End of an Era: LWSI disbanded as consortium restructures library technology management

The Tri-College (Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, Swarthmore College) Library Management Committee decided today to disband the long-standing consortial committee for technology research, development, implementation, and advising.  After more than a decade in service, the Library Web Services Integration (LWSI) committee, comprised of members from the public and technical services departments from all three campuses, was dissolved in favor of

“A Technology Advisory Group comprised of select members of the Management Group, likely including one head of Technical Services, one head of Public Services, [the convener of the Systems Group], and appropriate others.”

The most recent incarnation of LWSI did not include any department heads or members of the management group, and I think it is clear that the decision to move to a Technical Advisory Group whose composition draws heavily from administrative staff is something of a sea change in the way technology will be handled in the TriCo.

Speaking personally, I felt incredibly lucky to serve however briefly on a committee like LWSI, where my paraprofessional status seemed to have little bearing on how my input or interest was received by other committee members.  I viewed LWSI as an opportunity to develop skills and professional relationships as I move towards library school and a professional library career, and also as a venue through which someone who is new to the field could introduce new concepts and practices for technology use in the TriCo.

The proposed composition of TAG does not seem to present the same opportunities for paraprofessional staff to become involved, and, I think, could present an unfortunate step back for staff development and interaction in the TriCo.

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