Blog about Libraries: "I didn't get an MLS to do that."

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

"I didn't get an MLS to do that."

This was said to me by a former staff member a few years ago.
This librarian was making the point that she did not agree with the expectation that she should be required to assist patrons with computer problems- helping them with word processing, spreadsheets, Powerpoint demos, formatting fliers, etc. on the library's public computers. She didn't have the skills to do it and felt that she couldn't give them the help they needed. She said she didn't go to library school to help people on the computers. I sympathized with her, but I could not agree with her for these reasons:

Professions do not stand still.
Have you ever met a plumber who doesn't work with PVC? An electrician who only uses knob and tube wiring? A firefighter who thinks those new fangled breathing masks are just too complicated? No, professionals who don't keep up with the technologies that affect their work go out of business. Librarianship is not immune to that.

We don't have a choice.
To me this is the most important reason. Even if we don't like computers, our patrons do. Libraries have established themselves as the place to get on the internet. We market this. We brag about it. We get federal funding for it (well, a little...). It is not responsible to provide access to computers without also providing the staff training necessary to make sure our people have the competencies to help patrons with them.
Furthermore, the line between information tools, social software, games and productivity tools is thoroughly blurred by now. To expect that we can choose what part of the technology we will help patrons with is simply unrealistic.

The jobs we signed up for may not exist anymore.
Or, they may. It depends on how you look at it. I signed up for this because it's a service profession. Nothing drives me more than getting someone exactly what they want. The "what they want" has changed in the years I've been on the job. If professionals cannot adapt to that or cannot accept this, then I understand when they say they didn't get an MLS to do this.

A reasonable response to this post is to ask where the line is. How far should we go to help patrons (because sometimes their expectations for assistance really are more than we can or should provide)? Next post will be about that. So, don't touch that...mouse, or whatever.

# posted by Steve @ Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Comments:

Yeah, I didn't get an MLS so I could shelve books, pick up scaps of paper off the rug, or clean restrooms. But in the 31 years I've had the degree, I've done them all. And doubtless will again.

IMHO, a hallmark of the professional is the ability to discern what needs to be done and to ensure that it gets done. Some of the time that will involve engaging a debate on appropriate levels of service for one's library. Some of the time it will involve calling on the right person or organizing the work. And some of the time it will just involve getting your hands dirty.

If your library (director, board, etc.) makes the service decision to offer public computing, then we need to help the users with the computers. The library does have an obligation to make available continuing education to give staff the skills they need, but professionals have an increased level of responsibility to identify their own training needs and work to get them addressed.

You can't pick and choose the service needs you're faced with and only address those that suit you or are lofty enough for your station. That's not professional.

the New Cybrary

# posted by

Terry Dawson : Tuesday, 06 February, 2007

Oh boy. Maybe I'm just cruel, but you sympathized with her?

A more honest response might be "I guess there is a difference between getting and deserving the MLS." Honestly, anyone who says this sort of thing ought to have their degree revoked. She _should have got her MLS to be devoted to the mission of providing information to users. How that information gets provided should be immaterial.

# posted by

Ryan : Thursday, 08 February, 2007

"Professions so not stand still."
You've got that so right! And why does anyone expect to be able to stagnate for 30 years with skills learned in college or graduate school? Maybe LIS programs need to offer a course in how to be a lifelong learner. After all, that is one of the core functions of the library in our society --to engender and facilitate lifelong learning in our patrons. How are we going to do that if we don't model the creed ourselves?

# posted by

blg3 : Friday, 09 February, 2007

Maybe I should have said I empathized with her? Those two terms always trip me up. Nevertheless, I have met countless people who hold these same attitudes and it is my belief that the profession and the institutions in which they work have failed them by not pushing them to remain up to date with technologies. It mystifies me that one can get an MLS and be considered a "Professional" yet there is no requirement to demostrate continuing education thereafter. If I felt the culture of librarianship and the organization had not failed this person, then I would not have an iota of sympathy...or emphathy.

# posted by

Steve : Friday, 09 February, 2007

At my orientation for Library school some years back, the two people in front of me started complaining about the technology requirement. One for them said "I want to be a librarian so I don't have to use computers!" He was in for some cruel disappointments...

# posted by

Ben Brophy : Tuesday, 13 February, 2007

I help patrons with computer tasks everyday, and thoroughly enjoy it, however, I sympathize with the staff memeber's position. Libraries also offer books, is it librarians' jobs to help our patrons read/understand them? Of course not.

So why have we set ourselves as "teachers of technology?" Do we really have an obligation or are we scared for our jobs?

# posted by

Anonymous : Wednesday, 14 February, 2007

Libraries also offer books, is it librarians' jobs to help our patrons read/understand them? Of course not.

A starter list to refute this view:
1. literacy/ESL programs
2. books for babies
3. book clubs
4. storytime
5. reading appreciation programs

Books are technology too. They are just an old enough that most of us have learned how to use them early.

I understand that there should be logical limits to what we can provide in terms of technical help. For sure we don't want to get into configuration settings, or giving professional-grade graphic design advice.

But the attitude of "I didn't take an MLIS to. . ." is way out of line in my view. It shows an undue sense of entitlement in a world that is quick to say "oh we can get volunteers to manage a site full of computers or a pile of books or a collection of periodicals." The MLIS is a privilege for those committed to connecting users to information.

# posted by

Ryan Deschamps : Wednesday, 14 February, 2007

"You can't pick and choose the service needs you're faced with and only address those that suit you or are lofty enough for your station. That's not professional."

Sure it is. When's the last time you saw a physician clean the bathroom? When's the last time you saw a detective teach the crack-head retard he just arrested how to read? Resisting mission-slide is not inherently unprofessional. We don't HAVE to address ANY need that falls outside of the profession's scope.

"It is not responsible to provide access to computers without also providing the staff training necessary to make sure our people have the competencies to help patrons with them."

Why not? When libraries were solely about books, did we teach the illiterate how to read? Did we teach librarians how to teach people to read? Rarely that happened, but mostly we didn't do those things.

If someone comes in the library today, grabs a book and comes to the desk saying "I can't read, but it's your problem to convey the information in this book to me", what would we do? Maybe find a video on the topic, but I'm guessing most of us would not consider this our problem and rightly so. We're not going to sit down with them and read the book out loud.

Why are computers different? We provide access, just like we do with books. If they don't know how to "read" the computer, why is that different from the user who can't read the book?

Oh, and before you start to flame me, I teach computer and Internet skills all day long, and I'm a pretty patient and good teacher. However, I do it because I have to and I (often) enjoy it, but not because it is a professional obligation.

Arthur, MLIS
Greensboro, NC

# posted by

Anonymous : Wednesday, 14 February, 2007

All I know is that Library and Information Science degrees in Sweden should really consider adding "How to use a copy machine" into the curriculum.

# posted by

Petra : Tuesday, 27 February, 2007

Thanks for the nice post!

Free PS3

# posted by

butlimous : Wednesday, 26 September, 2007

While I agree with all these comments, I myself didn't get an MLIS (and another Master's besides) to type data entry and listen to my boss tell me I'm not ready to negotiate with vendors. Some things really deserve "I didn't get an MLIS for this."

# posted by

Colleen : Monday, 12 May, 2008