Library Juice 5:28 - Library Juice is now a book and a blog

Library Juice 5:28 - September 5, 2002

Contents:

"This IS a fine upstanding publication" - an editorial
Library Workers Say, "No Spying in Libraries!"
Information for Social Change No. 15
New Publication: Free Range Librarian
Unique 'Banned Books Week' Exhibit
A Shortage of Academic Librarians? - A COLLIB-L Thread
Update to Frankentoons site
Links
Funny searches

Quote for the week:
"The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show
the world its own shame." -Oscar Wilde

Homepage of week: Heidi Ziemer
http://naughtykitty.org
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1. "This IS a fine upstanding publication" - an editorial
I attended the annual "Rangapalooza" in Berkeley a few weekends ago, held
at Pat Horn Fell's place (she's Zoia Horn's daughter, by the way), and
co-hosted by her and Jo Falcon. A great time celebrating S.R. Ranganathan
with Bay Area Librarians.
Who should walk in but a well-known librarian just moved to Point Richmond:
Karen Schneider, ALA Councilor, author of the "Internet Librarian" column
in American Libraries, and now head of California's Librarians' Index to
the Internet. Nice to greet her and say hello. She introduced me to
someone she knew, saying "Rory is the editor of Library Juice," adding,
in a playful, ironic tone, "...A Fine, Upstanding Publication."
It may seem appropriate to many people to see this fun, maybe irreverant
publication by a Gen Xer, fully immersed in the Gen X version of
librarianship, as something rebellious against society's idea of what is
"fine and upstanding." But I do not accept that label, and I don't like
this kind of irony just for the sake of "fun."
Rather, if I am ever rebellious in these pages, it is because it is what
I think I have to do in order to really BE fine and upstanding. Of course,
this won't prevent me from having fun, and it shouldn't. But my motivation
for publishing that SRRT/ALA correspondence in the last issue, for example,
was moral passion, not any desire to be a brat.
Further, for the record: I am generally not one to complain about ALA's
bureaucracy; I accept it as a necessary inconvenience in a large
organization, one that allows for fairness, equity, and in many ways,
actual efficiency. But the danger of bureaucracies in large organizations
is something that should be paid attention to at ALA; that is the danger of
that bureaucracy becoming independent of the people who created it (in this
case, the ALA membership). ALA has become, to use a frequently repeated
phrase, "staff driven," and in order to fuel itself is becoming increasingly
commercial. As this happens it gradually, inexorably departs from the
values and mission of libraries, which are essentially and emphatically
non-commercial; even anti-commercial.
Despite this I am making a series of lump payments to ALA to establish myself
as a life-member of the organization. I am doing this because I strongly
believe that it is only through committed, responsible and active
membership that the association can be saved from itself. In my opinion
this is a fine, upstanding position to take, with nothing ironic about it.
This perception is in contrast, I think, to the sensibilities of progressives
and radicals of the 60's & 70's generation, who consciously rebelled against
the idea of being "fine and upstanding" and revelled in a rejection of
received morality. Times have changed. Today, the rebellious "immorality" of
the 60's and 70's has been co-opted by commerce; distorted, packaged and sold
to Gen Xers and Boomers alike as "mainstream culture." Therefore, Gen Xers
find themselves in a position where to be fine and upstanding (interpreted
independently) actually feels rebellious.
I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything (except successful campaigns in
the defense of librarianship and the public interest).
- Rory Litwin, editor/publisher
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2. Library Workers Say, "No Spying in Libraries!"
Progressive Librarians Guild
For Immediate Release Phone contact: 503-287-0584
(messages) Tuesday, September 3, 2002 Email contact:
kmccook[at]tampabay.rr.com
OR ejdawson[at]yahoo.com
Library Workers Say, "No Spying in Libraries!"
The Progressive Librarians Guild (PLG) has released a
statement registering its opposition to Terrorism and
Information Prevention Systems (TIPS), a proposed federal
program that would encourage Americans to spy on their
neighbors, clients, and co-workers.
The PLG statement comes as Congress prepares to deliberate
about the acceptability of Operation TIPS. The Justice
Department program would ask truck drivers, service workers,
and workers at ports of entry to monitor their communities
and report any anomalies to a federally operated toll-free
telephone hotline. Operation TIPS, Guild members say,
encourages subtle violations of Americans' privacy, and is
at odds with library workers' professional ethical
commitments.
