LJ Talks To the Feel-good Librarian
-- Library Journal, 10/1/2005
“There are a lot of library blogs out there. I hope mine isn’t like any of them,” the Feel-good Librarian wrote in February 2005 in an introductory post to her new blog. “At the library, a piece of that world walks up to my desk every day. That’s what this blog is about.” Blogging anonymously from a library somewhere in middle America, the Feel-good Librarian (http://feelgoodlibrarian.typepad.com/) comments on library services, her patrons’ questions and ponders the profession. And, true to her hopes, there is nothing like it. Michael Stephens (http://www.tametheweb.com/), who moderated “Talkin' Blogs,” caught up with her via IM and she revealed some of her inspirations, motivations, and interactions with patrons and staff while writing her blog.
MS: What inspires you to write a post for Feel-good Librarian (FGL)?
FGL: My complete amazement at the questions we get at the desk. I am continually surprised, challenged and stimulated by our patrons, their information needs, and the fact that they come to the library to satisfy them.
What have you learned from the months you’ve been a librarian blogger?
That I’m not the only librarian getting these amazing questions. That I can encourage other people. That these small things are really what life and work are made of.
Comment on those posts that detail actual reference questions at your library’s desk. Do you have any concerns about privacy?
I don’t believe any of my patrons read my blog, or are aware of it. My name and location aren’t mentioned. I hope that is enough to protect my privacy and theirs.
Why an anonymous blog?
I want to protect my patrons’ privacy. I want to protect my own privacy. I don’t want my supervisors to have any influence over what I write or don’t write. Anonymous is safe and gives me freedom.
Do your colleagues at your library know who you are blogging about them and the desk?
Yes, my colleagues know. I ask their permission if they tell a good story, and now, they even suggest stories. The ones who read me recognize the patrons I describe, and one coworker actually identified me just from reading the blog. “This may be a silly question,” she said, “but are you the Feel-good Librarian?” Such intelligent colleagues I have!
You wrote recently about the future of libraries. I quoted this line on my blog because it really spoke to me: “We’re scared that the techno-terrified will hold all the rest of us up, or the techies will drag us all kicking and screaming into a future where we will be replaced by machines.” What future do you see for the library? For the machines? Tell me a bit about the techno-terrified.
First, the techno-terrified. I was told by the wonderfully knowledgeable man that I replaced (a retired teacher) that he quit because he couldn't keep up with all the new computer skills he knew he should have. He wasn't terrified—but he realized the direction information dissemination was going, and felt he couldn't keep up.
Other colleagues feel....overwhelmed by the new skills that really are a requirement of the job. They are making valiant efforts, but they feel it requires a new way of thinking, every two or three years, when a new technology comes in. Think CD-ROMs, then online databases; email, then virtual reference and IM; blogs, then wikis. It is so much, so fast that they are overwhelmed.
Then, the future. I don't see machines replacing people. Librarians are information brokers—the sources, the guides, the teachers, the links between people and the information they want. Even power-users want a back-up when they can't find what they want, or want to verify what they've found.
A public library deals in general, broad knowledge. Much of it is locally focused. We are an information clearing-house for our communities, a place where different populations meet and get to know each other. No machine will ever be able to facilitate that as well as a friendly, knowledgeable, interested human being.
That said, we certainly will be using machines more and more, and teaching the public to use them as well. But the machines will only ever be the tools. Information and communication go hand in hand—got to have people for that.
At least, that's my humble opinion.
Feedback, comments, and emails...what has that been like?
Wild. First of all, I couldn't believe the feedback that started right away. Other bloggers wrote posts inresponse to mine within the first two weeks, Meredith and Rochelle, specifically. I wasn't even aware that people knew my blog existed. I think that's because you found it early and linked, and your readers started clicking in….thanks!
Then the comments began. Two main strands: "Thanks, I needed that!" and "Boy, does this ring a bell!" It's always great to hear that people enjoy your writing, but to know that you can encourage someone else is really satisfying. The better we feel about what we do, the better we will do it, in most cases. And it encourages me to know I am not alone, that other people are out there, reaching out, getting their hearts broken, their assumptions challenged, surprised out of their comfort zones, taking abuse, even – and enjoying the hell out of the ride.
The diversity of my readership continues to amaze me. I have always felt that my life is fairly small, and the things I write about are small. Through the widespread appeal, I have realized that life really is made up of small things - and that we all need to hear the good news sometimes.
How diverse? Well—(deep breath)—I have had comments from the US, Singapore, China, Australia, Canada and Israel…emails from France, Uruguay, Canada, the UK and Australia, as well as the US.
The readers cross professional lines, as well. I've heard from library school students and library directors, newspaper reporters, novelists, a law librarian, a piano tuner, academic librarians, public librarians, children's librarians, a medical librarian, library aides, paraprofessionals, and people who have left library school.
Even the sources people get my blog from are diverse. Some get it from friends, others from professors and some from their library directors. Others click in from Google, bloglines, and other blogs that have posted links to mine. Many, many thanks to all….
It still kind of freaks me out, but I am so glad. I wanted to do something good, and it looks like I am. What an adventure!
Why do you blog?
Inevitably, when people find out I’m a librarian, they ask if it’s boring. I am quick to give them many entertaining examples of why it is NOT boring. Then they tell me I should write a book. I love to write, and I really want people to know that libraries and librarians ROCK. The blog is the best way to accomplish it all at once.
