Dunn and Wilson scholarship project 1999 Changing roles, changing goals: transferring library technician skills beyond the library

Appendix 5

Dunn and Wilson Scholarship research

Changing roles, changing goals - transferring the skills beyond the library - A Questionnaire

As the current recipient of the Dunn and Wilson scholarship, my research project is to determine alternative employment paths for library technicians that lie beyond the traditional library situation.

As part of this research I am interested in assessing the following two aspects in relation to those library technicians who have already successfully moved into these types of roles:

• What are the triggers (if there are indeed any) that cause Library Technicians to consider a move into positions that lay beyond the traditional library
• Identify the skills and knowledge gained through library practice and study that are transferable into these new roles

I am formulating this research not as a quantitative analysis, but as a focused qualitative process, hence the reason for identifying you as a recipient of this questionnaire. Your personal experiences and information will help to me identify alternate future directions for library technicians and to share this information with all library technicians.

On completion of this questionnaire please return it in either of the following ways:

• As a return email attachment to mmartine@library.mq.edu.au
• Via snail mail to Meredith Martinelli
  36 Parklands Road
  North Ryde, NSW 2113

If you have any enquiries I can be contacted via the above email or on (02) 9850 7509 (w) 0414 983414 (m)

Please answer the following questions with as much detail as you are able to provide. Where there has been more than one alternate role identify each specific position.

Name:

1. When did you complete your Library Technician qualifications?
2. Have you worked in a traditional library environment? If yes for how long in total?
3. What is/was the title of your alternate position?
4. How long have/did you hold this position?
5. What are/were the responsibilities of this position?
6. What was the reason for your decision to move into an alternative role?
7. Can you identify the specific skills/knowledge gained from your Library Technician qualification and any subsequent library practice that were transferable to the alternative role?
8. Can you identify which generic skills (ie communication) were applicable/transferable to this position?
9. Would you consider or have you made a move back into a traditional library position?
10. If yes, Why?
11. If no, Why?
12. What have been the benefits to you personally from moving into this/these position/s?
13. What have been the benefits professionally from moving into this/these position/s?
14. Do you have any advice for library technicians considering a move?
15. Further comments?

Thank you for taking the time to complete this. It is hoped that the final outcomes will be of benefit to all library technicians. The results will be presented in Hobart at the 11^th National Library technicians Conference in August 2001. I hope to see you all there.