Comments on: Future Less Imperfect

By: gaijin

gaijin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:42:17 +0000

“…without the vendors the conference would be unaffordable for most of us…”

Please, we’re librarians. It’s already unaffordable for most of us.

By: Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries

Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:13:28 +0000

AL said, “I’ve pointed out the ridiculousness of political, non-library resolutions….”

Would anyone please tell me why the ALA seeks to overrule “harmful to minors” statutes nationwide? What does overturning such statutes have to do with libraries? Yes, I know the ALA’s excuse, but I want the real reason members dues go to joining multiple legal cases to try to overturn “harmful to minors” statutes.

“Is the ALA Harmful to Minors?”

To me, this is just another “political, non-library” issue.

Thank you.

By: joneser

joneser — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:25:05 +0000

Perhaps there might be more diversity if the profession were more attractive – i.e. salaries and hiring prospects. Quotas and preferential hiring don’t do it.

By: underemployed

underemployed — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:16:20 +0000

Workforce a@$#%! cover? Maybe that’s the document where they finally say, “oops, I guess there won’t be a great librarian shortage in 2010 after all.”

By: Fat Guy

Fat Guy — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:26:32 +0000

If she wrote any differently, effing, she wouldn’t be the Annoyed Librarian.

By: Annoyed Librarian

Annoyed Librarian — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:18:46 +0000

“it makes it seem like you could actually accomplish great things if only you devoted your energies toward problem-solving and not idiot-baiting.”

It’s possible I’m accomplishing great things in my free time. Not likely, but possible.

By: anon.

anon. — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:17:03 +0000

Part of solving the problem is exposing the idiots over at ALA for what they are.

By: the.effing.librarian

the.effing.librarian — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:58:22 +0000

I hate it when you write like this… it makes it seem like you could actually accomplish great things if only you devoted your energies toward problem-solving and not idiot-baiting.

By: FinallyaLibrarian

FinallyaLibrarian — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:46:51 +0000

This concept sounds like an episode from “Dilbert”.

By: Dances With Books

Dances With Books — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:52:37 +0000

Oh, I laughed over the “There’s another document linked there called “workforce_anal_cover.” I do not want to know what that was about either.

Good point: “There’s a lot about creating a culture of ‘transparency and candor.’ The phrase was repeated enough I wondered if they’d read a book or something, which they had. Transparency is all well and good, but you can’t have transparency and candor. It just doesn’t work. People can’t necessarily be both candid and public about issues.”

Indeed, I have seen that again and again in librarianship. You can be public about some issue or you can show candor about it. You can’t do both. Show candor in public, and the hounds will be released if some higher up (whether an admin or just some celebrity blogger with clout) sees it. And they have the gall to wonder why many blogging librarians choose the pseudonymous route. Candor is not really wanted in this profession, but lip service to it always sounds good.

I would note that the conference, with vendors, is already unaffordable to most of us. Then again, I tend to forget I am just a hoi polloi librarian. Those of you in the big fancy places are well heeled (or have bosses willing to put their money where their mouths are when it comes to professional development, if you can call ALA Annual “professional development.”)

In the end, like many, I did vote with my feet and not paying (not that I can afford it. But if I could, there are better uses for that money).