As our technology, environment, and future continues to shift and morph, we are required to be agile and responsive with our work in order for our institutions to continue to be relevant. Yet, many acquisitions and collections teams are operating with mildly modified job descriptions dating back to the organizational norms of the past thirty (or more) years. How can we respect and honor the past labor of our current workforce while simultaneously requesting them to cease and/or alter those core job functions? How can we align our employees with new initiatives in consideration of their skills and interests? Are “paraprofessional” and “professional” helpful or harmful categories in today’s market? In this talk, we will explore the attitudes surrounding staff support positions in technical services held by individuals with an MLIS degrees as demonstrated through a survey. Presenters will share challenges, solutions, and suggested pathways to change. Discussion will be encouraged as we share similar challenges, but often in different environments. Attendees can expect to leave with an understanding of the trends in technical services duties that may assist in fostering positive flexibility and room for growth in their organizations.
Rachel Arkoosh is the technical services librarian at Pacific University. Her responsibilities include acquisitions, cataloging, serials, electronic resources and all other things technical services.
Head of Technical Services and Associate Professor, UNC Greensboro
Christine Fischer is the Head of Technical Services at UNC Greensboro, where she has worked since 2005. She has an interest in streaming film, acquisition models, and organizational culture. She has held positions in academic and special libraries in both public and technical ser... Read More →
