Re: !Re: Your opinion is needed!

[Cletus Schirra <schirrac@LIS.PITT.EDU>]

Doctors use various sources of information and they are still doctors,
police officers have computers and video cameras in their cars and they are
still police officers (cops to their friends.  Mechanics use computer
analysis and they are mechanics. Remember the old PR saying, "it doesn't
matter what you say about me just spell my name correctly."  Can we get
beyond this?  Like all of the other professions mentioned above, it
doesn't matter as long as they get the job done.

*****************************************************************************
Clete Schirra                           schirrac@icarus.lis.pitt.edu
South Park High School Media Center     schirra@calvin.cc.duq.edu
2178 Ridge Road                         (412) 655-0613 voice
Library PA 15129                        (412) 655-2952 fax
******************************************************************************

On Sun, 26 Feb 1995, Kenneth Hawley wrote:

> I disagree...somewhat....yes, the basic service is to provide
> information/research/pleaseure reading.  HOWEVER, a library implies
> "books" and in today's world, there is sooo much more than just "books."
> Technology has taken a great big part of of our center...media implies
> that it is a center which provides much more than books...instead it
> provides informtion/research/pleasure in ALL forms of media, print or
> nonprint.  Why not use a term that makes reference to that?  Our world is
> changing rapidly...and we are very much part of that change.  My job as a
> MEDIA SPECIALIST is not the same that it was two or three years ago.
> Should I be called a "librarian" instead of a media
> specialist then? On the other hand,
> Should we be caught up in "titles?"  Let's not be in the stoneage...let's
> progress with the times.  There are lots of terms out there that NOW
> describe the facility that we work in (actually these terms have been
> around for some time):  library, media center, LRC, IMC, etc.  What's in
> a name.....?   How do others feel?
>
> On Sun, 26 Feb 1995, Marbeth Szczerban wrote:
>
> > Dear Connie,
> >
> >      The media center of the future should still be the __Library__ a
> > place to find information and also pleasure reading.
> >
> >      A Dr.'s ofc is still a doctor's office even though it has
> > "media/technology" to serve its patients/ clients .
> > Patients/clients know that the same/better/expanded services are available
> > to them.  Are their offices now called  "medical care/media centers"?
> >
> >      I simply state that the library of the future retain its original name
> > - Library .  No matter how much media/technology is in it, the basic
> > services are to provide information/research and pleasure reading services.
> >
> > Please let's not lose sight of __our roots in information/reading services__
> > no matter how retrieved for patrons/students.
> >
> > *** Some time ago someone else on LM_NET, I think, stated the same idea of
> > not changing the name of a dr. to "medical technologist" just because s/he
> > uses technology...Sorry I do not recall who said it, but it rings so true.
> > >>(I'd like to know who said that because I'd like to give him/her credit!)
> >
> >    Anyhoooo, Connie, I envision the library of the future to be equipped
> > with many online services with trained librarians to retrieve the
> > information requested, interactive media, and BOOKS and PERIODICALS IN
> > PRINT.  Libraries may be _the_ only places available (remainining!) to
> > _hold_ a book or magazine in one's hands to sit/lie/curl with and READ...
> >
> >
> > An aside:  Are you familiar with Borders the book/music store?  Their
> > design is that of a comfortable library... and __they are always crowded__!!
> >
> > HTH, :-)
> > Marbeth
> >
> > Marbeth Szczerban, Librarian       email:marbeth@strauss.udel.edu
> > Hanby School, 2523 Berwyn Rd.      fax: 302-479-1643
> > Wilmington, DE 19810               tel.#: 302-479-1636
> >
>