Comments on: Good reading http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/02/21/good-reading/ A librarian, writer and tech geek reflecting on the profession and the tools we use to serve our patrons Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:59:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Meredith http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/02/21/good-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-39408 Meredith Wed, 22 Feb 2006 03:38:57 +0000 http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/?p=370#comment-39408 I totally agree, Ross. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that we need to kidnap people who know how to code from the IT field and give them whatever they want to make our library systems better. If enough libraries have enough talented folks like you and John Blyberg and Casey Bisson, we could all band together to fix all of these problems. Yeah, paraprofessional is a really lame term. And all paraprofessionals (not just coders) deserve to be valued for what they provide to libraries. I worked at a public library as a paraprofessional where our views were never considered because we didn't have the almighty MLS. And I've seen that in other libraries too. How invested will they be in providing good services when they are treated like that, and how well will any new idea/initiative work if the staff isn't invested? OMG! I am so buying a Roy Tennant thong! I totally agree, Ross. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that we need to kidnap people who know how to code from the IT field and give them whatever they want to make our library systems better. If enough libraries have enough talented folks like you and John Blyberg and Casey Bisson, we could all band together to fix all of these problems.

Yeah, paraprofessional is a really lame term. And all paraprofessionals (not just coders) deserve to be valued for what they provide to libraries. I worked at a public library as a paraprofessional where our views were never considered because we didn’t have the almighty MLS. And I’ve seen that in other libraries too. How invested will they be in providing good services when they are treated like that, and how well will any new idea/initiative work if the staff isn’t invested?

OMG! I am so buying a Roy Tennant thong!

]]> By: Ross http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/02/21/good-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-39404 Ross Wed, 22 Feb 2006 03:04:38 +0000 http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/?p=370#comment-39404 Meredith, I may be speaking selfishly (I always speak selfishly), but I would include paraprofessionals (ugh, I hate that term) in those that should be mentored, groomed, etc. Libraries need more than just librarians to thrive. Also, further proof that Roy Tennant rocks: http://www.cafepress.com/cp/customize/product.aspx?clear=true&number=45007129 Like Roy, "Made in the USA". Meredith,
I may be speaking selfishly (I always speak selfishly), but I would include paraprofessionals (ugh, I hate that term) in those that should be mentored, groomed, etc. Libraries need more than just librarians to thrive.

Also, further proof that Roy Tennant rocks:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/customize/product.aspx?clear=true&number=45007129

Like Roy, “Made in the USA”.

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