Former students talk about the LIT program.
Theresa
Suzanne
Betty
Sally
Caroline
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Sally Kinane is a Library Assistant at the Benicia Public Library. We asked her some questions about her job, and she gave the following responses:

What is library technology all about?
"Library technology is about doing the technical and behind the scenes work of the library but it can also be working with the public. It can be anything from cataloging materials to maintaining computers to working on the circulation or reference desk, with lots of things in between. That is what makes it so interesting."

How did you become interested in working as a library technician?
"I always loved library work, ever since I was a high school student and belonged to the library club. I volunteered in libraries throughout my life and when my children finally entered college, I decided to go to school and take courses that would help me get a job in a library. I did not want to spend years earning my masters and I really did not want the responsibility of being a librarian so the DVC course of library and information technology was perfect for me."

What is your job?
"My job title is Library Assistant II. My job is three-fold. I work 15 hours a week on the reference desk doing reference work. I created and maintain the Benicia Library's web page. I maintain the 40 computers that the library has for patrons use and staff use: I am responsible for everything such as updating, servicing, ordering, installing software, etc."

What do you like the most about this job?
"The variety. I get to work with people and help them solve their problems, which sometimes requires me to be a detective; the same
with computers. I like the creativity I can use to develop the web page. No two days are the same here and I never know what will happen from day to day."

What do you like the least?
"Sometimes the exciting things run out and I have to catch up on
my email or reading. I know it is important but it seems dull compared to when I am solving a problem or designing web pages."

What type of person should consider becoming a library technician? "Certain qualities are almost essential to library work. The first important one is attention to detail. In any of the jobs I have done in the library, attention to detail is so important. Also, if a person doesn't want to be stuck in the back room behind a desk all day, an interest in working with people is essential. That means all kinds of people.

"People who work in the library are all different but one of the qualities we all seem to share is a sense of organization. Our desks might be messy but we probably have the mess in some kind of order that makes sense to us. So I would also say liking orderliness is another trait for library work.  To be able to work independently and see problems and solutions also is a big help.

"The skill needed the most for work at our library is computer skills, such as web searching, word processing and basic computer and mouse usage. Even our circulation staff have to use the computer to check in and out books."

What other types of jobs are you prepared for with your education and background in library technology?
"Other jobs in other fields? I feel that with my background, I could work in any place that needed reference kinds of work, such as offices of lawyers, newspapers, etc. I could also work where things needed organizing and sorting, such as museums. I do freelance web design for a charitable organization (pro bono) and have been asked by someone at Stanford to work in their computer department."

Do you think there are--and will continue to be--plenty of jobs for library technicians in the Bay Area?
"Yes, I have seen many job announcements for library assistants in the Bay Area, many of which seem to like people with the library technology background. I also think there will be a call for more library technicians as more libraries see a use for techs in areas such as reference and cataloging."

Did the DVC library and information technology courses help you get the job?
"Yes, while I started working at this library at the circulation desk, when I graduated, they moved me up to doing reference work and the web designing. If I hadn't had the DVC certificate, I would be still working at the circulation desk. Did I feel prepared to do the work? Yes, very much so."

Any other comments about this career field or the DVC program?
"I feel very lucky that I found the DVC program at the time in my life I needed it. When I moved to this area, I did not realize there was a program to help me achieve my dream of working in a library without getting my MLA, until I saw the DVC catalog. I think there needs to be more publicity about this program.

"P.S. There are 2 of us working here that have our DVC library and information technology certificate and another who is almost finished with the course."

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