"This program encourages Americans to look at each other
with suspicion," said Emily-Jane Dawson, a PLG member and
librarian in Portland, Oregon. "TIPS asks workers to assume
the worst of their neighbors and clients."
Forty eight of the fifty states have laws protecting the
confidentiality of library records. Typically these exempt
library records from public disclosure or public records
laws -- including library borrowers' personal information
and lists of materials they've used.
In addition, the American Library Association's Code of
Ethics includes a clause that supports library users'
privacy and confidentiality. This clause articulates a
shared value within the library profession, that the books a
person borrows and the subject of a person's library
research be held in confidence. With reference to these
standards, the Progressive Librarians Guild members'
statement argues that the TIPS program "is at odds with the
library profession's commitment to library users' right of
privacy and confidentiality. . ."
PLG members say that the TIPS program encourages library
workers to violate professional standards and the law.
"We're asking library workers to recognize that Operation
TIPS is dissonant with the values of librarianship," said
library science author and PLG member Kathleen de la Peña
McCook. "Federal law enforcement agencies have other
methods for gathering intelligence. They should do their own
work, and leave librarians to do ours."
Progressive Librarians Guild
Attachment:
-------------------------------------------------

STATEMENT OPPOSING LIBRARY WORKER
INVOLVEMENT IN THE U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PROGRAM, "TERRORISM AND INFORMATION
PREVENTION SYSTEMS."
The Terrorism and Information Prevention Systems (Operation
TIPS) proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice and
developed in partnership with several other federal agencies
as one of the five component programs of the Citizen Corps
in July, 2002 is at odds with the library profession's
commitment to the library user's right of privacy and
confidentiality with respect to information sought or
received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or
transmitted.
In keeping with our commitment to monitor the professional
ethics of librarianship from a perspective of social
responsibility, the Progressive Librarians Guild does hereby
record our stand as being opposed to the Department of
Justice "Operation TIPS" program and urge that library
workers oppose the TIPS program.
-------------------------------------------------
The PLG statement opposing TIPS can also be found on the
PLG website at:
http://libr.org/PLG/TIPS.html
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3. Information for Social Change No. 15
Issue no. 15 of Information for Social Change is now on the web, at
http://libr.org/ISC/TOC.html
Contents:
Editorial - John Pateman
Will the Real Democracy Please Stand Up? - John Pateman
Never Be Silent Shiraz Durrani
Uganda: A personal viewpoint on the Expulsion, 30 years on - Jameela Siddiqi
I Have a Dream - Jameela Siddiqi
Tackling Social Exclusion - John Vincent
Feedback on Globalisation and Information issue of ISC - Ruth Rikowski
The GATS' Article I, paragraph 3 - Fiona Hunt
After the Organisation: A guide for Activists & Information workers - Martyn
Lowe
What does the future hold for our public libraries? - Ruth Rikowski
Taking power from the global corporations - Robert Silver
Review: Housmans 2002 Peace Diary with World Peace Directory - John Street
Review: The Guru Guide to the Knowledge Economy - Ruth Rikowski
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4. New Publication: Free Range Librarian
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 18:23:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Karen G. Schneider" <kgs[at]lii.org>
To: Multiple recipients of list <liiweek[at]sunsite.berkeley.edu>
Reply to: kgs[at]lii.org
Announcing the debut of a monthly mini-zine from lii.org, Librarians'
Index to the Internet:
Free Range Librarian http://lii.org/FRL
Published on the last Monday of the month, FRL will feature brief
articles about librarianship written by lii.org staff or guest
contributors.
In Volume 1, Issue 1, we review a book celebrating the life of Marvin
Scilken, a quintessential and eminently quotable librarian, who once
observed, "there seems to be no end to the inventiveness of librarians."
Think you can't learn anything from the "old guard?" Read up!
Next month: we talk about the impact of this year's budget woes on
library technology.
Bon appetit!
----------------------------------------------
Karen G. Schneider kgs[at]lii.org http://lii.org
Coordinator, Librarians' Index to the Internet
lii.org  New This Week:     http://lii.org/ntw
      lii.org:Information You Can Trust!
