Librarians everywhere hate me - Page 3

Alex · 11-01-2005, 09:55 AM

libraryvixen, where did you get your MLS? I have to admit that collection development is something I hated (but I really do miss academic reference work; too bad the pay is crap).

tracilicious · 11-01-2005, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

That said, it is generally not a job where someone can just walk in and start doing it. In the absence of a degree requirement, it would have to work on an apprenticeship/develpoment model.

Yes, this was really the heart of my question. Why there isn't just extensive on the job training. Which you've answered quite well, thank you. I'm assuming when you say "library school" you just mean college?

Gemini Cricket · 11-01-2005, 08:35 AM

"Do you have that book by... you know. It has pages in it. I think it has a cover. Hard, no soft. You know, the book. The book? I think it's made out of paper. It was written by somebody. You know, Dr. Something Something. No? The cover has a picture on it. It's a book, though. I'm sure of that."

libraryvixen · 11-01-2005, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

"Do you have that book by... you know. It has pages in it. I think it has a cover. Hard, no soft. You know, the book. The book? I think it's made out of paper. It was written by somebody. You know, Dr. Something Something. No? The cover has a picture on it. It's a book, though. I'm sure of that."

I do! It's over there in that section with the numbers on it next to the other books that have words on the side.

My public library is the only one in town. So, we offer up our services to over 55,000 folks. It's a lot for a little library. I find myself doing more research-based projects in my branch than the other cities that have 3-4 branches in their town.

I fell into my librarianship. I started volunteering when I was 12 and never stopped working at the library. I found myself actually seeing how the library operated, what the staff did there, and how much it took to make the library run... and I loved it. I love collection development, I love teaching people how to use the library... I love my job.

My ex-husband used to tell me "I don't understand why you're tired. All you do is sit on your a$$ all day, look at a computer screen, point your finger at people to 'shush' them, and read all day." Not only when we were married.... but even now after we're divorced. He likes to tell me (and when we were in court, the judge) that it wasn't a "real" job. I always challenged him to come into the library to see WHAT I did and HOW I did it. I told him that my job was not as easy as it looked and that answering questions all day was not all I did. And... I wish I could read all day. It would make the annoying questions a lot more palatable if I lazily pulled my head up from my book and said "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't hear your question." and then pushed my head right back into it again.

It is more than books, it's more than sitting on ones a$$, it's a business of books and media. One has to have the savvy to balance good customer service, intelligent searches, and making sure your branch has quality resources to offer the patrons.

Cadaverous Pallor · 11-01-2005, 10:50 AM

Heehee, Traci.

We do not hate people with fines. We hate people that deny that they have overdue books and yell "are you calling me a liar??". Then they go back to the car and a moment later come back in with the book in their hands.

Librarians are the worst regarding returning books. But if we have fines, we pay them. It's just a donation anyway. I do recommend you pay yours, not because I'm a stickler librarian, but because you might get sent to a collection agency. People get REALLY mad when it shows up on their credit report

Now regarding your situation...as others have said, your story is far too common to be hated, and there are much worse out there. The only thing I'd recommend is that next time don't say things like "I'm positive that's the name" because that's what makes great fodder for snarky librarian stories. She must've said "I'm positive" at least 4 times! You should have seen the look on her face when she realized she was wrong... Yeah, I admit, snarky librarian stories are prevalent at the workplace.

The librarian's dogged determination to find your book is standard procedure. Alex is right, it isn't about books, it's about information, and she was going to figure out what you meant. The chase is what the job is all about.

tracilicious · 11-01-2005, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

We do not hate people with fines. We hate people that deny that they have overdue books and yell "are you calling me a liar??". Then they go back to the car and a moment later come back in with the book in their hands.

Librarians are the worst regarding returning books. But if we have fines, we pay them. It's just a donation anyway. I do recommend you pay yours, not because I'm a stickler librarian, but because you might get sent to a collection agency. People get REALLY mad when it shows up on their credit report

Now regarding your situation...as others have said, your story is far too common to be hated, and there are much worse out there. The only thing I'd recommend is that next time don't say things like "I'm positive that's the name" because that's what makes great fodder for snarky librarian stories. She must've said "I'm positive" at least 4 times! You should have seen the look on her face when she realized she was wrong... Yeah, I admit, snarky librarian stories are prevalent at the workplace.

The librarian's dogged determination to find your book is standard procedure. Alex is right, it isn't about books, it's about information, and she was going to figure out what you meant. The chase is what the job is all about.

Oh, I would never yell. I'm much more likely to wait to return the books until they've given up (I do eventually return them

) and then never return to that library. Sadly, the collections people already know my name.

