I agree with Mike's first point re pricing low, considered cheap. However
there is a problem with aligning ourselves with nurses, firemen etc, and
that is we have no shroud factor, and society (although would be poorer for
it), could do without us. In fact some c50% do?
-----Original Message-----
From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Mike Morris
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 11:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Low pay again
Some years ago when I was a starving actor, there was a general belief that
you should price shows fairly high if you could, on the grounds that
audiences were suspicious of things which were very cheap. I suspect the
same thing applies to librarians.
What galls me is to see constant reference on the TV news etc to low-paid
nurses, firemen and especially teachers, all militant at the disgrace of
earning more than I do.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Frances Hendrix" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 11:46 AM
Subject: Re: Low pay again
There seems to be a huge diversity of pay across this sector.
Only today a specialist post in London, with a tiny staff, but a huge
personal spec requirement, is advertised (but to everyone not just
Librarians), at £55k.
The posts and opportunities that Elspeth mentioned are few and far between,
and I believe that it is not necessarily a plus to have a career in
librarianship on your CV, if applying outside the sector. The skills and
experience do not appear to have a high enough value, and the image is not
one that appeals to a lot of sectors. The number of people who have 'broken
out' so to speak are small.Again I am aware of many University Librarians
who would like to get to Assistant Director level, and only a few have, and
a very few have gone from Head of Libraries in a local authority to the
Executive team, and then most often, but with one or two notable exceptions,
in small authorities.
Current discussion about public libraries, and to some extent a trend, is
to go for 'good managers', and not necessarily librarians., so are we
considered not to be good mangers?. Perhaps there needs to be a root and
branch change in the education of librarians, with more emphasis on
libraries in the 21st Century, with the appropriate managerial, financial,
and marketing skills?
It is perhaps chicken and egg. If we had higher pay would we have a better
image. or if we had a better image would we have higher pay?
-----Original Message-----
From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Katherine Ingham
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 10:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Low pay again
Perhaps someone should set up a librarians dating agency...
Seriously, that is a ridiculous attitude, what happens if you want to get
together with a fellow librarian or someone who earns less than you? It's
not real life.
Re Elspeth's comments about all the wonderful opportunities, that's true,
and great, but not a lot of help for those of us starting out. I don't mind
that I may not earn enough to join the rich list, but wages need to reflect
the qualifications & experience required. I currently run a small childcare
library which I got without experience and have been learning on the job all
along, but I decided I ought to get a library qualification to continue in
the sector. So I've got myself into even more debt to do this but I do
enjoy the work, so that's ok. BUT it doesn't seem right that many library
jobs advertised that I could apply for won't really give me a significant
rise on what I earn (if at all), which won't help with paying all my student
debt off. If you want experienced, qualified staff you have to pay them
well! I also think those year long graduate trainee posts are paid
pitifully.
It seems to be something public sector workers suffer from in general, I
have a friend who is an assistant psychologist who earns less than me but
must work twice as hard. We need public sector workers & not everyone wants
to be a graduate consultant with a faceless banking organisation. My ex
(who I obviously should have got to stick with me in order to continue with
my career), graduated at the same time as me & is now a chartered surveyor
who won't take less than 30K in his next job. Why should surveyors earn so
much more than librarians?
I know eventually I can take up one of those wonderful jobs that isn't
necessarily advertised as information work but I kind of need to live now!
Also I might not want one of those jobs.
Anyway, that's my rant for now, I do love my job & I do want to stay in the
sector but slightly more realistic wages would help us all relax & enjoy
life a little more. Especially those of us in our 20s who are suffering
from the government's ridiculous policies on student finance.
Katherine Ingham
Learning Resource Administrator
Children's Information Service
9 Leopold Street
Sheffield
S1 2GY
Telephone (0114) 249 6379
Fax (0114) 249 6376
Email [log in to unmask]
Visit our website @ http://www.childrenfirst.org.uk
<http://www.childrenfirst.org.uk>
-----Original Message-----
From: Keith O'Sullivan [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 10:07 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Low pay again
No, this is the sort of suggestion which must be countered. It's
simply not
acceptable for a graduate profession, one that I would assume wants to be
taken seriously, to be predicated on this basis. (Not to say quite demeaning
for a lot of male librarians- I write from personal experience). KMCO.
-----Original Message-----
From: Sheila Thomas [ mailto:[log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ]
Sent: 03 February 2003 09:37
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Low pay again
> I do love the work, but I
> don't see how I can afford to stay. Is there a nether class of
> librarian in FE?
I don't think the problem is confined to those working in FE. I've
seen my
salary fall further and further behind over the years, and my standard of
living drop as the cost of living rises.
At a recent meeting in Cambridge of ELIPP it was suggested by one of the
attendees that the secret to surviving on a librarian's salary was to have a
partner who worked in a better-paid profession - this met with agreement
from many directions.
I suppose this is where I am going wrong. I should be concentrating on
finding someone to partially support me instead of looking for that elusive
information-related job with a good salary where the recruiters will
appreciate that my CV loaded with many years of database work really is
worth consideration.
--
Sheila Thomas [log in to unmask]
Web Manager at TWI
http://www.twi.co.uk <http://www.twi.co.uk>
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