Librarian adjusts to changing research landscape
Roy Lenn
Posted on: 1/27/10 Section: Features
Haley grew up in New York City, and moved to California in the 1970s. In 1976 he received a master's in Library and Information Science from UCLA.
Haley says he decided to become a librarian after taking an occupation aptitude test, on which he scored highly in both library work and computers. Haley had a strong interest in computers in high school.
"The career counselor scoring the test for me said, 'Libraries are getting heavily into computers. If you're good at both of these things, [library science] might be a good career for you'."
Before coming to PCC, Haley worked as a reference librarian for the L.A. County Library system, and then at the Department of Veterans Affairs as a database manager. He has been with PCC for 20 years.
In 2007, Haley led an effort resisting a plan by then-PCC President Jim Kossler to monitor faculty and staff computer use.
In an effort to ensure productivity, Kossler wanted to set up a system that would report what web pages were accessed.
"I thought that was an abridgement of academic freedom," said Haley. "I protested, and many other people did too."
When Kossler left office later that year, the issue was dropped and not taken up by his successor Paulette Perfumo.
According to Laun, "Dan is a strong champion for intellectual freedom, and he fought hard to preserve the privacy rights of faculty, staff and students."
Haley said that he has had a great experience working at PCC, and is most impressed with the students.
"The students here are just wonderful," he said. "They are very motivated and hard working. I am constantly amazed at the adversity that some of them have to overcome to get though school. I find that very inspiring."
Haley says he decided to become a librarian after taking an occupation aptitude test, on which he scored highly in both library work and computers. Haley had a strong interest in computers in high school.
"The career counselor scoring the test for me said, 'Libraries are getting heavily into computers. If you're good at both of these things, [library science] might be a good career for you'."
Before coming to PCC, Haley worked as a reference librarian for the L.A. County Library system, and then at the Department of Veterans Affairs as a database manager. He has been with PCC for 20 years.
In 2007, Haley led an effort resisting a plan by then-PCC President Jim Kossler to monitor faculty and staff computer use.
In an effort to ensure productivity, Kossler wanted to set up a system that would report what web pages were accessed.
"I thought that was an abridgement of academic freedom," said Haley. "I protested, and many other people did too."
When Kossler left office later that year, the issue was dropped and not taken up by his successor Paulette Perfumo.
According to Laun, "Dan is a strong champion for intellectual freedom, and he fought hard to preserve the privacy rights of faculty, staff and students."
Haley said that he has had a great experience working at PCC, and is most impressed with the students.
"The students here are just wonderful," he said. "They are very motivated and hard working. I am constantly amazed at the adversity that some of them have to overcome to get though school. I find that very inspiring."
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