Roy Tennant got some good press from Steven Bell in the latest Library Journal. Bell, tilting after something he calls “Google-style librarianship,” said Tennant’s aphorism, “librarians like to search, everyone else wants to find,” “suggests that librarians are out of touch with popular culture.” Bell presses on, “But can you really find anything without searching for it? Try finding without searching the next time you lose your car keys. Librarians like finding as much as everyone else, but we’re more realistic about the necessity of search.”
Bell’s article is severely muddled. He suggests librarians are anti-education (not a convincing statement to read the week I have spent more time on the road than in the office whilst spreading the gospel). He determinedly goes after Tennant’s observation–a pointed insight about how skewed our priorities can be–with no real end in sight. The axe seems to be aimed at librarians who like to simpify interfaces and make it easier for users to use systems, but it’s all rather inchoate.
All I can say to Bell is that there’s nothing simplistic about a usable interface. Oh, and I hope Roy sends you a check–he owes you for the good press.
Posted on this day, other years:
- Stop the Postal Rate Hikes -- Now - 2007
- I am *so* not in the same profession as these librarians - 2007
- Deep into Reading - 2004
I read your piece, and I went over and read the Bell article. While Bell’s article is muddled, I did not necessarily get the impression that he was saying librarians are anti-education. It felt more like he calling out or pointing out those who see librarians as anti-education. Tennant on the other hand, seems to be the one promoting the “let’s all make it simple for the poor user.” I would have loved to find something Tennant actually wrote. I have to agree it does feel ironic; in my case, as an Instuction Librarian, I don’t think I can be more pro-education. Now, if you want something closer to what Bell seems to be pointing out, the LJ article from March 15th by Todd Miller seems on target (http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA509607.html ), “In Defense of Stupid Users.” I liked the last sentence in the article: “The job of information professionals is not to make all users into information professionals. Our job is either to give them the right tools for the job or do the job for them.” It becomes a matter of balance. Sometimes you can educate them, sometimes you have to do it for them. And even if you do it for them, you still educate them a little. And yes, there is nothing simplistic about a simple user interface. If there were, there would be no problem. Best.