----------------------------------------------
Free Range Librarian (ISSN Pending). Copyright 2002, Librarians' Index
to the Internet, lii[at]lii.org. Permission to reprint granted to any
not-for-profit organization or entity, provided the material is
reproduced in its entirety, lii.org (Librarians' Index to the Internet)
is cited as the source and the copyright holder, and lii.org is notified
of pending publication via e-mail, lii[at]lii.org.
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5. Unique 'Banned Books Week' Exhibit
The Reference Center for Marxist Studies
(235 W 23rd St. NY 10025; (212) 924-2338;
mrosenz[at]marxistlibrary.org ) will host an original installation
of rare pamphlet material on exhibit especially for commemoration of the
American Library Association's annual, national 'Banned Books Week'
( http://www.ala.org/bbooks/ ).
It will be on display at the Center through at least November.
It is entitled "How American Communists & the Left Fought for Free Speech &
Free Thought: 5 Decades of the Left's Role in Defending and Extending the
First Amendment for All Americans".
Printed annotated bibliographies and on-line bibliographical material will
be available in September.
An on-loan version of the exhibit will be available for use at other
institutions who are interested in installation after November.
An introductory essay by RCMS director Mark Rosenzweig and supplementary
material about key legal cases will be produced for distribution and
on-line posting.
Learn about a central aspect -- almost entirely effaced by the Cold War --
of the legal, political and moral fight for the Bill of Rights, lessons
and inspiration from which may be more relevant than ever in today's
political climate.
For more details contact: Mark Rosenzweig, Librarian/archivist and
Director, Reference Center for Marxist Studies.
(alternate e-mail: iskra[at]earthlink.net)
--
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6. A Shortage of Academic Librarians? - A COLLIB-L Thread
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 10:15:48 -0400
From: Blake Carver <lists[at]LISNEWS.COM>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
The Chronicle says academic libraries, experiencing a wave of retirements,
are finding they have more job openings than qualified candidates to fill
them.
In March 2001, at the most recent conference of the Association of College
and Research Libraries, only 68 job seekers applied for 216
academic-librarian jobs, says Lorelle R. Swader, director of the ALA's
office for human resources, development, and recruitment.
http://chronicle.com/jobs/2002/08/2002081401c.htm
I'm still not convinced there is really this shortage, is anyone out there
having troubles finding people?
Or
Is anyone out there having trouble finding a job?
-----------------------------
Blake Carver
LISNews.com
Librarian and Information Science News
http://www.lisnews.com
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 09:34:51 -0500
From: Judy Druse <zzdrus[at]WASHBURN.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
Blake,
We went through 3 searches to find an assistant director for technical
services. Couldn't find anyone. Finally, hired it our to a head-hunter who
found us someone.
Judy Druse
Curriculum Media Librarian, Mabee Library
Washburn University
zzdrus[at]washburn.edu
www.washburn.edu/mabee/crc
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 11:19:32 -0400
From: Karl Bridges <kbridges[at]ZOO.UVM.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
This librarian shortage is a myth. I don't want to whine to the list about
my personal situation, but: Suffice it to say that, over a period of
several years, my experience is that libraries are not having difficulties
finding people to fill their positions. My wife and I each have a box of
rejection letters to document this fact. My impression ,based on my
experience, is that there are hundreds of librarians clamoring for every job
that comes available. If someone knows different and , better yet, knows
where these library jobs are I'd like to know. My librarian wife with three
graduate degrees is getting tired of her temporary $5 an hour jobs -- sales
clerk, grocery clerk, well you get the picture.
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 11:36:49 -0400
From: Blake Carver <lists[at]LISNEWS.COM>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
I am guessing the key to that first paragraph is QUALIFIED?
"Academic libraries, experiencing a wave of retirements, are finding they
have more job openings than qualified candidates to fill them. "
Later in the story they quote Jack A. Siggins who seems to say that is the
case:
"Although Jack A. Siggins, the university librarian at the George Washington
University, has not had much trouble getting applicants for entry-level
jobs -- roughly 120 people applied for one such opening last year -- he,
too, has been alarmed by the difficulties he has had hiring librarians with
more specialized skills."
