Thanks for your perspectives, Emily and Chris! I see the issue as framed somewhat differently, though. Many librarians (especially librarians hoping to work in Jewish settings) need paying work, but can only find volunteer positions. Volunteering is undeniably valuable to both institutions and individuals - but a volunteer who also has a paid job elsewhere (or other paid work for the same institution) is in a different situation than one who needs to decide between working for free and not working at all.
I agree that institutions who have MLIS librarians working for free are lucky. But I'd also argue that the stories behind this luck are worth investigating. Do these librarians volunteer because they can afford to, or because they're trying to stay professionally active while paying work is impossible to find? As religious-oriented people, I'd love to see us openly and repeatedly consider that a reliance on volunteer labor can mean that some among us won't have jobs. Even if we can't change that, openly acknowledging it is worth something too. But I'd also love to see more Jewish organizations explore creative funding sources to be able to pay librarians (and other professionals) for their work. A tall order, I know! Jill On Mon, Nov 2, 2015 at 1:53 PM, Chris <cmb...@humboldt.edu> wrote: > As many of you already know I am almost done with my MLIS studies, and I > currently manage a JCC library as a volunteer. The library has never been > formally funded, and nobody has ever been paid to run it. The JCC could > create a paid position which included the library among other duties, but > lately money is so tight existing positions are left vacant. > > My federation business card says librarian, but most of the work I do > involves JCC programs and services. The library itself doesn't require a > large time commitment. I administer a collection management policy. I do a > bit of reference work. I maintain professional ties to the larger library > community by representing my organization at AJL and ALA. I oversee other > volunteers who do shelf checking, staff book sales, etc... > > Our JCC has been lucky because I am the third formally trained > professional to manage the library. My predecessor Judy who held the > position for a decade has an MLIS. Her predecessor is an LCSW and > professional book binder (close enough). > > I believe it is critical to have an information professional oversee the > operation of a community center or synagogue library, because we are the > only people who will properly and entirely uphold the ethics, values, and > foundational principles of librarianship. > > There are about a hundred reasons which I need not enumerate for this > group why a librarian is the only person qualified to say that a room full > of books on shelves actually constitutes a library. > > > > On Mon, Nov 2, 2015 at 10:08 AM, Emily Bergman <emilyanneberg...@gmail.com > > wrote: > >> I have heard this many times, and here's my own experience with this. I >> have been a librarian for 40 years. I swore I would never be a librarian >> for free. When a lawyer friend of mine said he provided legal services and >> an accountant friend provided accounting services as volunteers, I was >> willing to provide library services as a volunteer. I have now been doing >> this for over 20 years. I work all week in an academic library and then >> spend my Sunday mornings running the library and working with the religious >> school kids. I admit I do not provide library services all the hours that >> I could (Wednesday nights when the confirmation kids have classes or after >> services), but at least I'm there for the parents who come and the classes >> that I serve on Sunday mornings. I don't donate money (we all know >> librarians don't make much), but I give my time and expertise instead. I >> am on an ALA book award committee that gives an award for the best adult, >> Jewish book for the general reader for which I get about 150 books a year, >> and I donate all of them to the temple library, so beyond my time, I am >> keeping up the adult collection, since I no longer have a library budget. >> I certainly have to fight for what I need and need about twice as much >> space, but I'm also happy to know our little temple has a good library. >> >> When it comes to cantors, I have only had a professional cantor once in >> my life that I know of. Usually, the cantors are simply people who >> can/like to sing. When I lived in Lubbock, Texas in the '60s, the person >> who chanted/sang the prayers wasn't even Jewish. They do get paid, unlike >> what is being considered here. >> >> If we librarians are willing to donate our time and skill, it is truly a >> mitzvah, because otherwise, I bet there would not be a library, or at least >> not as good a library. >> >> Emily Bergman >> Temple Sinai >> Glendale, CA >> emilyanneberg...@gmail.com >> >> >> On Sun, Nov 1, 2015 at 1:59 PM, Amalia Warshenbrot <amalia...@att.net> >> wrote: >> >>> *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 >>> >>> >> >> __ >> 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 >> >> > > __ > 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 > >
__ 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
