[Publib] CNN on Libraries, Librarianship and Libraries 2.0

Fri Sep 4 11:51:08 EDT 2009

$ 25,000

That's roughly the figure my Master's in Library Studies will have cost
me once I get my diploma at the end of this semester. My salary at the
library will go higher than that figure once I'm a librarian, but I know
this group is sympathetic to how stories like this frustrate and
frighten me. Minus taxes, it'll take a few years to recoup my grad
school investment, then start turning a profit.

I need to be in the workforce for at least another 25 years in order to
get ready for retirement (and hopefully between my salary and my
husband's have something left to will our kids and/or potential
grandkids). And I'd like to retire when I'm young enough to still get
out and do things. When I read things like this - though I know they're
exaggerated for effect - it makes my blood run cold.

So many librarians don't seem to take any of this seriously - at least
not that I've seen. Here on this list, yes. We're very broad spectrum
and look at the big picture. I don't want to be a reactionary, but when
CNN puts something like this out there how many people read it and
believe it? The general public needs to feel the library's here to stay.
If it gets in their heads we're not, that could be a bad thing.

I can't afford another Master's degree. We have three kids to put
through for at least their undergrad degrees, and they'll probably need
a Master's, as well. Our daughter - and oldest child - wants to be a
psychologist (at least she thinks so now - and she's a sophomore in
H.S.). For this she needs at least a Master's. We can't be expected to
pay full price for advanced degrees, but I know we'll wind up advancing
her some of it. That times three is a whole lot of money.

Good thing I'm in this profession for the love of it, but I know we're
not paid what we deserve. It's a travesty.

Lisa Guidarini

Algonquin Area Public Library District

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Toby Greenwalt
Sent: Friday, September 04, 2009 10:27 AM
To: Jillian Lashmett
Cc: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] CNN on Libraries, Librarianship and Libraries 2.0

As one of the people interviewed for the article, I had a feeling that
was the angle the reporter was shooting for right out of the gate. He
asked me at least 5 times if books were vanishing, and every time I told
him "no." 

Our book circulation is up nearly 25% over last year. Our book
discussion groups all have waiting lists. A recent Yelp reviewer noted:
"My God, there were people there reading books! [...] There were people
of all ages reading all types of materials at 9:30 in the morning."
Books are our business, and business is very good. 

Books certainly aren't going away, nor are they in direct opposition to
technology. I am somewhat disappointed that the ideas were reduced
through such a filter, but I think ultimately it helps to raise our
awareness. 

Toby Greenwalt
Virtual Services Coordinator, Skokie Public Library

On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 8:58 AM, Jillian Lashmett
<jlashmet at cumberland.lib.nc.us> wrote:

Contrary to the doomsday (and I agree oversimplified and biased) tone of
the CNN article, this photo slide show that accompanies an article in
the NYT shows people reading on the subway. What you will note is that
not one person in these pictures is reading from a Sony Reader or Kindle
or any kind of other electronic device--they are holding paper in their
hands. If people in the big city still like to hold books in their hands
when they have all of the technology available, then we aren't totally
lost. 

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/09/06/nyregion/20090906-reading-ss
_index.html

Jillian Lashmett, Librarian I, I&R 
Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center 
Headquarters Library
300 Maiden Lane Fayetteville, NC 28301-5000 
Phone (910) 483-7727 ext 224

jlashmet at cumberland.lib.nc.us

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of Robert Balliot
Sent: Fri 9/4/2009 9:39 AM
To: gary at resourceshelf.com
Cc: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] CNN on Libraries, Librarianship and Libraries 2.0

CNN's article  The future of libraries, with or without books
<http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/04/future.library.technology/index.html
>   is incredibly simplistic

and biased. 

R. Balliot

http://oceanstatelibrarian.com <http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/> 

On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 9:26 AM, gary price <gary at freepint.com> wrote:

CNN is running a lengthy post today about the current state/future of
libraries and librarianship including a section titled Library 2.0.
We've posted highlights and a link to the full text on ResourceShelf.

See:
http://bit.ly/12kFbt

-- 
Gary D. Price, MLIS
Librarian
Director of Online Information Resources, Ask.com
Editor, ResourceShelf and DocuTicker
Gary Price Library Research and Internet Consulting

Visit ResourceShelf and Docuticker
http://www.resourceshelf.com <http://www.resourceshelf.com/> 
http://www.docuticker.com <http://www.docuticker.com/> 

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