Comments for The (Ultimate) Librarian http://ultimatelibrarian.wordpress.com ain't it the truth. Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:18:39 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on The Professional by Jane MacDonald http://ultimatelibrarian.wordpress.com/2006/01/15/the-professional/#comment-86 Jane MacDonald Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:18:39 +0000 http://ultimatelibrarian.wordpress.com/2006/01/15/the-professional/#comment-86 I've worked in libraries for 15 years as a non-librarian but with a professional degree and certifications. I have worked shoulder to shoulder with librarians. They call themselves professionals and tell me that I am not allowed to call myself a professional. At best, I am considered a "paraprofessional". All of this despite the fact that I went through a difficult certification process and have to pay yearly to keep up my license...... I am not into status or anything like that but I do get a little miffed when a group of people who actually don't have any certifications, standards boards or licensing requirements go around calling themselves professionals while they, at the same time, tell people who have to adhere to the aforementioned that they are not professionals. I think that their treatment of people from other "professions" is very immature and unprofessional. I think that librarians would do a lot better in terms of making themselves look more professional in the eyes of the rest of the working world if they got off their high horses on this issue. I suspect that it is mostly low self-esteem driving this. But, it does not make it right. And, I think that I have been a good sport in putting up with it all these years. And for those librarians reading this..... if you ever talked to any of the library associates and asked them what they honestly think (especially the lawyers, nurses and teachers among them), I think that you'd get a real shock. With regard to whether or not librarians are professionals...... Well, they are professionals in the same way that mechanics, hairdressers or pipe fitters are. Are they professionals like doctors, lawyers, or judges? Not even close. Too tell the truth, I rely more on my mechanic and the guy who fixed my furnace to be competent and professional much more than I ever would a librarian. After all, my car or furnace could blow up! If the librarian gives me the wrong information....... well, aren't we all supposed to be responsible for looking at the information for ourselves and make our own judgement in that regard? I’ve worked in libraries for 15 years as a non-librarian but with a professional degree and certifications. I have worked shoulder to shoulder with librarians. They call themselves professionals and tell me that I am not allowed to call myself a professional. At best, I am considered a “paraprofessional”. All of this despite the fact that I went through a difficult certification process and have to pay yearly to keep up my license…… I am not into status or anything like that but I do get a little miffed when a group of people who actually don’t have any certifications, standards boards or licensing requirements go around calling themselves professionals while they, at the same time, tell people who have to adhere to the aforementioned that they are not professionals. I think that their treatment of people from other “professions” is very immature and unprofessional. I think that librarians would do a lot better in terms of making themselves look more professional in the eyes of the rest of the working world if they got off their high horses on this issue. I suspect that it is mostly low self-esteem driving this. But, it does not make it right. And, I think that I have been a good sport in putting up with it all these years. And for those librarians reading this….. if you ever talked to any of the library associates and asked them what they honestly think (especially the lawyers, nurses and teachers among them), I think that you’d get a real shock.

With regard to whether or not librarians are professionals…… Well, they are professionals in the same way that mechanics, hairdressers or pipe fitters are. Are they professionals like doctors, lawyers, or judges? Not even close. Too tell the truth, I rely more on my mechanic and the guy who fixed my furnace to be competent and professional much more than I ever would a librarian. After all, my car or furnace could blow up! If the librarian gives me the wrong information……. well, aren’t we all supposed to be responsible for looking at the information for ourselves and make our own judgement in that regard?

]]> Comment on Fighting PowerPoint by The (Ultimate) Librarian » Blog Archive » A Direction http://ultimatelibrarian.wordpress.com/2006/03/01/fighting-powerpoint/#comment-3 The (Ultimate) Librarian » Blog Archive » A Direction Mon, 01 May 2006 20:18:12 +0000 http://ultimatelibrarian.wordpress.com/2006/03/01/fighting-powerpoint/#comment-3 [...] The (Ultimate) Librarian ain’t it the truth. « Fighting PowerPoint [...] [...] The (Ultimate) Librarian ain’t it the truth. « Fighting PowerPoint [...]

]]> Comment on winner by Carleen http://ultimatelibrarian.wordpress.com/2005/12/26/winner/#comment-2 Carleen Sat, 28 Jan 2006 01:14:13 +0000 http://ultimatelibrarian.wordpress.com/2005/12/26/winner/#comment-2 Is that chocolate!? That looks like chocolate. I know I made straight C's in french class but I'm pretty sure I know chocolate when I see it. Wow, looks delicious. Anyway, I just had to comment because you're a student at U-dub (do they still call it that?) and I used to go to Western (in Bellingham, but I'm sure you already knew that). I liked your comments about the library blog clique thing. I attended the ALA blog party last June and I have to admitt, it was a bit like being in high school again where all the "well known" bloggers sorta hanged together and the rest of us just stared on in admiration. Personally, I'm glad my blog isn't known. Can you imagine having to feel the need to apologize for not posting for while or announcing that you're going to be gone for a few weeks so "don't think I've abandoned you all or anything." No, blogging is still very much a personal excercise to me and I'll keep executing it in that way with my own rules and guidelines. All the best with your schooling! Is that chocolate!? That looks like chocolate. I know I made straight C’s in french class but I’m pretty sure I know chocolate when I see it. Wow, looks delicious.

Anyway, I just had to comment because you’re a student at U-dub (do they still call it that?) and I used to go to Western (in Bellingham, but I’m sure you already knew that). I liked your comments about the library blog clique thing. I attended the ALA blog party last June and I have to admitt, it was a bit like being in high school again where all the “well known” bloggers sorta hanged together and the rest of us just stared on in admiration. Personally, I’m glad my blog isn’t known. Can you imagine having to feel the need to apologize for not posting for while or announcing that you’re going to be gone for a few weeks so “don’t think I’ve abandoned you all or anything.” No, blogging is still very much a personal excercise to me and I’ll keep executing it in that way with my own rules and guidelines.
All the best with your schooling!

]]> Comment on winner by Marie http://ultimatelibrarian.wordpress.com/2005/12/26/winner/#comment-1 Marie Fri, 06 Jan 2006 04:18:53 +0000 http://ultimatelibrarian.wordpress.com/2005/12/26/winner/#comment-1 Hey Amy! I was writing this French paper about what I did over vacation, and I realized it isn't "bouche" (which means mouth) but rather "buche" with a circumflex (this thing ^) over the u. Just thought I would let you know ;). Well, I better get going, I love and miss you tons! Talk to you later (maybe this weekend...?). Bye! Hey Amy! I was writing this French paper about what I did over vacation, and I realized it isn’t “bouche” (which means mouth) but rather “buche” with a circumflex (this thing ^) over the u. Just thought I would let you know ;) . Well, I better get going, I love and miss you tons! Talk to you later (maybe this weekend…?). Bye!

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