Comments on: Responding to trends, and avoiding the “bash”

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:55:06 +0000

That librarians join in the laughter points up to a serious problem that we have as a profession. We are insecure, and look for the kewl kids to tell us what to do, instead of drawing from our own legitimate experiences. Our administrators blow us off–and our input–too, and listen to the kewl kids who never worked with the public in their lives. But if the kewl kids write a a story in LJ that reverses their previous stand, the administrator becomes suddenly in favor of the newest fad.

When techies and futurists are telling us to go cutting edge, I am dealing with patrons who are first learning to keyboard, well into their 40s and 50s. Our bosses often know nothing of the possibilities–or limitations–of technology, and won’t listen to people on the ground who know how technology intersects with the public.

By: RT

RT — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:53:38 +0000

Tomorrow’s keynote at Internet Librarian is from someone I’ve heard give the bash speech several times. I hope he’s singing a different tune tomorrow.

By: lu

lu — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:15:19 +0000

okay i’ve tried to find out, but which library is pictured in your blog? i think the shelving looks great!

I’m with you on the “bash”. I find that most of the talks presented at conferences are rehashes of the same few topics, this is frustrating, I am here to learn! But it seems, as a new grad, that at first conferences were all a world of wonder, and now everything has gotten old hat real fast and as far as i’m concerned the “bash” is sooooo 2006.

By: Anne Christensen

Anne Christensen — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:43:21 +0000

“The user is not broken” I have cited you many times in my training materials with just that quote.

By: Tyler Enfield

Tyler Enfield — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:21:49 +0000

Good that you pointed out the librarians’ place in history- so often the inventive, scholarly, creative aspect gets overlooked by the casual visitor, and what stands strongest in our memory is the one left behind by our own elementary school librarians, who may or may not have left a lasting positive impression.

As a children’s author, booking author presentations is done primarily through elementary school librarians, and I have to say many of my interactions are uncomfortable, even unpleasant throwbacks to the third-grade. However those like yourself, who enthusiastically reestablish their science with vitality and verve, more than make up for any challenges. I appreciate your setting the standard, particularly in your encouraging librarians to keep up with the times- I believe it’s imperative that each gatekeeper understand the use of their own keys.

tylerenfield.blogspot.com

By: Jenny Levine

Jenny Levine — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:55:18 +0000

Thanks for the nice mention, Karen – I’m truly honored to have inspired you in any way what-so-ever. I’m just returning the favor.

By: Michael Golrick

Michael Golrick — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:10:51 +0000

Karen-

Thanks for the kind words! I am glad I could help, since you have inspired me many times. And of course, it helps to think out loud sometimes.