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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I just want to chime in and concur with Andrew and others who have commented and add a couple points. I completely agree with all the comments so far about
even if your library employer uses a Content Management System, there is still a lot to know to be able to bend it to your will and to serve patrons best by integrating the 1,001 pieces of a modern library’s website and ‘fixing’ the annoying user interface
problems that our vendors can’t ever seem to get around to or even just using technology to work smarter. Even if you never directly get your hands dirty in code in your library job, knowing enough about what is possible and the level of effort required to
achieve something in a web-based interface will serve you and your future employer well in that you can talk intelligently with tech support, you can write actionable enhancement requests, you can effectively write project requirements and manage work with
a freelance developer, you can advocate for patrons with technical people, you can understand more about how web sites really work, and therefore be a better user of web sites and a better teacher, you can raise your hand to actually help instead of just complain
about a bad interface, you can advocate for sufficient resources (time and money) to get things right in a web project b/c you know how much work is involved.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">It’s like understanding cataloging. Does a public service librarian need to know every detail of cataloging procedure? No. Is she a better searcher and librarian
if she knows her way around a MARC record? Yes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Another way to think about it is, are you a consumer or a maker? Makers are smarter consumers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I think smart library hiring managers will try to find out what applicants know in this regard. A credential is a clue. Experience and a portfolio is better.
If I were considering an application for a youth librarian, and one had demonstrated curiosity and a willingness to engage in the complexity of technology of some sort and one had not, of course I’d prefer the curious one. But, then again, I don’t get to hire
youth librarians.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Sheryl Cormicle Knox<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Technology Director<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">BA in English, MLIS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Self-taught in everything else<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> michlib-l-bounces@mail.mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mail.mcls.org]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Mutch, Andrew<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 10, 2014 11:07 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Michelle Sawicki<br>
<b>Cc:</b> michlib-l@lists.mcls.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Michlib-l] Library Student<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Michelle S.,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">If you’re the person responsible for designing or managing the web site, you’ll need those coding skills. The migration to content management systems (and before
that, software that relied on web page templates) has largely eliminated the need for the average content contributor to be able to hand code HTML. But the content editing portion of those systems is just a piece of the overall system and if you’re the person
tasked with managing the web site, often times, you’ll need to poke around under the hood to tweak settings, code, etc. to get it to do exactly what you (or your staff) want it to do. That’s where an understanding of the various scripting languages can make
you an invaluable part of the technology team (especially if it’s a team of 1!) <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><br>
More adventurous individuals go beyond tweaking and actually write their own code or assist others in writing the code to create modules/plug-ins/etc. that are customized to meet a particular need for a library or a community. You’ll often find an off-the-shelf
solution that’s pretty close but needs some adjustment to meet the needs of your library. That’s where an understanding of the underlying coding can allow you to make changes without breaking it. Even if you don’t do that kind of work in your day job, there
are opportunities to contribute in various ways to projects inside and outside the library community if you want to further develop those skills.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Andrew Mutch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Library Systems Technician<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Waterford Township Public Library<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> michlib-l-bounces@mail.mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mail.mcls.org]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Michelle Sawicki<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 10, 2014 10:40 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> michelle wise<br>
<b>Cc:</b> michlib-l@lists.mcls.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Michlib-l] Library Student<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I am finishing up the Web Design/Information Management Certificate at Wayne State this semester. When I am done I will have a basic understanding of html, css, php, java script and some other scripting languages. I think it is fabulous
to obtain these skills, but I am not sure how practical they will be in my upcoming positions. What Wayne State focuses on is the actual coding itself. If I were to create a library website by hand/scratch, this would be an invaluable skill. However, every
library I have worked at has used an editor to create their website. There really isn't a need to keep reinventing the wheel. So I am guessing I will ultimately be using an editor too some day, if web design is a part of my future job at all. I am glad I learned
scripting languages though...but how relevant will it be for my job and how long will the skills I have learned remain relevant? I don't know...<o:p></o:p></p>
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<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Michelle Sawicki<br>
Circulation Team Leader<br>
Thomas M. Cooley Law School<br>
3475 Plymouth Road<br>
Ann Arbor, MI 48105<br>
734-372-4900 x8767<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Thu, Feb 6, 2014 at 5:14 PM, michelle wise <<a href="mailto:michellew1989@hotmail.com" target="_blank">michellew1989@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">I am currently signed up to take my summer semester classes, which would finish off my MLIS degree if I stopped there. My questions are: do you have certificates with your degree, do you or did you have much
experience before-hand, and does your library look at certificates OR experience more when it comes to hiring?<br>
<br>
I am an online student at Wayne State University. The two certificates I was planning on getting are
<a name="1440944e01d00604_22869"><b>{Library Services to Children and Adults, </b>
</a><b>Public}</b> and <strong>{I<a name="1440944e01d00604_22850">nformation Management for Librarians</a>-Web Design and Development}</strong>. Each certificate is basically (one semester) 4 months of effort and $4,400- is it worth it? I would love to be a
Teen Librarian in a public library with some web elements. <br>
<br>
If you wouldn't mind adding your position/Title with your comments, please do. Any recommendations would be very helpful.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#3333FF">Thank you,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#3333FF"> ~Michelle Wise~</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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