Comments on: More on those angry librarians in Sacramento

By: Maximus

Maximus — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:11:43 +0000

I would like to see a continuation of the topic

By: Ex Libris » Belated reporting of a tragedy

Ex Libris » Belated reporting of a tragedy — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 22:25:16 +0000

[...] the LiB blog, I went to The Letter Z’s latest blog on the issue. I don’t feel he covered the story with the same depth, but he does discuss the [...]

By: Bo

Bo — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 01:28:55 +0000

Thanks for the recommendation, Paul! No, I haven’t seen this book, but it looks terrific. I’m adding it to my summer reading list. (I can’t get it at Seattle Public Library though, strangely…) And thanks for sharing your experience at our SPL. I think that characterizing resistance to change as a characteristic of the hopelessly old-fashioned is a very strategic management tactic. At least that’s what it sounds like coming from Roger Dickinson, who’s profiled in the Sacramento Bee piece and interviewed on Capital Public Radio. This is intriguing, from the opening paragraph of D’Angelo’s book: “Government policymakers view public libraries as a dispensable supplement to the public school system, an inessential social service for the unemployed, or even as frivolous entertainment at public expense.” It's so strange that so many of the technological and philosophical changes that have made libraries dispensable, inessential, and frivolous have been undergone under the mantle of “staying relevant.”

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 19:45:02 +0000

As a former SPL (Seattle Public Library) employee I know this was a concern of many of the staff, young and old. The change in the circulation patterns (the shift towards feature film DVDs) was a major contributor to my disenchantment with library work. I began to think I may as well have been working at Barnes & Noble or Tower. Combined with the de-skilling of SPL's workforce through the new circulation system, the job no longer held it's appeal, save the benefits and high-pay. Again, this is not a sentiment held only by older, less tech-savvy employees, but something I heard from staffers across the board. Have you read Ed D'Angelo's Barbarians at the Gates of the Public Library yet? It's both a great summation and polemic against the abandonment of the public libraries' most important public mission, "to promote and sustain the knowledge and values necessary for a democratic civilization." Unfortunately, I've seen little mention of the book outside of Rory Litwin's library juice blog.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 10:50:21 +0000

“If only library school were this interesting!” Ah, yes, you hit the nail there.

Sometimes it is, but generally only for moments. I also have the benefit of working on my 2nd LIS degree and am able to take whatever I want after getting a good basic education in my Masters. So generally small seminars of interest where we get a lot of leeway in what we produce.

By challenging yourself here and in school when you can you should get a darn good education.

Best!

By: Bo

Bo — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 21:47:44 +0000

Thanks, Mark! I really appreciate the feedback. This experiment in blogging has been challenging, but I already feel like I’ve learned a lot. (Actually, I think I may have learned more from this SPL discussion than I did in my 10-week collection development class, but that’s another story.)

I do think I’ll keep it up. So far, the challenge of thinking about libraries in writing and in public has been really rewarding. If only library school were this interesting!

Thanks again for the kind words. Hope you stick around!

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:46:32 +0000

Bo, this is great stuff! I’ve been reading you for about a week now and am highly impressed. Hope you stick around ….