband and I are the only library users among us.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:04 am
I believe that minimum competencies should include an understanding of computer networks. People should be able to connect and disconnect to network drive. They should understand the difference between a local and network printer. I have often had discussions that basic technical competencies should be included in performance reviews but I have never seen that decision implemented. And unfortunately I’m jaded enough to think that until you require people to master these basic skills they will continue to prey on the good will of the computer savvy staff members. I don’t think it is asking too much for a professional librarian to be able to use a site like Microsoft TechNet or Apple Support to answer their own questions.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Agree with the above, although the ability to connect to a wireless network is sometimes difficult depending on where you are. At my place of work (a university), although we as librarians could help our patrons do this, we don’t. We would have a line out the door if this becomes a responsibility. So we have a tech specialist that handles this, as well as day to day hardware issues within the library. We can also send them to the IT help desk, but everyone hates them.
Just as an aside, what do you do as a reference librarian when you are literally inundated with questions from your much younger patrons (usually in their 20s) on creating files, saving documents, etc. but who also refuse to acknowledge that they need to go to the student technology center where there are people who can help them with this? This “help” that I give to patrons seriously detracts from the reference work I am supposed to be doing. I don’t mind a quick question, but really, this is a computer savvy generation? I do not think so.
July 6th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
People will not make themselves familiar with technology or really anything new unless they have to. If the librarians had required competencies, and they did not use these competencies on a regular basis, they will lose the knowledge. The next logical question becomes, why do I need to know this if it is not in my day to day job. Librarians help people on a variety of levels beyond just technology.
I think some of the techie people need to have a bit more patience for the non-techie people. I think we have an obligation to help these people learn new things in ways we can. When a patron needs help finding a book and they have no idea to use the catalog, we take a few moments to show how it works and how they got there. The same holds true for anything new.
There is often a lack of good training due to time constraints. As many of these technologies become widely adopted, more people will learn how to use them.
July 7th, 2007 at 12:06 am
[…] In order to be truly qualified to serve as a professional librarian, I think that there are a number of minimum competencies in technology that must be met. Here’s my list, just off of the top of my head:. Create a desktop shortcut … …more […]
July 7th, 2007 at 10:28 am
[…] Some interesting thoughts from David Lee King in his post “Basic Competencies of a 2.0 Librarian” and from Emily Clasper at Library Revolution in “Librarians and Technology: Minimum Competencies”. […]
July 8th, 2007 at 6:48 am
Library Revolution Blog Archive Librarians and Technology: Minimum Competencies…
[…][…]…
July 10th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Jeff: I think that the skills I’ve described here are so basic and fundamental to operating in a library (or any white collar industry) that they wouldn’t be lost through lack of use. Come on. We’re talking about renaming folders and sending an email attachment. I have no idea how librarians who don’t know how to do these things even function in the first place.
As for techie types being nice, I agree. There isn’t any reason not to be nice to your coworkers and show them some respect. I think the whole techie vs. librarian conflict can get a bit overblown. There is no reason in the world why the lines of communication couldn’t be more open and understanding - on both sides of the equation. I guess it’s really a personnel issue to be handles by administrators, and personality conflicts like that come up all the time, regardless.
And I’d like to think that as a techie librarian type I am very nice and understanding with my less technical colleagues.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
[…] Emily Clasper en el blog Library Revolution publica las competencias tecnológicas mínimas que ella considera debe tener un bibliotecario. David Lee King (DLK) en su Blog va un poco más allá y coloca las competencias básicas que debe tener un bibliotecario 2.0…DLK se contiene de mencionarlas como competencias tecnológicas aunque las mismas “residen” en la computadora. […]
July 11th, 2007 at 9:40 am
[…] of a 2.0 Librarian Posted by dhotchkiss under Library Education , Library 2.0 Emily Casper posted to her blog that all professional librarians should have basic technical skills in order […]
July 11th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
[…] Library Revolution’s “Librarians & Technology: Minimum Competencies“ […]
July 11th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Sadly, I can think of several of my colleagues who need to ask me to help them with many of these tasks.
Seems to me that libraries (and other organisations that employ white collar/knowledge workers) need to invest in training their staff. At university, maybe follow the lead of some universities who teach basic IT skills as a non-credit introductory course, for students who lack those skills.
