Nature of Library Assistants - Coursework Example

LIBRARY ASSISTANTS by Student’s name Course + code name Professor’s name University name City, State Date Table of Contents Coversheet.......................................................................................................1 Table of Contents...............................................................................................2 Introduction........................................................................................................3 Nature of Library Assistants................................................................................3 Employment Prospects..........................................................................................7 Training and Education..........................................................................................9 Experience, Personality Traits, Skills, Unions and Associations............................9 Activities that Limit Library Assistants Productivity the Most..................................10 E-Business & Cloud Computing.................................................................................10 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Database Fundamentals.................13 Enterprise Computing (ERP, SCM, CRM).....................................................................14 Summary..........................................................................................................................15 Bibliography.....................................................................................................................16 Introduction Actually, librarians involve in tactical, operational and strategic areas of libraries. They have several roles to play that include helping librarians with the library’s operations that comprise of tasks like, organization and selection of library materials to the patrons; assisting patrons with doing research, offering patrons services, and in a number of scenarios, acquirement and the technological services of cataloguing, classifying, processing and ordering of newly obtained library materials. Library Assistants requires having a good education as the type of work they do demands an all rounded individual. Actually technologies prove to be meaningful to the daily operations of a library. Libraries employ multiple information systems for the smooth running of operations as described in this report. Information systems include CRM, Enterprise Computing and E-Business. Nature of Library Assistants As a matter of fact, library assistants are trained information and library professionals skilled to carry out the daily library’s functions, and helps librarians in the organization, acquisition and preparation of information (Taylor & Parish 2009). Importantly, library assistants help librarians with the library’s operations that comprise of tasks like, organization and selection of library materials to the patrons; assisting patrons with doing research, offering patrons services, and in a number of scenarios, acquirement and the technological services of cataloguing, classifying, processing and ordering of newly obtained library materials. Titles of jobs connected with specific levels are different from one library to the other, but in general, library assistants are categorized into the clerical echelon (and in some cases might even be referred as library clerks), and a higher-remunerated and more skilled paraprofessional echelon. Library Assistants at that position tend to operate more independently and might participate in supervising other employees of the library (mainly volunteers, aides and clerks). Also Library Assistants get employed by school libraries to assist librarians of schools in choosing, arranging materials and helping teachers and students with doing research (Baldwin 2000). Career Ladder of Library Assistants Library Assistant On the other hand, Clerical Library Assistants carry pout several library obligations associated with keeping of records (Taylor & Parish 2009). Often, within the circulation department they are known as circulation assistants and they circulate, renew, reserve, and release books together with other types of materials. Clerical Library Assistants also give patrons of libraries identification cards in regard to setting out procedures, and feeding and keeping their records up to date on the facility of the computer. Whenever essential, they release notices and gather money for overdue or lost books. At times, Clerk Library Assistants shelve books together with other materials of the library and compile statistics of library and update lists of books. At the communication desk, they perform the task of answering calls and offering routine information or referring and transferring calls to suitable personnel of the library (Baldwin 2000). Also referred as the acquisitions assistants within the acquisitions departments, they help in procurement of books, audiovisual materials, periodicals, and pamphlets as well as other items of library through figuring costs, looking at prices, and setting up suitable order forms (Taylor & Parish 2009). Importantly, Clerical Library Assistants are frequently obligated the duty of feeding data in the cataloguing and automated systems of the library. Generally, paraprofessionals Library Assistants are given more complicated duties and or supervisory responsibilities as a result of their better training and skills. Within the circulation departments where paraprofessional Library Assistants are normally known as circulation assistants, they as well, deal with difficulties and tackle complains regarding fines and supervises student helpers, library aides and volunteers (Baldwin 2000). Additionally, they are sometimes given the responsibility of supervising and scheduling the job of library aides and clerks. Paraprofessional Library Assistants within reference departments are referred as reference assistants, and tackle reference quizzes demanding minimum research. Additionally, reference assistants assist people find library materials as well show them the best manner of using card catalogs, automated systems of library, indexes and reference sources. Functions of Paraprofessional Library Assistants Supervising student helpers, library aides, volunteers Assisting people find Library materials Solving fines complains Helping patrons in locating their needed materials Offering precise bibliographic information Compiling