[Publib] Bad Libraries

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings,

I think that all of the problems that you are relating
here are addressed by professional ethics and responsibility.

Ethical librarianship goes beyond what you have to do
in the vocational aspects of a job to what you should do
for the advancement and maintenance of the profession.
There is tremendous focus on vocational aspects while
intellectual advancement essentially seems to stop for
many people with library school.  Staff and administrators
become focused on going to work and leaving work rather
than the potential quality of time and experience
available to us.

I think the controversy over Library 2.0 is a great 
example of this.  At the very least, I would expect a
professional librarian to have and maintain a thirst
for knowledge and the willingness and aptitude to learn.
If leadership has those qualities, I think that there
is a possibility for ongoing improvement. The fact that
so many people would disavow potential tools without
even bothering to learn about them is very troubling.

>From the perspective of a work environment, I think that
the pressures of for profit management and the influence
of non-librarians that lack a clear understanding or
appreciation of the profession can have a detrimental effect.
I think that effect can sometimes be insurmountable 
locally, but if ethical librarianship is practiced
globally, we can help to influence change and support
our fellow librarians.

*************************************************
Robert L. Balliot
1-401-421-5763
Skype: RBalliot
Bristol, Rhode Island
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
*************************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Kate Wolicki
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 7:12 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Bad Libraries

Maybe you've worked in one, or heard about one, or there is one in your 
neighborhood: Bad Libraries.  Places no one works...for long.  It might be 
employees, or the director, or the building, or the trustees, or the 
community, but it's not worth a good librarian's time to take a job there, 
no matter the salary.

What is it that drives good workers from an organization?

What can dedicated staff do to rehabilitate a library that's bleeding good 
people?

And after the library is Better, what can everyone do to fix the library's 
image and attract good staff again?  How can the library ensure that the 
poisonous atmosphere will not return?

I read articles about Bad City Libraries with atrocious management vs staff 
problems, or even staff vs public problems, and I wonder: is there something

that can cause a turnaround without a whole new crew?  I have also seen 
smaller libraries where one or two personalities somehow combine to create 
fiefdoms of misery where staff stay only because they can't afford to go.  
How on earth does all this happen, and how can employees at all levels 
combat the rot?

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