Comments on: ALA Day 2: Loving that “old school” style

By: Lisle McKenty

Lisle McKenty — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 02:16:12 +0000

It is godawful. Yes, indeed, there is ageism and sexism in our industry. Blatant.

I don’t think a vendor spoke to me at my first ALA exhibits–1989? I was very shy and overawed. For years, I just treated the exhibits as theater and as a way to get swag.

It is only since I began to get grey that I started to feel that practically anyone paid any attention to my opinions. I could make a self-deprecating joke here, but anger is a better response. (This lack of attention and respect has applied to library administrators, supervisors, representatives of other organizations, colleagues, patrons, as well as vendors.) I am rather informal in dress and approach. But I’ve seen the guys in tie-dye and raggedy jeans schtick–and they get taken seriously.

Who knew it would actually take grey hair for me to have vendors at the exhibits dying to talk to me? I was told forever that it was good to have a “young face”. Maybe I’ll feel that way about it when I hit 60, but that’s a ways away!

Some vendors are complete wastes of time/space/breath. I’ve asked some vendors repeated questions about their products for two-three years and they still have no answers. I do hold it against them, and I do have a budget now. But other vendors have become good, reliable colleagues. Unfortunately, we have to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Information gathering is a big reason why we go to ALA. Meeting and networking is lovely–

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 19:05:03 +0000

If I was there I probably would have rumbled with that vendor! Sakes! There’s no room for that in the exhibit hall as far as I’m concerned…

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 17:56:30 +0000

It was great meeting you on Sunday. I do think we tend to be dismissed occassionaly because of our age, but woe to them I say. Soon we will have the experience and we will have to remember to respect the younger librarians. I also think there are a great number of people in our profession who are willing to accept differing opinions, even if it does come from the 26 year old with a crispy new degree.

By: walt

walt — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 16:05:47 +0000

Here’s my Age and Experience assertion (both of which I have in spades): I finally gained enough age and experience to know that neither one is a substitute for thought and attention, but they’re awfully easy ways for established folks to ignore the hard questions from people who have been thinking and paying attention. Easy and wrong.

As for “princess”…the mind reels. Mostly, ALA exhibitors know better (you don’t see too many true “booth babes” at ALA either), but there are always exceptions. (If you wish to substitute “chauvinist jerks” for “exceptions,” feel free.)

Meanwhile, keep on keeping on. Great to meet you Sunday.

By: Lethal Librarian

Lethal Librarian — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 15:37:33 +0000

ALA 2005

Steven, Aaron, and Karen

Originally uploaded by Rikhei.

On Sunday, I took the train into Chicago to take in the exhibits with my mother and to attend the OCLC Bloggers’ Salon.

I had a great time looking at the exhibits, a…

By: Ryan Deschamps

Ryan Deschamps — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 17:45:16 +0000

I did a study pseudo-ethnography on “experience” between managers and reference librarians. One of the things I observed is that “experience” is one-part accumulated knowledge/know-how and one-part aculturation.

Don’t let people use the experience card on you, just because the job market had you beat down for a little while. You have experience! I have over 20 years of experience using technology and I’m only 34!

By: Meredith

Meredith — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 13:45:05 +0000

Thanks everyone, but especially thanks Verla. It’s so refreshing to hear about a library director who is reading blogs! There are plenty of experienced librarians and library directors who do care about keeping up with what’s new in the profession and value the insights of their less experienced colleagues, but sadly, there are still too many who let ego and old ideas about “paying dues” rob them of valuable knowledge. And does the library suffer for their hubris? I’m sure with your attitude, Verla, you must have a wonderful library that really meets the needs of its patrons.

By: Angel

Angel — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 14:29:47 +0000

That is so terrible: being talked down because you don’t have the “experience.” Unfortunately, it happens in our profession and in others as well. So, you keep calling them out on their lack of professionalism and even more lack of vision. I like to recall the words of Tom Hagen to the movie producer about once the Don was refused a favor, he would not take another one. Some day, we will be the ones running the place, and we will remember those condescending folks who thought we there just for the freebies (you mean they have freebies too? ). If there is anything I have learned by now, is that experience does not equate to wisdom. Have a great time at ALA.

By: Laura Smart

Laura Smart — Sun, 26 Jun 2005 21:48:09 +0000

All I can say is, Amen. BTW, even though I’ve been doing this for (gasp! has it really been?) 10 years now, I have always experienced old-school vendors and princessy cat calling when I cruise the exhibits. Fortunately it does seem to be declining.

By: Verla Peterson

Verla Peterson — Sun, 26 Jun 2005 17:50:36 +0000

Meredith, just as an encouragement–I’m a library dean with years and years of experience. Yours is one of several early-career librarians’ blogs that I read to try to keep myself current and humble. Thanks to all you bloggers out there, the information from whose posts help me keep from feeling too much like a dinosaur, and make me feel like I can somewhat relate to new librarians. There really are some older administrators out there who know it’s essential to learn from staff of all experience levels.