statistics Importantly, a number of Library Assistants possess special training that assist patrons who have problems in seeing. In this case, they assist such patrons of library in locating their needed materials or nearly associated alternatives from the collection of the facility of huge kind or volumes of Braille and CDs and tape cassettes (comprising of audio books) (Taylor & Parish 2009). With their understanding of library procedures and policies, paraprofessional Library Assistants referred as library services assistants, frequently posses a responsibility of performing duties with the loan system of interlibrary. In this scenario, library services assistants do bibliographic exploration, set up cataloguing data from the Online Computer Library Centre (OCLC) folder and register periodicals as well as serial microforms (Baldwin 2000). Importantly, they recognize whichever mistakes on requests of books (like replica orders) and offer accurate bibliographic information for orders of books. Additionally, library assistants helps patron in finding materials of library, within which they utilise the online system of the library, as well as the utilisation of audiovisual apparatus and PCs (Taylor & Parish 2009 ). They also do preparations of materials of library for technical cataloguing and processing and protect records related to stuff that are remitted for cataloguing. Actually, library assistants having an added training become in charge of the function of department like, synchronizing interlibrary borrowing of loan, processing late charges, or offering (in absence of senior librarian control) weekend and evening service at the public desk of service. Library service assistants are responsible for preparing, monitoring and compiling serials statistical and public services report, normally on each and every week. Sometimes, library assistants are obliged to work in liaison with external service providers, publishers, supervisors of administrative offices and vendors the time that problems take place with materials’ invoices being obtained by the library (Baldwin 2000). Within that capacity, they input invoices in the automated system of the library, harmonize the accurate record of order with other materials and books as they get received. In addition, they do the processing of those library items and choose the ones that require binding. At higher echelons, skilled Library Assistants having an understanding of the systems, basic resources, policies, standards and procedures become responsible of the whole operation of a petite branch library and become answerable to the supervisor of the library who normally turns to be off-site. In that capacity, library service assistants supervises, evaluates, and recommends firing and hiring of clerks, student volunteers and entry-echelon library aides. As such, it is their responsibly of maintaining records and compiling statistics connected to the operation of their bough libraries. Additionally, they are required to evaluate statistics and set up recommendations and summary reports grounded on their evaluation. Moreover, they are in charge of operating various library equipment (comprising of imaging equipment, microfiche readers, document delivery, printers, fax machines, copiers and computers), troubleshooting problems as well as following and contacting seller for repair as suitable. Equally important, library services assistants must be able to carry out complicated duties and problem solving connected to cataloguing, processing, receiving, preserving, processing, transporting, ordering, circulating, sorting, access arranging and storing of library materials within various electronic and traditional formats. Furthermore, library services assistants take part in formulating procedures and policies for recuperating processes of work and assist in the updating and creation of procedures and policy manuals together with other printed documentation. Employment Prospects In point of fact, Library Assistants’ job’s outlook turns to be good (Baldwin 2000). In accordance to scholars, Library Assistants’ employment is anticipated to rise as quickly as the median for all occupations by the year 2022. That expectation is expected to be contributed by efforts to containing local governments’ costs and academic institutes of all kinds might result in added employment of library support personnel in comparison to librarians (Baldwin 2000). Additionally, as a result of altering roles in libraries, Library Assistants turn to be taking extra role matching their extra training. Several Lab Assistants begin their employment as part-time employees and afterwards leave that moderately low-paying job for other occupations which provide higher revenues, or full-time employment, therefore opportunities of jobs for filling those posts ought to be good. A number of starting posts turn out to be available the time that Library Assistants shift to full-time positions or obtain additional experience in the library association. As a matter of fact, library Assistants and Technicians work in university, school, public and company libraries. Several of them work on part time basis. Library Assistants and Technicians Facts. Adapted from < http://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/library-technicians-and-assistants.htm> 2012 Median Pay $26,800 per year $12.89 per hour Entry-Level Education Diploma, degree Work Experience in a Related Occupation None Number of Jobs, 2012 216,600 Job Outlook, 2012-22 12% (As fast as average) Employment Change, 2012-22 25,200 Training and Education Actually, education as well as training needs for Library Assistants range from one employer to the other. Clerical Library Assistants minimum requirements turn to be a diploma from a high school together with a little clerical experience (Taylor & Parish 2009). On the other hand, for the positions of paraprofessional Library Assistants the preferred qualifications include an arts degree associate with a speciality in technology of library. Experience, Personality Traits, Skills, Unions and Associations As a matter of fact, Library Assistants ought to be capable of carrying out their paraprofessional or clerical tasks with minimum supervision. They ought to be capable of exercising good judgement within making decisions and evaluating situations. As such, they require possessing brilliant communication skills (both written and oral) and firm interpersonal capabilities. They should