So while there is no shortage of librarians, there is maybe a shortage of
older and more experienced librarians?
-----------------------------
Blake Carver
LISNews.com
Librarian and Information Science News
http://www.lisnews.com
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 10:38:24 -0500
From: Debra Rollins <drollins[at]LSUAMAIL.LSUA.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
Just wondering if we're defining the question incorrectly. In our state, a
university library position requiring considerable experience and some
specialized skills was advertised for less than $30,000 It's in a small
"college town" Not an unattractive location or an unappealing job, but not
an acceptable salary. The position is still open, and has been since early
this year.
By contrast, two other state universities have advertised for similar
positions starting at $40,000 and indicated they would consider entry level
skills. The location may be less than desirable for one, and the work for
both would be hard, but at least one of those positions was unfilled for a
long time.
So here's two jobs--each with positive and negative aspects, but apparently
no takers. Are librarians cutting themselves out of positions by resisting
moving from their preconceived ideas of what makes for a perfect situation
(location, environment, or speciality?)
D Rollins, Louisiana
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 10:45:45 -0500
From: Rick AmRhein <rick.amrhein[at]VALPO.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
I don't think that the shortage is a myth, but it may be a bit overstated.
It has been my experience in recent years that the pools of applicants for
all types of academic library jobs have been much smaller than they used to
be. This was particularly true during the .com boom. There are still some
excellent candidates, but institutions need to move swiftly to hire them.
Even so, I've had a number of candidates withdraw (because they have
accepted a position elsewhere) before we could even get to the phone
interview. Many library school students have jobs before they finish their
degrees. That was not often the case in the past.
Rick
-----------------------------------------
Richard AmRhein, University Librarian
Moellering Library, Valparaiso University
Valparaiso IN 46383
219-464-5364 - voice 219-464-5792 - FAX
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 10:52:27 -0500
From: Karen Fischer <kfischer[at]CARLETON.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
I wonder if several things are not going on at once.
1. "Beginning" level positions often have desired or preferred
qualifications that involve experience, subject background or particular
computer programming skills that a recent library school graduate is not
likely to have so they are discouraged from applying because they assume an
experienced librarian will beat them out for the job.
2. Search committees often automatically give a preference to the
candidate with experience over a recent graduate when having experience
really wouldn't make all that much difference over a bright, eager beginner
who could bring a fresh perspective to the library's problems.
3.The middle level position openings that need to require some experience
would in general go to candidates in their 30's, or early 40's, the
Generation X librarians. The Baby Boomers are in charge in most
libraries and they, as a group, have different workplace values than the
X'ers. Perhaps part of the inability to find attractive candidates is that
it is difficult to find X'ers with Boomer values so the Boomer laden search
committees don't find as many attractive candidates as they might unless
they are Boomer aged who came to the profession later in their professional
lives.
Karen Fischer
Laurence McKinley Gould Library
Carleton College
1 N. College Street
Northfield MN 55057
(507) 646-7670
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 09:53:23 -0600
From: Susan Lee <slee[at]UGF.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
Hi
We are on our second search for a Collection Management Librarian. In last
year's search, our chosen candidate's current employer kept matching our
offers. We'll see how this summer's search ends up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sue
Susan Lee slee[at]ugf.edu
Information Services Librarian
University of Great Falls
1301 20th St South
Great Falls, MT 59405
406-791-5318
http://www.ugf.edu
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 11:28:32 -0500
From: Susan Shelly <susancs[at]GOSHEN.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
Two thoughts:
1. Maybe instead there is a shortage of libraries interested in
nurturing, training, and investing in librarians so they can become
"experienced".
2. My personal observations in seeing librarian positions filled in
academia is that there is little appreciation of the need to decide on a
candidate in a reasonable length of time. More than once, I've seen a
school "lose" a desirable candidate because the decision-making process has
to go through so many layers of committees and hierarchical levels that
candidates give up and move on. People gotta eat.
Sue Shelly, Librarian
Good Library
Goshen College
Goshen, IN
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 12:35:58 -0400
From: paul wiener <pwiener[at]MS.CC.SUNYSB.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
Karen, That is well stated and makes sense!
