Reading Into the Future

Sure hope you are now considered an "essential" part of the city budget... I know only too well that the City will try to reduce the budget for the library in bad times, not knowing how much of a service the staff provides.
SPL'er '86-'93

Thankyou Eva for putting this into words that resound literally half a world away (in Australia.) In these hard times libraries have such an important role - one that is undermined by budget cuts and staffing shortages. My hope is that those in charge of library funding hear your message!

Yay for librarians. I am in the process of getting my MLIS and my heart breaks for the patrons of this library and others around the US. From a small child I have always wanted to help those less fortunate and bouncd back and forth between a degree in social work and sociology before settling on library & information studies. I wish I was there to help. Your local library is a wonderful place for free information and librarians are wonderful people who love to help.

Thanks for the kind words, all. I just wanted to clarify that I work part time as a Librarian (no longer an intern :) at Southfield Public Library and West Bloomfield Township Library. I am a full time research analyst at Wayne State University's Development and Alumni Affairs office. Also, that photo was taken by Alan Wigodski, a local photographer.

Eva does a fantastic job of summing up the job of a librarian in Michigan these days. Where else can you find so many great services for the dollars you pay?

This a great story. We need more intelligent people to venture out to create more jobs and work for more people. Michigan is in need for new ideas. The best ideas are generally found in books. I hope she can expand her skill set and help more people.

I have always loved the library, and hopefully, the people flocking to libraries during the economic crisis will realize what a wonderful place it is during happier times as well.

As a librarian, I've always been proud of my ability to redefine myself and recreate the space I'm responsible for. Good librarianship means being responsive, providing the information resources that the community needs, and then motivating the community to use them. People will ALWAYS need information. It's impossible to argue that less knowledge is preferable to more.....and that's what motivates me to keep my library relevant.

Libraries have always been community centers, providing job resources, civil service exam guides, bulletin boards for events and hosting speakers, etc. The difference now is in the sheer volume, and at a time when libraries need more hours and more staff, their funding is being cut right and left.

I recently read a comment by someone who stated the term "librarian" is outdated and the term "library studies" is as well. I was a bit appalled by the comment but after reading this, I think there may be some merit. Librarians are everything their community needs them to be. When all else fails, ask a librarian.

Here is a program that can help the libraries cope.

https://www.optimalresume.com/libraries.html

Here is a program that can help the libraries cope. See:
https://www.optimalresume.com/libraries.html

This article is correct. Libraries are a wonderful resource in job seeking resources. One cloud at least here in Florida is that my community has been cutting hours at the libraries and even considering closing branches due to the economic downturn.

the role of the librarian will always change with the needs of the public. we don't shoosh because we like it, we shoosh because you demand quiet. now we tweet because you expect it. we continue to evolve. librares are buildings, but librarians are people, just like you.