Chapter 2: Build a Foundation for the List of Competencies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5860/ltr.43n2Abstract
Sarah Houghton-Jan, the author of the second issue of Library Technology Reports in 2007, tackles technology competencies for librarians in the Information Age. “A few years ago,” she notes, “I found myself wanting a work like this to exist. Because it did not, I figured I might as well consolidate all the information about library technology competencies in one place so that others could benefit from my hunting and gathering.”
In her report, Houghton-Jan provides useful technology-training practices, including:
“This work,” summarizes Houghton-Jan, “is an attempt to fill the gap in knowledge about documenting technology competencies with overall guiding principles, examples of successful projects, and project-management guidelines for those embarking upon such a project in their libraries.”
Sarah Houghton-Jan received her MLIS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MA in Irish Literature from Washington State University. A member of Beta Phi Mu, she has worked in libraries for a decade as a page, reference assistant, reference librarian, e-services librarian, technology trainer, and technology manager.
Sarah is currently the Information and Web Services Manager for the San Mateo County Library in Northern California. She also works as a consultant technology instructor for the Infopeople Project, serves on LITA's Top Technology Trends Committee, is a member of the California Library Association's Assembly, and the past President of CLA's Information Technology Section. In her time as the IT Section President, she led the task force that developed the Association's Technology Core Competencies for Library Workers, building on her previous experience creating competencies for individual libraries.
Sarah is also the author of the blog LibrarianInBlack.net.
References
Laura Tovey, '“Competency Assessment: A Strategic Approach—Part 1,”' Executive Development 6 no. 5 (1993): 26-7nOakland Public Library, “Technology Competencies for Library Staff,” 1998, www.oaklandlibrary.org/techcomp.htmnPublic Library of Charlotte and Mecklenberg County, “Information Technology Core Competencies,” n.d., www.plcmc.org/public/learning/plcmccorecomp.pdfnNew Jersey Library Association, “Core Competencies for Librarians,” March 14, 2006, www.njla.org/resources/competencies.htmlnCalifornia Library Association “Technology, Core Competencies for California Library Workers,” April 21, 2005, www.cla-net.org/included/docs/tech_core_competencies.pdfnKaren G. Schneider, “Libraryland Skills for Any Century,” Free Range Librarian, July 20, 2006, http://freerangelibrarian.com/2006/07/libraryland_skills_for_any_cen.phpnKaren G. Schneider “Libraryland Skills, Part Deux,” Free Range Librarian, July 20, 2006, http://freerangelibrarian.com/2006/07/libraryland_skills_part_deux.phpnBruce E. Massis, “Integrating Technology for Library Staff,”
Interface: Web Companion to the Newsletter of the Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies
, no. 4 (Winter 2001), www.ala.org/ala/ascla/asclapubs/interface/archives/contentlistingby/volume23/integratingtech/integratingtechnology.htmnAmerican Library Association, “Final Report of the Steering Committee on the Congress for Professional Education, June 1999, Recommendations 1.1–1.2, www.ala.org/ala/hrdrbucket/1stcongressonpro/1stcongresssteeringcommittees.htmnA. Krissoff and L. Konrad, “Computer Training for Staff and Patrons,”
Computers in Libraries
, no. 1 (January 1998).nAssociation of College and Research Libraries, “Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education,” 2000, www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/standards.pdfn
