LISNews: Librarian News

Occupational Classification of Librarians in different countries
It is interesting to analyze how LIBRARIANSHIP is classified in Occupational Indexes or Occupational Classifications from various International organizations and Government agencies, especially the labor laws enforcing organizations in the world. LIBRARIANSHIP is classified as a professional occupation, along with lawyers, health professionals, teaching professionals, business professional etc.

What does that mean? A professional occupant requires a professional degree/qualification in the field. A professional degree prepares the holder for a particular profession by emphasizing competency skills along with theory and analysis. These professions are typically licensed or otherwise regulated by a governmental or government-approved body (Wikipedia).

Let us see what the governmental and professional organisations say about our profession.

From Publishers Weekly: Scholar and Harvard University librarian Robert Darnton vowed that the Digital Public Library of America, a nonprofit, nationwide effort to digitize and offer access to millions of free, digitized books and special collections would launch by April of 2013. “I make this promise to you,” Darnton said at the close of his talk, entitled “Digitize, Democratize: Libraries and the Future of Books": “We will get this done.” -- Read More

Helena Bonham Carter’s Librarian Shushes Rufus Wainwright In His New Video
For the title song on his impending seventh studio album, Wainwright has recruited his longtime pal, actress Helena Bonham Carter, to play a buttoned-up keeper of books, at war with her own urges. The video, directed by Philip Andelman, follows Bonham Carter’s sensibly dressed lady around as she lip-syncs Wainwright’s '70s AM radio-sounding anthem and disciplines various library patrons. The twist is that these patrons are all played by Wainwright himself (including one who sports a John Waters-style 'stache.)

Toronto librarians return to work;
after a ten-day walk-out, an agreement has been reached.

Members of CUPE Local 4948 had been on strike since March 19 and libraries were closed during that time. Members voted Thursday night to accept an offer from the city.

CUPE Local 4948 representatives said they were able to fight back all concessions on benefits, noting this is particularly important for the library's many part-time workers.

Video and story here.