LISNews: Librarian News

From Brian Herzog, Swiss Army Librarian:

Earlier this summer, my coworker Tommy got the idea for a library art project: mail a letter to 200+ libraries across the country, asking them to send him one of their library cards.

He enclosed a return envelope, and most of them responded! For the next few weeks, Tommy's envelopes, with new library cards enclosed, poured into the library from all over the country. It was fun to see the variety and creativity of library cards.

Tommy's project was dependent on how many library cards he received. In the end, the number he got fit more or less perfectly on one of the coffee tables in the library, so he got permission to arrange them on a table and cover them with a protective epoxy. It looks great in the library, and the plan is to leave it in the library permanently. Tom also put up a sign on the table explaining what he did - the table is very eye-catching, and has already proved popular with staff and patrons.

Brooklyn librarian band "Lost in the Stacks", including LISNews author Rita Meade, had a lovely mention in the New York Daily News yesterday.

"Libraries are metadata specialists and many librarians are metadata search specialists. Our training for users too often tries to turn them into mini-librarians too, as though being a specialist at finding things in the library is or should be a crowning achievement in life. So I really do think libraries are NOT experts at search. In fact, compared to Google I think we pretty much suck at it. I also think most librarians are specialists rather than experts at search. But what I don’t understand is why this seems to be such a challenge to librarians."

http://carolbycomputerlight.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/the-difference-between-an-expert-and-a-specialist/

This has shades of "Reference is dead" posts (here , here , here, here etc) and "Libraries need to give up the notion that question answering is a core service of the library" -- Read More

This Wall Street Journal blog makes note of what New York City librarians are wearing these days. Turns out it's a little bit of everything. The report includes an interactive slide show.

Shauntee Burns, a teaching and learning specialist, said: “I definitely like to look like a librarian, but I twist it with a pop of color, so it’s 21st-century librarian.” Jessica Pigza, assistant curator of rare books, added a homespun touch to her librarian look: She sewed her dress and wore it with a vintage shirt and black-frame glasses.

Employees involved in fundraising or special events—such as the “Live from the NYPL” speaker series, which features celebrity speakers like Jay-Z, Umberto Eco and Oliver Stone—tend to dress more formally.

Patrick Hoffman, director of the theatre on film and tape at the library for the performing arts, wears a suit and tie every day. “I’m a firm believer that good clothes open all doors,” he said.