[Prodev] What programs would you like to see in library schools

[Karen Tschanz]

Have been following this discussion with some interest. Would like to =
interject a training sidebar.

Library administrators and the "library press" express great concern over =
the imminent retirement of many experienced librarians in the next decade =
or so. The perceived problem is framed as: how can we grow and train =
qualified, young replacements to counter the "brain drain"?

In fact, the problem could be stated in these terms as well: how can we =
better utilize and train our currently available pools of expertise: the =
midcareer, and the pre-/post-retirement employees that want to continue on =
in the workplace (or could be encouraged to do so)?

Some folks actually enjoy working, and don't want to retire. Others want =
or will need to continue working because of economics. Others would gladly =
go back to work as paid employees, rather than as volunteers. Still others =
just enjoy new challenges and responsibilities, and would happily take =
those on in the same or another work setting, especially if affordable =
training and retooling opportunities were available.=20

To relate this to training and library schools: most of the focus in =
library schools is on training folks new/relatively new to librarianship. =
Isn't it time we also moved "out of the box", and thought about developing =
"post-doc" curricula designed to train and retool midcareer, and pre-/post =
retirement library workers as well?

Just my two cents. kst

Karen S. Tschanz
Technical Services Librarian
Seyfarth Shaw
Library=20
55 E. Monroe, Suite 4200
Chicago, IL 60603 USA
(312) 739-6264 (phone)
(312) 739-6226 (fax)
tschaka@seyfarth.com=20

>>> bfullerton@lockeliddell.com 03/11/03 10:12AM >>>
There has been some great discussion about the library school programs. =
What
are your opinions about the topics taught in library schools? What topics =
do
you think would have benefited your  library education, but were not =
taught
in the traditional classes? IMHO, I would have liked to see more business
topics (for budgeting and managing) and negotiations.=20

Barbara Fullerton


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