I heartily agree with all the comments so far. I still love working in the information field but as I am approaching a mid-life crisis I wonder whether to retrain in another profession soon. I went into libraries as I loved the idea of customer service married with quality research skills - both of which are being eroded. We are definitely disappearing behind electronic resources with no library branding.
I am getting fed up justifying my existence to friends, family and colleagues. Are there other professions who feel this way?
I put up with lots of regular teasing about libraries and librarians with good humour but it is getting harder.
I have a son and daughter who are part of the My Space generation. They were dragged to libraries and I read books to them from the age of 9 months! They have no respect for copyright and in spite of my son getting to university - studying pharmacy no less(!) - he never reads books preferring computer games and BEBO. I am a failure as a parent!! And my own father was so poor he had to leave school at 14 and was self-educated by the public library service. If he was alive he would give these grandchildren a ticking off!!!
We have definitely had no support from CILIP in advocacy for the profession in all the years I have paid my membership fees. Can I suggest a joint professional body for all those working in libraries, museums and archives which would have more professional clout!
Sandra Wilson Information Officer/Librarian
Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association
76 Firhill Road, Glasgow, G20 7BA
T: 0141 945 1077 F: 0141 945 2578
email : [log in to unmask]
website: www.scotmnd.org.uk
Company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland, number SC217735
Scottish Charity No : SCO02662
Information is provided free to patients and families. A donation is welcome from health & social care professionals
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