[Publib] re: lament

[Sara Weissman]

1) Would any of the directors, regular reviewers of resumes, hirers? on the list like 
to review Terri's resume and offer any suggestions for perhaps tuning it up? Off-
list, if you can/will.  (Mutual assistance ..what we excel at here!)
2) Terri .. it is always harder finding work in the immediate environs of a LIS 
program sending out new grads every year. Is true here in NJ (Rutgers) and I 
imagine it is likewise in MI, IL, MA, etc. etc.  Also not easy when public funding is 
declining (loss of logging money in the northwest, for example).  We took a 5% 
budget cut last year and they want more this year. Our reference staff has dropped 
from 11 to 8 in the past three years.

As a 60-yr old of whom a 40-yr old colleague lately remarked "She's old! she'll 
retire soon." (Not!) ..forget the ageism thing.  It is as hard and frustrating for 
younger librarians to find work as for older. Our latest hire was for only 15-hrs/wk 
..a young, energetic, bright fellow who reminds us all of the joy of discovery at the 
beginning of a career. It is his attitude, not any "techyness", that is a great addition 
to our collective effort and identity.
     I would certainly hope the face(s) of librarianship were as varied as the face(s) of 
the public who walk through our doors. It is the essential credo of public libraries: 
open to enhance and advance the lives of all who seek us out.  So too it should be 
for the profession: open to all who are committing themselves to serving their 
fellow human beings. Anything less is not what this profession--or this list--is 
about.


Sara Weissman, co-moderator
PubLib-L