Another sad day…
The somewhat bedraggled systems department here just suffered another loss. Tim, who's been the library's systems administrator for many years - he actually started here as a student, has had an offer he can't refuse from *gasp* the private sector- hold your boos. Tim (who's name I always mistype as Time which seems appropriate now somehow) works in possibly the highest-pressure position in the library. When stuff doesn't work, it's usually Tim's phone that rings. He manages this pressure with grace, patience, and humor beyond his years. We've worked together on a number of projects, mostly informally… I arrived in this job with endless commitment and enthusiasm, but spotty skills, Tim's taught me much, even just be allowing me to interrupt his work with simple, or complex, questions. He's always up to help and over the 18 months since I've started in this job, I've grown particularly fond of him. He's my friend and I'll miss him acutely.
On another, related note… A general plea to all libraries: PLEASE work *with* not against your IT people, 'librarian' or not, they are your ticket to the future. I'm not kidding. It's unacceptable that libraries, who need skilled people like Tim way more than than most corporations, are losing them. Pay them well, treat them well, they're worth it.