The difficulty with analyzing this issue is that the claim is made usually
by librarians/library administrators. If students, professors, the public,
or college and state administrators don't feel they are suffering due to a
shortage of librarians, then there is no shortage, even if figures can
support either side. I'm not sure what we're supposed to conclude from your
wife's dilemma, Karl......
At 10:52 AM 8/14/02 -0500, Karen Fischer wrote:
>The middle level position openings that need to require some experience
>would in general go to candidates in their 30's, or early 40's, the
>Generation X librarians. The Baby Boomers are in charge in most
>libraries and they, as a group, have different workplace values than the
>X'ers. Perhaps part of the inability to find attractive candidates is that
>it is difficult to find X'ers with Boomer values so the Boomer laden search
>committees don't find as many attractive candidates as they might unless
>they are Boomer aged who came to the profession later in their professional
>lives.
Paul B. Wiener
Special Services Librarian
Melville Library
SUNY at Stony Brook
631/632-7253
FAX: 631/632-7116
pwiener[at]ms.cc.sunysb.edu
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 13:15:38 -0400
From: Karl Bridges <kbridges[at]ZOO.UVM.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
I think what you conclude is this. Admittedly I used a personal example.
However, it does appear that there are significant numbers of people,
trained as librarians, who would like to work as librarians, who are unable
to because of the structural problems within the library world e.g. poor
salaries, bureaucracy that makes it impossible to successfully conclude a
search, etc. My larger point is that it is, from a societal perspective, an
inefficient use of resources to train people for a job and then make it
fairly impossible for them to actually work in the field for which they were
trained.
It is stupid and irresponsible for library schools to turn out thousands of
new librarians every year when the situation in the profession is such that
these people cannot find a job in the field. Or, if they do find a job, it
is so low-paying, etc. that they are discouraged from staying in the
profession. We would be better off not training new librarians for several
years until the apparent glut of new librarians has made its way through the
system or otherwise resolved itself. And until, as a profession, we have
gotten our house in order so we don't have the problems we have now.
If we want people to be librarians we have to create a system where people
are encouraged, where it is relatively easy to find a job, where the
salaries are adequate, where there are sufficient incentives that people
wish to stay for the long haul. What we don't need is to make people jump
through useless hoops of bureaucracy waiting months to find if they have a
job. We don't need to create roadblocks e.g. low salary/lack of career
opportunity when they're on the job that make librarianship seem
unattractive and cause people to jump ship for other professions.
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 13:30:53 -0400
From: "Drew, Bill" <drewwe[at]MORRISVILLE.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
I must disagree strongly with Karl here. I do not think that library
schools are glutting the market. If they were we would have had many moor
applications for our previous searches. Also, if the schools don't train
any new librarians for several years, how many schools will be left?
Not knowing Karl or his wife, it is impossible to judge their individual
situation without digging into their personal lives. I don't believe we
should do that.
Bill Drew
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 13:43:03 -0400
From: "Bell, Steven" <BellS[at]PHILAU.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
Karl:
That's quite a rant. I don't think library schools are to blame for the
state of affairs - and when they are blamed for the shortage (which I don't
think is quite a myth - the shortages are real for libraries that are
resource and geographically challenged or need someone with a highly
specialized background) it's usually because the schools are accused of
taking incoming students and steering them onto the information science
track rather than the library track. So in that respect maybe the library
schools are being socially responsible (following your argument) by guiding
the students to the positions that will result in placements that pay good
salaries. Hence, some blame the library schools for the shortage for turning
interested, incoming students away from academic libraries and towards
computing careers. Quite the opposite of what you suggest. Is it a "damned
if you do and damned if you don't" situation for the library schools?
I also think it's not a case of people jumping our ship to other
professions. Based on my experience, academic libraries are chock full of
folks with masters and PhDs in other disciplines who couldn't find a decent
job (with a few changes your rant could just as easily have been about
English PhD programs) in their field - maybe they didn't like being a low
paid adjunct who had to work at five different institutions a semester - and
decided to jump that ship into our profession. I don't think any library
school misleads students about the pay scale or the challenges of getting a
job in an academic library - particularly the higher paying research
libraries. There are lots of openings, but it may be that if you are just
getting started, you'll need to take a lower salary in an out of the way
place to get some experience - again, not unlike faculty trying to break
into a tenure track opportunity.
