libraries
Librarians without Libraries?
I read this article today in the
incoming section of my Google Reader.
// Begin quote //
One particularly revealing moment in his discussion is his day 60 post in which he describes a series of questions that he poses to his graduate students to get at the "fundamental things we do."
The Question and Conclusions
// End quote //
It is quite an interesting read, so you should have a look at the article, if you are in the library field at least.
My take on this:
Yes, there will be a place for librarians (I call them Information Scientists) in a place where there are no libraries (as we see them today).
The first thing here is that library school does not teach you specific skills, unless you so choose to focus on reference or cataloguing, thus your skills of information sleuthing are already transferable o not only other information jobs, but also to this upcoming reality of more virtual information hitting the library.
I personally think that this is a good thing because it will get qualified individuals into the library field without the MLIS (masters in Library and information science). As has been written by me and other on lisnews and alatechsource on the subject of librarianship, the profession needs to be more inclusive in its hiring practices and who it elects to call a librarian. People without MLIS degrees have a lot to bring to the table, for the profession and the patrons it serves, and this new information reality has the potential to change libraries and the profession for the better.
// Begin quote //
One particularly revealing moment in his discussion is his day 60 post in which he describes a series of questions that he poses to his graduate students to get at the "fundamental things we do."
The Question and Conclusions
Can doctor still be a doctor without a hospital? They usually answer -- of course. Can you be a lawyer with out a courthouse? Again -- affirmative. Now the money shot -- Can you be a librarian without a library? Dead silence.One would hope that the questions prompt a discussion and don't just end in "dead silence." Although John doesn't tell us what the discussion, if any, was, he does give us his conclusions: possession of "material" might have once been central to the purpose of libraries but, in the digital age, possession is much less important part of what libraries do.
// End quote //
It is quite an interesting read, so you should have a look at the article, if you are in the library field at least.
My take on this:
Yes, there will be a place for librarians (I call them Information Scientists) in a place where there are no libraries (as we see them today).
The first thing here is that library school does not teach you specific skills, unless you so choose to focus on reference or cataloguing, thus your skills of information sleuthing are already transferable o not only other information jobs, but also to this upcoming reality of more virtual information hitting the library.
I personally think that this is a good thing because it will get qualified individuals into the library field without the MLIS (masters in Library and information science). As has been written by me and other on lisnews and alatechsource on the subject of librarianship, the profession needs to be more inclusive in its hiring practices and who it elects to call a librarian. People without MLIS degrees have a lot to bring to the table, for the profession and the patrons it serves, and this new information reality has the potential to change libraries and the profession for the better.
|
The society of librarians who say *bleep*
23/July/2008 08:35 Filed in: Work
Recently Google reader recommended an RSS feed for
me. This blog is about the everyday
frustrations of librarians and library
patrons and it’s called the society of
librarians who say mofo. I have to say that
initially I was skeptical about the site, but I
find humor in the every day absurdities that
occur in the lives of these individuals mostly
because I’ve seen or heard something in my
immediate circles.
One story that’s caught my attention is this whole surrendering of the library card to access the AV collection and the constant monitoring of PC terminals in the library. Now I am not a schooled librarian, but I consider myself a librarian at heart, MLS or no MLS, and I have to say that as someone who interacts with librarians and has two management degrees, I cringe at the tactics that the library in the blog story is using. Furthermore I am surprised at the apparent complacency of most of the townsfolk.
One story that’s caught my attention is this whole surrendering of the library card to access the AV collection and the constant monitoring of PC terminals in the library. Now I am not a schooled librarian, but I consider myself a librarian at heart, MLS or no MLS, and I have to say that as someone who interacts with librarians and has two management degrees, I cringe at the tactics that the library in the blog story is using. Furthermore I am surprised at the apparent complacency of most of the townsfolk.
The changing library
02/May/2008 07:00 Filed in: Work
Earlier this week I witnessed a library customer
“loudly” (for old school library standards)
complaining that there was inadequate “quiet space”
on the floor he was on and that it was inappropriate
for people to be so audible in a library (the floor
he was on had a lot of people on computers, and
working jointly in groups). The reference staff
kindly told him that there was part of one floor (not
the floor he was on) that was designated as quiet
space and attempted to help him. That’s all I heard.
The gentleman who was complaining was older, maybe a couple of generations removed from me. I think that this just goes to show the changing face of the library. Libraries are no longer places filled with books and periodicals that you get and quietly read to yourself. They are (like my college library) places of community, interaction, and multimedia (i.e. not just printer materials).
