What if....
We stopped cataloging?
Would it matter? Would it show us cataloging wasn't important or just how important it is?
What if we participated fully with the FBI in all criminal investigations that involved the use of library resources?
What if librarians individually and a profession, promoted, used and helped develop wikipedia?
Strength of Wikipedia is anyone can contribute. Why not leverage our expertise and make wikipedi the best it can be. **Librarian reviewed, librarian approved** ratings for the entries.
What if all libraries accepted open source software as a way of being in control of the customer experience?
What if we embraced our inner geek and created alternate reality games that lead people to our resouces?
What if mistakes were expected and embraced and librarians became the mistake masters?
What if we required all library staff to have expertise using technology?
What if we didn’t make decisions based on fear of/and/or scarcity?
What if we stopped being passive aggressive?
What if we didn't make our customers work so hard?
Think about the above questions, talk to your co-workers and ask what if.....
5 comments:
Sandee, can you elaborate on being passive-aggressive? In which context: as a profession, as an organization, or as individual librarians?
Sandee, thanks for posting these intriguing ideas. It's refreshing that there was a session devoted to saying the "unsayable". Challenging our assumptions can be a scary thing, but is often the best way to grow and learn. It reminds me of one of my favorite bumper stickers: "If you haven't changed your mind recently, are you sure you have one?" :)
Dave,
I also attended this presentation and agree with Sandee that it was discussion provoking. Passive aggressive behavior is exhibited by individuals but certainly impacts organizations. The slide shown at the presentation illustrated the behavior the presenter wants us to aspire to. It said: making assumptions implicit + having open, honest organizations (and people - my add) = better organizations.
This was the first time I attended a presentation with lots of people (200, 300?) that was interactive. We listened to the questions and what the particular presentor thought about it. Then, they asked us to huddle with the people sitting around us,identify what we considered to be the dangerous idea on the list and if we wanted, share it with the audience. Many people did. Some came up with their own dangerous ideas!
I would love to be able to help local law enforcement when they're looking for someone or when they ask for video from our cameras. It realy plays into building a stronger relationship based on mutual trust and respect, and I think we might find we gain quicker response times when we call in emergencies in our locations.
I also attended this session and had a lively discussion with some librarians from Maryland about the "what if" question of participating fully with the FBI in criminal investigations. They were horrified at the prospect (as were many others in the session) but myself, like Cathy, can see the other side. This is a tough one...
In regards to passive aggressive behavior and resistance to change-
I liked the quote from one of the presenters about people being caught up in "mythology of the library's past" and we need to "create new mythologies and tell a new story". So true.
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