With respect to poorly run searches, again, that happens across the spectrum
in higher education. If you think this has happened at your institution, a
year or two ago Library Issues had an excellent issue with advice on how to
run an efficient library search process. Get a hold of a copy and make sure
the chair of your librarian search committee reads it.
Whatever level folks are job hunting at - be it entry level or director - I
don't foresee that we'll ever make it "relatively easy" to find a job. While
there's no need to make the process unnecessarily difficult or bureaucratic,
that fact that it is challenging and rigorous is perhaps a sort of natural
selection process that helps us acknowledge that the candidates who have the
fortitude and persistence to survive the search process will likely have the
characteristics needed to succeed in the workplace.
Steven Bell, Director
Gutman Library
Philadelphia University
bells[at]philau.edu <mailto:bells[at]philau.edu>
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 13:44:18 -0400
From: paul wiener <pwiener[at]MS.CC.SUNYSB.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
A column in the NYTimes (yesterday?) said almost exactly the same thing
about attracting good public school teachers (how bureaucratic hoops
discourages applicants and excellence). It was even speculated that
perhaps some education administrators felt threatened by high quality
teachers, given their own peculiar means of ascent.......Nuff said?
iaAt 01:15 PM 8/14/02 -0400, Karl Bridges wrote:
>I think what you conclude is this. Admittedly I used a personal
>example. However, it does appear that there are significant numbers of
>people, trained as librarians, who would like to work as librarians, who...
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 13:52:38 -0400
From: Karl Bridges <kbridges[at]ZOO.UVM.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
I probably made a mistake when I used my own situation as an example. All I
can say is this: We have these problems in the library world. I once spoke
to a university administrator about these issues and was told the following
"I don't really give a #$%^ about the problems of librarians. I make
$130,000 a year and my life is great. Me and my friends here in the
administration make out like bandits. If you don't like the situation get
out." That's the basic attitude which exists all over this country and
that is what is driving people out of the profession.
There are fundamental problems in regards to the issues of librarianship as
a profession e.g. salary/status/etc and until the profession is ready to
deal with it and say that we're not going to take it anymore nothing's going
to change -- I don't care how many ALA taskforces or studies or focus groups
we have about the issue.
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 13:59:51 -0400
From: "Guccione, Margaret" <mguccion[at]GOUCHER.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
One thing that doesn't make sense to me about Karen's analysis-or maybe
it would, if clarified-is just what exactly is the nature of the
difference in "workplace values" between Baby Boomers and the younger
generation of librarians. It seems to me that this argument could be
insulting to either group, depending on how one chooses to describe said
values!
In my personal experience as a librarian, I haven't noticed any kind of
marked difference in professional values among librarians, no matter
what their generation. The librarians I've known as colleagues can
hardly be termed homogeneous by any category, thank goodness, and
definitely don't form a philosophical bloc simply because of their
generation. Thinking, learning, make-a-difference librarians of all ages
are out there, working very well together.
I've also been on enough search committees to know that even
"Boomer-laden" search committees are able to recognize this
potential-discrimination based solely on youth is no more prevalent than
discrimination based on age.
Margaret Guccione
Information Technology Librarian
Goucher College
Baltimore, MD 21204
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 15:28:59 -0500
From: Karen Fischer <kfischer[at]CARLETON.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
I suppose I should have documented where the difference in workplace values
came from. I did not intend it as insulting at all, but there is
legitimate research into generational differences. There was a session at
ALA on this topic in June. One popular level book that is a quick read with
food for thought is When Generations Colllide by Lynne C. Lancaster and
David Stillman, New York : HarperBusiness, c2002 ISBN 0066621062 The
bibliography mentions the scholarly work on which the theory is based.
When Generations Collide is based on interviews with workers and
supervisors in different age groups. Differences in values does not mean
that one group has better values than the other or is less dedicated to the
job. They just might see what the job is differently, might like to
receive training differently, may tend to prefer different communication
mediums and may view what constitutes a career differently. One point they
make is that the generation just hitting adulthood now, the Millenials, are
different from both the Boomers and the X'ers in their values and resent
being lumped in with the X'ers.
