Re: [CODE4LIB] onboarding developers coming from industry
I also agree very much with what Deborah wrote. I'd come from an IT/software development background, and even after a couple of years in libraries, I hadn't adjusted to library culture. I was frustrated enough to write a paper about it and present at ACRL: http://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/23885 Mutant Superheroes, Contained Chaos, and Smelly Pets: Library Innovation through Imaginary Anarchy Reading my paper now, I recognize that I was completely wrong about a few things (meetings aren't always terrible), and the tone seems entitled to me today. But two of the things that I noticed that are considered good about library culture were very stressful to me as a library newbie, and match what Deborah has pointed out: - Emphasis on collaboration and consensus - Expectation to work on multiple, simultaneous projects By the way, I've adjusted my attitude somewhat, and we've gotten better at doing IT and software in the library and in our group, so I'm happy in libraries now. On Tue, Mar 1, 2016 at 9:39 PM, Fitchett, Deborah < deborah.fitch...@lincoln.ac.nz> wrote: > I actually feel that the tech side of library things may be less > bewildering to a non-tech person than the *culture*. Things like: > > * the way any progress happens in University Time > * the way we're dependent on vendors in ways that mean that yes, often our > systems SUCK but we just have to play the hand we're dealt > * the sometimes-fraught relationship between Library IT and University IT > * the customer-focus of the library - including colleagues as customers > * and relatedly, the collaborative nature of so much library work > * depending on where they've come from and how well you're staffed, the > very "bitsy" nature of Library IT, not just in having to know about lots of > things but having to jump from one thing to another at a moment's notice to > troubleshoot instead of being able to get stuck into a project >
[CODE4LIB] I need help joining code4lib organization on GitHub
Can someone help me join a couple of accounts with the code4lib organization on GitHub? I saw Terry Brady's presentation about GitHub at Code4Lib 2015, and want to set up some GitHub Pages and projects and then invite others to get the code4lib mobile app project rolling. I think that the best place for these pages would be under the code4lib umbrella instead of a personal account. Apologies if this has already been covered before; I had problems when I tried to search the mailing list archive today. Thanks, Keith
Re: [CODE4LIB] code4lib/conf4lib mobile app prototype and a call for help
On Tue, Feb 10, 2015 at 9:26 AM, Collier, Aaron acoll...@calstate.edu wrote: Keith, This is very interesting. I'd love to get involved. I'm here at c4l15, so will you be proposing a breakout? Or just try to get some chat time? Let's do a mobile development breakout at c4l15. How do I set that up?
Re: [CODE4LIB] lita
On Mon, Jan 5, 2015 at 10:53 AM, Eric Lease Morgan emor...@nd.edu wrote: I’m curious, how large is LITA (Library and Information Technology Association)? [0] How many members does it have? [0] LITA - http://www.ala.org/lita/ — ELM Apparently it has around 3000 members this year. I found this on the ALA membership statistics page: http://www.ala.org/membership/membershipstats_files/divisionstats#lita
[CODE4LIB] How to involve library workers in application testing?
Good morning. I have a few colleagues that give excellent feedback and suggestions about web applications once they are installed and in use, and various others that give feature suggestions and report problems. I feel that it would be beneficial to start getting people involved earlier in the software process. Acceptance testing for changes to established applications seems like a good place to start. Users would benefit from software with fewer problems. Several developers and admins here came from places with traditional QA teams and/or business analysts and would be more comfortable with this model. There's a testing tradition in place here for catalog and discovery tools, so I have a model to look at, but the apps I work on are much less critical than the catalog. I'm interested in hearing about how other libraries are handling application testing, to what level non-IT people should be involved, and how testing is structured and encouraged. Software testing is often dull. How have you persuaded people to participate, and has this been beneficial? Thanks, Keith
