You misunderstand my position, Keith. I'm not being remotely self-effacing. I'm saying we should be proud of not being like some of the
other professions.
Dan
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Keith O'Sullivan [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 22 May 2000 15:11
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: A profession or a vocation?, or: The doormat strikes back?
>
>
> With reference to the debate on costs of chartership & value of
> revalidation, I don't think that self-effacement of the kind
> expressed by
> Dan helps LIS professionals win recognition from employers either.
> I'm attaching a message that I sent to Lesha either which, while
> reaffirming skepticism on revalidation, also (I hope)
> counters the tenor
> at least of Dan's contribution. This IS a legitimate profession, and
> deserves to be recognized as such.
> Keith.
>
> Dear Lesha,
> I do see where you're coming from , and I'm sorry to sound so
> negative. My
> views are partly formed by working for an old University,
> which has been
> slow, to put it diplomatically, to accord professional
> recognition to LIS
> and who continue to pay librarians clerical salaries. This pattern is
> repeated in public libraries- where most librarians are at Clerical
> Officer grades (or below) of the Civil Service. Given the
> post/graduate
> nature of our profession these days, this is pretty outrageous. The
> Library Association leadership really owe their membership a
> hell of a lot
> for never once, as far as I can, trying to combat
> 'deprofessionalization'
> (see Roberts, Konn: Librarians and professional status, 1991- this has
> been going on and getting worse for years). Some employers, are good-
> giving credit for the Charter- but a lot are NOT. Revalidation in
> conjunction with CPD would only be of value if organizations were
> compelled to recognize our professionalism. At the moment, it
> just seems
> as if we are being asked to give something (& spend a lot of
> time & money
> doing so) for, potentially, nothing. Part of one's
> self-esteem stems from
> receiving a reasonable salary which would at least give us parity with
> comparable groups like teachers. This is a profession- not a
> vocation. Until the LA starts behaving like the RCN
> (which isn't a trade union either) in working to secure better living
> standards for its members, I'll continue to be skeptical about this
> one-sided proposal.
> Regards,
> Keith.
>
>
>
>
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