Core Technology Competencies for Librarians and Library Staff edited by Susan M. Thompson

Happily this book was as, and in some ways more, informative than “The Accidental Systems Librarian” in that it includes more specific programs and the technology being used in libraries. It describes levels of knowledge, and the strategy behind and methods of training even non-systems library staff. I found the inclusion of messages from library managers that accompanied returned surveys, to be more useful than the surveys themselves, as there is no wiggle room in the surveys for policies like—“they don’t have to know it when they are hired, but they must be deemed willing and able to learn it soon after”…or, “we don’t require this competency because it’s not part of the job, but we are pleased that all of our employees do have it” (these are not exact quotes from the book). Even though I got a great deal from this book, I’m not going to rank it with a high recommendation because it would probably bore the average reader. 

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: Z 682.35 .T43 C67 2009
 
Review submitted by Tracie Hall, Serials and Acquisitions Librarian, Law Library
Rating: Somewhat Recommended