Your reply as as wise alecky as your first posting. Make an effort,
Kevin, to be aware that remarks about library schools and library school
students are just that: "remarks" but not as offensive as they attempt
to be. Please spare us the cracks and the cliches.
Much as you may be dislike it, librarianship is a mildly more important
calling than bookselling. That you have an MLS does not entitle you to
make cracks about librarians, particularly as you chose to go into the
money-making side of the book world.
That library pages are fading from the scene is not an answer. Will you
now expect librarians to do all the reshelving? And then sweep the
floors? You are perhaps too young to have seen this happening, but it
does. Once admistrators learn that they can get away with professionals
doing grunt work, they will require it more and more pian piano. At
least Cornell was open about it, which is to say, saved themselves from
later trouble by pointing to the posting.
And what of the loss of the possibility for young people - chiefly
students - to get such jobs as library pages. Your attitude seems to be
"tough on them".
I am sorry that your family has suffered from various ailments. Most
families do, and most people do. Please spare us tales of your own
nobility in the matter.
Gabriel A
-----Original Message-----
From: Exlibris [mailto:EXLIBRIS@MAIL.ECW.NAME] On Behalf Of Kevin. Mac
Donnell
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 9:55 AM
To: EXLIBRIS@MAIL.ECW.NAME
Subject: Re: [EXLIBRIS] Position Announcement - Cornell - 40 lbs of dust
I've found that booksellers are the worst about making cracks about
booksellers. You did not see the students who sat in my classes during
library school --I could make the same crack about booksellers (and do)
that I made about them. But it's best if booksellers stick to making
cracks about booksellers and people with MLSs stick to making cracks
about others with MLSs. I qualify on both counts, so beware!
I had asthma for seven years and it was rarely under adequate control. I
have family members with various disabilities, and employees too. I'd
wish none of this on anyone. Please spare me lectures about diabilities.
The days of library pages waiting in the wings to do the grunt work for
professional librarians, as charming as those bygone days were, may be
fading from the scene. Shall we all observe a moment of silence?
Kevin