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What Do Public Library Workers Do? (2011)

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Re: What Do Public Library Workers Do? (2011)

#11

Post by sciurus »

RobertKerans wrote: post #3
RobertKerans wrote: post #2

My mother works as a library assistant. From conversations with her and her colleagues, and from what I gather applies nationwide, to add to that list: - dealing with reapplying for job every six months or so. - providing security support and lookout for councillors/MPs holding surgeries (this being particularly relevant post-Jo Cox). - dealing with a working environment that physically shrinks year on year, but stil…

On the flip side, these resources are used disproportionately by the poorest, so, y'know, screw em. Replace several cheap staff with a few expensive managers and some technology that isn't remotely as useful and off we go.

Yep. This comment at metafilter has been discussed here before, I think, but it's worth linking again:

http://www.metafilter.com/112698/California-Dreamin#4183210

Re: What Do Public Library Workers Do? (2011)

#13

Post by Spooky23 »

They do a lot. Having a kid really enhanced my appreciation for libraries and librarians. They fill vital teaching roles, host enrichment programs, help with study groups and teach kids about research.

My local library system has stuff like maker events, guest sessions with 3D printers and all sorts of activities. It's an invaluable resource.

Re: What Do Public Library Workers Do? (2011)

#14

Post by smnplk »

Mz wrote: post #8
jvehent wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you're poor. Then you don't have a computer.

That's amusing as I posted this article, I am homeless and I have a laptop, tablet and smartphone. Yes, I spend my days at the library to get charge for my devices, free Wi-Fi and access to public PCs. But I am dirt poor and all my earned income comes via the internet. /PSA

Out of curiosity, how do you earn your money via internet ? Do you make apps for people ?

Re: What Do Public Library Workers Do? (2011)

#15

Post by Mz »

smnplk wrote: post #14
Mz wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's amusing as I posted this article, I am homeless and I have a laptop, tablet and smartphone. Yes, I spend my days at the library to get charge for my devices, free Wi-Fi and access to public PCs. But I am dirt poor and all my earned income comes via the internet. /PSA

Out of curiosity, how do you earn your money via internet ? Do you make apps for people ?

I do freelance writing and I run a bunch of blogs.

Re: What Do Public Library Workers Do? (2011)

#16

Post by mr_potato_face »

sciurus wrote: post #11
RobertKerans wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the flip side, these resources are used disproportionately by the poorest, so, y'know, screw em. Replace several cheap staff with a few expensive managers and some technology that isn't remotely as useful and off we go.

Yep. This comment at metafilter has been discussed here before, I think, but it's worth linking again: http://www.metafilter.com/112698/California-Dreamin#4183210

Thank you for linking this. The main article being discussed made me think "okay, so administrivia, book stuff, etc. Actually doesn't sound so bad". This link, however, made me realize how emotionally draining the library can be for everyone involved.

Re: What Do Public Library Workers Do? (2011)

#17

Post by kllvql »

This appears to be another scalability vs human intervention argument that occurs commonly in public and private enterprises. I think much of this community favors the scalability side, but forgets that humans are available to provide better solutions in almost all areas that are currently available to computers.

Re: What Do Public Library Workers Do? (2011)

#18

Post by Relys »

Spooky23 wrote: post #13

They do a lot. Having a kid really enhanced my appreciation for libraries and librarians. They fill vital teaching roles, host enrichment programs, help with study groups and teach kids about research. My local library system has stuff like maker events, guest sessions with 3D printers and all sorts of activities. It's an invaluable resource.

I wish more libraries would turn into hacker/maker spaces. :/

Re: What Do Public Library Workers Do? (2011)

#19

Post by ocdtrekkie »

Relys wrote: post #18
Spooky23 wrote: post #13

They do a lot. Having a kid really enhanced my appreciation for libraries and librarians. They fill vital teaching roles, host enrichment programs, help with study groups and teach kids about research. My local library system has stuff like maker events, guest sessions with 3D printers and all sorts of activities. It's an invaluable resource.

I wish more libraries would turn into hacker/maker spaces. :/

It's all about budget. My local library is in a relatively affluent town, so they've got kinda a startup space vibe they're trying to build, and obviously they've stepped up the computer lab offerings quite a bit. Another nice perk for the movie buffs among us, is that they buy 25+ copies of new movies, and checkouts are free. While the hold list means you'll wait on those titles a few months... I haven't paid to rent a movie going on ten years now.

I actually worked for four years at the library, and I absolutely appreciate the heck out of it.

Re: What Do Public Library Workers Do? (2011)

#20

Post by RobertKerans »

zaidf wrote: post #7
jvehent wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you're poor. Then you don't have a computer.

A lot more poor people have a computer today than ever before. Nothing illustrates this better than seeing the homeless on their iPhones using the Starbucks wifi to access the Internet.

This is true, and a very, very good thing I think. But it's the prosaic stuff (how do I claim this? Where do I actually look for information? What information will help me? Etc) where having a real person sit and help you is incredibly important.
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