Open librarianship, gadgetude, telling the library story and more
I’m reposting this week’s PLN Highlights post as usual; you’ll find the post below the line. We continue to add worthwhile, interesting, sometimes provocative content to the PALINET Leadership Network, PLN–free to all current and future library leaders, requires a minute or two to sign up (and clicking on one email link)–and we need library leaders to join and actively participate, commenting on what’s there and providing (or pointing to) new resources.
In the last couple of weeks, we’ve added two particularly interesting and provocative pieces, one on future possibilities for library catalogs (although “library catalog” might not be the term you’d use) and one on future possibilities for “OpenLibrarianship,” a term Carl Grant proposes. (Is OpenLibrarianship really Librarian 2.0? If so, that may be a good thing.) The latter is a case where a little bit of conversation has improved the presentation: I added a comment on the first article to its Talk page, and Carl responded by writing an essay that refines and extends the original commentary. More active participation can only improve PLN for everybody.
In a side note, what happened with Carl Grant’s piece is what would happen with any piece that makes a useful contribution to PLN–even if I personally disagree with it. I’ll edit for clarity (a process that usually involves very few changes). I’ll add Related Article links (and I’m trying to make sure that every new PLN article is linked to by at least one other article). And if I take issue with the article, I might comment–but on the Talk page or in a separate article, not by manipulating what’s there. PLN isn’t my network; as managing editor, I’m there to recruit, refine and link, not to control.
It’s been a busy week at the PALINET Leadership Network, PLN. Some of the new resources:
- Telling the library story — the March 2008 LLN Peer Panel question is about information literacy, but the responses are mostly about telling your library’s story…and making sure that your library’s reality matches the story you’re telling. George Needham, Jamie LaRue and Lirene Roy offer comments.
- Challenges in developing library information literacy programs — Glen Holt discusses some real-world issues in library information literacy and orientation programs.
- Who needs reference librarians? — Jamie LaRue asks that question in his newspaper column, says the answer is “we all do,” and offers ways those reference librarians can become more visible and valuable.
- A call for OpenLibrarianship — Carl Grant offers a challenging set of proposals for today’s and tomorrow’s librarianship and proposes a term to go along with it. Walt Crawford added a comment on the Talk page, which inspired Grant to write another piece refining the first one: OpenLibrarianship: A framework discussion. These are noteworthy, provocative pieces. Is OpenLibrarianship really Librarian 2.0?
- Real men aim for maximum gadgetude — Jamie LaRue again, this time with a true confession from a one-time Kaypro II owner.
As with last week’s Future catalogs: food for thought, Carl Grant’s articles deserve extended discussion as possible visions for tomorrow’s libraries. The talk pages are open, as are the forums. PLN–free to all current and future library leaders (however you define “library leader”)–is there for discussion and to exchange information.
In the category of exchanging information, one PLN participant has posed an interesting query on the Talk page for leadership training, mentoring and other resources: Are there resources to help interim library directors do their jobs as well as possible? Your suggestions are welcome.
Note: Some of the links above won’t work unless you’re signed in as a PLN user. So join up: It only takes a minute or two, along with clicking on a link in an email message.
