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June 07, 2005
ALA, Gorman, and bailing vs. staying
Gorman is not making friends. The Eclectic Librarian has had it with Gorman and is giving up. ALA Councilor Rochelle isn't sure yet, but definitely has mixed feelings about ALA. Free Range Librarian (aka ALA Councilor Karen Schneider) has also had it with Gorman. Jessamyn West says that Gorman is a "librarian's librarian" but not "the public's librarian." Caveat Lector's author encourages folks to take action, to write to the Executive Board.
As for myself, I think there are two issues here. 1) Gorman has some interesting and thoughtful things to say about Google Print. That's fine. I think he brings up some good criticisms, but is a bit single-minded in his approach to the issue. But all in all, I don't care that much what he thinks. 2) What I do care about is how Gorman represents librarians and libraries to the outside world. And he's doing a bum job of it right now. With flippant and poorly thought-out comments about blogs and covert racist comments about dumbing things down to a hip hop level, Gorman is putting a bad face on librarianship--one that is technologically regressive and socially insensitive (if not downright racist).
Some have said "but he didn't mean it that way." That doesn't matter. It's how he's coming across, not to just the library world, but to the public in general. And that should count for something. I've repeatedly been half a step away from stopping my ALA membership because of Gorman. The only things that are stopping me from doing that are 1) Quitting because of one irresponsible person, leader or not, is rather irresponsible in and of itself and 2) I realize that no small protest action that I can mount on my own is going to make a whit of difference to ALA as an organization. All I can do is work from within, try my best to improve things as a member, and keep voicing my dissent about Gorman's behavior.
June 7, 2005 | Permalink
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» Michael Gorman 對 Google print library project 的反對意見 from XXC@Blog
雖然 Google 前一陣子宣稱暫緩圖書館計劃的掃描工作，但是對於沒有版權部分的還是持續在進行著。稍稍回顧一下一些之前的討論。 原文: One College Librarian Worries About ‘Atomizing’ Books ALA 主席 Michael Gorman 批評 Google 他認為學術研究對如Google之類的搜尋引擎的利用越來越普及，會對學術研究造成不好的傷害。因為： 搜尋引擎就算加入許多圖書館的內容(指Google print librar... [Read More]
Tracked on Aug 25, 2005 11:06:45 AM
Comments
Point well taken, T Scott. I didn't mean to imply some kind of universal Baby-Boomer fault. By stating that "many librarians" I do not mean to imply the majority.
But there are generational norms that impact Baby Boomer librarians, just as there are cultural norms that impact every generation, including my own. We are, in addition to being librarians, also human beings, with our own prejudices and biases.
The problem I have is Gorman seems to be allowing his own prejudices become representative of ALL librarians. And he is choosing to speak as such, which is both reckless and self-serving. I wonder if being one of the architects of the AACR2 an authority on authority control might have something to do with his anti-Google stance?
Gorman's comments likening hip-hop to being unsophisticated may personally repulse me, but he has a right to those views. However, as an elected official for the world's largest library mouthpiece, he has a responsibility to choose when to not let personal bias come to represent the American Library Association.
Posted by: JAson Jackson | June25, 2005
Jason -- I applaud your determination to find new ways to energize ALA. That's the only way change is going to happen. But surely you didn't mean to suggest that this is a generational thing? When you complain about the "ignorance and cultural insensitivity many librarians in his generation seem to possess" aren't you in danger of doing the same sort of stereotyping that you're decrying in Gorman? I'd hate to think that anyone would make assumptions about my views on the issues based on my age.
Posted by: T Scott | June14, 2005
Agreed, Jason. And incidentally, I am absolutely ready to don a swank pair of sunglasses, a sweet Versace suit, and do the librarian rock star thing on CNN, if anyone wants to nominate me for ALA President ;)
Posted by: Sarah Houghton (Librarian in Black) | June13, 2005
Gorman's comments on dumbing things down to the hip-hop level is beyond simply being in poor taste. It reflects the kind of ignorance and cultural insensitivity many librarians in his generation seem to possess. And his kind of leadership is not what the profession needs, especially since we're a graying profession that's, honestly, losing its relevance and focus in the eyes of users.
I voted for Gorman. I regret it. I believed his balls-to-the-wall attitude might help. Honestly, I'm starting to feel orgs. like SLA, SAA, and ASIST have more relevance in today's world than the ALA. I agree, quitting isn't the answer. I think finding ways to pump some new blood into ALA is the answer.
As a public relations specialist and a librarian, I want an ALA president who is asked to appear on CNN and other news programs, someone who promotes the profession, someone who creates a positive, unified presence in the public eye, and someone who can make librarians the rock stars of the information age.
JWJ
Posted by: Jason Jackson | June11, 2005
I'm not giving up, but I have decided to not reinstate my membership at this time. I haven't been an ALA member for two years because I couldn't afford it, but now I can and I am choosing to wait until later.
Posted by: Anna | June11, 2005
You're absolutely right that there's a difference between the comments of a random ALA member and the comments of the president-elect. I did write a letter to every member of the executive board (cc-ed to Gorman) saying pretty much what I said in my post. I would encourage others to write letters as well.
Posted by: Sarah Houghton (Librarian in Black) | June 7, 2005
That's perfectly reasonable. And you're welcome to use my name. :)
I do think, though, that there's a difference between the comments of one random group member and the comments of the president-elect of the group.
Especially when so few people are standing up to him on this. That's what put me over the edge, really.
Posted by: Dorothea Salo | June 7, 2005
