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Interpersonal skills no problem for librarians
To the Editor:
As an alumna of UB's MLS program (1990), I was keen to read the article on the new bachelor's degree in informatics at UB. However, I cringed when I read the sentence that stated that undergraduates would receive training in "both information technology and interpersonal skills."
Is there an assumption that anyone with information-technology skills necessarily lacks interpersonal skills, and needs specialized remedial training? I realize that the stereotype of the socially inept librarian is very popular, but I can tell you that the problem with most librarians is not that they're frosty and unapproachable. The problem is that they won't shut up.
Reference librarians in particular love to be onstage and give presentations for a living: they joined this profession because they enjoy playing this role. Librarians who work in other areas of the library are typically managers who are responsible for directing the work of employees, designing library services and interacting with members of the public or campus community. No one gets to hide behind a pile of books any more.
I hope that this undergraduate program is designed to give students a solid background in information technology and to develop strong communication skills; from Dean Penniman's comments, it sounds like that is the goal. I'm sorry that this didn't come out more clearly in the opening paragraphs of the article.
Sincerely,
Nancy R. Nelson
Head, Access Services Department
University of Delaware Library