From
connecting with people to keeping up with the latest technologies, there is a
whole lot more to the job than stamping due dates
The Guardian - 31 January 2011
By Emma Cragg and
Katie Birkwood
Librarians
provide training to show people how to search for information and evaluate what
they find.
Photograph:
Science photo library
If we stopped the next person
walking by on the street and asked them what our jobs as librarians involve,
we'd be willing to bet that their first answer would be stamping books. This is
because many people's experience of librarians is of the frontline, customer
service staff. Have you ever considered how the books get on to the shelves and
ready for you to borrow? Behind the scenes there are teams of librarians
working to make this happen.
There are librarians who select the books for purchase, librarians who
process the orders and librarians who create the bibliographic records that
make it possible for you to find the book in the library catalogue and then on
the shelves.