Karen Fischer
Laurence McKinley Gould Library
Carleton College
1 N. College Street
Northfield MN 55057
(507) 646-7670
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 17:13:31 -0400
From: Kate Hickey <hickey[at]ELON.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
Another good book is Generations at Work by Ron Zemke. Karen is right -
the part about the "Millenials" is very interesting -- and also very
encouraging! -- Kate
Kate D. Hickey
Director, Belk Library
Elon University
2550 Campus Box
Elon NC 27244
336-278-6572
hickey[at]elon.edu
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 10:42:49 -0500
From: "MARQUARDT, STEVE" <STEVE_MARQUARDT[at]SDSTATE.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
About three years ago we had NO external APPLICANTS for the vacant
Acquisitions Librarian position, and filled it with a transfer from
Reference. A colleague at a regional U. of Wisconsin campus told me recently
about his first failed search for an entry level position in 30 years.
Steve Marquardt
Dean of Libraries
Box 2115
South Dakota State University
North Campus Drive
Brookings, SD 57007-1098
605-688-5106
FAX: 605-688-6133
steve_marquardt[at]sdstate.edu
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 11:44:15 -0400
From: James Feagin <feaginj[at]HAGERSTOWNCC.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
My experience has been that library salaries are too low to compete well
with other sectors where our skills are valuable. I have seen positions
requiring several years experience, multiple degrees, and other languages
that pay almost nothing in relation to the qualifications. Where is the
return on the investment for the potential candidate? Personally, I have
been rejected for jobs for lack of a Ph.D. where it would make no practical
difference to my ability to do the job and made no sense in relation to the
size and type of the institutions.
Perhaps, in these recessionary times, more people who've looked elsewhere
will return to librarianship. But at the same time, those of us who are
hiring need to keep a tight rein on qualifications we put in announcements,
and on expectations we hold in our minds.
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 17:39:48 -0400
From: taylorc <taylorc[at]MAIL.FVSU.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
Colleagues,
I have been reading the thread on the myth shortage. In my case, there
is a shortage of librarians in specialized areas. At Fort Valley State,
a small university in central Georgia, I have been searching for a
"qualified" person to head tech service for a long time and no takers.
The South is a
Lovely place to reside and if there are interested librarians
(cataloguers/acquisitions) who can pick up and learn the Endeavor
Voyager
Module and catalog, he/she will have a position in a very short time
frame.
The salary is competitive, 40k.
Carole Taylor
Fort Valley State University
1500 State University Dr.
Fort Valley, GA 31030
Fax 478/825-6663
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Re: A Shortage of Academic Librarians?:MYTH
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2002 09:02:28 -0500
From: pbratton <pbratton[at]JC.EDU>
To: COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU
Reply to: COLLIB-L <COLLIB-L[at]ns1.WOOSTER.EDU>
I am coming rather late to this whole discussion, having been on vacation, but
would like to add an additional reason for hiring more experienced people over
new candidates.
In a small library like ours, you need to hire people who can hit the ground
running. There is not a lot of time to mentor new people and acclimate them
to the realities of working in an academic library. Frequently, there is also
no one on staff who can give detailed help in specific areas, such as
cataloging. For good or ill, it is more cost effective in the long run to
hire someone whom you KNOW has experience in the field than someone who may
need a great deal of help and encouragement.
This has certainly been proved in our library this year. Due to a variety of
circumstances, we lost half our staff (3 people, 2.5 positions) and had to
replace them. The remaining staff covered all the positions and we were able
to maintain services, hire new people (none of them with an MLS,
unfortunately), train them, and recreate a working matrix. It made, as near
as I can tell, very little difference to our users. However, stess levels
were through the roof, and covering ILL and acquisitions, for instance, meant
there was no time for me to do my job, so grants went unwritten, policies were
not revised, and new projects were postponed.
If I had had the money to hire MLS librarians WITH EXPERIENCE I would have
done so in a heartbeat, at least for two of the positions. Frankly, I think
having someone with an accounting/business background is much preferable for
acquisitions.
Phyllis
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7. Update to Frankentoons site
"I've assembled some more 'cartoon combo' images that can now be seen on the
Frankentoon site. Unlike the earlier ones, most of the pictures in this new
batch are monochrome outlines of the sort you would find in coloring books. I
obtained some of the raw materials from www.afunk.com which contains a lot of
cartoon characters in this outline style. Naturally, the folks who run the
afunk site bear no responsibility for my Frankentooning."
