Comments on: ALA 2009: Notes Toward a Conference Report

By: booth babe

booth babe — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:51:53 +0000

As one of those mythical single and good-looking vendor types let me just say I wholeheartedly approve of whatever will get librarians laid if it means fewer undersexed librarians stalking around my booth.

Asking every inane question about the product you can think of trying to keep an interaction going for 30 minutes while you have that puppy-dog-wanting-a-treat look on your face and no apparent understanding of the concept of personal space is about as un-sexy as it gets. After paying $500 a day for internet access, it has to be the worst thing about doing library shows.

For god’s sake just get it out there and slip me your card with your private number or something so I can get back to making my livelihood. I’m not going to call you, but at least I won’t hate you for eternity for messing with my sales. Or better yet go talk your library director into buying our product. That might actually get you somewhere…

By: nerdgonewild

nerdgonewild — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:53:59 +0000

I’m a library assistant who just finished the MLIS degree. I feel like an oddball becuase well, I’m kinda normal. Why would I want to associate with more eccentric people than I already do at work? Besides, why waste my (non-existent) salary on some conference where older librarians discuss irrelevant topics like gay marriage? Why not discuss the shrinking job market for librarians, the closing and reduction of hours of existing libraries, or maybe how to recruit a workforce that is not a. socially akward, b. misanthropic, c. fire-breathing politicos, or d. want to do more than occupy space???? Answer me that, ALA!!! I doubt I’ll renew my ALA membership or waste my time going to stinking conferences.

By: decent-looking straight guy

decent-looking straight guy — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:43:28 +0000

“At least librarians still have a vivid imagination these days.”

Speak for yourself. Some imagine it, some live it.

To each their own though.

By: k7phn

k7phn — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:39:02 +0000

*But, hey, I met decent-looking straight girl (who I personally think is better named hot straight girl, but she’s too modest) at a library conference*

At least librarians still have a vivid imagination these days.

By: AL=RK

AL=RK — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:30:14 +0000

dlsg — I always thought that vendors would hire Fred Garvin to work the librarians of the female persuasion.

By: decent-looking straight guy

decent-looking straight guy — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:21:46 +0000

To AL=RK: No, these were librarians. The attractive and well-dressed ones may be few and far between, but there were always a few at the 3M dance when it existed. Besides, no library vendor would have the guts to hire prostitutes, and the kind of people with enough money and purchasing power to make that kind of thing “worthwhile” to a corrupt vendor wouldn’t be at an ALA social event anyway.

to ChickenLittle: yeah, there’s way more good-looking vendors than librarians, and the attractive librarians are few and far between, but they’re out there. Most are married or taken I’ll admit. But, hey, I met decent-looking straight girl (who I personally think is better named hot straight girl, but she’s too modest) at a library conference, so what the he**…..

By: ChickenLittle

ChickenLittle — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:44:52 +0000

decent-looking straight guy….you must be a “hot commodity” at library conferences!! the last conference I went to the only good looking men or women were the vendors and they all had wedding rings! The rest were pretty dowdy looking!

By: AL=RK

AL=RK — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:33:28 +0000

If they were relatively well dressed and attractive, they were prostitutes hired by some vendor.

By: decent-looking straight guy

decent-looking straight guy — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:09:24 +0000

3M stopped paying for the New Members Roundtable to have that dance (with the dj and the cash bar with overpriced drinks). In the past, there were actually some cute librarians at that event. Decent-looking Straight Girl (my significant other) prefers I not actually hook up with them needless to say, but graciously allowed me to dance with them in the past. Alas, this time NMRT only had a little awards ceremony with relatively lame hors d’oeuvres. Two relatively well-dressed girls came in late looking around like they were expecting the traditional dance-floor, so I have to wonder what’s up with 3M that they disappoint the young, sociable cute librarians. Oh well.

By: Mr. Kat

Mr. Kat — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:26:53 +0000

Oh I certianly agree, SALibrarian, there are many lazy among the youth.

Do I need to remind you who our role models [parents] are?

You generation certainly did do things that would make our toes curl – and it shows in your performance today.

The budget cuts are coming. The youth will show you just how little your job is worth!! [aka how little they are willing to do the job!]