[Publib] Perplexed Librarian 2007 - Part One

[James Casey]

I recall that the 'winds of change' came through the Cleveland Public
Library some 30 years ago --- a library with over 1,000 staff where many
of us newly minted MLS Librarians felt that the Administration was not
listening and didn't care.  Cleveland also had its share of violence in
the Library (some fatalities).  Similar complaints came about from staff
at Chicago Public Library several years ago.  When one is a lower
ranking member of a large, complex organization with hundreds or
thousands of FTE, feeling unappreciated and powerless quite often "goes
with the territory".  I left Cleveland Public Library in 1977 and have
worked in smaller library organizations since then.  Politics and
insensitivity can exist anywhere, but when one can see and converse with
the CEO on a regular, first name basis, there is less of a feeling of
powerlessness and bureaucratic oblivion.  The notion that one can "make
a difference" was important to me and I had to make the conscious career
move to become a bigger fish in smaller ponds.  There would have been
benefits (mostly financial) had I stayed at Cleveland Public, but I
likely would never have been fully "in charge" of library service or be
involved with library issues on a national level.   

--- I'm not sure that you have to "change the way you think about
libraries" as much as you may need to work in a setting where it is more
apparent that what you think makes a difference to the organization and
to the patrons.  Signing petitions may be less useful than sending out
resumes.


James B. Casey  -- My own views
Director of Oak Lawn Public Library (abt. 110 staff)
ALA Council Member.



-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Ward
Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2007 1:08 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Perplexed Librarian 2007 - Part One 
Is this normal for Library Systems around the country?  Do Library
Directors 
tend to not relate to their line staff?  Is there fear in other systems
of 
retaliation?  Am I missing something?  Do I need to change the way I
think 
about Libraries?

Gerald F. Ward
SPLibrarian at hotmail.com

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