Re: job description

[Larry Parsons <booker@GUEST.NWNET.NET>]

Dear Friend,

Boy, are we an identity crisis waiting to happen -- or what!?

This is very close to the same discussion that hit me 22+ years ago as I
entered the field. Was I a librarian, school librarian, media specialist,
library media specialist, instructional media specialist or whatever?

Somebody out there must remember this: It was something like the 2nd
episode of Star Trek that someone needed information and they went to the
"library" and the sentient being that was the "librarian" brought out
this shiny disk and inserted it into a machine to get the information.
Yes, life imitates art!

Anyway, I acknowledge that we have an image problem. We are looked at by
the general public as the "Keeper of the Books," and usually seen as
female with dowdy clothes and stern demeaners. But I don't think changing
our name is going to change that. If we are in a place that allows
patrons to access and manipulate information, we will be called the
"librarian," and that's a pretty darned great thing to be.

Also, would "Booklist" be "Medialist" and SLJ become "School Information
Journal?"

Larry Parsons, Call me whatever you wish
Ocean Beach School District
"Money is not the report card of life."