[Wactclc-alma] [EXTERNAL*]- some personal news

Wed Jun 15 12:50:56 PDT 2022

Systems / Instruction… you’re right, Ryer, that is a common hybrid as well. Depending on what is meant by ‘instruction’  (managing instruction platforms, rather than doing information literacy work)

As yes, ‘systems librarian’ is totally open to interpretation.

And just my 2 cents…

Rather than ‘systems librarian’, I would put the focus more on a ‘functional leads’ model, where the functional leads handle both policy configuration and workflow management for their respective functional area(s), whether it’s circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, discovery, or electronic resources. That’s really the approach needed with academic library platforms like Alma or Folio. And why the concept of assigning “functional leads” during Alma implementation is so important. (If one person is serving as the functional lead in 7 different areas, “Ur doin in wrong”, as lolcat used to say. In that case, you consider dropping the least important functional areas.)

In that scenario, anything that is ‘systems’ in the traditional sense, like operating systems, servers, networks, data migrations, integrations, custom development, backups, is done by more of an IT person, either in the library or in the IT department. Or, as has been the case for the last decade or more, it’s handled on the vendor side in the cloud. On the library side, it’s mostly about occasional integrations, custom data management projects, remote resource access, discovery customization, and maybe custom reporting.

Wade Guidry
Library Consortium Services Manager, WACTCLC
wadeg at bigbend.edu<mailto:wadeg at bigbend.edu>
(509) 760-4474
http://www.wactclc.org<http://www.wactclc.org/>

From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of Ryer Banta
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2022 11:13 AM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] [EXTERNAL*]- some personal news

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This list is interesting and useful Laurie. Thank you!

I'm sure we all can understand how local context really changes that nature of these roles. For example, there are a lot of elements of this work that are very de-emphasized, or even non-existent in my work, and in several cases are very minor or irregular in our total library work.

The other major hybrid role I heard about from our group is like mine, systems/instruction. Reading through Wade's thoughts, I even wonder if systems librarian work means the same thing to everyone. When we are talking about systems work, do we all mean the running the technical side of the administration, maintenance, troubleshooting, updating, and enhancements to all of the library technical tools and platforms, like Alma, Primo, website, LibGuides, EzProxy, Teams, Sharepoint, etc?

Thanks again for this perspective.

Ryer Banta
Information Literacy and Technology Librarian
Pronouns: he/him/his
Centralia College
360-623-8121
Ryer.Banta at centralia.edu<https://mail.centralia.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=fNEFFUiOcJn8XZD_VNaqVEixJx9QWtNlXDDsY0izFrXf1xAoVYvYCA..&URL=mailto%3aRyer.Banta%40centralia.edu>
Schedule an Appointment<https://centralia.libcal.com/appointments/ryer>
________________________________
From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> on behalf of Martin, Melinda <Melinda.Martin at scc.spokane.edu<mailto:Melinda.Martin at scc.spokane.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2022 9:49 AM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] [EXTERNAL*]- some personal news

Funny – this list is almost exactly my job description – minor variations. 😊

-Melinda

From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Guidry, Wade
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 8:06 PM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] [EXTERNAL*]- some personal news

Great list, Laurie. Thanks for sharing.

And your introductory points are well-taken, I think well understood in general.

Since the ctc libraries do not share a common staffing model, how a library divvies up tasks does indeed vary widely.

I like the more general level of specificity in Lesley’s list. Not too granular, and not too broadly described either. I also like that it’s not built around Alma / Primo, with only a few mentions of specific platforms. In my mind, library jobs shouldn’t be built around specific platforms; the library doesn’t exist to run the platforms. It exists to provide some set of services. Those services might be enabled by certain platforms. But the platforms are not the goal, the services are. The platforms shouldn’t be considered permanent or fixed in stone.

The duties she lays out read very much like a hybrid collection development manager / systems librarian position, emphasis on collection management. So not surprising her next job was a collection development manager at a large-ish public system.

The other way a hybrid position can go is the hybrid circulation manager / systems librarian role.

Surprisingly, no one seems to do an elearning / systems librarian hybrid role. Or an IT / systems librarian hybrid role. Those would seem like natural pairings.

The role I feel should be on every director’s radar for future hires is a hybrid role specifically for an electronic resources manager / systems librarian. With management of physical collections in a different role.

Anyway, that’s again. This is a great starting point for other libraries to develop their own lists.

Wade Guidry

Library Consortium Services Manager, WACTCLC

wadeg at bigbend.edu<mailto:wadeg at bigbend.edu>

(509) 760-4474

http://www.wactclc.org<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wactclc.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmelinda.martin%40scc.spokane.edu%7C157affd596e24518ced008da4e7c1d4e%7C4dedfefa6bd04442a06c98aed0b4b8da%7C1%7C0%7C637908592243914611%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4lwpPZMElAR8krRRzt1x55vxfz9wrsmyR%2FG%2FnJizQxs%3D&reserved=0>

From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Laurie Shuster
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 7:33 PM
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Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] [EXTERNAL*]- some personal news

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Hi Everyone - I had this message in my drafts and meant to send it but lost track of the time.  I've attached the job duties list that Lesley created and must admit that I am a tiny bit nervous about sharing it.  All of our libraries and colleges have such different ecosystems and context that it could be difficult to compare job roles and duties.  Each of us as individuals also bring our own skill sets, interests, and strengths to the roles, so it could very well be comparing apples to oranges as the saying goes.  I hope this is useful!

