Library Technicians: The Swiss Army
Knives of Academic Libraries
The Evolving Role of the Library Technician
From 35 Years Ago to the Present
Carol Campbell
Senior Library Technician,
Humber College ITAL
Denise Rooney, Library Technician
University of Guelph-Humber
Adam Weissengruber
Library Technician
Humber College ITAL
Bio
Carol Campbell
35+ years service with the
Humber College ITAL Libraries
1973 – Graduated from Sheridan
College from the Library
Technician Program
1973 – 1976 was the first Library
Technician hired at Osler Campus
1976 – Present – Humber College
ITAL – North Campus - Senior
Reference Technician providing
instruction to classes of students
on the research processes and on
the use of library research tools
including online databases,
reference materials and the
Internet
Swiss Army Knife - Metaphor
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What is a Swiss Army Knife and how
would it define the roles, opportunities
& challenges of a library technician?
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Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Arm
y_knife
“Swiss Army Knife is a brand of multifunctional pocket knife or multi-tool”
“The term “Swiss Army Knife” is
sometimes used metaphorically to
describe usefulness?
Wisegeek
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-aswiss-army-knife.htm
“The Swiss Army Knife is a marvel of
economic design & ingenuity. The very
name “Swiss Army Knife” has fallen
into popular use as a metaphor for
successful multitasking.”
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Metaphorically
Ingenuity
Handle Any
Request
Creative
Multipurpose
Indispensible
Library
Technician
Jack of all
Trades
Handy
Productive
Functional
Additional Metaphors?
Suggestions…
Overview
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Observations From the Past
A Library Technician focused on Instruction
Booking Classes
Working With Faculty
Preparing & Giving a Class
Evolving Tools from Pathfinders to LibGuides
Observations From the Past
Osler Campus (Osler School of
Nursing), Humber College
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Osler Campus, Humber College
(Weston)
1973 – 1976
Branch Library
1 Librarian & 1 Library Assistant
Operating all aspects of a Health
Sciences Library
Circulation of library materials
Reference services to faculty &
students
Maintained periodicals collection
In-house indexing of nursing & medical
journals
Acquisitions/Technical services for
books & A.V. software
Original cataloguing using NLM – W
Schedule & cutter tables
Operating A.V. equipment – 16mm.
Film projector, DuKane Slide Projector
& Caramate
Supervise IMC Co-op Student
Worked 3 evenings a week
Way Back When – Osler Campus
(Nursing) - Humber College
Technology From the Past
North Campus Library – 1976 Present
Highlights – North Campus
1976 -
Circulation
Annual Reports
Government
Documents
Periodicals
Statistics Canada
Special Needs Services
Vertical Files
Audio Visual
Career Classes
Fashion File
Reference Services
Internet Classes
Bookroom/Study Hall
Media/Screening Rms.
The Present – Library Classes
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Provides in-depth library
instruction classes, usually
subject specific &
demonstrates the research
process of various library
resources including the library
website, catalogue, databases,
reference materials & selected
internet sites.
Sessions are interactive/
engaging & can include a
learning activity.
Classes are requested by
faculty, either an individual
session or multiple sessions
given over week.
Booking Classes
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Most sessions are booked in
advance by the faculty, usually
be e-mail, by phone, in
person, or the Library Website
> Just For Faculty > Request
for Instruction sent automatic
request “ga Nclass”
Classes are booked into the
North Library Instruction
Calendar & includes detailed
information – Course; Date;
Time; Faculty name; # of
students, databases, etc.
Assigns classes to the
appropriate library technician.
Book Class into North Library
Instruction Calendar
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Details of class noted into
North Library Instruction
Calendar (First Class)
Confirmation – emailed to
faculty
Classes booked into Library
Instruction Classroom
More faculty requesting
library sessions in computer
labs
Bookings for computer labs
are booked through the ITS
online booking calendar.
Working With Faculty
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Work with the faculty to
interpret/review the research
assignment & the faculty’s
expectations for the class
Develop outlines of
information resources to be
included in the class
instruction (Subject Guides)
Liaise with faculty with
revision of the library
research assignment &
update them on new
information resources that
are relevant to their course
Special Projects
Preparing & Giving a Class
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Library website, logging in, Library 24/7, Ask ON
Information Literacy (Writing a Paper)
Review assignment
Print resources required
Subject databases tailored to the class
Subject Guide reviewed & updated if necessary
PowerPoint prepared for the session & given out to students as a
handout.
Students are encouraged to participate in the session by searching a
topic using a database that was demonstrated in class.
Faculty & students like having the library class in the computer lab,
students can follow along with demonstration; more interactive &
encourages participation.
Students can get a head start on their assignment with the help of the
library staff
Variety of Classes
LibGuides: Subject Guides
Web 2.0
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Subject Guide Committee formed Feb./08 to look at other
formats to showcase the subject guides that would be more
visual & interactive (Web 2.0)
Looked at using a blog, wiki, or subject guide software packages
Viewed various subject guides from other academic libraries and
the software available
Criteria – less static, less time consuming to update & maintain &
pricing
Computers & Libraries 2008 – promising vendor Springshare
LibGuides http://www.springshare.com/libguides/
Committee Selected Springshare LibGuides software for Humber
Libraries subject guides
Springshare LibGuides
http://www.springshare.com/libguides
Humber LibGuides
Humber LibGuides Roll Out
Questions?
Thank You
Contact:
Carol Campbell
Humber Libraries
Humber College ITAL
e-mail: carol.campbell@humber.ca