WebJunction

Being a systems librarian is no easy task; if you've got the job, you need a cornucopia of tools.  Take a look...

Read:

• Being a Systems Librarian: The Systems Librarian: Approaches and Attitudes will get your head straight about what you need to make a go of it. The Library Connection is a reflection on the power of joining together with other libraries. And Quitting the "Technology of the Month" Club offers advice on getting off the technology treadmill.
• Patrons Using Computers: Because of WebJunction's roots in the public access computing arena (see About Us for details), we have several pieces focused on delivering computer services to patrons, including Jessamyn West's reflections on Those Darned Users!, evaluations of software that will Protect Patron Privacy on Public PCs and Alternative Browsers for Libraries, and a discussion of Monsters in the Closet: Measures for Spyware Awareness and Prevention.
• Support Strategies: Need to get yourself set up to provide support? Rachel Singer Gordon's piece on The Support Interview, as well as these articles on Documenting Computer Processes for Staff, Troubleshooting Tips, and Finding Tech Answers on the Web, will get you off to a good start.
• The Big, Bad, Network: Is your local area network driving you crazy? Here's a set of articles that address the issues: Supporting Networked Computer Resources in Small Libraries, The Basics of LAN Technology, a Centralized Method for Maintaining Library Computer Networks, and Long-Term Care for Gates Computers.

Learn:

If you're a systems librarian, you have to know about...well, pretty much everything. WebJunction's Learning Center has more than 40 online tutorials, most of them on various aspects of technology, including networking, HTML, Office applications, and operating sytems.

Discuss:

What about that weird system that does that weird thing that you just can't figure out? Be not dismayed! WebJunction members use the discussions on All Aboard to post questions and answers on all kinds of hardware, software, and networking issues. Chances are good that you'll find another library staffer there with a solution to your problem.  You might want to start with the Are you 'IT' at your library? topic, where we're telling stories about how we got into this in the first place!

If you'd rather overhear conversations in real time, you can visit our archived program (September 30, 3:00-4:30pm EDT) of author and librarian Rachel Singer Gordon presenting a live session on Accidental Systems Librarianship. Just enter your name, and you'll be taken to a page where you can choose your preferred format for viewing the program.