tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233390182090813624.post6273434470782597478..comments2023-12-22T23:37:25.400-05:00Comments on Only connect: Libraries partner to survive in the UKAlexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13267343586937882369noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233390182090813624.post-29392055382657233432011-08-09T16:18:47.983-04:002011-08-09T16:18:47.983-04:00This makes me want to cry: tears of frustration an...This makes me want to cry: tears of frustration and anger.<br /><br />As the only staff member of a small, non-lending library (small = 11,000 catalogued books/manuscripts dated 1678-2010 -- that's not counting the 300+ titles from 2009-2011 waiting to be catalogued --, 539 periodical titles, 184 DVDs/videos, 40 metres of processed archival records -- double that for unprocessed --, plus 150,000 photo images that are only partially catalogued in a spreadsheet) -- I rely HEAVILY on volunteers. <br /><br />But, partially due to my institution's heavy reliance on volunteers, the cataloguing of those photographic images is, well: Volunteers have been working on that spreadsheet for 10+ years and have 55,000 entries. They've done a damn good job, but let me repeat that: 10+ YEARS, 55,000 entries = one third of our image collection. It will take us another 20 years just to catalogue what we already have, let alone new acquisitions.... No digitization program in place. Maybe an eighth of our total holding available online. Maybe.<br /><br />Trained, professional and para-professional people who know what they are doing, who show up consistently for shifts (because financial incentive is a lot more rewarding than gooey 'feel-good' incentives) make things easier to find and to make more items available for public consumption. <br /><br />Never mind trying to find the right combination of skill set/subject knowledge: my volunteers are all in their 70s and 80s. Health issues prevent my most tech-savvy volunteer from coming in (I've seen him maybe 5 times in the past year), and medical appointments understandably take priority over volunteer commitments -- and the volunteer hours permitted are limited anyway, due to, well: I'm the only staff member. And it's a part-time position at that (2 university degrees required for a position that has no benefits, no advancement space aside from incremental $$$ increases according to the union's schedule, and whose part-time hours are in threat of being reduced even more) a part-time position that took me almost a year to find. And I count myself damn lucky to have found it.<br /><br />And the public gets cranky and wonders why we don't have more convenient hours......Carrienoreply@blogger.com