Librarian in Black Blog – Sarah Houghton

Karen Schneider’s recent article for ALA TechSource, IT and Sympathy, highlights several important things for non-IT folks to remember when planning work and projects for their IT staff.  The following is quoted from Karen’s post…please go read her post for well-written and detailed explanations of each item.

• If they haven’t told you what they’re up to, sit down with your IT people and ask what their schedule is, and where your needs for new stuff fit in.
• Do some IT planning on your own.
• Remember nothing is “free,” even if it didn’t come with a price tag.
• This may not be easy—share your tentative plans with IT.

The basic rule of thumb is to be realistic about the workload you’re giving your IT staff and to involve them in the planning stages.  While they don’t have to be given absolute "yay or nay" control over every project, letting them know what’s going on in your heads is the first step toward building a fruitful and pleasant relationship.

I would add that sometimes this situation is precisely reversed.  The IT staff are happily marching along creating new projects and services without asking the staff (who they are supporting, and in my mind, working for) what they want and need.  It goes both ways.  The important thing is for communication lines to be open and expectations to be realistic.  In the end, everyone wins with that combination.