Computer operator#Tape librarian

The position has evolved from its beginnings in the punched card era. A Bureau of Labor Statistics report published in 2018 showed that, in the public sector, a major employer of those categorized as Computer Operator was United States Postal Service. In the private sector, companies involved in data processing, hosting, or related services employed computer operators at an even higher rate. The states with the highest employment for computer operators, as of 2018, are: New York, Texas, California, New Jersey, and Florida.

The former role of a computer operator was to work with mainframe computers which required a great deal of management day-to-day including manually running batch jobs; however, now they often work with a variety of different systems and applications. The computer operator normally works in a server room or a data center, but can also work remotely so that they can operate systems across multiple sites. Most of their duties are taught on the job,{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}} as their job description will vary according to the systems they help to manage.

Responsibilities of a computer operator may include:

• Monitor and control electronic computer and peripheral electronic data processing equipment to process business, scientific, engineering, and other data according to operating instructions.
• Monitor and respond to operating and error messages.
• May enter commands at a computer terminal and set controls on computer and peripheral devices.
• Excludes "Computer Occupations" (15-1100) and "Data Entry Keyers" (43-9021).

The role also includes maintaining records and logging events, listing each backup that is run, each machine malfunction and program abnormal termination. Operators assist system administrators and programmers in testing and debugging of new systems and programs prior to their becoming production environments.

Modern-day computing has led to a greater proliferation of personal computers, with a rapid change from older mainframe systems to newer self-managing systems. This is reflected in the operator's role. Tasks may include managing the backup systems, cycling tapes or other media, filling and maintaining printers. Overall the operator fills in as a lower level system administrator or operations analyst. Most operations departments work 24x7.

A computer operator also has knowledge of disaster recovery and business continuity procedures. Formerly, this would have meant sending physical data tapes offsite, but now the data is more than likely transmitted over computer networks.

A console operator interacts with a front panel or a multi-user system's console

• entering system commands via a keyboard{{efn|Possibly with a pointing device, e.g., light pen, mouse|name=point}}
• entering commands for a subsystem, e.g., HASP, via a keyboard{{efn|name=point}}
• replying to requests for information{{EFN|Write-to-operator (WTO) / WTOR {{=}} with Reply}}
• taking actions such as mounting computer tapes that were "pulled" by a tape librarian
• supervising a tape operator, especially when there is a [https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSLTBW_2.2.0/com.ibm.zos.v2r2.idarm00/opmoun.htm non-specific mount request].{{EFN|such as for a blank tape}}

These individuals would be trained to use specialized equipment related to their duties.

{{clear}}

One example of specific hardware used by a console operator is the IBM 3066 Model 2 system console, which included a light pen{{cn|date=January 2021|reason=need source for light pen on 3066}} as an interface device. Other then-new features were:

• replaced "most switch, pushbutton, and indicator functions"{{EFN|Among the few retained: "system clear" and "cooling reset alarm"}}
• as with the 165's Model 1, had a microfiche document viewer, a feature introduced for the 360/85's console.{{EFN|the 360/85 article includes a photo of same.}}

A console printer (up to 85 characters per second) to provide hard copy was optional when the console was in display mode, and required when it was in printer-keyboard mode.{{cn|date=January 2021|reason=need source for printer-keyboard mode on 3066}}

A peripherals operator uses dedicated peripheral equipment connected to computer(s) such as printers, scanners, or storage devices for data transfer to and/or from computers.{{cite web |title=Work Processes Schedule |url=https://usmap.netc.navy.mil/usmapss/static/wps/wps.jsp?aimsParm=0817N |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017195352/https://usmap.netc.navy.mil/usmapss/static/wps/wps.jsp?aimsParm=0817N |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 17, 2016 |website=United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) |access-date=11 June 2019}}

File:Elektronische Datenverarbeitungsanlage IBM 1401 (Kiel 36.485).jpg mainframe computer at Kiel municipality, 1965. Background: Computer operator replacing a tape.]]

