Comments on: A Little Tough Love

By: ChunkyLibrarian

ChunkyLibrarian — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:34:16 +0000

Drop a few pounds? but then, based on your previous descriptions, I wouldn’t fit in! ha!

By: Drew

Drew — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:42:15 +0000

To me, the library field attracts individuals who think they can conceal their cheerless lives within the forlorn stacks of a library, safely hidden and alone shelving books all day. Even today, shy and introverted individuals come to me and say, “I’m going to library school to be a librarian just like you because I love being in a library and I love books…”….it just makes me sick….With all the politics and low pay, who would waste their time…become a nurse, UK Librarian, for at least you’ll find a job and make money!

By: Flora

Flora — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 05:03:45 +0000

The problem being expressed in the comments isn’t about introversion necessarily, or even shyness; it’s about being passive and a doormat, and those things do NOT go hand-in-hand. There are outspoken people who could chat all day but could be too afraid of confrontation or change to do anything useful with their work, or there could be introverts who manage to be careful, close listeners and put the other person first, which seems important in a public service field. I’m not sure why all this anger and resentment and really downright hatred is being outsourced onto shy people or introverts when the problem lies with people who are being too passive, or timid, or insecure … these are different qualities.

By: Rebecca S

Rebecca S — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:53:10 +0000

Not to be nitpicky but I really think that as librarians and potential librarians we should all be able to look up the meaning of a word. Introverted does not equal shy or socially awkward; they just find social situations to be more work than fun. I don’t really see how this precludes you from working with the public as long as you are willing to exert yourself. I’m an introvert, I’ve worked customer service since I was 16 (food service, clothing stores, waitress), I took Theatre and Speech in college, and am now a children’s librarian and was previously a reference librarian and a circulation clerk. I think my tendency to think through responses to patrons rather than blurt out whatever pops into my head is a strength and not a weakness. And the fact that I don’t try to be buddy buddy with teens and children works to my favor as someone who needs to act as an authority figure.

That said anyone entering the library field needs to be willing to exert themselves and work hard. The librarian that AL is criticizing comes off as the type of person who has never reached out of her comfort zone to make something of herself, aka lazy which is a trait exhibited by both introverts and extroverts.

By: Roddy MacLeod

Roddy MacLeod — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:50:06 +0000

Well put, “needs a ‘nym”

By: winnie

winnie — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:27:33 +0000

Whoa. Nothing is wrong with living with your parents, especially if you are job hunting. Good for he/she that they’re not out there getting into tons of debt while working a mediocre paying job. Sure, it sounds like the person has some issues they need to work through, but come on, the harshness is absolutely unnecessary.

“Get more experience. Make actual accomplishments.: Lose a few pounds. Dress better. Write better. Speak better. To get the library job you want these days, it’s not enough to have a degree. You actually have to be impressive, and that’s not easy for most people.”

To that I say to the poster, anger displacement much? Seriously, I have a feeling the poster is dealing with some issues of inadequacy and probably some weight issues, too.

By: meh

meh — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:01:51 +0000

i’m an introvert and current LS/IS/whathaveyou student but i’m also a realist. if you can’t talk when it’s important (interviews, with patrons, with peers), that’s a problem. as someone who has volunteered/worked/interned profusely over the past year and gone out of my way to advance my future career, it’s insulting to think that someone with a degree and without drive would be considered for the same position as me. i’m out there because i find helping others and learning to be personally rewarding. not because i like books and think sitting behind a desk staring at a computer screen will keep people from talking to me.

it’s depressing to see the number of students/professors/librarians who do not CARE about the field and their users. can we get them to retire?

By: me too

me too — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:57:16 +0000

There are jobs in libraries for the depressed, the introvert and the sociopath. It’s called cataloging. Or, Technical Services.

By: Midge

Midge — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:46:44 +0000

Well done, AL. Reminds me of the introductions we all would have to do in library school courses, often answering the question of why we were there. “I like books” (reading, not books themselves necessarily), “it seemed like a good idea” (or what-have-you), and “English major” were the top three phrases one would hear. Too many people were going to become librarians and archivists without really know why they wanted to become librarians and archivists. And without having a clue of what they’d be doing in the field, it typically was a huge shock that they’d have to be advocates for their profession in every way, which means talking to people. And being professionally active, that surprised people too. It’s people’s misconceptions about the field that lead them to it I suppose. I feel like there should be a PSA or an after-school special about the profession with some dramatic music and grainy stills.

There’s an expectation in general in higher education that degree equals job. And in our field even if you are all the things employers are looking for, it’s still tough to get a job right away.

By: needs a 'nym

needs a 'nym — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 11:38:39 +0000

Libraries are custom-made for the introverted

No, wassup, libraries are custom-made for people who need information. Librarians are only there to connect those people to the information they need. This connection often involves direct, personal interaction, which at the very least puts introverts at a disadvantage.

Too many librarians seem to forget that libraries exist solely for the benefit of their patrons, and that the librarians are just there to keep things running.