Posts Tagged ‘library2.0’
This post by Wayne Bivens-Tatum on “Why I Ignore Gurus, Sherpas, Ninjas, Mavens, and Other Sages” did resonate with me. I also tend to ignore those types, or when I listen to them, I simply adapt what I need from them and toss out the rest. This is quote from the piece that really stuck with me this time:
“Based on my experience, I know the gurus’ giving advice about things I must learn is wrong. I can learn those things, and I might even benefit from that learning, but I don’t have to and will probably do just fine without learning them. I don’t follow sherpas and gurus because I prefer to go my own way. Leaders need followers, but I’m not much of either. I’ve found that it’s much easier to develop skills as I need them than to be told that some skill will benefit me because the teller has the skill and reaps benefits.”
As I wrote when I shared the link on Facebook, this is a lot of what I believe. Sure, I can lead when need be. Just because I do not have much use for a lot of leadership it does not mean I do not know how to lead. I may have mentioned elsewhere that I am a bit more a member of the Patton School of Leadership (Lead me, follow me, or get the hell out of my way). A big reason I do ignore a lot of the library gurus and big shots is this: often the advice they give is because whatever they are peddling (coding and learning HTML back in the day, and yes, back in library school, learning HTML was a big deal; or social media now) benefited them. They get benefits from peddling it (speaking engagements, book deals, fame, higher blog views and counts, followers on social media, etc.) regardless of whether what they peddle or not is good advice for you or not.
I have learned to do what works for me. As an information literacy librarian, I have learned to use the skills I teach my students of always questioning and evaluating the sources of information. Plus, I have also learned the following: You (often) improvise. You adapt. You overcome.
By the way, go read the whole piece. It is well worth it.
An interesting post by Meredith Farkas, of Information Wants to be Free, on “Ebooks and Libraries.” The post serves as a very good summary of current concerns and issues about ebooks and their platforms and their use in libraries. This was a post that I shared on MPOW’s internal reference blog as well; we’ll see if it sparks any discussion. I would be specially interested to see what anyone else at works says, specially some folks who do see patron-driven acquisitions as the next panacea. Farkas does a pretty good job, taking the view of someone who is well-informed but not an “expert” on ebooks (personally, I think she is being way too humble given the woman is pretty much a fountain of knowledge), which makes the post very accessible. She touches on many concerns that I have as well, but that I don’t always dare speak out loud at MPOW. Anyhow, worth a look.
And an additional item: Just as I finished posting this, I find Emily Lloyd’s Shelf Check toon on ebooks and how they work. Too funny and appropriate not to share with this.
Consider this post a list of some blog posts I have found interesting in some way, some positive and some negative, that I have no time to craft a reply or additional thoughts. However, I would like to at least jot down a thing or two, and since this mess is not ready for prime time I am putting it in the scratch pad.
- From ACRLog, “How Much is Enough?” This is about folks who drop their professional memberships in librarianship (mostly ALA, but I am sure my Canadian brethren may have a thing or two to say too) due to financial constraints. To me, this is just the latest incarnation of the seemingly annual ritual, which usually happens around ALA’s Midwinter meeting. It so happens it is end of the year too, the time when people have to decide to renew or not. This has been going on, in one shape or another, since at least 2005 when I actually wrote something about it. I am just a bit tired of hearing about it, and while I could say more, well, just plain tired.
- Meredith Farkas on “What do they really need?” asking questions on whether what we do really meets student needs or not. To be honest, I have wondered a couple of things she lists myself, but I will admit I have been gun-shy about asking.
- From Musing about librarianship, here we have “Thoughts about library portals.” Some ideas I have considered as well, and a few that I learned about from reading the post. Again, one of those where I don’t feel too brave speaking for one. And two, the kind of thing that if some of the more technolusty in my midst see they may go overboard. One of the catches in our profession: lack of balance.
- The Annoyed Librarian has been playing the “would public libraries be founded today?” game. She started it here, and she gives some additional reasons here. Personally, my answer would be no, public libraries would not be founded today. I agree with some of the reasons she gives, and I would add one or of my own. Maybe I will write this one out some day in the future. One of my first pieces of evidence in supporting the negative proposition? This less than enlightened person’s letter to the editor (via the Port Orchard Independent). Actually, I have a few clippings similar to that letter for the day when I get inspired to tell some ignorant people why they really need a library.
Anyhow, there are a few things that gave me a moment or two to think. I probably won’t get further in terms of writing on these, but I just wanted to jot them down.
