MLA Technical Services Division Discussion:
Competencies for Technical
Services Staff - Staying Relevant
in Times of Change

Paula Bartlett, Library Specialist for Acquisitions and Serials – Cecil County Veterans Memorial
Library, Cecil College

Mary Elizabeth Murtha, Serials Management/Database Maintenance – University of Baltimore
School of Law Library

Mary C. Wilson, Technical Services & ILS Coordinator – Hoover Library, McDaniel College
2012
Wimba Basics for Participants
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TYPICAL DAY IN TECHNICAL SERVICES...
ONLY THE HIGHLY COMPETENT TS STAFF
WILL NAVIGATE PAST THE ROCKS…
(AND ONTO THE NEXT ONES…!)
COMPETENCE: Google Definition Search
The ability to do something
successfully or efficiently.
The scope of a person's or group's
knowledge or ability.
Synonyms: competency - ability capacity - capability - aptitude
[wimba interactive question here]
 How would you define competencies? What comes to
mind when you think about competencies in Technical
Services?
2 Areas of Competencies:
 PROFESSIONAL
 “…knowledge in the areas of information resources, information
access, technology, management and research and the ability to
use these areas of knowledge as a basis for providing library
and information services” (SLA)
 PERSONAL
 “…set of skills, attitudes and values that enable librarians to
work efficiently; be good communicators; focus on continuing
learning throughout their careers; demonstrate the value-added
nature of their contributions; and survive in the new world of
work” (SLA)
[wimba interactive question here]
 Do you agree or disagree that there are professional
and personal types of competencies?
Personal Competencies: An Example
 From the Competency Index (WebJunction,
2009):
 Communication
 Customer Service
 Ethics & Values
 Interpersonal
 Leadership & Project Management
 Learning & Personal Growth
Personal Competencies: An Example
 From the SLA Competencies (2003)(selection):
 Service excellence
 Seeks challenges and sees new opportunities
 Sees the big picture
 Looks for partnerships and alliances
 Creates an environment of respect & trust
 Effective communication skills
 Teamwork
 Leadership
 Flexible & positive in time of continuing change
Competencies for All TS Staff
 Knowledge of overall library organization and how TS fits in
 Ability to learn and use technology effectively
 Organize workflows efficiently
 Customer service oriented
 Skilled at problem-solving
 Ability to analyze pros and cons of new procedures, processes,
tools, and trends
 In-depth knowledge of the systems used for Technical Services
processes
 Flexibility in the face of constant change
 Teamwork
 Ability to adapt to changing roles/job descriptions
 Sense of humor
Question: Are there any new & emerging
competencies for specific Technical
Services Roles?
Supervisor/Manager
Librarian
Paraprofessional
Student Assistant
Paraprofessional Competencies: An Example
 From the Library Support Staff Certification - Competency Sets (ALA) for
Cataloging and Classification:
 Library Support Staff will know:
1. The functionality of integrated library systems.
2. Basic tools, both print and online, for cataloging.
3. The basics of MARC format and cataloging rules.
4. The basics of classification and organization schemes for collections.
5. The basics of subject headings and authority control.
6. The value of cooperating with other libraries to enhance services.
 Library Support Staff will be able to:
7. Use bibliographic utilities.
8. Use the cataloging functions of integrated library systems.
9. Perform basic copy cataloging, including reviewing and editing
cataloging records.
10. Explain the library’s classification scheme to others and assist others
to find desired resources.
New & Emerging Competencies by
Technical Services Areas
Acquisitions
Cataloging
Serials
Acquisitions Competencies
Patron Driven Acquisitions
New formats: eBooks, Streaming video, etc.
Multiple pricing models for electronic
resources
Acquisitions & Interlibrary Loan & Document
Delivery
Acquisitions Example: University of
Maine TS Procedures (2012)
 Electronic ordering with GOBI and Millennium
 E-book orders
 Orders for titles found free online
 PromptCat Invoicing
 eBay orders
 YBP Processed Books Account
 EDX notification
 FTP PCat files
[wimba interactive question here]
 Any other new/emerging competencies for
Acquisitions?
Cataloging Competencies
 Electronic formats: eBooks, Streaming video, Websites,
Databases
 Changing standards: AACR2 to RDA
 Batch cataloging tools: MARCEdit, etc.
 Patron Driven Acquisitions
 Open Access publications
 More than MARC: XML, EAD, etc.
Cataloging Example: University of
Maine TS Procedures (2012)
 Metadata projects ETD Metadata Entry Procedures
 Kirtas Digitization Project Procedures
 TIFF2PDF (Yearbooks)
 Book Scan Editing (Phase 1 - Batch)
 Book Scan Editing (Phase 2 - Individual page)
 BSE Editing Guidelines
 OCR and Full Text Creation (Town Reports)
 OCR and Full Text Creation (Theses)
 Post-OCR processing [Draft]
 Adding a new town to Google Maps
 Adding town reports links to URSUS
 Adding town reports to the DOM
 Splitting pages in ABBYY
[wimba interactive question here]
 Any other new/emerging competencies for Cataloging?
Serials Competencies
 Print + Online / Print to Online Only / Online Only
 Electronic serials: Packages, Databases, Open Access
 Waning emphasis on binding and check-in
 Print collection withdrawal and shifting
 Changing practices of Serials Agents
Serials Example: University of Maine
TS Procedures (2012)
 Serials: Electronic Resource Processes
 Client Center (Serials Solutions) Interface
 Activating eRef books in Serials Solutions for one
search only
 Registering E-Journals
 Closing out E-journals
 Generating E-journal Usage Statistics (internal access
only)
 Independent Title Maintenance (Client Center)
 Online Only Closure for Checkin Records
 Setting up an Online Resource
 URL Checker: link validation tool
[wimba interactive question here]
 Any other new/emerging competencies for Serials?
Resources

ALA Competencies (2009) http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/sites/ala.org.educationcareers/files/content/careers/corecomp/c
orecompetences/finalcorecompstat09.pdf

SLA Competencies (2003) - http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/professional/meaning/competency.cfm

AALL Competencies (2001, rev. 2010) - http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/LeadershipGovernance/policies/PublicPolicies/competencies.html

Competency Index (WebJunction, 2009) http://www.webjunction.org/resources/WebJunction/Documents/wj/Competency%20Index%20for%2
0Library%20Field.pdf

Univ. of MD Libraries-TS Competencies (2006) - http://www.lib.umd.edu/TSD/itt_final_appE.html

Library Support Staff Certification - Competency Sets (ALA) - http://ala-apa.org/lssc/forcandidates/competency-sets/

University of Maine TS Procedures (2012) - http://library.umaine.edu/techserv/procedurestop.htm