**E-COMPETENCIES for\
Federal Depository Libraries & Librarians**

**http://www.library.ucsb.edu/ala/gitco/ecomps.html**

### Please send comments, suggestions, additions, etc. to:

###  Eric Forte, GITCO Chair, forte@library.ucsb.edu

Contents:

-   Introduction and Preliminaries

-   Tier I: Must Skills, or E-Competencies that every Depository
    Librarian should have.

-   Tier II: Skills which at least one staff member/librarian at
    Depository Library must have.

-   Tier III: Skills that are very helpful to have, especially in a
    depository library serving clientele performing research.

-   Other Resources

# 

# Introduction

These \"E-competencies\" represent a GODORT effort to describe the
technical skills and knowledge that depository librarians need to
possess in order to provide effective service with electronic products.

This document is a work in progress. In addition to simply listing
components, we will, when appropriate, provide materials to aid the
depository librarian in acquiring the skills described herein.

These documents outline recommended competencies. Each depository is
different, however, and must be aware of what it requires to serve the
best interests of its patrons. Please send comments, suggestions,
additions, etc., to Eric Forte, GITCO Chair.

# Preliminaries

In most institutions, the ability to use many of the competencies listed
here are influenced by forces outside the depository itself. For
instance, administrative decisions, whether policy or budget, can
determine how well a depository delivers electronic services. Likewise,
the policies, procedures, and personnel of a library\'s systems or IT
department can have a great effect on e-competencies.

The effective depository librarian will have knowledge of the local
personnel and policies related to information technology. They should
cultivate positive relationships with administration and systems staff,
in order to insure excellent service for electronic government
information. They should have knowledge of, and input into,
technology-related policies affecting the depository. When necessary,
they should seek out training opportunities. They should also take
advantage of expertise throughout the government documents community to
aid in meeting the e-competencies noted here. One can ask one\'s
regional, nearby depositories, or the community at large via GOVDOC-L.

In summary, depository libraries should be proactive in acquiring
e-competencies and providing services to electronic materials.

**Tier I: Must Skills, or E-Competencies that every Depository Librarian
should have.**

> 1\. Computers 101
>
> 2\. An understanding of GPO\'s Minimum Technical Guidelines.
>
> 3\. Competency with Windows operating system.
>
> 4\. Competency with web browsers and file formats.
>
> 5\. Competency with e-mail.
>
> 6\. Competency with electronic catalogs.
>
> 7\. Competency with web URLs.
>
> 8\. Awareness of user ability and experience.

**1. Computers 101: Have a *basic* knowledge of the following terms:**

> hardware
>
> software
>
> the \'Web\'
>
> CPU
>
> monitor
>
> peripherals (drives: 3.5 floppy, legacy 5.25 floppy, CD-ROM, DVD, Zip)
>
> keyboard
>
> mouse or other mouse-like device
>
> printer
>
> electrical surge protection

**2. An understanding of the rationale behind (and function of) GPO\'s
Minimum Technical Guidelines and an ability to communicate this to
one\'s local Systems Office or administration (have a basic knowledge of
these terms from the latest Minimum Technical Guidelines Public Access
Workstations in Federal Depository Libraries):**

> Processor
>
> Memory (RAM)
>
> Ports
>
> I/O bus
>
> Video
>
> Audio
>
> Hard Disk Drive
>
> Removable/External Storage
>
> DVD Drive
>
> Monitor
>
> Printer
>
> Keyboard and Pointing Device
>
> Internet Connectivity
>
> Operating System
>
> Communications

## Software 

> Web Browser
>
> Database
>
> Spreadsheet
>
> Word Processor
>
> Mapping Software
>
> .pdf file viewer

**3. Competency with Windows operating system**

Understanding of Windows directory structures, file formats, and basic
operations such as finding programs, printing, rebooting a computer,
etc.

**4. Competency with web browsers and common web file formats**

Ability to navigate web pages; competency with Adobe Acrobat software
(files in .pdf format, such as tax forms) and TIFF (tagged image file
format); competency in recognizing and dealing with other common file
types, including spreadsheet/excel, images (.gif, .jpg, .tif), etc.
Awareness of the various ways in which documents can be placed on the
web and what the differences will mean (e.g., .pdf will take longer to
load).

**5. Competency with e-mail**

Ability to send, receive, forward mail and attachments.

**6. Competency with electronic catalogs**

Ability to use the Catalog of United States Government Publications and
the databases of GPO Access; and other catalogs, public or private,
which may be helpful for government information, such as the Library of
Congress Catalog, OCLC Worldcat, or commercially enhanced products
featuring GPO Cataloging.

**7. Competency with web URLs**

Ability to readily find an agency home page. Competency with web search
engine strategies, especially those relating to Government information
(ability to search Firstgov, Google and Google Uncle Sam, Searchgov,
etc.)

**8. Awareness of user ability and experience**

Many off-campus users have limited access to or experience with computer
resources. Depository library professionals must be prepared to assist
users with navigation and software troubleshooting by phone, e-mail, or
personal contact.

**Tier II: Skills which at least one staff member/librarian at
Depository Library must have.**

**1. Ability to use above knowledge to install and troubleshoot
software**

Includes ability to recognize file formats common in software
installation (find a setup or install executable file; find and open a
readme file). Competency with utilities such as FTP and file
decompression/compression utilities (ability to unzip files)

**2. Basic skills with word processing and spreadsheet software**

Ability to format, print, and download documents in these formats.

**3. DOS commands, to support a number of older (CD and floppy)
electronic products**

Tier III: Skills that are very helpful to have, especially in a
depository library serving clientele performing research.

1\. Competency with database software, such as MS Access, FilemakerPro,
etc.

Much government data is compatible with (and desirable to use in) a
database format. In addition, managing item selections, etc., can
greatly be aided by an ability to use databases.

**2. Basic UNIX commands**

**3. Competency with statistical software, such as SPSS and/or SAS**

**4. Ability to do all of the pc skills above with Mac, too**

5\. Web authoring skills:

Html, knowledge of web authoring software products, knowledge of web
authoring principles.

**6. Competency with GIS applications and data**

#### Other GODORT projects related to e-competencies 

See GODORT-Created Resources
(http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/GODORT/created.html), which include:

# Cataloging Committee 

> GPO PURL Alert
>
> Toolbox for Processing and Cataloging Federal Government Documents

# Education Committee 

> GODORT Handout Exchange
>
> Government Information and Depository Management Clearinghouse

# Federal Documents Task Force 

## Frequently Used Sites Related to U.S. Federal Government Information 

# Government Information Technology Committee 

> CD-ROM Doc: GODORT CD-ROM Documentation Service

## Government Information Web Page Template 

> How to Find Information about Government CD-ROM Products

This document is a work in progress.  Please send comments, suggestions,
additions, etc., to Eric Forte, GITCO Chair.
\<mailto:forte@library.ucsb.edu\>

See also the original e-competencies document, discussed at the Fall
2001 FDLP Conference.

\<http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/GODORT/GODORT_ecomp.rtf\>