Comments on: False and true library universals http://subjectobject.net/2009/07/23/false-and-true-library-universals/ Steven Chabot Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:44:46 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Steven Chabot http://subjectobject.net/2009/07/23/false-and-true-library-universals/comment-page-1/#comment-129002 Steven Chabot Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:53:45 +0000 http://subjectobject.net/?p=288#comment-129002 <p>@BiblioBlond: While it is true that librarians are undeniably in these virtual spaces, my fear is that they are there talking to themselves. And as you speak of revitalization there is an increasing trend of removing professional librarian positions and deskilling those positions which remain.</p> <p>The point of my post was to argue that we cannot make the basis of our professional discourse "information", or even "social software" because there is nothing value added that librarians can uniquely bring to the table in these areas, particularly as it becomes easier for people to manage their own information and make their own social connections.</p> <p>I don't have a solution, or know if there is one, but Bill Crowley's suggestion seems like a good starting point: focus on education again, not information. And I am not sure that "information literacy" is a sufficient model of education in this sense.</p> @BiblioBlond: While it is true that librarians are undeniably in these virtual spaces, my fear is that they are there talking to themselves. And as you speak of revitalization there is an increasing trend of removing professional librarian positions and deskilling those positions which remain.

The point of my post was to argue that we cannot make the basis of our professional discourse “information”, or even “social software” because there is nothing value added that librarians can uniquely bring to the table in these areas, particularly as it becomes easier for people to manage their own information and make their own social connections.

I don’t have a solution, or know if there is one, but Bill Crowley’s suggestion seems like a good starting point: focus on education again, not information. And I am not sure that “information literacy” is a sufficient model of education in this sense.

]]> By: BiblioBlond http://subjectobject.net/2009/07/23/false-and-true-library-universals/comment-page-1/#comment-128998 BiblioBlond Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:35:16 +0000 http://subjectobject.net/?p=288#comment-128998 <p>Although it is true that social networks and the Internet in general are not as universal as some might believe (either due to lack of access or simply by choice), the presence of libraries and librarians in these virtual spaces is indeniable. The profession of librarianship has without a doubt been revitalized due to the endless possibilities of acquiring knowledge and promoting our services via the internet. Our virtual presence is improving our communication with each other and, to the general public, it is demonstrating that libraries are not confined to a quiet space full of books. This idea of the library being intuned to all things virtual is hopefully becoming a new "library universal".</p> Although it is true that social networks and the Internet in general are not as universal as some might believe (either due to lack of access or simply by choice), the presence of libraries and librarians in these virtual spaces is indeniable. The profession of librarianship has without a doubt been revitalized due to the endless possibilities of acquiring knowledge and promoting our services via the internet. Our virtual presence is improving our communication with each other and, to the general public, it is demonstrating that libraries are not confined to a quiet space full of books. This idea of the library being intuned to all things virtual is hopefully becoming a new “library universal”.

]]> By: Walt Crawford http://subjectobject.net/2009/07/23/false-and-true-library-universals/comment-page-1/#comment-125768 Walt Crawford Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:58:14 +0000 http://subjectobject.net/?p=288#comment-125768 <p>"a recent post by Walt Crawford has got me thinking though (as usual)"</p> <p>That's the nicest compliment I've received in quite a while. Thanks...and a good post.</p> “a recent post by Walt Crawford has got me thinking though (as usual)”

That’s the nicest compliment I’ve received in quite a while. Thanks…and a good post.

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