Pundits

I find it very interesting that some of the so-called library theorists have no room for differing opinions. Their idea of "discussion" involves them snapping out orders and expecting you to comply. I'm so not interested. I work in a real library, not in a theoretical one. Going after someone in a blog and elsewhere when you didn't "win" the discussion is petty and childish. These are the people who think they have something to say about the future of libraries? One of these guys in particular hasn't worked an in-person reference desk in over 15 years, and he thinks he knows what's going on? Why are we listening to these people? Do other professions listen to theorists who have no real world experience? No, they don't, and we shouldn't listen to these self-promoting windbags either.

The sky is not falling; we're seeing more traffic than ever. While libraries continue to evolve and change, many things stay the same. These pundits are always saying libraries need to be like bookstores. Sure, Barnes and Noble may have WiFi, but will a bookseller help someone format a resume? Import images to a powerpoint presentation? Upload or save pictures?? Let them walk out of the store with a book, Cd, DVD in hand that they didn't have to pay for? With the trust that they'll bring it back? Can they find archived magazine articles at Borders? Libraries always have had places for people to look at books, magazines, listen to cds, etc. The bookstores learned that from US, not the other way around.

Sure, web 2.0 is great, and I and my colleagues use many of the tools all the time. But not all of it translates well to direct patron service, which is what we do. I'm tired of being told I'm "resistant to change" when I'm advocating for people I work with. I'm resistant to change that's being done "because everyone else is doing it" but adds nothing, or worse yet, detracts from what our patrons really want. I love the technology stuff, and I work with it, and share my knowledge with my colleagues and patrons on a daily basis. Don't tell me I'm resistant to change because I disagree with you - you make yourself look even more foolish.

We're expected to do more with less, we're expected to babysit, and evidently if people are rude and obnoxious it's somehow our fault. But we have people every single day who genuinely need our help, and the services we provide, and we are happy to help them. It makes my day when I see the light in someone's eyes tell me they're getting the hang of this computer stuff - that they can do an attachment! Or when someone tells me they loved the book I recommended, and wonders if there are more?? Or need help finding an article, and are happy to find out they can do it from home. It's wonderful when someone I've been helping with email, attachments, and job websites comes in to tell me they've gotten a job and they want to thank me for my help. These pundits have no idea what that's like - they're so busy trying to tell us our imaginary shortcomings that they couldn't care less about the multitude of things we're doing right. I feel rather sorry for them.

When you're a pundit, if someone in an email/or reference chat is rude, they can just delete it. When someone is rude or threatening here, we have to deal with it. I wonder how many of these pundits have been threatened with bodily harm because all the computers were in use? Or because someone isn't allowed to look at porn with a child sitting beside them? How many of these guys have taken a frightened toddler by the hand and walked with them through the library to find Mommy or Daddy? How many have had their cars trashed? I would bet none.

Yet they sit in their cushy offices, with a secretary to do most of the real work. They answer an occasional online reference question, maybe, maybe not, and pat themselves on the back and tell themselves how smart they are. They travel around pretending they have something valuable to share, and the more gullible in our profession lap it up. Meanwhile, the rest of us are working with real people, with real needs, in real life. Oooh - someone somewhere may have said a patron was rude. How "terrible" we are.

Get real. Get a clue. Or go away.