Library Herald Year : 2006, Volume : 44, Issue : 3 First page : ( 223) Last page : ( 230) Print ISSN : 0024-2292. Online ISSN : 0976-2469. Supporting the Support: Involving Unqualified Staff in the Automation Process
Tariang BIKIKA LALOO, Lecturer Department of Library & Information Science, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Mawlai, Umshing, Shillong, 22, Meghalaya, India. E-mail:bikilaloo@rediffmail.com
Abstract The focus of this paper is the involvement of support staff in the automation process in a library. The management at a Central University library in North East India, taking a bold step, decided to do just such a thing and found to its pleasant surprise that it was the right move despite the risks encountered. The author interviewed staff at different levels in the library to find out what happens when support staff are allowed into the ‘hallowed’ area of automation. As it turns out, the librarian and other officers are reaping the good fruits of their decision and the phenomenon experienced in this library can serve as a model for others.