Bessie passed along an interesting looking story that I have been unable to find.
It originally appeared in the December 3, 2001 Information World Review, but is not to be found on the site.
They conducted a small survey to find out what some folks thought of the name \’Librarian\’. Was it good or bad, would a change of image help? The responses are more than a little interesting.
I\’ll post some of the story below, maybe someone can find it in the print version?
Bessie passed along an interesting looking story that I have been unable to find.
It originally appeared in the December 3, 2001 Information World Review, but is not to be found on the site.
They conducted a small survey to find out what some folks thought of the name \’Librarian\’. Was it good or bad, would a change of image help? The responses are more than a little interesting.
I\’ll post some of the story below, maybe someone can find it in the print version?
This originally appeared in the December 3, 2001 Information World Review
\”
Many of our panellists felt that the job title \’librarian\’ was fine, except that it completly failed to reflect the
full range of what they actually did.
\’The word librarian seems to be a throwback to the past when books and periodicals dominated,\’ said one.
\’The role for most of us has moved on but the terminology hasn\’t caught up.\’
Another advised: \’I would
encourage all librarians to describe themselves as information professionals. This tells people what you are
involved in (information) and that you work to high standards (professional).\’
At least two respondents pointed out that the dictionary definition was badly out of date.
\’The OED defines librarian as \”the keeper or custodian of a library\”,\’ said one. \’But my role is more proactive
than that implies. I undertake research, answer enquiries, input data, market my service, prepare copy for
publication. Yes there are elements of traditional \’librarianship\’ in there but I do not define myself as a
librarian.\’
This panellist continued: \’I call myself an information officer because I deal with information; its storage,
dissemination, analysis, exploitation, collection, management and interpretation.
\’A scientist is a man in a white coat with tufty hair. A consultant borrows your watch to tell you the time. An
estate agent … well, you don\’t even get as far as the image!\’
Maybe it is time to move on? One person certainly felt this way: \’If librarians are concerned about what they
are called they are missing the real issue, which must surely be to focus on what they deliver and the value
they can add to their organisations.\’
Another agreed that it is \’time to be less introspective and have more confidence in our value and abilities.\’
Perhaps the most poignant comment came from one of our scientific panel: \’I don\’t really mind what I am
called, as long as I am paid a living wage and enjoy what I do.\’
\’In 1993 I was asked to justify the need for a library in our organisation. One Board member challenged me to
explain why staff \”could not buy their own books\”. I replied I could see no reason but – as books represented
only 2.5 per cent of our activities – it was not a major issue. The penny dropped!\’
\”
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