Library Hires Systems Manager

Darrell Hampton joined the staff in November as the City College Library's first systems manager, responsible for administering the technology infrastructure in the four libraries: Cohen, Science/Engineering, Music, and Architecture. This new position brings together many of the technical operations that a number of library faculty had been juggling along with their regular workload. These faculty members, along with the chief librarian and the new systems manager, comprise the library's Technology Advisory Group which sets overall policy for library technology services. Working with this group, Mr. Hampton will now be primarily responsible for the installation and maintenance of library hardware and software and the management of the library's operating systems.

A 1993 graduate of City College, Mr. Hampton had been working as an independent consultant for Aeroteck Data Group, most recently consulting as a network administrator/manager for the Durham County Government in North Carolina. In this capacity, he was involved in the planning, design, and management of that county's LANs and WANs (Local and Wide-Area Networks). While in this position, he supervised and trained personnel in systems operations, provided training and support for users, designed and monitored system security, and recommended network performance standards. Prior to his county assignment, Mr. Hampton worked in North Carolina as an application support engineer at MCI in Durham and as the computer network coordinator at North Carolina Central University. While attending City College and for several years after graduation, he worked at the New York City Board of Education as LAN manager and a trainer of teachers in the use of educational software.

In addition to his technical expertise, Mr. Hampton evidences both intellectual curiosity and time-management skills reflected in his current matriculation at St. John's University where he is studying part-time for a PhD in world modern history with a projected graduation date of 2004.

In a recent conversation, the newly installed systems manager noted that one of his short-term goals for the library is to provide users with network printing from the library's workstations starting early in the spring semester. He also envisions the imminent sharing of CD-ROM databases on all the campus library workstations. Long term, one goal is the installation of a larger library server that can upgrade itself and provide faster and better access to electronic information for library patrons.

In the meantime, Mr. Hampton is busy keeping the current system up and running. He is a welcome presence as the library and its staff move faster and farther into the ever-evolving Information Age.