[Publib] Re: Perplexed Librarian 2007

[Kapland54 at aol.com]

I don’t know the situation where Mr. Ward works, but I would like to ask him 
a question.  He says that staff are not “valued” by management.  My question 
would be,  “What value do you bring to the organization?”   Is your staff 
willing to accept new ideas and new way of doing things - in fact, suggest new 
ways of doing things - to meet the changing needs of the public regarding 
library service?  Are you willing to innovate, change, even possibly give up the 
things you think are most “fun” about your job because changing public need and 
economics dictate that such changes need to be made?  Is the public first in 
your mind - always, always, always - when new  processes or programs are 
initiated?  Is your first reaction to any new change that is being suggested, “Why 
do we need to do THAT”?  How long should administrators listen to staff who 
can’t move beyond what is comfortable, familiar and convenient?  

I know many librarians who are passionately committed to their patrons and 
who would gladly go to the wall for them any day of the week.  Except, our 
patrons don’t want us to go to the wall for them - they want us to meet them at the 
times and places where it’s comfortable and convenient for THEM to get what 
they want.  And those places are getting to be less and less in the librarians’ 
old comfortable, familiar stomping grounds.  

The answer to  Mr. Wards last question, “Do I need to change the way I think 
about libraries?” is probably, “Yeah, you do.”



Karen Apland

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