[Publib] Re: Academic to Public and Public to Academic

[Matthew Simon-pre-DESIGN Planning Associates]

Oh, the walls we build too often exist only in our mind!

There is no reason why public librarians and academic librarians cannot move back and forth across this "boundary."  I know of many who have done so--a notable example is former ALA president Barbara Ford.  And as an administrator of academic libraries repeatedly hired librarians from the public library realm.  I valued their experience and ideas that these new colleagues brought onto the campus.  The biggest hurdle seems to be adjusting between DDC and LC classification systems.  And you know what else?  Our patrons do not give a fig about this "distinction."  We are librarians.  Period.  And as long as their needs are met, it doesn't matter what 'suasion we are!

Matt Simon