this is my homework danm
OFFICE TECHNOLOGY CHAPTER 2 “ Career Opportunities in the Office”
*Even if computer skills are needed for many jobs, but for them to get training they have to have a range from a high school diploma to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
*They are trying to make this a bigger job but because of the budget that libraries have is too little for computerized circulation and information systems to grow and get jobs easier
*Employment should grow rapidly in special libraries because growing numbers of professionals and other workers use those libraries.
Library Technicians
The nature of work of a Library technician helps to find information, to prepare and organize material. They usually work alone but sometime they have a librarian supervision. It depends if you are a technician in a small library you have a lot of deities and if you are in a lager library you have less duties. The library technical don’t always have to library technical they can be name media aide or library technical assistant. “Library technicians direct library users to standard references, organize and maintain periodicals, prepare volumes for binding, handle interlibrary loan requests, prepare invoices, perform routine cataloguing and coding of library materials, retrieve information from computer databases, and supervise support staff.” (http://bls.gov/oco/ocos153.htm). The technicians of handling technical services are now computerized information storage and retrieval systems, they do stuff like entering catalogue information into the library’s computer that used to be done by librarians. Technicians instruct patrons in how to use computer system database and they assist with customizing databases. Thanks to automation of record keeping it has reduced the amount of work for a library technician. Now a lot of libraries technicians self-service registration and circulation areas with computers, decreasing the time that library technicians had to spend inputting records and manually recording.
As libraries increasingly use new technologies—such as CD-ROM, the Internet, virtual libraries, and automated databases—the duties of library technicians will expand and evolve accordingly. Library technicians are assuming greater responsibilities, in some cases taking on tasks previously performed by librarians. .
Some library technicians operate and maintain audiovisual equipment, such as projectors, tape recorders, and videocassette recorders, and assist users with microfilm or microfiche readers. They also design posters, bulletin boards, or displays.
Library technicians in school libraries encourage and teach students to use the library and media center. They also help teachers obtain instructional materials, and they assist students with special assignments. Some work in special libraries maintained by government agencies, corporations, law firms, advertising agencies, museums, professional societies, medical centers, and research laboratories, where they conduct literature searches, compile bibliographies, and prepare abstracts, usually on subjects of particular interest to the organization.
To extend library services to more patrons, many libraries operate bookmobiles, often run by library technicians. The technicians take trucks stocked with books, or bookmobiles, to designated sites on a regular schedule, frequently stopping at shopping centers, apartment complexes, schools, and nursing homes. Bookmobiles also may be used to extend library service to patrons living in remote areas. Depending on local conditions, the technicians may operate a bookmobile alone or may be accompanied by another library employee.
Library technicians who drive bookmobiles, answer patrons’ questions, receive and check out books, collect fines, maintain the book collection, shelve materials, and occasionally operate audiovisual equipment to show slides or films. They participate, and may assist, in planning programs sponsored by the library, such as reader advisory programs, used-book sales, or outreach programs. Technicians who drive the bookmobile keep track of their mileage, the materials lent out, and the amount of fines collected. In some areas, they are responsible for maintenance of the vehicle and any photocopiers or other equipment in it. They record statistics on circulation and the number of people visiting the bookmobile. Technicians also may record requests for special items from the main library and arrange for the materials to be mailed or delivered to a patron during the next scheduled visit. Many bookmobiles are equipped with personal computers and CD-ROM systems linked to the main library system, allowing technicians to reserve or locate books immediately. Some bookmobiles now offer Internet access to users.