I'm glad to know that other book lovers return things late. I love the library, and I do want to support them. I promise to do better with this library!

Tee-hee. I really was sure it started with an H. That's a well earned story for her. It really did seem like a quest to her. I claim the victory though, as I'm the one that suggested Google and gave her the search parameters.

Not Afraid · 11-01-2005, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Tee-hee. I really was sure it started with an H. That's a well earned story for her. It really did seem like a quest to her. I claim the victory though, as I'm the one that suggested Google and gave her the search parameters.

Well, one thing other people in need of finding something have done - they call my cell phone.

Matterhorn Fan · 11-01-2005, 04:15 PM

Well, the other option is not to get your MLIS, but to get your MA and teach freshman composition. You get to be both full-time professor and part-time reference librarian (gotta love those research papers!) all for the low, low pay of . . . well, let's just say I don't make that much more than some people I know who don't have college degrees at all. The pay isn't terrible, but it's not very good, either.

Not Afraid · 11-01-2005, 06:33 PM

Interesting discussion. I have been thinking about an MLS for the bast couple of weeks. It goes well with Art History but not as well with Business.

Alex · 11-01-2005, 11:33 PM

Actually, an MLS can go very well with business, particularly if you persue a Special Libraries track. Corporate libraries tend to be very different than public and academic libraries but many of them would find a business background very useful.

Prudence, I did my undergraduate at UW and spent four years working the third floor serials desk on the closing shift (without librarian supervision so I got a lot of good ref desk experience as an undergrad. Ah, the memories of rousting sleepers out of the reading room at 12:30 in the morning. I would have gone to the school at UW, but my ex-wife was going to go there so I decided on the University of Hawaii program instead. She would have been there 96-98 so it sounds like it is unlikely you knew her.

11-01-2005, 09:55 AM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	libraryvixen, where did you get your MLS? I have to admit that collection development is something I hated (but I really do miss academic reference work; too bad the pay is crap).
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11-01-2005, 08:35 AM	#3
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	"Do you have that book by... you know. It has pages in it. I think it has a cover. Hard, no soft. You know, the book. The book? I think it's made out of paper. It was written by somebody. You know, Dr. Something Something. No? The cover has a picture on it. It's a book, though. I'm sure of that."
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11-01-2005, 10:50 AM	#5
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	Heehee, Traci. We do not hate people with fines. We hate people that deny that they have overdue books and yell "are you calling me a liar??". Then they go back to the car and a moment later come back in with the book in their hands. Librarians are the worst regarding returning books. But if we have fines, we pay them. It's just a donation anyway. I do recommend you pay yours, not because I'm a stickler librarian, but because you might get sent to a collection agency. People get REALLY mad when it shows up on their credit report Now regarding your situation...as others have said, your story is far too common to be hated, and there are much worse out there. The only thing I'd recommend is that next time don't say things like "I'm positive that's the name" because that's what makes great fodder for snarky librarian stories. She must've said "I'm positive" at least 4 times! You should have seen the look on her face when she realized she was wrong... Yeah, I admit, snarky librarian stories are prevalent at the workplace. The librarian's dogged determination to find your book is standard procedure. Alex is right, it isn't about books, it's about information, and she was going to figure out what you meant. The chase is what the job is all about. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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11-01-2005, 04:15 PM	#8
Matterhorn Fan Double Agent Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Back East Posts: 2,071	Well, the other option is not to get your MLIS, but to get your MA and teach freshman composition. You get to be both full-time professor and part-time reference librarian (gotta love those research papers!) all for the low, low pay of . . . well, let's just say I don't make that much more than some people I know who don't have college degrees at all. The pay isn't terrible, but it's not very good, either.
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11-01-2005, 06:33 PM	#9
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Interesting discussion. I have been thinking about an MLS for the bast couple of weeks. It goes well with Art History but not as well with Business.
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11-01-2005, 11:33 PM	#10
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Actually, an MLS can go very well with business, particularly if you persue a Special Libraries track. Corporate libraries tend to be very different than public and academic libraries but many of them would find a business background very useful. Prudence, I did my undergraduate at UW and spent four years working the third floor serials desk on the closing shift (without librarian supervision so I got a lot of good ref desk experience as an undergrad. Ah, the memories of rousting sleepers out of the reading room at 12:30 in the morning. I would have gone to the school at UW, but my ex-wife was going to go there so I decided on the University of Hawaii program instead. She would have been there 96-98 so it sounds like it is unlikely you knew her.
	Submit to Quotes