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May 12, 2006
Michael Gorman alienates and divides our profession
In the May issue of American Libraries, Michael Gorman has insulted librarians, library staff, and technology of any sort.
If you believe, as I do, that there is a crisis in library education that threatens the very existence of libraries and librarianship, you are likely to draw a negative reaction from a variety of people. First, there are the millenniarist librarians and pseudo-librarians who, intoxicated with self-indulgence and technology, will dismiss you as a "Luddite" or worse. They and their yips and yawps can safely be left to their acronymic backwaters and the dubious delights of clicking and surfing.
Under the guise of defending the integrity of library schools programs, Gorman has insulted:
- "millenniarist librarians"--If he's referring to millennials, he's just targeted anyone under 25.
- "pseudo-librarians"--What does that even mean? Library paraprofessionals? Circulation workers? IT staff? Who?
How has he insulted them? Well, he claims that they are (regardless of their individual preferences) across the board self-indulgent and technology-happy to a fault. Hmm. What an interesting perspective. What a stereotypical and completely ignorant perspective. Apparently, as he has stated so many times before in different ways, if you are good at or interested in technology, you have no place in librarianship.
Introducing technologies in a way that is not confrontational or exclusionary has always been my goal on Librarian in Black and in my professional interactions day-to-day in both my own library and in the professional associations I take part in (ALA, LITA, PLA, CLA)--talk about an "acronymic backwater."
Gorman words in our national association's publication are elitist, exclusionary, and condescending to so very many in our profession. He shames us. He shames the profession. I am, as I have been since he took office and started spouting this nonsensical rhetoric, ashamed of him. I have never called him a Luddite, though I have called him irresponsible, alienating, and more. Let's add, for today's word, shameful.
May 12, 2006 | Permalink
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» Yip. Yawp. from lbr.library-blogs.net
We interrupt your regular clicking and surfing to make a general announcement to all fellow "milleniarist librarians" and "pseudo-librarians" out there that you are -- now as always -- welcomed with open arms in the acronymic backwaters of the ISCLA. [Read More]
Tracked on May 13, 2006 9:29:04 AM
» 0.1 from LibraryCrunch
If you believe, as I do, that there is a crisis in library education that threatens the very existence of libraries and librarianship, you are likely to draw a negative reaction from a variety of people. First, there are... [Read More]
Tracked on May 14, 2006 5:37:00 AM
» Michael Gorman from Head Tale - Yet Another (Ex-) Library Student's Blog
John M. did a post about Michael Gorman after hearing about ... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 18, 2007 3:00:12 AM
» Being MichaelGorman from Interiority
I dont know much about the famous librarians. Im just a library student, part-time at that, a librarian wannabe. I had no idea who Ranganathan was until I read Michael Gormans Our Singular Strengths: Meditations for Librarians. I h... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 20, 2007 2:03:26 PM
Comments
>"pseudo-librarians"--What does that even mean? Library paraprofessionals? Circulation workers? IT staff? Who?
Hmm. Maybe some poseur who's arrogant enough to write and speak about libraries, to librarians, and work to solve library problems--and who doesn't have The Degree (and admits to the lack)?
But who on earth would do that?
Posted by: walt | May12, 2006
I did think of you Walt...but thought, heck no. Gorman couldn't be criticizing Walt, with whom he wrote a book, and who has done such fabulous things for our profession. I guess we need to add you to the roster.
Posted by: Sarah Houghton (LiB) | May12, 2006
Let's not forget insulting library patrons who might be similarly shellacked on technology and really dig on "the dubious delights of clicking and surfing."
The sad thing is that the rest of his essay is better--not completely jerkiness-free, but better. But boy, that one paragraph sours the whole thing and kills the rest of his message.
Posted by: joshua m. neff | May12, 2006
Mr. Gorman's comments fly in the face of what we are trying to do here at CCLA (College Center for Library Automation). Among our many tasks is to lead "traditional" librarians to technologies that can more efficiently deliver information solutions to patrons. We embrace RSS, folksonomies, tagging, and whatever else facilitates the process. We don't view technology as a threat, but as another tool. He is right about one thing, though. Libraries that do not embrace these changes are threatened with extimction.
Posted by: Booker | May12, 2006
Is Gorman criticizing me directly? Probably not.
Do I come off as a duck (you know, the old "if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck" line)? Yep.
One book does not necessarily a lasting unity of opinion make.
It may even be worth noting that MG's comments may have been the tipping point that resulted in Walt at Random.
But hey, it's Friday; I'm just yawping.
Posted by: walt | May12, 2006
Don't be silly, LiB and Walt: pseudo-librarians are those who don't accept the Gospel According to Gorman.
This whole thing is just sad and pathetic.
Posted by: Steve Lawson | May12, 2006
I don't think Gorman is referring to the Millennial Generation with his "millenniarist," but to people who believe in the dawning of a spiritual golden age. Basically, he's saying Blog People are rapturous in their love of technology and zealously intolerant of anyone who doesn't see the world in the same way.
Gorman, on the other hand, is the very model of openminded tolerance. Right?
Posted by: joshua m. neff | May12, 2006
Joshua, I think you are right, but I also think he's trying to make a pun, linking the "Millennial" librarians to the mindset you describe. So, as is typical with MG, he's painting his opponents with a very broad brush, and implying a unity of opinion where there is none.
Posted by: Steve Lawson | May13, 2006
Steve, I think you've got it.
Posted by: joshua m. neff | May13, 2006
