Are we an endangered species?

At the risk of shameless self-citation, I recently posted to my own Weblog about my disgust at the librarian scene from Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code being sliced from the film version. With what were we replaced, you might ask if you haven't yet shelled out your $8.95 to see the movie? A search function on a Virgin Mobile.

In a 2003 essay entitled "From Custodian to Navigator: The Amazing Heroic Journey of the New Information Specialist" (published in Martin Raish's Musings, Meanderings and Monsters, too: Essays on Academic Librarianship), Bill Badke posits that "mediators in our society are hitting the dust faster than Billy the Kid" (p. 125) and cites some very relevant examples. When, for example, is the last time you actually used a travel agent rather than booking a flight online using one of the major discount airlines? How about a bank teller? Not only that, but when you first used an ATM, did you need a 50 minute instruction session on how to do it?

Badke cites Charles Babock, who says: "According to some economists, the Internet will one day replace anyone who enjoys a middleman position by virtue of the information he or she controls," and then goes on to explain why:

1. mediators cost time and money, and we don't like to waste either;
2. using a mediator requires us to admit we don't know how to do something, which no one likes to do; and
3. because we generally like to do things ourselves.

All sounds pretty logical to me. Badke's essay goes on to explain how we are becoming "navigators" and establishing our place in a different way. I'm not convinced. We know that they get something from us that they can't get from Google, but how can they know that if they never give us a chance? How do we prove our worth to students who graduate never having come into the library? What do you think - are we an endangered species?

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Conference...

So this year, CLA put together an excellent conference with - I think - lots of interesting session options for new professionals. But by the end of the AGM on Saturday afternoon, I'd begun to hear significant rumblings that the Association isn't hearing the needs of our newest members. The bones of contention (as overheard at the meeting):

1. "The first-timers breakfast was too expensive". I didn't attend the breakfast this year, but was interested in this criticism, so I flipped back to some of my original conference documents to have a look. $18.00? $18.00? Are you kidding me? Did you guys get caviar and truffles with that? The organizers must have had a heart attack when they saw how much the Westin was going to try to make them pay for bagels and hard pre-packaged butter.
2. "The conference registration was too expensive". I don't even need to look that one up - I think most of us feel that the conference registration is outrageous. Unfortunately, if you look at the Treasurer's report, it just about pays the bills, never mind that we ran out of coffee by 3:00pm on Thursday.
3. "They don't care about the students". Ouch. I heard that sitting at the AGM while we were discussing the proposed amendment to Bylaw 2 on Membership. For the benefit of those who weren't present, I'll include it here:

2.1.2 Membership in the Association shall include the option of membership in one Division or in up to two Interest Groups as chosen by the member without the payment of additional fees. Members may join additional Divisions or Interest Groups upon payment of the required additional annual fees.

At present, Association membership includes membership in one division; interest group membership (with the exception of NLIPIG, if things haven't changed) costs $15.00 extra. The suggested amendment provoked significant discussion. Before going further, I'd like to say kudos to the students who had the guts to stand up and voice their opinion. Overwhelmingly, what I heard from those who spoke was that they feel the Divisions are not meeting their needs and would rather join Interest Groups, perhaps where they feel they can have a greater impact?

Now, I've been involved in several CLA interest groups and have to be frank: some of them are a lot more active than others. In fact, in browsing the Interest Group reports that were distributed at the AGM, it's hard to miss the fact that a few of them have an annual report of no more than 15 words - doesn't bode so well for their general activity levels. I'm also fairly certain that this Bylaw change could have a significant impact on the Divisions as they stand, if no other reason that they would (presumably) lose members, many of them newer members with a great deal of enthusiasm.

So, you've got me interested. Spill it, folks: why the overwhelming support for revision of Bylaw 2.1.2?

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CACUL AGM and Reception at CLA

Are you attending CLA’s Annual Conference in Ottawa?
Are you interesting in Academic Librarianship?

You are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Association of College and University Libraries (CACUL), to be held on Thursday June 15th from
4:30 – 6:00 pm.

Afterwards, please join CACUL members and colleagues, and the Re:Generations Committee at the CASLIS/CACUL Reception on Thursday, June 15th from 6:30 - 9:00 pm, at The Metropolitain Brasserie, 700 Sussex Drive.

You must register for the reception, but there is no cost to attend (if you’ve already paid for your ticket the cost will be reimbursed to you at the reception). Your complimentary ticket includes hot and cold hor d’œuvres and a free drink! Enjoy the food and beverages (cash bar available), and meet with professionals currently working in academic libraries.

Please say Hi to the Re:Generation committee members – we’ll be wearing flashing red hearts, and let us introduce you to academic librarians and librarianship!

See you in Ottawa!

Leeanne Romane, MLIS
Re:Generations Committee Member.

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