LIBRES: Library and Information Science Research Electronic Journal ISSN 1058-6768 March 31, 1995 Volume 5 Issue 1 Quarterly LIBRE5N1 LARY _____________________________________________________ Information Paths Marilyn Lary Staffing Public Services Much is currently being said about the redesign of the library information profession. Immediate concerns particularly relate to the role of professional librarians in the changing information workplace; much less is being said about those "others" who toil in libraries all over the country. Since there is no indication, in the foreseeable future, that libraries will function with more librarians, library staff must be reconstructed to support changing user demands, to provide needed services, and to recognize the contributions of all library staff members. The most important responsibility for the profession is to define the duties and responsibilities necessary for the effective functioning of a library information center. After that, the particular educational competencies, personal characteristics, and technical skills necessary to fulfil those duties and responsibilities must be delineated. Obviously, a hierarchy of abilities, knowledge and attitudes is likely to be necessary with a combination of different skills preferred for various positions. Initially, let us acknowledge that much training and experience is available not ONLY in masters level graduate schools of library information science/studies but is available through other means as well. We must, also, admit that information services demand training, experience, and people skills that have not traditionally been included in formal programs of librarianship: learning styles and learning theory; physical and mechanical means to support learning disabled users; skills and the flexibility to repair copiers, to resurrect printers, and to dismantle security devices; situation analysis for direction in interacting with recalcitrant people. For this column, let us determine the duties or responsibilities which are inherent in public services work. What personal skills are necessary to work with the public and how might such skills and expertise be obtained? These questions demand answers BEFORE public service departments can be redesigned and before staffing needs can be addressed. First, it is necessary to redefine our position titles. The titles/identifiers we use to describe library workers: librarian I, II, III; library assistants; technicians I, II, III; para-professionals; pre-professionals; euphemistic "staff" members are fairly lame. What titles will best describe staff responsibilities and, at the same time, designate the levels at which various staff members operate? One or two designators just do not appropriately describe the vast array of public service staff or provide adequate descriptors of job demands. Intruding into this nebulous arena is another significant factor: the public's perceptions of library employees. With the possible exception of student workers who do learn the designations, the average library user considers every employee a "librarian." Is this automatically poor for librarians or can it somehow be used to benefit our organizations? Because of the various services supplied and the varying quality of those services, this perception by users colors all levels of library staffing, sometimes enhancing the effectiveness of employees and sometimes undermining their commitments. The basic service questions which must be defined span a gamut of possibilities. We must define, in fairly explicit terms: (1) the levels of library/information workers; (2) the educational preparation, work experience, and even personality characteristics (or attitudes) desirable in each level of worker; and the (3) responsibilities of each position in measurable, quantifiable terms. We should, in addition, develop a career ladder for mobility within the organization and develop appropriate job titles for each employee. Quite a challenge! Next issue let's examine the basic services of reference providers. [Anyone who wishes to venture an opinion, a direction, or a philosophical stance, please mail me at: MLary@carpet.Dalton.Peachnet.edu.] ________________________________________ This document may be circulated freely with the following statement included in its entirety: Copyright Marilyn Lary, 1995 This article was originally published in _LIBRES: Library and Information Science Electronic Journal_ (ISSN 1058-6768) March 31, 1995 Volume 5 Issue 1. For any commercial use, or publication (including electronic journals), you must obtain the permission of the author: MLary@carpet.Dalton.Peachnet.edu To subscribe to LIBRES send e-mail message to listserv@kentvm.kent.edu with the text: subscribe libres _ ________________________________________