Take care!

Laurie

Laurie Shuster

Reference & Instruction Librarian

Pierce College

253-964-6305

lshuster at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:lshuster at pierce.ctc.edu>

Pronouns: she/her

________________________________

From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> on behalf of Martin, Melinda <Melinda.Martin at scc.spokane.edu<mailto:Melinda.Martin at scc.spokane.edu>>
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2022 8:18:37 AM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] [EXTERNAL*]- some personal news

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Congratulations, Ryer!  That is fabulous news – and so glad you are not going *away*. 😊

Laurie – that spreadsheet sounds like a really helpful document.  If there is no proprietary information, would you be willing to share? This might be really helpful when discussing workload at all of our colleges.

-Melinda

From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Laurie Shuster
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2022 3:19 PM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] [EXTERNAL*]- some personal news

Congratulations, Ryer!!!

We’re working through many of these transitions and questions, too! Lesley created an incredibly helpful shared spreadsheet that listed the 29 main elements of her job.  The library team worked through distributing those elements and listed the names of the people who would be adopting that element (at least for the short term).  It’s been a really useful list to help see who is doing what and to discuss the multiple hats, sustainability, and how to balance things for the future. We’re still working on all of that…

Take care!

Laurie

Laurie Shuster

Reference and Instruction Librarian

(she/her)

Pierce College

9401 Farwest Drive SW

Lakewood, WA 98498

253-964-6305

LShuster at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:LShuster at pierce.ctc.edu>

From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Elena Bianco
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2022 12:06 PM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] [EXTERNAL*]- some personal news

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Congrats, Ryer! I really have valued your contributions to our community! Good luck in the new position, and, yes, the juggling of all of the things is really hard in these positions, and my advice is to try to delegate and cross-train other faculty and staff as much as possible to help out, but I'd be happy to talk more about how to make these positions more sustainable...

Elena Bianco

Systems & Technical Services Librarian

Skagit Valley College Library

2405 E. College Way

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

________________________________

From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> on behalf of Ryer Banta <ryer.banta at centralia.edu<mailto:ryer.banta at centralia.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2022 11:36 AM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: [EXTERNAL*]-[Wactclc-alma] some personal news

Hi everyone,

I'm very excited to finally be able to let you all know that, starting this fall, I am moving over to South Puget Sound Community College to be the Open Education Librarian there. I'm over the moon to join the library at SPSCC and to focus on contributing to student success through open education. I've been living in Olympia since starting at Centralia College and I'm really excited to directly serve my community. I'm also really looking forward to connecting with all of the wonderful open education leads and enthusiasts at your colleges.

This move will mean that I will be less involved in our Alma and Primo meetings and work. So, I want to take a moment to tell you all how appreciative I am of our community and all of the wonderful support, advice, and colleagueship that you all have offered so freely. I have learned so much from you all and certainly would not have been able to keep our systems running as smoothly without this community. I will miss this community so much, but I'll be okay saying goodbye to Alma headaches.

At Centralia, this transition has us thinking hard about how to set up my successor's position so that they can be as successful as possible. I would love to hear your thoughts on what helps and hinders your work, how you balance library technology responsibilities with other parts of librarianship like instruction, and any other thoughts you have on the issues related to wearing multiple hats and finding balance and support for holding various roles and responsibilities.

Thank you all and see you around in WA CTC Library Land.

Ryer Banta

Information Literacy and Technology Librarian

Pronouns: he/him/his

Centralia College

360-623-8121

Ryer.Banta at centralia.edu<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fmail.centralia.edu%252fowa%252fredir.aspx%253fC%253dfNEFFUiOcJn8XZD_VNaqVEixJx9QWtNlXDDsY0izFrXf1xAoVYvYCA..%2526URL%253dmailto%25253aRyer.Banta%252540centralia.edu%26c%3DE%2C1%2Cw-3hIx7zdEb01eClN3kIZDIWkzgYsxvSK1ueTfqJgfsQg6B8Gzp3TUCjYjXWRyNRwGlhJg6ELskaeTSy3H10iTAApG8uPn8V18ZNH3ue-T12ZQ%2C%2C%26typo%3D1&data=05%7C01%7Cmelinda.martin%40scc.spokane.edu%7C157affd596e24518ced008da4e7c1d4e%7C4dedfefa6bd04442a06c98aed0b4b8da%7C1%7C0%7C637908592243914611%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=k334A6a9Thg4PtKe8ypQT00Mrv5xeVx8BOa3ukuSYoE%3D&reserved=0>

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