[Publib] Marathon County Devalues Librarians and Library Service

[Doris Lively]

We recently had one of our police jurymen (same as county councilmen, only 
in Louisiana do they get called that) make the same type of remark about 
county administrators when they "vacated" the position in our 
parish.  Seems to me the value of his profession could be questioned as 
well if "best practices" are called upon...depends on how much your know 
about something that determines what your version of "best practices" may 
be.  He obviously has not come into contact with the hordes that cannot 
perform a simple Internet search, much less find out current and correct 
medical information on any given medical condition or treatment.  While he 
may be able to perform Internet searches that bring back what he is looking 
for instead of millions of hits to wade through, I would be willing to be a 
substantial amount of money that the majority of his constituents cannot.

This is a sore spot with me, since I supported the "vacated" administrator 
at the public meeting as did many other professionals in my parish, but the 
elected officials voted by a very slight majority to get rid of a man that 
many thought was doing a job that needed to be done.  We need people who 
know what they are doing in the position they hold in all areas of public 
service.  I don't have any aspirations toward being a county administrator 
(or councilman for that matter) and figure most would not have any 
aspirations on my job either.

Doris


At 06:36 PM 3/3/2008 -0600, Patty Dwyer Wanninger wrote:
>Marathon County adminstrator Mort McBain told the Libvibe Internet news 
>service that all this fuss in Marathon County about library services is 
>being created by the 1 or 2 people affected, and that in fact, this is 
>happening all over the country and that Marathon County is using "best 
>practices." He then gives an example to show that there is no need for 
>libraries at all when people can just use the Internet. "If you had a 
>medical question would you call the library and ask the librarian?" he 
>asks, saying that he would never go to the library for medical 
>information; it is much more sensible to just use the Internet and then 
>call a medical person.
>
>If Mort McBain and the director and trustees of the Marathon County 
>Library go unchallenged by the library profession, public library service 
>everywhere is at risk. Although it has always been the minority of our 
>citizens who were smart enough to avail themselves of reference service 
>when they have questions about medical issues, real estate, writing a 
>business plan, etc. the fact is, by our selection of and access to 
>authoritative materials, the information staff of the public library have 
>not been replaced by Google.
>
>I hope you will join me in contacting these people and explaining that 
>they are not in fact practicing "best practices," unless they are 
>practicing to be a park pavilion or swap meet.
>
>Mort McBain, Marathon County Administrator
>Mort McBain, Administrator
>*Phone:*        715-261-1400
>*Fax:*  715-261-4173
>*E-mail:*       Contact Us <mailto:administrator at mail.co.marathon.wi.us>
>*Address:*      Marathon County Courthouse
>500 Forest St.
>Wausau WI 54403
>
>administrator at mail.co.marathon.wi.us
>
>Marathon County Library Board
>
>The Marathon County Public Library Board of Trustees, commonly known as 
>the Library Board, operates under Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
>The Board is comprised of  seven members appointed by the Marathon County 
>Board of Supervisors: two members of Marathon County Board of Supervisor, 
>a Superintendent of  a Marathon County school district, and general public 
>representatives.
>
>*Current Board Members:*
>
>    * Gina Cornell (President)
>    * Tim Gierl (Vice President)
>
>
>
>    * Roger Zimmerman
>    * Paul Buchberger
>    * David Echmann
>
>
>
>    * Scott Winch
>    * Audrey Ascher
>
>300 North First Street, Wausau, WI 54403
>
>Director
>The library director is Phyllis Christensen.
>
>
>
>
>--
>Patty Dwyer Wanninger
>Library Director
>Manitowoc Public Library
>707 Quay Street
>Manitowoc, WI 54220
>P - 920-683-4863 ext. 337
>F - 920-683-4873
>The views, opinions, and judgments expressed in this message are solely 
>those of the author. The message contents have not been reviewed or 
>approved by the City of Manitowoc.
>
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Doris Lively
Director
Grant Parish Library
300 Main Street
Colfax, LA  71417
phone  318-627-9920
fax  318-627-9900
e-mail    dlively at state.lib.la.us

Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane 
every night of our lives.
                                                                         -Fisher
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