[Publib] Why public librarianship?

[Diedre Conkling]

I had meant to respond to the question about pc's but ran out of time and do every now and then need to not be looking at a computer screen. ;-)  I was going to say that I have mostly purchased Dell's but have also thrown in a couple of Micron computers and, of course, Gateway computers through the Gates grant.  

But now we are actually going to thin clients, at least for the public computers.  We are getting thin clients from Gateway because we are getting a super great deal.  However, one of the other library's in our network got them from CDW. 

So, obviously, we are not set on one company for pc's.

Now on to why public librarianship.

I usually don't pay much attention to people that say working in one kind of library is better than another kind.  For the most part the work is as good or as bad as you make it.  Yes, occasionally there are reasons that a certain work situation is not good but it is not usually because of the type of library.  Problems usually are in the areas of management and funding, I think. 

I agree with the comments about variety in public libraries.  Having all ages, all kinds of interests, and open to all who enter the building makes variety the norm.  

In one library where I worked as the Youth Services Coordinator we found that the reference department people thought that we did not do much in the line of real reference work on our side of the building.  We had staff sessions where each department had the chance to talk with the other departments about what we did on a daily basis.  I decided just to show a few pages of our record of the questions asked would be very enlightening.  It was perfect.  The people working in the reference department realized that we really did provide reference service as well.  We had always enjoyed working with each other before this but I think there was added respect for each department as we went through this process.  --  I have no idea why my fingers made me type this.

On the practical side, I have found that staff are not always (often?) paid what they are worth.  However, I think this may be true in all kinds of libraries.  On the other hand, I have always felt that the health insurance and retirement programs were pretty good.  For many years I never had more than 2 weeks vacation time.  Now I have more time than I want or like to use.  Of course, this might be because I am not as good about taking vacation time as I should be.  Funding for the libraries has always been difficult though some years are better than others.  The politics for getting funding in public libraries can be difficult but I actually find the process interesting.

Once you really get into your job you will never be bored.  There is always more and more to do.  

I am sure that I could think of much more to say on this subject but maybe it is time to move away from the computer screen.


--
Diedre Conkling
     
  Lincoln County Library District
  P.O. Box 2027, Newport, OR  97365
  Phone & Fax:  541-265-3066
  http://lcld.library-blogs.net/
  Work:  diedre at beachbooks.org
  Home:  diedrec at charter.net
   

---- Julie Turley <writermama at mindspring.com> wrote: 

=============
Thanks so much for everyone's generous reply to my question on PC brands.

Could I ask something else?

I am wondering why members of this listserv chose the field of public
librarianship for their library careers.  At the end of this year, I will
complete my prerequisites and will have to start focusing my curriculum.  I
am interested in children's librarianship, for one.  Yet, it seems like I
hear only the negative aspects of public librarianship: i.e. Low pay,
burn-out.  

As professionals in this field, what do you like about public librarianship?
What are the "upsides" to the field?

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