Library Adventures: Academic Library (UF)

The first interview I completed was at the UF Smather Library in Gainesville. I was visiting and took the opportunity to make a visit. Why it is the last of the blogs being written, I do not know. The format and questions changed and evolved along the way and this posting will be slightly different than the others in this series.

I spoke with Mrs. Janice Kahler, an acquisitions specialist with an MLIS from FSU. She also had experience with the IPL (Internet Public Library) project housed there.

The Universsity of Florida Smathers Library is the main campus library serving the general needs of the studnets, faculty,and staff of the University, and patrons from the general community. IT is a large, modern facility recently renovated. I would say the collection is comparable to that of the USF main library collections. However, the Smathers Library does have the addition technology for space saving in its reference section. In the reference section, the book cases are on tracks and controlled electronically. These tracks make it so that a limited number of aisles are available, and only for those sections in use. I was so impressed by this simple space saving endeavor, but it is expensive looking.

UF Smathers Library is unique in its research culture/motivation for everything that they do. Tenured professionals are expected to act as faculty. Research is so high/and the faculty are expected to perform as such. A lot of work is done on grant, and there are mini-grants for practice of staff/librarians. A single staff member is delegated to grant management/awareness. Research is the key.

There is a lot of participation by the community and alumni. Community service, especially where the greater community is brought it or gator nation can help is central to the functioning of the libraries on campus. Scholarly departments took cuts recently just so the library would not be affected and understaffed. The faculty of the academic fields support the library because of the work done by librarians with the students. The culture at UF holds the library as an invaluable resource for the performance of the academic center.

UF is similar to UCF in that they will not promote someone from within if they are already in the library system as a paraprofessional and then are credentialed. A number of people here have graduated from USF/FSU MLIS programs but they keep hiring from outside. Current staff are not encouraged and should go to a different library for experience. UF librarians are considered faculty and are tenured. Must keep up with educational endeavors and publishing.

One challenging situation recently was when she answered a phone at reference desk and the individual started asking questions of the structure of the library, very specific questions. Turned out he was a donor to the library and wanted to find out some info. As this was after hours, and she was not qualified to reveal the answers, she had no one to refer him to. At UF this shows difference in the level library professionals with donors.

Mrs. Kahler's satisfaction is derived from her motivation to assist patrons and provide the best customer service possible. For instance I interviewed her in two parts in early February and early March, and she has since kept in touch and sent me more ALA related information, internship and scholarship opportunities, and general correspondence relevant to the field.