'Systems Librarianship' in North America and China Pascal Calarco, MLIS University of Notre Dame ASIS&T 2010

My background and environment MLIS 1995, McGill; three different academic libraries Manage library systems department, 2 librarians, 8 IT professionals Shared computing infrastructure, ILS, citation linking, federated search, resource discovery for ND & three other institutions Digital repository and other open source- based development

A well-established specialization in North America

IT-focused LIS conferences & communities of practice

Some Relevant studies Lavagnino (1997): systems librarian & networking technologies evolution Xu & Chen (2001): 7 of 49 ALA-accredited tracks in systems librarianship Jordan (2003): self-education of systems librarians Matthews & Pardue (2009): significant overlap between librarians & IT professionals

Research Questions: China How is provision of library systems & support different and the same in North America? What education paths do library systems professionals in China follow? Which of their skills are acquired after graduation? Through what methods? Is there a “job market” in China and how is advertising & recruitment done? How are professional and non-professional technical tasks divided? Compare to NA libraries

Definition: Systems Librarian “a librarian. . . responsible for managing information technology used in a library” (Jordan, 2003) Stricter common definition today: managing/developing library information systems eg, web presence, ILS, resource discovery, citation linking, federated search services Others argue for “job family” perspective, include digital library, web design, systems development, user interface/UX/IA/HCI, digital preservation, etc.

Formal Education ALA-accredited degree, 62 schools (US & Canada) 35 schools now offer some specialization or CAS in applied technology within LIS context Digital libraries, Health informatics, Data curation/preservation, HCI/IA, KM, information management Increasing differentiation amongst offerings

Informal education Applied project-based learning Learn by doing; evolutionary skill development Embedded with IT staff Community software projects & vendor- based applications Librarian first, technologist second or vice versa

Transformation of Chinese higher education & libraries Rapid growth and sophistication; 1980s opening up, 1990s transformation Progressive evolution in USA/Canada 1960s+ vs revolutionary sprint in China 1990s+ “211” (1993) & “985” programmes to develop world-class universities focusing on around 100 key institutions

Which Path Provides Greater Value? Accredited degreed librarian who learns technology (programming, design, administration, problem solving, standards, culture) Technologist who learns libraries (standards, culture, conventions, values, systems, processes) Complementary; librarians & technologists both add value

'Systems librarianship' in China: What we learned Domain knowledge often more important than LIS Skills development to enable research No equivalent credential to MLS in China LIS programs re-established mid-1980s Late 1990s integration of LIS into IS/IM Technology professionals in Chinese academic libraries: IS/IM, CS education

'Systems librarianship' in China Learn library conventions, processes on the job Some very sophisticated local systems development: CAS Library union catalog, federated search, full text search/delivery systems Gap in formal education outcomes in IS/IM and what employers need (Li et. al. 2010)

Chinese systems librarianship: Weiling Liu, University of Louisville Director, Library Systems, University of Louisville Libraries Native Chinese speaker & writer Visited Guangzhou area academic libraries, October 2010 Position examples

Systems Administrator Institution: Beijing University Unit: Library Systems Office Job Title: Systems Administrator Responsibilities: Plan, manage and coordinate Library information technology related applications, such as websites, servers, databases, digital collections and other related responsibilities Educational Requirements: Master's degree or above Age requirements: Graduates Major or Research Area: Computer Science related Other requirements: Responsible and hard-working; good learning ability, and creative; independent, good personality and a team player; ability to handle stress and work overtime if needed

Library Information Technician Institution: XiaMen Institute of Technology Hua Qiao University Job Title: Library Information Technician Job Opening: 1 Educational Requirements: Bachelor's degree or above Major or Research Area: Library Science, Information Management or Computer Science Requirements: Familiar with library automation systems. Experience with library cataloging is preferable

Automation System Admin. Institution: Dalian Haishi University Job Title: Automation System Administrator * General requirements: Master's degree, Bachelor's degree honored by a university of "211 Project**" Proficient in English and desktop applications In good health and age of 30 or under Responsibilities: Participate in different work shifts; Responsible for the operation and maintenance of web system; Responsible for the maintenance of local databases; Participate in the operation and maintenance of library automation system; Participate in the development of local databases; Participate in the system training for library staff and end users Requirements: Graduate from a science major; Good managerial ability; Responsible, with good librarian ethics and loves libraries ; Ability to work in a team environment [Translator’s Notes: * Total 7 openings, two of which are for library and one of them is for library automation system management ** “211 Project” – a Chinese government’s initiative started in 1993 to improve higher education aiming at cultivating talent for national economic and social development strategies in the 21st century. The project focuses on the development of around 100 key universities.]

Library System Administrator Institution: Shangdong Yingcai University Job Title: Library System Administrator Requirements: Master's degree or above with library information system major Responsibilities: Develop and manage the University’s library information system and related information access Openings: a few Type of Position: Full Time

Library Information and Computer Management Institution: Northeast Normal University Position: Library Information and Computer Management Requirements: Master's degree graduates from a “211” or “985*” university, but other university graduates are also welcome Openings: 1 [Translator’s Note: *Another project similar to “211”, which focuses on building some world-class universities and special projects by a number of high-level universities in China.]

Library System Administrator Institution: Guangdong Baiyun University Job Title: Library System Administrator Requirements: Familiar with the maintenance and management of library systems Familiar with computer network and knowledge of server and related management Two or more years of library related experience is preferable Location: Guangzhou Education: Bachelor’s degree or above Experience: two years or above Type of Job: Full Time

Surveying job ads: North America Searched LITA-L, ALEPH-NA, LIBJOBS, CODE4LIB; 328 postings 1/2009-9/2010 Selected 93 position advertisements based on job title Set aside ads clearly all in public services, technical services, pure administration 42 ads examined in depth

Position title word cloud (42 titles)

Position requirements

Some observations 4 positions (~10%) developer positions with preferred MLS Less than 75% of position titles requiring an MLS had “Librarian” in them Communications and management function importance Systems support in electronic resource & metadata positions

Next steps: surveys – China & US/Canada Education and skills required Background of incumbent Major responsibilities Skills developed while working Methods for developing new skills Motivation for working in systems Formal position description

Conclusions Chinese librarianship has developed in quite different ways than US/Canada China priority for domain skills applicable for the work in question THEN library knowledge North American priority for professional acculturation/knowledge foundations THEN hard skills Much opportunity to learn from one another