Shalom, I was asked to post the message below from a qualified trained librarian. Amalia Warshenbrot Vice President, Association of Jewish Libraries Phone: (704) 365-3313
Recently, my position as a synagogue librarian was all-but eliminated on the argument that minimally-trained volunteers can do my job just as well as I can. I don't know of any other field that seems so easily replaceable to decision-makers. For example, our board would never consider replacing the cantor with someone who just so happens to like to sing - let alone the education director, rabbi, Etc. with hobbyists in those fields. I believe that the library is going to suffer very much from this decision. But mostly, the field as a whole is going to suffer. Real people are really trying to make a living through their (that is, our) work as librarians. When we don't stand up for the essential skills we offer, I believe that we undermine the entire future of our status as a profession ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* I think it's important to get this sort of sentiment out there - even if, as has been both of our experience, no one seems to be listening. At least that way, with whatever else we lose - personally and professionally - we maintain our voices . . . even if they have to remain anonymous. (I am so glad for the various levels of support that AJL offers its members. Being able to have this conversation is yet another example of that!)
__ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list Hasafran@lists.osu.edu https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
