ACQNET v3n020 (February 28, 1993) URL = http://www.infomotions.com/serials/acqnet/acq-v3n020 ISSN: 1057-5308 *************** ACQNET, Vol. 3, No. 20, February 28, 1993 ========================================= (1) FROM: Peter Stevens SUBJECT: Acquisitions profession (31 lines) (2) FROM: Floyd Zula SUBJECT: Acquisitions profession (13 lines) (3) FROM: Christian Boissonnas SUBJECT: Library profession and work (40 lines) (4) FROM: Elizabeth Cooley SUBJECT: Position announcement (84 lines) (1)---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1993 13:03:47 -0800 (PST) From: Peter Stevens (University of Washington) Subject: Acquisitions profession Lest the library school students on ACQNET are mislead into thinking that all acquisitions librarians are like Joe Barker, let me say that many of us are not. While our jobs may resemble Janet Flowers's, in terms of our duties, some of us rarely work more than 40 hours a week--and would love to work fewer hours. Many of us marvel at Joe Barker's literary and professional output--and now we learn how he accomplishes so much: he cheats! My loved ones, my home and garden, my rock-climbing, cycling, skiing, music, hiking, kayaking, my friends--all of these activities provide an outlet and a recharging system to support my work as an acquisitions librarian. They make me a balanced easy-going person, ever-ready to take time to talk with library users or staff, to tolerate errors and delays and to maintain a positive, optimistic attitude towards librarianship. I find plenty of challenges in trying to provide prompt, responsive, user- centered, innovative, efficient and effective acquisitions services within the confines of a normal work schedule--but not so many that I am willing or think it healthy (for me) to devote an excessive number of my life hours to the task. Just as I am unwilling to allow acquisitions staff to devote most of their waking hours to their work--some of them would--so must I set an example of a balanced approach to life and to work. I admire people like Joe--and our new president--who can put in enormous work hours--but I think most of us need to find more balance in our life and work--and that we have to work at maintaining that balance. I like to think I have learned the meaning of pace as I have moved into middle age. In fact, I think I'll stroll outside right now for a latte in the sun.... (2)---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Feb 93 16:42:52 CST From: Floyd Zula (Tulane University) Subject: Joe Barker the Workaholic While I would be the last one to discourage zeal in the work place, there are limits, I believe. And ten to twelve hours of work a day without a day or two of rest in a seven-day period exceed what is normal. Work (like life) is a series of compromises and balancing acts. If you lean too far in one direction, you can take a very nasty fall. There is also something to be said for the stock phrase: Get a life! (or at least some psychological help). Date: February 28, 1993 From: Christian M. Boissonnas (Cornell University) Subject: Library profession and work It's 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. I'm up by choice, not because I have to. I have been up for two hours, doing what I like and do best: living. I could be outside, chopping wood or doing something useful, but all who know the weather in these parts would wonder why I feel the need to punish myself. It's one of those days where gray dominates, one of those days for which Ithaca is famous. I could be reading, but I don't feel like it. Instead I sit at my computer, reflecting on Joe's question of the week: the meaning of work. Am I working now? Who knows? I am a librarian and I am writing this for ACQNET. Does it make it work? In a message which I received a couple of days ago, part of a private exchange on Joe's message, a friend threatened me with asking for an audit of my work time. This is the closest that I can come to it. Cornell pays me for managing a big department. That's the narrow view of our relationship. For reasons which don't belong in this discussion the University decided that it had to have a librarian for this job. That's what I am: a librarian who happens to be employed by Cornell University. For me, being a librarian is far more than managing a department, but the two are so intertwined that I cannot say when one ends and the other begins. It's the totality of what I do that makes me, I hope, a good librarian and therefore, I also hope, a good department head. I submit to you that Cornell really pays me for that, not just for managing a department. The fact that I may adequately paid or not has nothing to do with determining the limits of my responsibility as a librarian. I could say: "Because I only receive X dollars, I will limit my activities to ...." That would make me less of a librarian than I think I am and want to be. I am a librarian. It's a full-time profession, not an 8-, or 10-, or 16-hours- a-day job. I actualize the fact that I am a librarian whenever I think of my profession, which is often although not every waking hour of every day. I am this by choice. Nobody made me do it. In this context I cannot understand the concept of a work schedule because I do not know what work is. And, like Joe, I love it, most of the time anyway, and I am getting paid for it! So I have come up with my own definition of work: it's what I do that I don't like or don't want to do. The dictionaries call that drudgery. (4)---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Feb 93 08:12:25 EST From: Elizabeth A. Cooley (Univ. of Virginia) Subject: Position announcement ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES The Claude Moore Health Sciences Library at the University of Virginia is seeking a creative and energetic individual to be part of the Library's senior management team. As one of two Associate Directors, the incumbent reports to the Library Director and is responsible for Technical Services and Administrative Services as described below. Technical Services: Administrative oversight responsibilities for the Technical Services Division which includes collection development and acquisitions (including serials), bibliographic control, binding, a state union list of serials, and related automation implementation. The Technical Services staff numbers 10, including 2 department heads, one additional part-time librarian, 6 support staff, and .65 FTE student assistants. With the department heads, the incumbent interacts with vendors and develops and manages vendor contracts, and communicates with librarian colleagues in the University of Virginia system, FLIS, SOLINET, OCLC, and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine as appropriate. Administrative Services: Serves as the Library's grants administrator with responsibility for identifying appropriate sources of grant funds, coordinating proposal development with appropriate library or other faculty, preparing final proposals, and monitoring implementation and evaluation. Works with the Library Director in budget planning and development, with the Associate Director for Public Services in conducting cost studies for the Library's cost-recovery programs, and with the Senior Fiscal Administrator in interactions with the University's accounting system. Provides technical advice and analysis regarding budget policies and procedures. Serves as the Library's human resources coordinator, with responsibility for proposing policies and procedures for professional and staff development. Engages in library planning and project development by gathering in-depth library-related and other pertinent data, synthesizing and interpreting the data to provide recommendations to the Library Director for action. Provides detailed analysis of library-related statistical and fiscal information, and leads an effort to create a Library Management Information System. Takes a leadership role in the development and implementation of evaluation methodologies for the Library's processes and services. Prepares Library survey responses. Requirements: Requirements include an MLS from an ALA accredited school and at least 10 years of progressively responsible technical, supervisory and managerial positions in an academic library setting, preferably health sciences. Must have detailed experience with implementing and/or managing an integrated library system, and knowledge of state, regional, and national information networks required for bibliographic control, and other library services. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written), demonstrated analytical and planning abilities, and a commitment to service and to teamwork are essential. Must have an ability to work independently and to manage multiple priorities in a changing environment. Preferred qualifications include successful experience in grant-seeking and proposal preparation, and evidence of scholarship and professional service in librarianship. Membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals is preferred. Computer literacy qualifications include, but are not limited to, word processing, spreadsheets and graphical display, database development, database searching, electronic mail, and electronic networks. Benefits: Minimum salary is $45,000. Benefits include general faculty rank (non tenure- track), generous moving and professional development support, 22 vacation days per year, 11 paid holidays, sick and disability leave, health and dental insurance, and retirement contribution to TIAA-CREF. Applications will be accepted until a successful candidate is identified, although applications received by May 1, 1993 will be given first consideration. Please send letter of application stating interest in and qualifications for the position, curriculum vitae and list of three references to: Linda Watson, Director, The Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, Box 234, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908. The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Applications from minorities are especially welcomed. ******* END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol. 3, No. 20 ****** END OF FILE *******