When in library school, many of my classmates were like myself: Not particularly enthused about librarianship, really, but in need of some sort of credential that would lead to a decent-paying job with little manual labor involved. We were the burnouts, the also-rans, and the generally adrift of academe. We were attracted to the program not by a love of libraries or of books but instead by the opportunities promised by the Librarian Shortage Crisis.
Now that I'm a practitioner, though, it seems that almost every voice on the mailing lists, on the blogs, and at the conventions is that of a True Believer, a dedicated booster of libraries and librarianship. Those are pretty much the opposite of the librarians I'm interested in meeting.
Content is to come, but for now I look forward to hearing from my fellow discontents and malcontents.
2 comments:
The librarian shortage is pure bunk! All the people entering the profession without the "True Believer" spirit couldn't find jobs!
I have other degrees. I choose library school because I want to be alone. Alone with books, with thoughts, with myself. I want to be in a job that pays decent, that has opportunities, that will keep me in a home and a lifestyle I want. I don't care if other people read. If they don't, I wont keep their company.
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