Vanishing Librarians

An interesting article in Library Journal notes that public libraries are incorporating all the worst aspects of chain bookstores without the benefits (like being able to drink a $7 coffee or buy a book):

More and more working librarians are “managed” by a new breed of library leader. Their model for the new public library is that dehumanized supermarket or the chaotic disorganization of the largest Barnes & Noble.

When I worked at Queens Library from 2001-2003, I saw this management strategy firsthand. Professional librarians spent huge amounts of time ‘merchandising,’ which meant taking books from the shelves, where they could be located according to call number, and piling them haphazardly onto display cases where people could browse as if they were at a bookstore. In its infinite wisdom, management believed that people came to a library ‘to feel like they were at a bookstore,’ as it was once explained to me.

The flaw in this unassailable logic was that books were impossible to find, and the catalog almost useless, since many of the most popular titles were often piled beneath a mountain of true-crime books or civil service tests. Very frustrating and a waste of time for patrons ‘customers’ and librarians ’sales associates’ alike.

The atmosphere was pretty much chaos all the time, with long lines of annoyed patrons waiting for help from staff. The turnover was high, as librarians would get some experience and leave as soon as they could. There were good librarians and patrons there, but often they were undermined by the poor leadership of the place. I was physically threatened by a ‘customer’ just before I started a job search in earnest, (our supervisors and director cared nothing about the staff or its safety,) and took the first one I was offered.

In any case, this is an interesting read and it does make one wonder what public libraries will look like in the future.

Sad Little Man Disgraces Self, Profession

A state archivist in Albany has been charged with stealing hundreds of rare and valuable documents on American history from his place of work. The first line almost made me spit coffee onto my keyboard; it’s kind of funny that he was doing something so banal with the cash:

ALBANY — A veteran state archivist said he stole hundreds of historical artifacts from the State Library — including two Davy Crockett almanacs — to pay for home renovations, tuition and his daughter’s $10,000 credit card bill.

Sure, blame it on your daughter, pal. He’s kind of like the reverse of a librarian. Remember Winston Smith, the character from 1984, who destroyed news every day as part of his job? It’s like that, except this guy sold stuff to put a pool in his yard.

He got caught when a lawyer/history buff from Virginia saw some of his postings on ebay and knew something was amiss. Good idea that, placing unique historical artifacts on a public auction site. No one was ever going to find out.