Carol, Jean,

I would like to articulate a different perspective.  This "extra work"
is really an opportunity, a gift that's fallen in your lap!  So many
times technical services is not even considered capable of handling this
new kind of work and isn't even given a chance.  Technical services
folks, in my opinion, are great candidates for doing this
detail-oriented work.  Sure, it's extra work, but it also could be seen
as job security and an opportunity to stretch and expand your staff
skills into an area that is of predominant concern these days.  In other
words, arguably, this is where the action is at.  Don't dismiss this
chance to learn new things offhand, even if it means other, more
traditional tech. svcs. duties might be neglected.  Technical services
folks have valuable skills in organizing and maintaining information
that are too often overlooked in this new kind of work.  Be thankful you
were even asked.  I know a lot of people in technical services in other
libraries who are dying to be more involved in this work but are
preempted from or shut out of involvement.

Steve

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve Oberg
Electronic Resources Librarian & Assistant Professor
Taylor University
http://www.tayloru.edu/library/

Editor, Bits & Bytes Column, _Serials Review_
http://sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00987913

-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Morse [mailto:MorsCa@WWC.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 11:48 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Electronic Databases Question

We are a small library that can't afford to hire someone for that
either. Our director does the negotiations and looks for consortia, our
TS librarian does a lot with getting them to run. We hired a half-time
systems technician who was increased to full-time. But you're right,
it's a drain on employee time. Carol Morse

***********************************************

Address:
Walla Walla College Library
Periodicals Dept.
104 S. College Ave.
College Place, WA  99324-1159

Carol Morse
Serials Librarian morsca@wwc.edu
509) 527-2684; fax 509) 527-2001
**************************************************

>>> jean_lowe45@HOTMAIL.COM 12/17/2003 7:03:24 AM >>>
Increasingly electronic databases and journals are being taken care of
by an Electronic Resources Librarian.  My library doesn't have one and
isn't likely to get one soon.  The library director wants our very long
list of electronic databases to be maintained by technical services.  I
disagree with this.  In all of the past libraries where I have worked,
this task was accomplished in the reference department and/or systems.

I am very curious as to who is maintaining lists of databases in your
libraries and the evolving circumstances as to why/how it was decided to
do it that way.

Thanks,

Jean Lowe