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| Format: | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
1995
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED387147 |
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Table of Contents:
- Library Systems Office Organization. SPEC Kit and SPEC Flyer 211. Muir, Scott P., Comp. Academic Libraries Administrative Organization Comparative Analysis Database Management Systems Higher Education Information Services Integrated Library Systems Library Administration Library Personnel Library Services Research Libraries The roles and responsibilities of the library systems officer continues to change as libraries move beyond the automation of library functions to offering resources in electronic formats and electronic access to information about collections beyond the walls of the home institution. This survey was designed to collect data and document some of the changes that have occurred in the organization of systems offices in Association of Research Libraries (ARL). All 119 ARL member libraries were surveyed; 75 responded (63% response rate). Results are compared to a similar 1990 survey. Titles for the heads of systems offices varied: in 1990, the most common were "Head Library Systems,""Head of Systems," and "Systems Librarian": in 1994, they were "Head Library Systems" and "Systems Manager." There are 691 systems office employees in the responding 75 libraries, reflecting a 37% increase from 1990. There was a 205% increase in network specialists, 30% increase in librarians, 33% increase in computer specialists, and a 46% decrease in clerical help. The maintenance of the library management system is still the most common activity of systems offices. Only one activity, maintaining a mainframe computer, showed a decrease. Offices working on gopher, Mosaic, etc. showed over a 1000% increase; those working with CWIS (Campus Wide Information Service) a 773% increase, and patron access to remote databases (e.g., Carl UnCover) a 475% increase. Respondents raised a number of questions related to systems offices not covered by the survey, which fell into the categories of planning and budgets; organization structure and interdepartmental relationships; trends in computing; and education and professional development. Following survey results, organization charts of 18 and position descriptions from 13 ARL libraries are provided. The survey instrument is included. Twenty-one organizational charts of universities in the United States and Canada are included. References are provided for seven selected readings. (MAS)