On the other hand, it's very refreshing to see a lively and well-argued debate on libs-or, about an important issue. I am not sure there's any reason to shut that down. <div><br></div><div>Jane<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 9:21 AM, Judy Anderson <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:JuAnderson@cu-portland.edu">JuAnderson@cu-portland.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Enough everyone…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">It’s that organizations business on how and who they would like to take care of their project.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">May I suggest reading and discussing</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">The Politics of Professionalism</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"> by Juris Dilevko</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">If the topic of library professionals is really of interest.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Judy</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Judy Anderson</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Reference & Instruction Librarian</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Concordia University - Portland</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Phone: 503 493 6453</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> <a href="mailto:libs-or-bounces@listsmart.osl.state.or.us" target="_blank">libs-or-bounces@listsmart.osl.state.or.us</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:libs-or-bounces@listsmart.osl.state.or.us" target="_blank">libs-or-bounces@listsmart.osl.state.or.us</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Bob Jones<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, January 13, 2011 3:28 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Kyle Banerjee'; <a href="mailto:libs-or@listsmart.osl.state.or.us" target="_blank">libs-or@listsmart.osl.state.or.us</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Libs-Or] Volunteer opportunity discussion. Another point of view</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy">Apples and oranges, Kyle. Changing a light bulb should not require an electrician, unless it’s a very specialized and expensive light bulb. But…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy">The initial creation of a tiny library is like planting a seed. If it’s done well, a great library can grow from the those 225 items. If it’s not done well, either
(a) a poorly organized, perhaps unusable library will develop, or (b) someone who knows what he or she is doing will have to undo it and start all over again. As the old saying goes,
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy">If you don’t have time (or staffing) to do it right, when will you have time (or staffing) to do it over?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy">-Bob Jones, MA, MSLS, CAS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy">Library Director</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy">Milton-Freewater Public Library</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy">You wrote:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">I haven't given this much thought, but my gut reaction is that unless I'm really missing something, hiring a professional librarian to organize a collection of 225 books, a few periodicals, and a handful of videos
is like calling the fire department to help plan a candlelight supper. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">The overhead of even taking the first volunteer that walks through the door is likely to exceed the labor that should be expended on this project, though it could be a good way to get people more involved with the
organization.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">A librarian could physically arrange the materials according to some logical criteria, add consistent metadata, provide a good access mechanism, etc, but any user would have to be some kind of loon not to just walk
to the collection and just browse it as that could be done in a few seconds even if everything is in random order. It's hard to imagine how it wouldn't take longer for users to deal with even a good organizational scheme than to simply go to the stuff.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">I am somehow reminded of a place I lived in years ago where we would be fined if we got caught changing a lightbulb (required procedure was to fill out a work order so a union electrician could do the job). That
kind of situation is bad for everyone. It's a total waste of skilled labor, and the schmucks who have to pay an arm and a leg to be forced to wait too long in the dark start wondering what the pros really have to contribute.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Happy Thursday to all, and as you've undoubtedly surmised, I'm representing only my own views ;)</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">kyle</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"> </p>
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