Re: Position Announcement - Cornell - 40 lbs of dust

["Kevin. Mac Donnell" <info@MACDONNELLRAREBOOKS.COM>]

Pardon me Mr Austin, but your snobbery is showing.

In a perfect world entry level jobs in libraries would not be for pages, but
for work that would prepare them for careers in librarianship. A lot of us
started out as coolies and gophers for able-bodied librarians who couldn't
bear to break a sweat over a 40 lb box, but that wasn't exactly a career
path to a professional career. I hope entry level positions in libraries
have improved since then.

In that same perfect world, library administrators and curators would lift a
box or two now and then, without any chest-beating or whining about it. Hey,
come to think of it, most that I know do!

And in that perfect world, employers would reasonably accommodate the
disabled, without being forced to do so by statute.
Hey, come to think of it, most do!

So, it looks like we live in a better world than some are willing to
admit --except for energy misdirected into snitty personal insults (which is
quite different from good-natured ribbing) that would be far more
constructive if directed toward those institutions who post questionable job
descriptions.

I must now go move some boxes. No kidding.

Kevin
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Gabriel Austin" <gabrielaustin@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <EXLIBRIS@MAIL.ECW.NAME>
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 12:22 PM
Subject: Re: [EXLIBRIS] Position Announcement - Cornell - 40 lbs of dust


> 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
>
>