Bridging the Gap Between SystemsIT and Librarians橋接systemsit與館員之間的差距

1、Bridging the Gap BetweenSystems/IT and Librarians,Carson Block Technology Coordinator Fort Collins Public Library ,Who is this presentation for?,Seasoned managers Those who have just been “kicked upstairs” Those who want to be managers Especially for those who want to lead their organizations throug

2、h technology Presented from the perspective of public libraries, but applicable to others as well,Your humble presenter(Why should I listen to this guy anyway!?),A whopping decade of library experience! Five years at Loveland Public Library managing the media department Three years working for a mul

3、ti-type library agency (High Plains RLSS) as staff Technology Consultant for public, school and academic libraries. Co-led the ASCC project. Filtering consultant for Colorado State Library Currently Technology Coordinator for the Fort Collins Public Library,Uhwhy Bridge the Gap anyway?,Systems/IT De

4、partments are uniquely positioned to propel our organizations to greatness, or if were already great, great-er-ness. We manage what is arguably the greatest common denominators between staff our ILS; other computing resources; and the network.,Uhwhy Bridge the Gap anyway?,When were doing a great job

5、 on the technical end, these common denominators are mostly invisible. (yippie!) Butif theyre mostly invisible, staff and other managers may not realize that technology is a common denominator worthy of their attention. (boo!),Uhwhy Bridge the Gap anyway?,Since we serve as a common denominator, were

6、 uniquely positioned to help our organizations in powerful ways: Increased efficiencies Organizational cost savings* Easier workloads for staff Creating innovative technical solutions that work not just for one group, but for the entire organization and the publics we serve Setting a good example of

7、 efficiency, teamwork and collaboration Its just the right thing to do! *Cost savings are not necessarily in the IT lines in the budget. IT is an area of investment that pays dividends throughout the organization. This is a topic for a different presentation,Its about People,When youre a manager, mo

8、st of the issues you personally encounter are social or political in nature, with just enough technical relevance to (sometimes just barely) justify your presence in the matter. Sorry, its too late to hide in the server room. Besides, the answers you seek are not there!,Its About People,Listening is

9、 the best way to learn about people. If you dont love people (including the full range of human eccentricities) this may not be the job for you. Your job in bridging the gap begins with your own staff and balancing their strengths and weaknesses. Librarians, your boss, other managers and colleagues

10、are people too!,Who do you work for?,The answer to this question is essential to identifying the tail, the dog, and the relationship between the two. At FCPL, our direct customers are staff. We strive to fill the needs of the public through the needs and experiences voiced by staff. Yes gaps still e

11、xist. Its our job to bridge them! Ultimately, we should all strive to serve the greater good of our organizations. Your core philosophy in this area is a powerful rudder in the uncharted waters that we sail in daily.,Who Do You Work With?,Use your formidable network diagramming skills and apply it t

12、o all of the people and organizations in your work life Look at it, think about, change it, and think about it some more. Easiest to do when you have a new job, but those of us in place for a while might find it to be a valuable exercise,The Communications Gap,The largest gap we all face is in the a

13、rea of communications. NEWS FLASH! Techs and Librarians often have different values, approaches, and sensibilities. NEWS FLASH! Techs themselves often have different values, approaches, and sensibilities. NEWS FLASH! People in general often have differentokayyou get the idea Our goal should be to tu

14、rn those into complimentary traits instead of areas of conflict.,The Communications Gap email,Email is great, and its here to stay. Email is one-way communication. Simply making a statement does not mean that is always understood. See:emoticons Not being understood often leads to all sorts of bad cr

15、aziness and other unintentional consequences. If everyone involved understands the “rules” of email, it can be quite effective. But its still one-way communication. Effective communication requires interaction. Theres nothing like being face-to-face or side-by-side.,The Communications Gap - meetings

16、,If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a good meeting is worth a thousand e-mails! Mind you, I *hate* meetings (but please allow me to qualify that statement) A good meeting allows your customers and staff to understand and help mold technology decisions. At its best dynamic and inclusive.,Th

17、e Communications Gap - Meetings,There are lots of opinions and resources describing the elements of good meetings. Heres mine: Be respectful all participants time. Be respectful of all participants! Have a clear purpose, objective or agenda for the meeting, and communicate that to the participants.

