tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post369766558246023685..comments2024-03-27T05:00:00.090-04:00Comments on Letters to a Young Librarian: I Began Saying Yes to All the Interesting Projects That Came My Way, by Brett BonfieldJessica Olinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282500023825318766noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-40107951948198786032013-06-04T16:32:46.263-04:002013-06-04T16:32:46.263-04:00I really like what this post has to say. I have m...I really like what this post has to say. I have made several transitions in my career--I worked part-time in a public library during graduate school, made the transition to a specialized library/archives environment for a number of years, and then have recently taken a high-profile public services position (in the same library system where I worked part-time) where I manage a whole collection and wing of the library in addition to serving as one of the floor managers. I'm learning a ton--skills that were lying dormant in the organization where I was essentially becoming another one of those "long suffering" librarians (archivists in my case). In some ways I feel like my next step very well might be administration in a public library . . . although there is also part of me that wouldn't mind getting back into academic librarianship. Ossification isn't good. And public librarians can bring an amazingly innovative skill-set, esp. when it comes to customer service, back into academia if they so choose. ssmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01586258426421159409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-49438339165372836282012-12-27T21:35:53.942-05:002012-12-27T21:35:53.942-05:00I am really glad to hear about the new librarians ...I am really glad to hear about the new librarians that you have come into contact with and your optimism about the future of the profession. I also have met some smart enthusiastic LIS students who have given me some hope as well (http://librariansassociation.org/2012/11/09/lis-students-advocacy-week-librarians-loud/). Unfortunately, I also see too many who have thrown in the towel. But, with blogs like this and other means of communicating our value, young librarians that care and are unafraid, maybe we can make sure the tide is turned. I'm in! Thanks for the responsiveness!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16557888847465444244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-46124504592668233542012-12-26T22:00:23.936-05:002012-12-26T22:00:23.936-05:00I agree with your last point.
My hope is the Youn...I agree with your last point.<br /><br />My hope is the Young Librarian who I hope might find something of use in this post is unwilling to play the role of long-suffering librarian. For what it's worth, almost all of the librarians I've met who are newer to the profession than I am seem eager for change, a situation that helps me remain strongly optimistic about our ongoing viability.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18271748539982103978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-15660294784202446722012-12-26T16:59:15.368-05:002012-12-26T16:59:15.368-05:00I think that the often introverted, cautious perso...I think that the often introverted, cautious personality types that have been traditionally attracted to the profession may be less likely to be quick to get up and move on to something new and/or better. I've met many long suffering librarians, which unfortunately, doesn't bode well for our future viability. I think one way we should be redifining ourselves is through putting oursleves "out there," becoming activists and knowing when things have to change.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16557888847465444244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-22695809113610289512012-12-26T00:00:06.534-05:002012-12-26T00:00:06.534-05:00Thanks for this. Nothing makes me happier, as a wr...Thanks for this. Nothing makes me happier, as a writer, than to read thoughtful comments about something I've written.<br /><br />Do you think librarians are less likely to cut the apron strings than people in other professions?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18271748539982103978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-62039787173378111612012-12-25T14:11:56.527-05:002012-12-25T14:11:56.527-05:00"If you’re working in or on behalf of librari..."If you’re working in or on behalf of libraries, then you’re a librarian." Perhaps I'm taking this out of context, but just seeing this sentence begs the question: Really? <br /><br />This discussion on whether or not we are or deserve to be profession may not belong here, but I'm still seeing it all over the place and in action. It's tedious but must be countered for the profession (and our libraries) to flourish.<br /><br />Also, I would like to hear more about what this "mythology" of transitioning to different types of libraries is that you speak of. As mentioned in my comment above, is it (a myth of) perspective and/or taking on change or more? <br /><br />Having worked in public, academic (very briefly), nonprofit, law and back to public I would say it could be both or neither. My transitions have ranged from the practical to the highly idealistic but the journey has brought perspective and vision.<br /><br />There is a mythology around public libraries that transcends a particular organization's philosophy and which I think should also apply to the librarians that work in them (though this is often and possibly increasingly not the case). This myth is around the ideas of equality and democracy. The expertise in providing, connecting, teaching that we bring to lucrative special librarian positions can and should be applied to public librarians, though in somewhat different contexts of course. This means committed, educated, paid professionals. This means continuing education, being hooked into one's community, being able to have perspective beyond the local problems and much more. <br /><br />https://twitter.com/BfloLibrarian<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16557888847465444244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-49499339307093266842012-12-25T12:41:11.945-05:002012-12-25T12:41:11.945-05:00"...librarians who are able to traverse bound..."...librarians who are able to traverse boundaries...are the ones that...have a well developed sense of perspective...who feel so passionate about what they do that it doesn’t even feel like work." <br /><br />Having worked in many types of libraries as a page to a specialized research librarian since 1986 (and lots in between), I fully agree with the paraphrased statement above that experience in many roles and various institutions is vital to a broad understanding of what we can and should be doing as librarians. That's not to say that being in one place makes it impossible to do valuable work, but that being able to cut the apron strings can be vital and will most likely enhance ones' professional abilities and quality of life. <br /><br />This, however, can be a difficult thing for many of the librarian ilk to do.<br /><br />https://twitter.com/BfloLibrarianAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16557888847465444244noreply@blogger.com