Comments on: MaintainIT and sustainability in libraries http://www.librarian.net/stax/2232/maintainit-and-sustainability-in-libraries/ putting the rarin back in librarian since 1999 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:14:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Leslie McDonough http://www.librarian.net/stax/2232/maintainit-and-sustainability-in-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-113276 Leslie McDonough Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:02:00 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2232/maintainit-and-sustainability-in-libraries/#comment-113276 I'm a director of a small library, and I can tell you that the biggest problem we have is LACK OF TIME. We are very busy doing "traditional" library services as well as the newer online services, computer support, local databases, etc., etc. RI is lucky in that we have a public library consortium which provides a lot of tech support, and a wonderful foundation which provides funds for almost every computer in RI libraries. So I really don't have time for Web Junction etc., None of those sites help when you are trouble shooting the server at 3:30 PM and the joint is jumping, while someone is waiting for you to explain how to send an email. And there is no level of hell too low for the person who freezes the print queue! It's all part of the day - even here in RI where I can pick up the phone and yell for help from my local tech support - I'm still on the other end of the phone, doing what needs to be done. Solutions? They all cost money. Perhaps small libraries could band together to hire someone to do support and to create a coordinated tech plan. It would be ideal if each state library could have a person on staff to do it - but that's probably not fiscally possible at the moment. In the meantime, I make sure I take every opportunity of learning basic support skills, because I'm the front line tech person. I carve out time to think about how to apply new technologies to traditional services, or to add services that people are looking for. It's hard, there's never enough time, but it's part of being a small library director in the 21st century. Who wants to be bored??? I’m a director of a small library, and I can tell you that the biggest problem we have is LACK OF TIME. We are very busy doing “traditional” library services as well as the newer online services, computer support, local databases, etc., etc. RI is lucky in that we have a public library consortium which provides a lot of tech support, and a wonderful foundation which provides funds for almost every computer in RI libraries.

So I really don’t have time for Web Junction etc., None of those sites help when you are trouble shooting the server at 3:30 PM and the joint is jumping, while someone is waiting for you to explain how to send an email. And there is no level of hell too low for the person who freezes the print queue! It’s all part of the day – even here in RI where I can pick up the phone and yell for help from my local tech support – I’m still on the other end of the phone, doing what needs to be done.

Solutions? They all cost money. Perhaps small libraries could band together to hire someone to do support and to create a coordinated tech plan. It would be ideal if each state library could have a person on staff to do it – but that’s probably not fiscally possible at the moment.

In the meantime, I make sure I take every opportunity of learning basic support skills, because I’m the front line tech person. I carve out time to think about how to apply new technologies to traditional services, or to add services that people are looking for. It’s hard, there’s never enough time, but it’s part of being a small library director in the 21st century. Who wants to be bored???

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