That's from Joel Kahn, the artist/activist responsible for the Frankentoons
site on Libr.org. Frankentoons are intended to be creative violations of
copyright in that they combine pieces of copyrighted images (of cartoon
characters) to create new, fictional cartoon characters, such as
"Popeye the Michelin Man."
The site is at http://libr.org/frankentoons/home.html
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8. Links
-----
Excerpt's from Ranganathan's Prolegomena to Library Classification
http://www.miskatonic.org/library/prolegomena.html
-----
Project Censored 2001
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14016
[ Thanks Don Wood ]
-----
New URL for Stealth Librarian (a forum for discussing work issues)
http://members.tripod.com/stealthlibrarian/StealthLibrarian.htm
[ message found on USENET's soc.libraries.talk ]
-----
For Librarians: A Quick and Easy Guide to Banned Books Week
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/bbwlibrarians.html
[ Thanks Don Wood ]
-----
E-JASL: The Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship
http://SouthernLibrarianship.icaap.org
[ Thanks anonymous person calling him/herself Soupy Sales ]
-----
The Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2001
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/2001challenged.pdf
[ Thanks Don Wood ]
-----
Defintions of "democracy"
http://sunsite.utk.edu/FINS/DemocracyRightNow!/Fins-DRN-04.htm
[ Thanks to Vigdor Schreibman ]
-----
The Holocaust and the Book: Destruction and Preservation
http://www.umass.edu/umpress/spr_00/rose.html
Libraries and their ashes
http://www.oneworld.org/index_oc/299/hughesmanguel.html
[ Don Wood ]
-----
"How Much Info Is Too Much Info?"
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,54683,00.html
Direct to the report mentioned in the article
http://www.cdt.org/publications/020821courtrecords.shtml
{ On the emerging conflict between the right to know and
the right to privacy in government information. Thanks
Gary Price ]
-----
Hey Rory: Do our colleagues still love librarians-in-rock-bands stories?
I am in a pretty new band where 2 of the 3 members have M.L.I.S. degrees.
The band is Chum Frink:
http://www.chumfrink.com
Chum Frink, as we all know, was the lovable 'corporate poet' in Sinclair
Lewis's novel "Babbitt."
Later on,
Derek Monypeny
Research Librarian
-----
LOC's "Ask A Librarian"
http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/
{ LII ]
-----
Book for Kid or Porno Vid?
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~smitters/lafnlibn/kidorvid.htm
[ Thanks Jessamyn ]
-----
SRRT Newsletter No. 140 (September 2002)
http://libr.org/SRRT/news/srrt140.pdf
-----
Google Watch
http://www.google-watch.org/
[ Dan Tsang ]
-----
The summer 2002 issue of "Pressure Point," NYLA's Intellectual
Freedom Round Table newsletter, is now posted online at:
http://www.albanypubliclibrary.org/pressurepoint/
[ Carol Reid ]
-----
Popular Baby Names
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/
[ Thanks LII ]
-----
PDA's in Libraries
http://web.simmons.edu/~fox/PDA.html
[ Thanks Dan Mitchel ]
-----
Pat Holt on Zoia Horn in "Holt Uncensored"
http://www.holtuncensored.com/members/column339.html#everyday
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9. Funny searches
Here is a list of amusing searches that led to pages on libr.org during
the month of August:
gut belly stomach inflation pictures
commodification of haiku
humorous quotations on liberalization
anal sex in forestry
hispanic owned dunkin donuts in massachusetts
bongs in michican
Jesus Christ George Bush +"Bill O'Reilly"
+what +causes +shoe +fetishes
fashoin war
make the pie higher (several of these every day)
"rockabilly librarian"
"public librarians" topless
which documents do I keep for project
why do we need fashion?
male milking machine mistress
penis enhancement free tutorial
Carl Sagan, billions, quotes
translate "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum"
coloured energy light (white green blue red tips)cancer treatment for animals
arabic penis pictures largest penis record largest penis in the world
larry flynt jack van impe
what is certified milk ?
"hippies clothes"
male nurses socialise with male residents
burger king organizational chart
images to show to people to keep quiet in a library
what banks do i put millions of money in
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