Library Stuff

I learned a very valuable lesson this week, one that I was on the fence about theoretically. Until this week. Here it is.

You don’t have to have an MLS to be a librarian. The MLS doesn’t teach passion, empathy, user focused skills, or provide experience. Some library science schools don’t even teach you how to perform research well.

So, how does one become a librarian, even without that piece of paper? Well, experience helps. Alot. Who would you rather be doing important research for you, one that could mean getting or not getting a multi-million dollar client (and don’t tell me that this doesn’t happen, because it has happened to me many many times):

A 25 year veteran of library who owns his own company, networks like crazy, and can walk circles around other library managers and researchers. Or. A graduate of the best library school in the country who has never stepped into a real library. I’d even take that 25 year non MLS library veteran with passion for the work than an MLS librarian with 25 years experience who has no…well…UMPH!

I’ve met lots of librarians over the years and I could care less if they have a piece of paper that only proves that they can write papers and take tests. It means nothing.

Could I be where I am today without my MLS? Maybe. But that doesn’t mean my post is fraught with error. Maybe it means that the job requirements for library research jobs are not bringing in the best candidates. By standing on principle that an “MLS is required”, we may be missing out on an entire pool of workers which will do a better job that MLS with 4 years experience.

Of the 174 members presently in the Librarians that LibraryThing, the Harry Potter books are in 1/3 of the members’ libraries. But, out of 106,815 total books, the highest shared book is at 56. Interesting stats.

Ellyssa e-mailed me last night and invited me to the The New York Librarians Meetup Group. The next one is on August 2nd. I think I’ll be there…

I logged onto LibraryThing today after not reading much of my aggregator during the past 2 days and saw that I had an invite to the Librarians who LibraryThing Group. Huh? So, I looked on the blog and read:

“We see groups being used by:

* Friends and lovers. You can set up a group for your friends, significant others and family members. You can make a group private and invitation-only.”

Huzzah! I hate to repeat myself, but will some library catalog vendor please hang out with Tim and the gang and listen? They are doing everything that library catalogs need to be. Interactive. Hello? Anybody home?

Tim: Are you going to Library Camp East?

Next week, on August 4th, Library Stuff will celebrate 6 years of blogging. Wow!

I’ll have a retrospective post on that day, but should we celebrate somehow? How about a party? Everyone come to my house for a barbeque. Heh.