This survey was available online on the book’s companion website, sent out to several library-specific mailing lists, and posted on social networking sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Answers were collected from late 2010 through early 2011.
Respondents are self-described systems librarians. This is not a scientific survey, and no attempt was made to qualify respondents as systems personnel prior to their answering these questions.
The following survey will be used in writing the second edition of The Accidental Systems Librarian. The more detail you provide, the better your answers will help us improve upon this resource. Your answers may be quoted in the book, but your name will not be included unless you give us express permission to do so. We also ask if we’re allowed to contact you for more information and maybe a more in-depth interview, so please answer this question. Providing us with examples whenever possible will give us real life stories to share with our readers. Since this survey could potentially take you a long time, you are free to save your progress and come back at a later date to finish things up; we just ask that you do return.
Full Name:
Organization:
Job Title:
Country:
Email:
Would you like your answers to remain anonymous?
Can we contact you to expand upon your answers?
Do you have a library degree?
What year did you graduate?
Do you have additional degrees or certificates?
If so, please specify:
What type of formal training, if any, have you attended to help you keep up with new technological developments?
What other resources do you use to help keep yourself up-to-date?
What library positions have you held prior to your current job (if any)?
What technical positions have you held prior to your current job (if any)?
Please describe the path you took to systems librarianship:
What do you most wish you’d learned in library school that you instead have had to learn “on the job”?
What did you learn in library school that has proven especially useful on the job?
How do you use your skills as a librarian to perform systems duties effectively? (Provide examples if any spring to mind.)
Approximately what percentage of your time is devoted to “systems” responsibilities, including automation support, help desk, computer training, troubleshooting, web development, etc.?
What one piece of advice would you give to an aspiring systems librarian?
What is your favorite tech support resource?
What is your favorite part of systems work?
What is the most frustrating part of systems work?
Do you have any additional comments about your experience with systems work in libraries?
Did you read the first edition of The Accidental Systems Librarian?
What would you like to see in the second edition that wasn’t covered in the first edition?