18、Dont be above offering incentives to attend and participate Be flexible, but remember its up to you to enforce any meeting rules,The Communications Gap - Language,Is your language inclusive or exclusive? Theres nothing we do that cant be explained in simple lay terms. When words fail you, draw pictu

19、res. When pictures fail, try interpretive dance (or whatever alternative most effectively conveys your message) Jargon Very helpful in our IT world; often confusing and alienating to librarians Share your jargon positively to let librarians and others into the cool high-tech geek club (see: “granula

20、r” and “disambiguate”),The Communications Gap Attitudes About Technology,Be positive - model “positivity” for others Technology is a tool that our customers are actively involved in selecting and molding; its not something that is “done to them.” Technology is a friend; it helps makes tasks easier O

21、ur relationship with technology requires care, understanding, patience. As with many relationships, theres also the possibility of the continuum of fantasy/”love”/disillusion/denial/anger/bargaining/depression.and finally acknowledgement.,The Communications Gap - Transparency,Im looking through you.

22、 When were doing our jobs right, what we do is also mostly invisible (a form of transparency, but not the one we want here) We need to make it visible in an unobtrusive manner for our customers Our tool is a custom port of bugzilla augmented by lots of personal face-to-face interaction,The Communica

23、tions Gap create venues and methods,Regular Meetings Ad hoc meetings Tech tools Be personally accessible (a balancing act) Use different methods for different people and groups The question to ask yourself “Is this working?” Abandon communication methods that arent effective, and keep trying until y

24、ou hit paydirt.,The Communications Gap - misc,Dont intimidate with your vast knowledge Acknowledge others frustrations validate their feelings Do not threaten others ideas make it safe for them to share thoughts with you Its not about us/them, bargaining, or competition In times of conflict, explain

25、 the “whys” and limitations of technology in plain language. This can be a magic bullet. Be humble and have the heart of a servant,Random Thought: Aint it cool!?,The gee-whiz factor of tech is (and should be) very cool but its most powerful as an attention-getter. Every beautiful, shiny technology o

26、bject should lead to powerful results that can stand up to individual scrutiny.,Bridging the Gap - Leadership,If you see something broken in the organization, who fixes it? Uhthat would be you, Sparky! This falls under “other duties as assigned.”,Your job as an IT Manager or Leader,You are always se

27、tting an example good or bad. Think about that for a second Create a track record of successes. Give the organization accurate assessments of technology projects and proposals. Avoid flashy promises that are doomed to fail. Strive to always be objective. Avoid joining factions or other forms or orga

28、nizational disputes. This is harder than it might sound. Ultimately,Git R Done!,Larry the Cable Guy accidental redneck jokester or calculating comedic genius? If you find Larrys catch-phrase distasteful, kindly substitute “accomplish the task” and delete this slide.,For Those New to Systems Manageme

29、nt,You were probably a technology rock star and got noticed, based on your personal and unique abilities with tech.,For those new to systems management,Your job is no longer just about you. Its about what you are able to accomplish through others-Your direct reports-Colleagues-External Partners -You

30、r boss (!) - And others,Dave Madden as band manager “Ruben Kincade”,For Those New to Systems Management,Your staff are the rock stars now. If you do a good job, their abilities in each area will far exceed your own. You got a problem wit dat? If so, maybe it *is* time to go hide in the server room,F

31、or those new to systems management,You will make mistakes. Mistakes and successes are equally important to your development. “Mea Culpa” being able to say “Im Wrong” and especially “Im Sorry” may be the two most powerful phrases you can ever use. Simple to say but very difficult to master. You might

32、 not find much support for this approach from other managers.,For Those New to Systems Management,Coaching and Mentoring staff development Flack jacket Inspiration!,POP QUIZ!,Manager or Leader? You decide!,Manager or Leader?,Microsofts Bill Gates and Apples Steve Jobs,Manager or Leader?,Former Texas Governor Ann Richards,Manager or Leader?,Gandhi,Manager or Leader?,Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright,Manager or Leader?,Joan of Arc,Manager or Leader?,“Bono Vox” (Paul Hewson) Of the rock Band U2,Manager or Leader?,Jane Goodall,Manager or Leader?,Jame