The last of the book librarians
Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 07:21PM I did a workshop last week for a conference called "Spotlight on Books" up "nort'" near Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It was a very nice conference that focused on ... wait for it .... children and young adult books.
Like the probably hundreds of such conference held each year, there were authors and author talks, book signings, book sales, book talks, book related apparel, bookmarks, book groupies, and people reading books. My long-held observation has been that one really doesn't want to stand between a book lover and his/her book and hope to live to tell the tale. Book lust is as much a religion as anything.
So what the heck was I doing there?
When my friend Ruth asked me to come do the pre-conference workshop, I warned her that any expertise I may have had in children's and YA literature is long-past its expiration date. I only read adult books, find the majority of stuff purposely written for non-adults rather tedious, and wouldn't recognize a popular children's book author if s/he came up and bit me in the butt. But Ruth assured me that I would have plenty to talk about that would be of interest to her "bookish" attendees.
So my workshop addressed three "challenges" libraries, both school and public, are facing: digital publishing and the rise of e-books, online intellectual freedom and copyright/fair use issues. And as sort of after thought, I threw in a little section on how the literature experience can be enhanced using technology.
And as it turned out, the "after thought" was the most fun of the whole afternoon. I shamelessly stole exciting ideas I'd been reading about on Anita Beaman and Amy Obert's Reading 2.0 site and from Joyce Valenza's Reading20 slide show. Author sites, fan sites, web-page widgets, electronic means for kids to do book reports, Skyped author visits, reading promotion graphics generators - just tons of really cool and interesting things that people who work with kids and books can do to generate interest in books, enhance the reading experience, and help kids share their reading thoughts.
So more or less during the workshop, I had a little epiphany - one I am sure most of you, dear readers, had years and years ago:
You can't just be a "book" librarian anymore and be considered professionally competent even if your area of interest and expertise is literature.
If you work with books and kids, you can't do your job without understanding how to use technology in your field. Tech's no longer a "nice extra" - it's a vital set of tools, skills and undertandings you need to master if you want to provide the services kids deserve. I would categorize librarians who fail to recognize how technology can support what they do and actually use it as unprofessional and incompetent as a doctor who can't use a CAT scan or an accountant who can't use a spreadsheet or an engineer who doesn't use CAD/CAM.
There you have it. There are no more "book only" librarians.
Reader Comments (8)
I hope you remembered to mention Little Brother, since it is a YA title on intellectual freedom.
I couldn't agree more. Perhaps that can be added to the growing list of interview questions to ask prospective "School librarians': How will you promote books to students who are so electronically and digitally charged?
I was there too. My thought during all the author talks, some of which were quite riveting, was how can we get this kind of excitement about literature to students - using technology to reach them - so they want to read these books - no matter what the format!
I agree completely Mr. Johnson, book librarians are so much more, and for those that know that and embody social media as much as print media are working hard to break the image of the "ol' stuffy librarian." This is a job field that is truly being transformed and revolutionized as we speak.
Furthermore I would venture to say that this goes for paraprofessionals working in the school library (and teachers, admins, etc.- but that is another post.).
Pleased to see you mentioned Amy Oberts. She is TRULY the best school (hhmm...what do I cal her? Learning Center Teacher? Media Specialist? How about "Super Awesome Media Literacy Guru") that I have ever met, and an inspiration to all!
Yes, there are no book-only librarians. Likewise, there should not be technology-only librarians! The BEST part of our profession is that we get to do so many things, and all of them are valuable.
Doug,
As an IT Director and the son of a Media Specialist I have had the opportunity to see both worlds in a sense. You are absolutely correct that the book-only librarians cannot exist succesfully in this day and age. This is why a true librarian should be called a Media Specialist. This will mean they have specialized in literature in any media (video, audio, written, oral, etc).
The Media Specialist has fought their way into the minds of educators trying to get them to realize they are more than that stuffy, bun-in-hair lady who snaps at children for speaking louder than a whisper. They are an educator.
I see a problem occuring in the Media Specialist position. Those people who built the position are getting on toward retirement and progress for them is harder. The new Media Specialists coming in don't understand the work that went into building the respect for that position and therefore don't have as much passion for the job (massive generalization I know). The bigger problem I'm seeing is what will happen when a new person comes in and thinks we can go completely digital? Physical books aren't going away in the next 5-10 years.
What are the new crop of Media Specialists being taught when they get certified? The passion for creating the position has gone. The work that went into the creation of the job has been done. The new crop may not realize they will make or break this career and some of them don't understand their own history.
Amen! I love your example of a doctor who won't use a CAT scan. Thanks for the reminder that technology is no longer an option.
glennw
Hi Tom,
On reflection, I suspect the percentage of books written for kids and YA audiences that I don't care for is no greater or smaller than the percentage of adult books I don't much like. I am kind of a fussy sort when it comes to reading.
I did like Little Brother a lot - thanks for the reminder.
All the best,
Doug
Hi Cathy Jo,
Good question! Any guesses as to what percent of librarians today could answer that question well? (I do think the numbers are growing thanks to work that people like you and Buffy and Carolyn and Amy and Anita and Joyce, etc.) are doing!
Doug
Hi Mary,
I think the most clever (marketing) authors have this nailed. My sense is that Dave Pilky is still the model here. I am also thinking that savvy authors will figure our ways to harness social networking opportunities around their writings.
Nice to see you in Grand Rapids!
Doug
Hi Kelly,
Thanks to the shout-out for Amy. She is an inspiration to all of us!
Doug
Hi Kate,
Point well taken, but my sense is that "tech only" libraraians are not a huge problem today!
Doug
Hi Matt,
I guess I don't see the generational division that you do. Some of my younger library media specialists are among the most energetic and "program building" of the lot! It really has more to do, I think, with the individual than the age.
Thanks for the comment,
Doug