September 17 is National I.T. (Information Technology) Professionals Day! So, we asked the Library’s information technology staff a few questions about what they do. Pj, the Library’s I.T. Assistant has worked at the Library for 17 years and started working in the I.T. department in 2017. He filled us in:
Q: What does an average day at work look like?
Pj: After I sign in, I check my email to see if there are any issues or I.T. requests. I check all the computers, especially the self-checkout stations, and look for any out-of-order signs. Then, I remote into any computers with issues to fix them.
Most of the job involves putting out fires and preventing issues with routine updates, like Windows updates, updates to our antivirus software, and browser updates. Since our staff is fairly small, I also work at the service desks to help patrons.
Q: How would you say technology in the Library has changed since you started working in I.T.?
Pj: In the 7 years I have been in I.T., it has gotten a lot easier to manage computers and maintain patron privacy. I used to manually clear browser histories, downloads, and all personal data from computers on a weekly basis. It could take a whole shift to do that, but that has changed drastically. Keeping people’s information safe and private has become a lot easier, because of the new software we use.
We tried different software to track computer usage, but the one we have now is way more user-friendly. Plus, it automatically shuts down computers for us, which makes closing at night a lot easier.
It has been cool to see the change from hard-disk drives to solid-state drives, which make computers run a lot faster and makes transferring data quicker. Recovering corrupted computers is much easier too. We used to need a disk to reinstall Windows, but everything can be done from startup mode or a flash drive, which is good since our computers don’t have disk drives anymore. When I started, some computers still had Windows XP and Windows Vista, but things have changed drastically from Windows Vista to Windows 11.
Between the increase of wall outlets during the renovation in 2019 and the introduction of all-in-one computers, cable management has become much easier and keeps the desks cleaner.
Q: What are the most common I.T. issues you face?
Pj: I often have to fix self-checkout stations and scanners or receipt printers that get disconnected. For patrons, I mostly help them print from their personal devices.