Jan Summers: How the librarian stays in advance of the technologies curve | Boomtown

Jan Summers remembers when she experienced to clip newspapers with a pair of scissors for the Columbia Day-to-day Tribune reference data files in 1984.

She also remembers paying 20 minutes each individual afternoon in 1992 to back again up the library process at Hickman Significant Faculty. It needed 12 floppy disks.

Her initial memory of a personal computer lab for pupils was in the late 1990s when a couple of dozen desktop versions were introduced in the Harrisburg Faculty District.

For 50 many years, Summers has worked as a library media specialist with a entrance-row seat to check out the explosion of the online. As a result of it all, she has uncovered to adapt and develop with the know-how.

“I assume it is accurate that the more things change, the additional they however stay the same,” she said.

Summers, 71, now functions section-time at Hickman Superior College, coming into new ebook titles into the on the net Future catalog system. Whilst she officially retired in 2011, she claimed she can’t go away the library rather yet.

“My spouse suggests I just function about there to talk,” she reported. “I continue to keep so chaotic above there, and I have so much pleasurable carrying out items. I’m operating component-time for enjoyment.”

As a media specialist, Summers has learned all sorts of means to find, organize and existing facts. Her former “clientele” has involved reporters speeding to come across an aged short article before deadline, high college learners doing the job on class initiatives and elementary university learners who require teaching on on-line protection.

A single part of a librarian’s task is to find new and innovative ways to inspire men and women to study, she explained. The details continues to be the identical, but the equipment is generally evolving.

1 example is audiobooks. Although “talking books” have been about considering the fact that the 1930s, the emergence of cassette tapes, then compact discs, then downloadable information expanded the audiobook industry.

Still, regardless of the reputation of audiobooks and e-guides, real guides have not absent out of type, she claimed.

“Before 2000 arrived all-around, people were stating (textbooks) have been likely to all be online they are all likely to be audiobooks they’re all going to be e-guides,” Summers claimed. “We’ve bought children — the younger era — who nonetheless really like to have that e-book in their hand.”

A profession in library sciences wasn’t generally the system for Summers. She originally gained a diploma in Spanish instruction but determined to receive an supplemental library sciences diploma right after doing work as a clerk at the University Library at the University of Illinois in Urbana.

The head of the library catalog division encouraged her and other young women of all ages to go back to college to come to be librarians.

“It appeared like an unlimited supply of folks ended up fascinated,” Summers claimed. “They had a waiting checklist for people carrying out clerical work.”

Immediately after graduating in 1975, Summers labored at a junior superior college in Urbana for 3 years. She moved to Columbia when her partner, Gerald, was available a instructing placement at MU, and she took a clerical job at Rock Bridge High School.

“I was there for three years,” she said. “Then, I’ll never know particularly why I did this — but I’m glad I did — I remaining that career to go grow to be the news librarian at the Columbia Tribune.”

From 1984 to 1992, Summers worked in the archives at the Tribune, curiously located in the sporting activities division.

“It was wild,” she said. “I liked those people fellas, they ended up just a hoot.”

While a newsroom seems like a different planet in contrast to a faculty library, Summers mentioned they’re in fact not so distinctive.

“Reporters on deadline, seeking some facts right now, are just like junior significant faculty college students who have not organized considerably ample in advance,” she stated.

After the Tribune, Summers moved back again to public university libraries in a paraprofessional place at Hickman.

“I was frustrated because, at that point, they weren’t fairly completely ready to shell out the major chunk of funds it would consider to automate,” Summers said. “The head of the library inspired me to get involved with on line means for the kids to use and the instructors to use with their kids,” at Hickman.

At the time, Listserv and the VERONICA search motor, an acronym for the Very Straightforward, Rodent-Oriented, Net-large Index to Computerized Archives ended up applied to carry out exploration and come across information and facts.

“The Entire world Large Web modified every thing,” she mentioned. “All the methods we use the online. There were points persons would do, for example heading by e mail, you would be in a position to connect with one more teacher and that teacher’s course for some project. It was pleasurable, and it was remarkable.”

Although the strategy of finding info has modified due to the fact 1975, serving to little ones with their research has not. Summers not only catalogued publications, but she also taught kids how to perform investigation effectively and securely . These competencies will confirm useful for the relaxation of their life, she reported.

Eleven many years since her retirement in 2011, Summers is keen to allow others take the reins for obtaining new and innovating information techniques. She’s satisfied to be in the area in which it takes place, and she gives sage knowledge when vital.

Julie Ryan, Hickman High School’s library media heart clerk, said Summers’ guidance has been priceless.

“I believe what is so neat about Jan is that she constantly desires to master about new developments and new systems, but she also understands what her knowledge contributes to what we will need to know now, far too,” Ryan mentioned.

Ryan is doing the job toward a master’s degree in library science and normally asks Summers about the huge organizational and institutional knowledge she possesses.

“Jan has been these a wealth of knowledge and details to place some context into the issues we do as librarians, and factors that have modified or shifted as time has gone on,” Ryan stated.

When she’s not at the library, Summers delivers piano accompaniment for the university choirs and serves as president of the Missouri Gymnastics Booster Club. The club coordinates gatherings and raises cash for Tiger gymnasts in competitiveness.

Summers and her spouse have adopted MU gymnastics for 34 several years and go to all of their satisfies.

“It’s pretty true — previous puppies, new methods — it’s truly tough,” Summers reported. “And if you have to adjust your complete standpoint on (technological innovation), give on your own some grace. Don’t be fearful of it, check with for support.”