This week didn't have as many posts as last week. However, they were still quite interesting.
I'll start with Annoyed Librarian.
In Working 'til I die, the Annoyed Librarian discusses the Retired Members Round Table, which is one of the groups at the ALA annual conference. The RMRT is a group that exists to develop programs for retired librarians or library workers. A more elaborate definition is on their website. Any one can join this group, or the ALA, for that matter, you just have to pay the appropriate dues. The planned activity for the RMRT at the conference is actually pretty funny.
Retired Members Cafe
RMRT. Sun., Jun. 26, 4–5:30 p.m. They will plan activities for the new RMRT. The top priority should be convincing over-the-hill colleagues to retire and make room for the growing number of young, new, unemployed librarians. At the very least, they ought to buy them drinks and dinner.
While AL does give them props for having a sense of humor, AL does not believe that making room for new or young librarians is a good reason to retire and lists the following reasons: job security, lots of vacations (for academic librarians, sorry those in public), mental labor, not manual, varied work, good health benefits, and money.
My thoughts: I think that it is nice that there is a group for retired librarians at the conference. That way they can still be a part of something they may love and interact with people who feel the same way. I really don't know what my opinion on retirement is, as I am nowhere near that age. But, I feel like if you love what you do, and are still healthy enough to do it, and still want to do it, you shouldn't have to retire. You should always be able to do whatever makes you happy in life. And if it is to die in the stacks, then so be it.
Fighting Libraries in Oakland takes us to Oakland, California, where the mayor is threatening to close down 90% of library services due to budget cuts. AL mostly discusses some of the comments made on the blog, especially those made by "The Boss," who seems to be extremely anti-library. Some of his comments include, "libraries serve no purpose in the digital age," and the "Internet is better than any library." According to this man, ebooks will be the end of the library and everyone should get rid of their books and replace them with a Nook or Kindle. AL states that many people who are anti-library are also anti-government, and this person seems to be no exception. He goes on to further insult many who try to engage in dialogue and disagree with him.
My thoughts: I don't understand how someone can be anti-library. Of course, I am biased because I LOVE the library. This guy is just anti-government and social programs, only concerned with private enterprise and what that can get him. To me, these statements of how the library is pretty much useless and should be shut down are signs of ignorance and kind of hateful. I feel bad if he has children and they can't enjoy the wonderful programs of a children's library.
HeyJude only had one post this week.
What's Wrong with Being a geek and an academic?, is about a blog Deanna Peluso wrote about misconceptions people have of her. She doesn't understand why it is so hard for people to understand that she has an academic side to her and also a side that likes to sit around playing video games. A quote that I really like is "within the world of academia, you will find all sorts of people with all sorts of interests and backgrounds." The reason I really like this quote is because I believe it to be true of everyone, not just those in academia. Everyone has so many different layers to them. Just because people like to play video games, doesn't mean they might not like to do something athletic. Many people have wide and varied interests and that is what makes everyone interesting. This is another way of saying, "don't judge a book by it's cover."
The second part of the blog was kind of weird, not really related to the first at all. It is about how Charles Stuart University is re-branding itself to be more technology friendly, and unleashing a marketing frenzy to get it known. They hope to meet the online needs of their students, and evolve their courses. Another thing they are doing is called CSU on the go. This is mobile access through smartphones. The content has been formatted for quick and easy use. Some things accessible at m.csu are contact information, campus maps, bus timetables, hours of operation, and library services.
My thoughts: I really like the blog posting of Deanna Peluso. I already explained why I liked the one quote, but her blog goes into it further. The CSU to go system is very interesting and would probably be an asset to any university.
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