Historically, tape operators were in charge of swapping out reels of paper tape, reels of magnetic tape or magnetic tape cartridges that stored computer data or instructions.

File:FortranCardPROJ039.agr.jpg

Depending on the type of card reader, either the "9-edge" or the "12-edge" was towards the card reader operator inserting the cards - but the deck of cards was always placed face down.

The United States Army's wordings were:

• Load cards in hopper face down, 12 edge out, column 1 to the left (1977){{cite book

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9UWiqYseJ4sC

|title=Soldier's manual: digital subscriber terminal equipment repairman, MOS 34F, skill levels two and three

|publisher=Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Headquarters

|year=1977 }}

• Place cards in hopper face down with 12 edge to operator (1981){{cite book

|title=MOS 72E: combat telecommunications center operator

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vzEmWzvRbbQC |date=1981}}

• : 12 edge / face down : IBM orientation.
• nine-edge (also face down) : some other card readers.

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In addition to filing or delivering computer printouts,{{cite web

|url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED236974.pdf

|title=Computing in Higher Education: A Planning Perspective

|author=V Chachra |year=1982}} a printer operator at times loads standard or, as directed by a console operator or a remote console, specialized forms.

Image:Ibm407 tabulator 1961 01.redstone.jpg's Redstone Arsenal in 1961.]]

The tab operator (short for tabulating) would be responsible for preparing and operating tabulating machines to produce statistical results.{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Richard |title=TABULATING MACHINE OPERATOR (400) |url=https://militaryyearbookproject.com/references/old-mos-codes/wwii-era/army-wwii-codes/administration/1435-tabulating-machine-operator-400 |website=militaryyearbookproject.com |access-date=11 June 2019 |language=en-gb}} Hardware such as the IBM 08x sorter series{{Citation needed|date=May 2021|reason=I've only heard, e.g., IBM 402, IBM 407, called tabulating equipment.}} were called tabulating equipment. The 1980 census specifically counted Tab operators ("Tabulating-machine operator").{{cite book

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wNxpTUGEWFgC

|title=1980 Census of Population: Classified Index of Industries

|publisher=United States. Bureau of the Census |date=1980}}

A tape librarian is responsible for the management, storage, and reporting involving data storage tapes. The tape librarian would develop and/or maintain an organization system for the storage and retrieval of tapes,{{cite web

|author1=Bruce Carrell |author2=D. Boyer |title=Information Systems

|url=https://mis.umsl.edu/files/pdfs/ITCareers.pdf

|quote=The tape librarian records the location of all tapes that are created}} and assist in disaster recovery. Additionally, the librarian would ensure the integrity of the tapes, and submit recommendations for replacement when needed.{{cite web

|title=Tape Librarian

|url=http://www.westchestergov.com/hr/jobspecs/cjs/county/T/TAPELIBRARIAN.pdf

|website=Westchester County Government |access-date=June 13, 2019}} Some examples of equipment a tape librarian may work with are the IBM 3850.

File:IBM 7094 console2.agr.JPG|Modern System operator consoles no longer include large numbers of lights, switches, or buttons

File:HypertextEditingSystemConsoleBrownUniv1969.jpg|The 370/158 announcement said that "the console used a CRT display, a keyboard, and a light pen."

File:9-track-drive-open.jpg|Open 9-track tape drive

File:IBM magnetic disk drives 3330+3333.png|IBM 3330 Disk drive

File:IBM System 360 tape drives.jpg|IBM System/360 tape drives

File:IBM 1402 at CHM.jpg|IBM 1402 high speed card reader and punch used in larger installations and typically run by an operator

File:IBM1442.corestore.jpg|IBM 1442 medium speed card reader and punch used on many smaller computers such as the IBM 1130

{{wiktionary|system operator|position=left}}

• System administration

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Category:Computer occupations