Comments on: Librarian Sex and Status

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:45:09 +0000

What reference utopia is this that employs you? Not a public library, I bet.

By: me

me — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:33:37 +0000

You know every MLS holder alive? Does that exclude MLIS holders?

By: elena schneider

elena schneider — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:53:42 +0000

wait, what about the sex?

By: Belinda G

Belinda G — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 00:52:44 +0000

I’m a professional researcher for documentary fulm. There’s no MLS holder alive who knows more than I do about research. The degree course work isn’t particularly difficult.

By: Mlisa

Mlisa — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:44:39 +0000

This: “Librarians who are doing their jobs well should have libraries that are so easy to use no one ever needs the librarians, and thus they don’t know what librarians really do.”

Also, annoyedlibraryworker: I have been making the distinction for fear of offending my more senior colleagues, but I’m going to stop as of now. A supposedly user-centered profession should realize the uselessness of distinguishing between these two levels of personnel. And not just in front of patrons.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:40:53 +0000

“annoyed librarian” talks nonsense. The MLS program is intensive preparation with tough Reference classes and lengthy Research papers. The MLS degree effectively prepares Librarians to provide the best possible Reference and Research assistance to patrons and students. Speak for yourself “annoyed librarian”, but my Reference and Research assistance has always been appreciated and valued by the patrons I’ve served.

By: JW Librarian

JW Librarian — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:21:10 +0000

I would have finished up this post with a refrain to the sex issue; it would have tied it up nicely.

Librarians are very much like Jehovah’s Witnesses. They take themselves way too seriously, are anything but socially adapted, and belong to the club rather than the profession or religion, as in the case of the JWs.

I personally think the AL is fine. I hope you post into perpetuity or as long as I’m still employed as a “librarian.” I wear a shirt and tie, as well.

By: annoyedlibraryworker

annoyedlibraryworker — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:44:38 +0000

If I had a dollar for every time a “real” librarian went out of their way to correct a patron who referred to me, or any other non-librarian staff member, as a librarian we all would be making librarian rate. Prove you are a librarian by being the most knowledgeable, proactive, and accessible person in the library.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:27:35 +0000

I agree with all the previous comments, especially pt frawley. First, anyone who knows anything about reporters would NEVER comment on any news article, because odds are about 1,000 to 1 that the facts are wrong. Drawing conclusions and opinions from reporters is like the blind leading the blind.

Second, one thing most ‘professional’ librarians are not is professional. Libraries are too casual and relaxed an atmosphere to be ‘professional’ and that’s the way ‘professional’ librarians want it. That is one of our main problems when it comes to trying to develop strategic partnerships that will help us survive. Who wants to do business with “too casual”?

Third, tossing out comments without justification or meaning doesn’t help persuade anyone of anything. What is this comment supposed to mean? – “What professional librarians are left are being deprofessionalized left and right.” – How is someone deprofessionalized?

Rants are fine in Blogs, but they should be identified as such, not disguised as valid commentary.

By: Joneser

Joneser — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:17:59 +0000

The ALA has conferences in “vacation spots” like Anaheim because rates are cheaper in summer and very few cities have facilities to handle the number of people who attend (or at least used to). That’s why Florida and New Orleans also show up on the ALA Summer hit list.