The Myth and Magic of Library Systems

Keith J. Kelley has recently concluded his IT career as the Director of Systems at Western Michigan University Libraries where he was also Project Manager of the libraries’ ILS replacement project. He managed the library automation group as well as the desktop computing group. He was also an IT expert-at-large for issues in the libraries’ Digitization Center, the Web Office and other areas of the libraries with complex information technology needs.

A Missive To Administrators
A Missive to Library IT Department Heads and Library IT Administrators
A Missive to New Librarians in IT and Students
A Missive to Library School Faculty and Administrators
A Missive to IT Committee Members and Other Engaged Library Employees
Chapter 1: Atlantis Wasn’t A Magical Place and Library Systems Is Just Library IT
Chapter 2: Creature of Ancient Myth: The Titans and the Systems Librarian
Chapter 3: Customers, Patrons, Users, and Unruly Mobs
Chapter 4: Reading Users’ Minds
Chapter 5: Sleight of Hand: Service, or the Appearance of Service
Chapter 6: Taking On Apprentices: Educating Your Customer Base
Chapter 7: Do the Impossible: Slaying Dragons Without Time, People, Or Money
Chapter 8: Adventure Party Makeup: Building an IT Staff
Chapter 9: The Ritual: Analyzing Problems, Providing Solutions
Chapter 10: Arcane Strategy: Following the Magic Rule System
Chapter 11: Predicting the Future
Chapter 12: They Flow Through Us and Around Us and Bind Us Together
Chapter 13: Omniscience: Knowing All Things
Chapter 14: Superpowers You Could Possess
Chapter 15: Convening the Council: Meetings
Chapter 16: The Crystal Ball: Reporting, Data Mining, and Assessment
Chapter 17: Spellbook: Helpful Tips, Strategies, and Solutions
Appendix: Magic Words Your Coworkers Might Be Misusing: An Un-Thesaurus