Hello...
I usually lurk around the edges of such discussions.. but here goes
nothing
As I see it, there are a few fundamental problems with Librarianship
as a career and the modern working world. Firstly, it is
undervalued, and by this I mean socially as well as fiscally.
The profession is undervalued in a variety of different ways. We are
not seen as being essential to an organisation. We are seen as a
fringe bonus, rather than as integral to the organizational culture.
As already mentioned IT people do seem to command a lot more
respect, via the simple expedient of being able to master the
computers that dominate all walks of life. It is almost as if the
simple designation ISU has taken over as a catch-all help phrase.
IT are now seen as the people most likely to be able to sort
problems out. I agree that the differential between their salary
structures and ours should not be as distinct, but the work that
many ISU departments do affects the whole of an organization.. so
whilst I do not agree with it, I can understand it. The work we do is
vital, but it is not often the same type of trouble-shooting "must get
the system on-line or we lose thousands an hour type of work".
Whilst we are computer literate these days, our image remains one
of fusty old hardcopy and inappropriate dentistry. This is, I am
afraid, a social stereotype, and all the marketing in the world will do
nothing much to alter the situation. To be honest I really do not
mind the stereotype, it is the living up to that stereotype that is to
be feared! All you can do is be yourself. I make a point of not
being overly smart to work, but wearing things that I feel
comfortable in, including shorts in the summer and combats and
Board chains on weekends.
In many respects we can do ourselves a disservice by not engaing
fully in organizational culture. We need to network more outside
the profession, and at a much greater diverity of levels in order to
improve the profile of the library within each organization. In short
we should put ourselves about a bit more. I work in a very large
University and even here the average user has no conception of
what it actually takes to become a Librarian. How many of your
users actually know the extent of your education??? The
academic staff themselves do not really understand the level of
committment involved. And I wish I had a simple answer to this,
but alas I fear that there is not to be one. How can you tell
someone something that they do not really want to hear.
Nige
Nigel Brook
Assistant Librarian
Elizabeth Gaskell Library
Manchester Metropolitan University
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|