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This must be "librarians should" month; I'm about to lose my mind.
I feel like I need to make a website called "WhyDontLibraries dot Com" where we can all provide answers to these statements
"Why don't you all get together and make a universal finding aid?"
"Why don't you just digitize everything?"
"Why don't you use community volunteers to input all the metadata?"
"Why can't we just get a rare book for an event last-minute? It's right there!"
"Why don't you just digitize everything?"
"Why don't you use community volunteers to input all the metadata?"
"Why can't we just get a rare book for an event last-minute? It's right there!"
"Why don't you collect all websites on x topic?"
"Why don't we throw out the card catalog?"
"Why don't we use acq funds to pay salaries?"
Many are good q's. But we them hear over & over & I am TIRED. How can we communicate the answers in a way that will be heard/absorbed. HOW
"Why don't we throw out the card catalog?"
"Why don't we use acq funds to pay salaries?"
Many are good q's. But we them hear over & over & I am TIRED. How can we communicate the answers in a way that will be heard/absorbed. HOW
I want people to get the answers to these questions. The answers can be different for every institution, but with some broad themes, and often the answer is really complicated and I find it's both hard to break it down into simple explanations, plus folks don't want a long answer
Anyway, end frustrated rant. I want special collections to be so good, & I love that other people want them to be good, but we are trying & doing our best. If you have these questions for your institution, pls make sure you are fully open to listening to your spec coll workers.
Go and ask "can you tell me why X isn't happening?" or "Have we considered this?" And be prepared for someone to say "that's a great question, can I get back to you?" or "That's actually really complicated but we have thought about it. Do you have time for a long explanation?"
Please just don't think you will be dropping a Big Idea We Clearly Haven't Thought Of, because usually we have and usually we want to talk to about it, but it feels crappy to be questioned as though we just aren't working or thinking hard enough.
Look, I'm aware that shrieking like a wounded eel and opening a portal to a Hell Dimension isn't the most conducive to intellectual dialogue with non-practitioners, but pls, y'all, we're so tired and frustrated and we just want to give you things