also possess knowledge in applicable software and computers since their job entails significant use of computer (Baldwin 2000). Additionally, they ought to have knowledge of essential office apparatus as utilised within libraries and be capable of troubleshooting problems using them. On the other side, of interest to professional trade unions comprise of the Technicians Group and Library Assistants (the ALA division), the American Library Association (ALA), the American Society of Information Science and Technology (ASS&T), the Special Libraries Association (SLA) and the Association of Part-Time Librarians (APTL). Activities that Limit Library Assistants Productivity the Most First, the recent economic downturn causes various budget cuts degrees in libraries which results in job opportunities that are few (Teresa 2010). In this scenario, few employees retained or recruited are faced with weightier workload. As a matter of fact, new user expectations and requirements for Librarian Assistants demands higher qualifications, responsibilities and working abilities. Despite the fact that a number of new recruits who have obtained their employment under the job market that is more competitive in current years might be possessing improved computer skills and higher qualifications, there are several old-timers who are still dominant within the field (Teresa 2010). Since the old-timers’ education echelon is comparatively low and turning to be insufficient to compete and survive within the new era of information, it therefore necessitates them to be retrained together with their skills being upgraded. The other factor that limits Library Assistants production is advanced technology, dynamic societal expectations and improved service quality demand. The other factor that limits Library Assistants production is insufficient funding. In this case, libraries are often not provided with enough funds for efficient operation, thus hindering productivity. The other factor limiting production is absence of management interest together with training policy non documentation. E-Business & Cloud Computing ISO/IEC 15944-7: 2009 offers a combined language of eBusiness theories as found and defined within ISO/IEC 14662 as well as the existing portions of ISO/IEC 15944, referred parts, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 together with their related terms (ISO 2014). As a matter of fact, ISO/IEC 15944-7: 2009 offers the procedures, guidelines and rules administering the structure of definitions for theories pertinent to E-Business and selection of words as one integrated and harmonized controlled language. This comprises of those administering multi-lingual expandability that integrates and incorporates cultural capacity. As such, ISO/IEC 1544-7: 2009 fuels the manufacture of human interface comparables of eBusiness definitions and terms in different official (and de facto) lingual of ISO affiliates. Actually, E-commerce incorporates outward-facing procedures which touch suppliers, customers as well as outside partners including customer service, order taking, marketing, delivery, sales, raw material purchasing, production supplies, and purchase of indirect operating-expense products like, office supplies (Kidd & Stanford-Smith 2000). On the other hand, E-Business consists of e-commerce, but it also includes internal processes like inventory management, risk management, production, product development, human resources, knowledge management and finance. E-Business strategy turns to be more complicated; more centred on interior processes, and designed for efficiency cost savings and efficiency improvements, cost savings and productivity. The keys to making E-Business work are origins of revenue, value proposition, required capabilities, resources, and activities and E-Business concept (Kidd & Stanford-Smith 2000). The type of E-Business model being employed in Library Assistant job is human resources. For the libraries to function it requires human, intangible, tangible and supporting capital. In particular, human resources comprise of the knowledge and skills that Library Assistants are supposed to have. In this scenario, depending on the situation and employer, diplomas, degrees and masters degrees are considered relevant qualifications for the Library Assistants. Of connected significance turns to be the corporate culture which figures the manner librarians are working as a group, and which is key in determining the way a library is working with its associates. On the other hand, physical, or tangible and fiscal resources consist of cash reserves, equipment and facilities (Kidd & Stanford-Smith 2000). Intangible resources, as such, comprise of intellectual property, libraries’ processes which are capable of being patented, customer profiles, brands, and databases within personalization data, as well as modified software. Moreover, supporting systems consist of communication processes or information systems, organizational structure that possesses petite value as individual resources. On the capabilities, resources and activities perspective, particular resources are demanded; for instance, staffs having certain capabilities or skills are needed to work in the libraries. This is to ensure that libraries’ activities are performed efficiently and correctly. Actually, organisations can employ E-Business strategy to work with suppliers though there are potential issues. In this scenario, the rivalry environment, occasionally referred as the industry environment comes from associations with other corporations (Kidd & Stanford-Smith 2000). The time that suppliers are few, they might offer high prices and decreases the firm’s profit which purchases from them. In this case, the strategy the organisation is supposed to implement is looking for new producers or suppliers of alterative products. On the contrary, when buyers turn to be few, they are capable of keeping prices low. In this scenario, sellers ought to institute a strategy of finding additional customers to contend for products for the purposes of raising prices or finding a more money-making of their business capability. There are security issues surrounding human resources. First, if Librarian Assistants are not paid well, they would leave jobs leaving the industry without qualified employees. Additionally underpaid employed staff would begin looting library materials leaving libraries with inadequate reading materials. The other issue is improved training. In this case, Librarian Assistants ought to be given modern training to cater for the dynamic world needs. Otherwise, libraries would be rendered useless as a result of not meeting the contemporary people’s needs. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Database Fundamentals CRM refers to infrastructures which enable the description of and rise in value of customer, and the suitable method of inspiring important customers to stay devoted - and certainly, to purchase again (Dyche 2002). Actually, CRM possesses the potential of altering relationships of customers with a firm and augment proceeds within the negotiation. On the other hand, database fundamentals are collections of connected data that possess; some origin from which data got obtained, some extent of contact with real world’s events, and addressees which are keenly interested in the contents within it. As a matter of fact, Library Assistants job can collect data in operational, tactical and strategic areas. First, in operational area, the data to be collected include, the type of books borrowed by the readers, the number of people assisted to access library materials, the type of questions mostly asked by library’s visitors, the number of repaired books, the type of books returned by patrons, and the number of new library cards issued in a day among others. Examples of data that tactical would collect include entered and updated records of patrons on the computers, operation and maintenance of audiovisual equipment, chosen alternative titles the moment enquired materials become unavailable following criterion like interests, and performed financial calculations on the computer, among others. Third, examples of strategic data to be collected include action taken to tackle problematic or disruptive patrons, reduced prices of lending, and the amount of money to be used in the construction of a new library. On the operational area, the library might make a decision of: enlarging the library to provide more space and increasing the number of library cards. On the tactical area, the library might decide: to buy the most modern computers and purchase high quality audiovisual equipment. On the strategic area, the library might decide to: add training to Library Assistants to make them handle problems easily and lowering library fees to encourage more patrons. The library on the operation area would use the funds collected and ask for a loan from institutions in order to implement the decision of expanding the library. On the tactical area, the library would use the collected funds and donations to purchase modern computers and audiovisual equipment. On the strategic area, the library would inform the Library Assistants the importance of added training so that they would accept to be retrained. Enterprise Computing (ERP, SCM, CRM) Enterprise computing entails the maintenance, development and deployment of the systems of information needed for success and survival in modern business environment (Shroff, 2010). It comprises of all different kinds of enterprise software that includes relationship management and database management among others. The types of enterprise management commonly used in the Library Assistants job are SCM and CRM. Actually, CRM possesses the most potential of improving the Lab Assistants job through first forming friendship with customers. As such, Lab Assistants can memorise patrons’ names and call them by names when they visit the library and ask them what they would want improved. Secondly, Lab Assistants can always handle customers complains in a friendly manner even to cruel patrons. Two ways of getting customers over the next two months are; first lowering prices of services at the library. In this case, a library can reduce the charges that patrons pay in the library in order to increase their numbers. The other way of increasing customers is through advertising. In this case, the library can aggressively advertise its services and presence in the media, trade shows, and posters and increase its customers in huge numbers. The first way of using technology to improve customer support would be through offering live chat on the organisation’s website. In this case, qualified staff should be employed to handle customers’ queries within the shortest time possible. The other way would be through offering a toll free 24 hours phone number for handling customers’ queries. As such, all customers should be assisted by an organisation’s customer care department staff round the clock. Summary Actually, Library Assistants are involved in tactical, operational and strategic areas of libraries. Some of their duties include help librarians with the library’s operations that comprise of tasks like, organization and selection of library materials to the patrons; assisting patrons with doing research, offering patrons services, and in a number of scenarios, acquirement and the technological services of cataloguing, classifying, processing and ordering of newly obtained library materials Their education and experience matches their work. Through experience and Library Assistants can make libraries to perform effectively and realise enough money for its sustenance. The development of technology has contributed to the successful operations of libraries. The commonly used information systems in the libraries are customer relation management, enterprise computing and E-Business. Bibliography Baldwin, D, A, 2000, Public Librarian’s Human Resources Handbook: Employer Rights and Responsibilities. Englewood: Colo. Libraries Unlimited. Bureau of Labour Statistics, 2015, Library Technicians and Assistants. < http://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/library-technicians-and-assistants.htm >, [7th April 2015]. Dyche, J, 2002, The CRM Handbook: A Business Guide to Customer Relationship Management. Boston: Addison Wesley. ISO, 2014, ISO/IEC 15944-7: 2009 , [7th April 2015]. Kidd, P, T., & Stanford-Smith, B, 2000, E-business: Key Issues, Applications and Technologies. Amsterdam: IOS Press [u.a.]. Shroff, G, 2010, Enterprise Cloud Computing: Technology, Architecture, Applications. Leicester: Cambridge University Press. Taylor, T, A., & Parish, J, R, 2009, Career Opportunities in Library and Information Science. New York: Ferguson. Teresa, 2010, Library Assistants as Situated Learners: How they Can Learn More Effectively. < http://conference.ifla.org/past-wlic/2010/107-to-en.pdf>, [7th April 2015]. Read More