Journal Article: “Indispensable, Interdependent, and Invisible: A Qualitative Inquiry into Library Systems Maintenance”

The journal article linked below was recently published in the January 2023 (Vol 84, No 1) issue of College & Research Libraries (C&RL).

Title

Indispensable, Interdependent, and Invisible: A Qualitative Inquiry into Library Systems Maintenance

Author

Ruth Kitchin Tillman
Penn State University Libraries

Source

College & Research Libraries (C&RL)
Vol 84, No 1

DOI: 10.5860/crl.84.1.121

Abstract

Over thirty years after such systems were first developed, the Integrated Library System underlies most operations of an academic library. Yet in the literature, its day-to-day maintenance is often reduced to a list of tasks. Through interviews with sixteen system maintainers, this study attempts to develop an experiential understanding of its maintenance. Findings suggest that most maintainers find such work meaningful but face barriers when colleagues and administrators don’t understand what they do well enough to support it. This article proposes steps toward building a workplace where core maintenance tasks are recognized and supported.

Direct to Full Text Article

Direct to Full Text Article
16 pages; PDF.

See Also: Complete Table of Contents For Vol 84, No. 1 (Jan. 2023)

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Interviews, Libraries, News