Because this isn’t something that will go away. Sure, eventually our workplaces will be filled with people who are in their 20s now, and know all this stuff. But by the time those people are in their 40s or 50s, the goalposts will have moved - the basic skill list will be much more complex than it is now.
July 12th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
I must agree completely with the frustrations you have expressed. We wouldn’t be out of line for suggesting an initiative from one of the major library organizations focused on teaching tech to those who need a refresher. It’s difficult to get others to admit they have a bit to learn. Maybe it’s a generational thing, but if I don’t understand the technology put in front of me, I get out the books and fill myself in.
Granted there is a limit to my ability to self-teach. Some things just can’t be conveyed in a “for dummies” manual.
July 13th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
[…] few of the skills they thought necessary to fulfill these competencies. Emily Clasper, in her blog LibraryRevolution, talked upon the basic competencies. In his blog, David Lee King spoke to the skills involved with […]
July 15th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
It is interesting to compare your list to the list of skills that students in Livonia Central School must exhibit at the conclusion of third grade.
http://www.sctboces.org/toolbox/template.cfm?ID=2791&P=LP&L=4479&T=Technology%20Goals%20Primary%20Grades
Sorry this is a cut ‘n paste. That’s as far as I went.
July 16th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
[…] my little rant recently about Librarians and Minimum Technology Competencies? You know, the one that got a lot of people riled up? (If you could only see the outrage that […]
July 19th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
I like the compactness of Emily’s list, but when WebJunction started the project of defining competencies related to supporting patrons on the public computers, our list got a lot longer –15 pages longer. The introduction of public computing has contributed to the vitality of today’s libraries. That it has increased the demand for staff to meet the evolving needs of patrons could be seen as a challenge and an opportunity (glass half-full thinking). Too often, it seems to be taken as a threat.
LIB points to a post on Library Garden where Tyler Rousseau asks, “But how did we get to this stage? Why do we have professional librarians who refuse to keep up with the professional and technological requirements?” (The full post is well worth reading.)
Good question. Libraries are always promoting lifelong learning for patrons. Library staff need to embrace a lifelong learning attitude for themselves as well. Acquiring new skills is empowering.
July 19th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Wow! Now that is a great, complete list! I guess when I jotted down my little list I wasn’t even thinking about supporting public computer use - I was really thinking of the kinds of roadblocks I see librarians struggle with (and call me about!) in the course of other aspects of their work. But since helping patrons with computer issues is an important part of customer service in libraries these days, I think your list is really, really great.
And bravo to your comment about lifelong learning. If librarians would only practice a little of what they preach, I think Libraryworld would be a much more perfect place! I know that learning new things is definitely empowering for me, and I just can’t understand the folks I encounter who seem to feel so affronted by the idea. If they’re not interested in using their brains, growing and learning, then they are sure in the wrong profession!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Total outsider who arrived here because my town is erecting brand new library. Not be be antagonistic but just honest, I am totally opposed and think its a total waste of tax dollars. Every printed word will be searchable from google in a matter of years, certainly before they can erect the brick, mortar and dewey decimal system. That money ($8MM) could be deployed for much higher return for the community, e.g. feed/clothe/house those in need. Or provide healthcare, or teach english to immigrants.
I must point out that this list of competencies defines a pathetically low set of expectations. Cut & paste text? Make a purchase online? Where is “press a button on a mouse”. This list is below the skill set possessed by the average high school student, let alone successful professionals like yourselves. I know its not ignorance - it’s denial.
Libraries are not the first industry to be totally overhauled by technology nor will it be the last. If you embrace the revolution rather than fight it at every step you stand a chance of survival. Otherwise our kids’ kids will ask about libraries the same way our kids want to know about drive-in movies.
Sorry I probably sound like a troll but that is not my intention.
July 20th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Hi Hank, I’m glad you commented. No offense taken at all. I think there are a lot of people in our communities who would agree with you. If information is free and easily available on the Internet, then why do we need to continue supporting these libraries?