Sure there is place for quiet study, and I don’t think that will go away, but more and more libraries (especially college libraries) appear to be evolving into places of congregation and knowledge sharing. The pursuit of knowledge is no longer thought of as a solitary activity. Some people might prefer it, but I don’t think that they should enforce their views on all, just like people who prefer to congregate in a “communal library” should not force their views on the people who want to engage in knowledge acquisition in a solitary manner.
So…in this transition period, existing meets emerging
The gentleman who was complaining was older, maybe a couple of generations removed from me. I think that this just goes to show the changing face of the library. Libraries are no longer places filled with books and periodicals that you get and quietly read to yourself. They are (like my college library) places of community, interaction, and multimedia (i.e. not just printer materials).
Sure there is place for quiet study, and I don’t think that will go away, but more and more libraries (especially college libraries) appear to be evolving into places of congregation and knowledge sharing. The pursuit of knowledge is no longer thought of as a solitary activity. Some people might prefer it, but I don’t think that they should enforce their views on all, just like people who prefer to congregate in a “communal library” should not force their views on the people who want to engage in knowledge acquisition in a solitary manner.
So…in this transition period, existing meets emerging
Save on Books – go to your library
30/January/2008 21:20 Filed in: School
This semester I have started a new Master’s program
(having already finished two). I am studying the art
and science of Instructional Design so that I can be
a better teacher (when I do finally become a
professor), or to use the skills that I have gained
to help existing teachers with their course design
dilemmas (or something like that anyway).
In years past I have always looked at ways to get cheap books, because as most college students know – textbooks are no cheap. My ally up to now has been addall.com – a website that searches 30 or so websites, and gives you a list of sellers, and their prices, and you can go ahead and order the book you want. I have generally saved anywhere from 50% to 75% compared to Campus Bookstore prices.
This semester I decided to try something I haven’t tried in ages – look at my local library’s catalog (and the virtual catalog as well.) I was able to find ALL of my textbooks. I paid absolutely nothing to get these books, and I can use them throughout my semester. I think I can renew the books at least a couple of times, and I can also check them out again.
If at the end of the semester I decide that I like the book, or it will be an invaluable reference for future endeavors, I can go ahead and buy a used version from addall.com (something that I have already done for one my semester books already). This semester I saved 90% by going to the library.
Lessons learned:
1. Never trust your bookstore – just go there to get your ISBNs
2. Always check your public and/or college library for the books
3. If you don’t find them, use addall.com
4. Always support your public library – volunteer, become a ‘friend of the library’ by donating a small amount of money, make sure your local leaders know you support your public library – because as things have proved – a small donation here and there can save you money elsewhere!
In years past I have always looked at ways to get cheap books, because as most college students know – textbooks are no cheap. My ally up to now has been addall.com – a website that searches 30 or so websites, and gives you a list of sellers, and their prices, and you can go ahead and order the book you want. I have generally saved anywhere from 50% to 75% compared to Campus Bookstore prices.
This semester I decided to try something I haven’t tried in ages – look at my local library’s catalog (and the virtual catalog as well.) I was able to find ALL of my textbooks. I paid absolutely nothing to get these books, and I can use them throughout my semester. I think I can renew the books at least a couple of times, and I can also check them out again.
If at the end of the semester I decide that I like the book, or it will be an invaluable reference for future endeavors, I can go ahead and buy a used version from addall.com (something that I have already done for one my semester books already). This semester I saved 90% by going to the library.
Lessons learned:
1. Never trust your bookstore – just go there to get your ISBNs
2. Always check your public and/or college library for the books
3. If you don’t find them, use addall.com
4. Always support your public library – volunteer, become a ‘friend of the library’ by donating a small amount of money, make sure your local leaders know you support your public library – because as things have proved – a small donation here and there can save you money elsewhere!
MBLC Jobs page hacked?
27/January/2008 09:32 Filed in: Work
As someone who works in a library I have the
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC)
job listings website on my RSS reader. This morning
as I was sipping my hot coffee and reading the
headlines from the BBC (and other RSS feeds I
subscribe to) I saw a bizzare 'job' on the MBLC site.
"Surely my RSS reader malfunctioned somewhere" I
thought to myself, but I went to the MBLC website
anyway to check out this oddity anyway.
The website does seem to have been hacked, or someone not-very-happy with the MBLC (or their employer) decided to post this gag job listing (image bellow)
Here is the address for the MBLC: http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/index.php for those that are interested in library jobs in Massachusetts (present gag/hackk/oddity aside)
The website does seem to have been hacked, or someone not-very-happy with the MBLC (or their employer) decided to post this gag job listing (image bellow)
Here is the address for the MBLC: http://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/index.php for those that are interested in library jobs in Massachusetts (present gag/hackk/oddity aside)