tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post1863668870834757536..comments2024-03-27T05:00:00.090-04:00Comments on Letters to a Young Librarian: You Say Paraprofessional, I Say ProfessionalJessica Olinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282500023825318766noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-86580694288151298022011-09-16T15:16:20.059-04:002011-09-16T15:16:20.059-04:00It's an interesting debate. I'm in the pro...It's an interesting debate. I'm in the process of earning my Diploma in Library and Information Technology and understand that when I graduate I will be considered a "parap-professional", yet much of the work I will be doing is the same as that of an MLIS holding librarian.<br /><br />In our library, we generally don't differentiate among the staff...we KNOW who is and isn't a librarian (2 librarians, 2 teacher-librarians, 4 libtechs, 4 assistants). One of the most professional members of our staff - she's a whiz at reference and runs the ILL dept, started as a volunteer in the late 90s and was trained by our previous Director...I'd hate to refer to her as anything BUT a professional librarian...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05153092837579193166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-65005514764457534202011-09-08T09:20:26.589-04:002011-09-08T09:20:26.589-04:00Librarianship is a state of mind. Do you organize ...Librarianship is a state of mind. Do you organize and catalog things in ways that makes it easier for most people to find them? Do you actively enjoy helping people? Do you work in an environment where you do these things? If yes, you're a librarian in my book, and I say that as someone who's transitioned from paraprofessional (this word, I do not like it, as many who fall into that category work professionally) to a librarian. The MLS/MLIS does and should matter, but your mindset matters much much more. The former may be sufficient, but the latter is necessary.BeerBrarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10969632673190542761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-28845926535182487962011-09-08T09:19:37.071-04:002011-09-08T09:19:37.071-04:00I completely agree that people who do the work are...I completely agree that people who do the work are professionals, regardless of what certifications/degrees they have or don't have. It makes me cringe when someone who has been working for years defers to me because I have an MLIS. I keep insisting that they're the ones who know what they're doing; I'm here to learn.<br /><br />And what do I call these non-degreed library workers? As a whole, I call them librarians. Individually, I refer to them by their title (circulation supervisor, technical assistant, etc.) or call them a librarian.<br /><br />-Jill<br />http://learninglibrarian.weebly.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-52737339658412963242011-09-08T00:01:28.189-04:002011-09-08T00:01:28.189-04:00As one who works in Libraries not as a Librarian, ...As one who works in Libraries not as a Librarian, IT, I found the term paraprofessional sort of mis-leading. They do exactly as you descibe and to me in all sense of the word are Librarians.<br /><br />@Facelesss Librarian-There isn't a job title in the books that can represent all that you do. I know personally that any Library would love to employ you. Your talents are an asset to the people who walk through the doors everyday.JRazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12900973368592361092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-64858592155628437832011-09-07T20:23:13.510-04:002011-09-07T20:23:13.510-04:00I'm a non-MLIS holder who has worked in librar...I'm a non-MLIS holder who has worked in libraries for 18 years now. The title on my business cards?<br /><br />Circulation Supervisor.<br /><br />Yes, I'm not a certificate wielding librarian. Yet I suggest materials for order, I weed, I troubleshoot and maintain computer systems from the public access machines to a $350,000 self-check in and sorting machine, I've taught classes to the public, I've taught classes to librarians, I've presented at library conferences, I've provided innovative ideas for my system, and I've created and coded applications from scratch which work with our ILS to get things done more quickly and efficiently.<br /><br />On a very regular basis, I do things that certificate carrying librarians do not understand.<br /><br />A while back I applied for a programme offered by our state library association. On the paperwork it kept using the term "librarian" but no mention of whether or not the MLIS was required. I checked and they said that, to qualify, your system needs to refer to you as a "librarian." So I hit up our Admin with that very question.<br /><br />Apparently, I'm a librarian. Good enough for me.Dan Messerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08853768717953439685noreply@blogger.com