Of course I am biased, but I think that libraries and librarians are even more important the more information is out there and available. Many people have a hard time dealing with the sheer volume of information they can easily access, and are not sure of how to sift through all of it. What constitutes credible information? How do I weed out the crap? How do I use information when I find the good stuff? I’d like to think that information professionals like Librarians are perfectly placed to address these concerns with their community members. And more and more I think libraries will need to get into the creation aspect of information literacy as the consumer/producer line is increasingly blurred.
There’s also the issue of the digital divide, and I think libraries play an important role in helping all community members gain access to online information and also master the skills they need to use it. You and I obviously have access to computers, the Internet, and the skill set necessary to go out there and find most of what we want whenever we want. This is not the case for everyone in your community, I can guarantee. For various different reasons. I’d be willing to bet that your library’s public computers are packed with users on most days.
And don’t forget that the old brick and mortar building is not just an old pile of books with old ladies shushing people! I don’t know what community you’re from, but I’m sure that your library has much more to offer than that. If it is like the public libraries around here, this would include access to high quality subscription databases for in-depth research, online reference help available 24/7, downloadable audio books, music, and video, and community programs for all ages. In fact, in many communities, the library is taking on the role of community center, offering a wide range of programs, concerts, and activities for everyone to take part in.
Yes, I’d agree that the list that I put up was pretty pathetic. That really was the point. To be honest, though, I generally see only a few librarians per library lacking these skills, and I think many of them are on the verge of retiring. Those who stick around are going to have a very hard time functioning, especially as the rest of their colleagues move forward and gain skills that far, far, surpass the basics I put down on this list.
That said, I’d like to think that we’re not dead yet, especially as we address as a profession some of the issues that are standing in our way - like those few librarians who won’t step into the 21st century.
Like I said, I’m really glad that you commented. I think it’s a great reminder for all of us to see that there are lots of folks out there in our service populations that don’t know if investing in the future of libraries is worthwhile. We can take it as a lesson in how our communities percieve us… and use that to show everyone what we have to offer and perhaps change that perception!
July 21st, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I just have to jump in here and link to the Urban Libraries Council report on Making Cities Stronger: Public Library Contributions to Local Economic Development. Everybody should read this, especially those who think that libraries are only a drain on the economy.
July 21st, 2007 at 3:58 pm
[…] Competencies are a hot topic recently. When the Library Revolution blogger wrote about minimum competencies for library staff, she touched a nerve. Her post spawned a flurry of comments and other blog posts. With […]
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:21 am
Thanks Emily for a thoughtful and cogent reply. You make a persuasive point about the credibility issue, and I can indeed see a role for an information professional going forward. Unconvinced we need an $8MM physical structure for those professionals, however. And to revisit your original point, this role *demands* that those information professionals be not just simply fluent, but genuine experts in navigating and qualifying the oceans of information available.
It seems to this outsider that acceptance of this fact may end up being the issue which decides the fate of librarians as a whole. To they go the way of the switchboard operator (oblivion), or embrace new skills and redefine themselves, perpetuating and expanding their relevance?
I also politely disagree a bit with the notion of a digital divide. While its true that not every home has equal access, this is changing by the day and should be considered a very short term issue. Think about any major technology - TVs, cell phones, DVD players - all were the domain of the wealthy when introduced, only to achieve near-universal usage. And, as time marches on, newer technologies are adopted faster not slower. There is a famous quote about those who choose to ignore history.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:44 am
@Bertha
Wow, that report contains junk science that would make the thimerosal crowd blush. I know you guys want to keep your jobs and all, but asking librarians about the potency of libraries is kind of, well, predictable.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Emily,
Thanks for opening up this dialogue. It’s a topic which should be near & dear to all of us who work to keep our staff engaged and our libraries relevant as the dynamic public resources they are.
BTW, there’s a great new book devoted to this topic: Technology Competencies and Training for Libraries by Sarah Houghton-Jan. http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/technology-competencies-and-training-for-libraries.html
Also, check out this archive of a Web Junction webinar on the library staff competency topic.
http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=17556
Good info for those of us who are working to implement this for our libraries.
October 28th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
[…] wrote an interesting post today on Librarians and Technology: Minimum CompetenciesHere’s a quick […]
December 12th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
[…] Librarians and Technology: Minimum Competencies (Library Revolution) […]