Librarians

Few takers for library science in India

Few takers for library science
If estimates presented in a study by the librarian at the Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA) Shailesh Yagnik are to be believed, currently 2,22,350 people are engaged in libraries in higher secondary institutions, general colleges, professional colleges, central libraries and district and town libraries.

According to him, despite the higher potential of growth in LIS education, students are not interested in taking up the course.

If I were a poor, out-of-work librarian

Holy Crap. Some guy at Forbes wrote an article called, "If I Were A Poor Black Kid." Why a poor, black kid? Why didn't he just say, "If I were a kid"? If you remove "poor black" from his essay, it still makes grammatical sense AND it doesn't sound like some WHITE guy just got total amnesia about our history. So if you read the article, just try to ignore that it's completely misplaced advice, but try to focus on the details. Otherwise, damn, he sounds stupid.

With that in mind, I'm going to attempt to solve all the problems of the out-of-work librarian. And it will probably sound just as stupid.

IF I WERE A POOR OUT-OF-WORK LIBRARIAN.

If you're a librarian and unemployed, I don't need to tell you that there are lots of other librarians out there looking for a job.

If I were a poor, out-of-work librarian, I would read "If I Were A Poor Black Kid." And I would do what the author says to do about "getting technical." Most of this stuff can be learned through your local library. I hope you knew that.

If possible, I would learn another language. As much as I could. I would give up my free time and devote every second to making myself the most attractive candidate for the job. But for now, I'll assume you've made it past the application stage and have been called for an interview. -- Read More

County Hid GPS Tracker on Library Chief's Car

County Hid GPS Tracker on Library Chief's Car
In what some local readers have called “public pillorying in Bakersfield media,” The Bakersfield Californian reported on November 26 what reporter James Burger and his editors called “questionable work habits” of the Kern County director of libraries.

From September 20, 2011 to October 31, 2011 the Kern County General Services Department placed a GPS device on the county vehicle used by Library Director Diane Duquette.

Among other things, The Californian charged the library chief with infractions such as “manag[ing through email,” attending Rotary meetings during the work day and stopping for personal shopping while obtaining matting and framing for items to be placed in the new Frazier Park Library.

Howard facing lawsuit after librarian found guilty of sexual misconduct charges

Howard facing lawsuit after librarian found guilty of sexual misconduct charges
Five Howard University students have filed suit in federal court alleging that school officials did not do enough to protect them from an employee later convicted of sexual harassment and assault.

The students, all women, say that a librarian, their work-study supervisor at Howard University’s Founders Library, verbally and physically assaulted them from September 2010 to April 2011. The suit alleges that even though students complained about his conduct, nothing was done until D.C. police were notified.

What You Can Do To Support School Libraries In Crisis

Carl Harvey II writes in In today's Huffington Post:

As the leader of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and an educator, I am struck by the lack of support for school libraries from federal and local governments. Do decision makers fully realize how their lack of support will hinder the education of America's next generation? Due to the lack of funding for school libraries, students are at risk of not having some of the most critical 21st century skills needed to compete in the global marketplace.

There is a common misconception that technology replaces school libraries and school librarians. Rather, in reality the explosion of technology and information access makes having full-time access to a state certified school librarian and school library program even more critical for today's learners. There is an entire new skill set today's students will need as they enter the workplace, and school librarians are the leaders in helping teach these skills to students.

Talking About Salaries...in Topeka

With two master’s degrees and her own business, Terry Miller can help a small business owner make a marketing plan or a new entrepreneur perform market segmentation analysis.

And Kathy Jennings knows of at least a dozen manuals on building a deck and where to find the best recipes for apple pie.

Both are ready and willing to share their expertise with the people of Shawnee County — for free.

They are librarians at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.
Eighty-one employees at the library make more than $40,000 a year, while 49 make more than $50,000 a year. Twelve, mostly managers and administrators, make more than $70,000. CEO Gina Millsap has the highest salary — at $129,549 this year.

Millsap said those wages reflect the market — a competitive price to hire the best and brightest to staff what she described as “a world-class library.” Millsap’s 2010 salary of $125,776 is less than the average Midwest library director’s salary by $12,000, according to the Allen County Public Library National Survey for 2010.

More from Capital-Journal Online.

Librarians Must Be Political

Beyond the Bullet Points: Political not Partisan
"Some folks have recently commented that in my presentations and writings I have a political agenda. They are right, but it is not what they think it is. I believe that librarians must be political. That is they must be aware of politics, aid their members in political pursuits, and actively participate in the political process. Now directors of libraries will see this as nothing new, but I believe that all librarians must be politically savvy. Why? Well, let’s start with my definition of politics: politics is the process by which a community allocates power and resources."

What not to study: The 20 university degrees with the highest unemployment rates

Obviously, your choice of degree affects your employability. There are other factors to consider, such as the popularity of the degree and the earning potential - all of which you can view here. But for a simple look, below are the 20 highest and lowest unemployment rates by degree."

Graduates of "library science," it seems, have one of the highest rates of unemployment. The post is based on 2010 Census data (via the Wall Street Journal). More...

[Thanks Von!]

Librarians vs. Archivists

Librarians vs. Archivists
Next week, city council’s finance committee is to consider the naming of the new archives and library materials building, the one Mayor Jim Watson had proposed to name for Charlotte Whitton and he now proposes to name for James Bartleman.

I understand that part of the reason for choosing Bartleman, aside from all his positive attributes, is that the building is both a library and an archives building, and the library fans and the archives fans each want their own champion’s name on the building. The librarians are damned if they’ll accept an archivist’s name and the archivists are damned if they’ll accept a librarian.

Herewith, a salvo just launched from the library side, which wants the building to be named for Claude Aubry, Ottawa’s first bilingual chief librarian.

As funding drops librarian taps volunteers, his own bank account

As government funding drops, Redwood City library head taps volunteers, his own bank account

Genesy — whose compensation ranks in the top 3 percent of city employees, according to state data — has written his share of personal checks, too. Over eight years, he has donated more than $50,000 to Project READ. He said he also donates as much as he can to the Library Foundation or “anything that has to do with kids and learning and getting our families that need our help, some help.”

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