Value of a degree.

"If your work is deprofessionalized,
so is your salary."

-- Library Journal

Deprofessionalization and the Library Blogosphere by Rory Litwin

March 04, 2012

Librarianship as a profession is, as we all know, threatened. The threat can be identified most directly as a reduction in public support for government institutions, especially those institutions or their components considered “less essential.” Where librarians feel that our jobs, or our job prospects in the case of new librarians, are threatened, we have a personal stake in the fate of libraries, which in our discourse with the public can put the taint of self-interest on our arguments for the value of what we do. But for most of us, it is not so much a matter of protecting our jobs but protecting our ability to do the kind of work that we believe in. That passion for the profession serves us well in making the case to the public about our role, where our personal stake may not.

In terms of the question of public support for libraries, our belief in the values of the profession is an essential rhetorical tool. However, it is only one piece. The other piece is professional expertise. Our expertise as librarians is part of a dynamic where the threat to libraries is being felt in a less direct and less noticeable way, which is the process of deprofessionalization.

Library administrators and funding institutions have an interest in the deprofessionalization of librarianship in two ways – economic efficiency and control. Library support staff, who are being trained up to take on most responsibilities now handled by professional librarians, cost libraries less in wages. Because they are not a part of a profession that makes a claim to autonomy in the workplace, and not guided by a professional code as well as by management directives, they are more subject to direct management by their supervisors. That is to say, they are workers with bosses where librarians tend not to have bosses in the same way, tending rather to occupy roles in their organization where management is partly a collegial process. It goes without saying that library administrators want the ability to determine what happens in the libraries for which they are responsible, and therefore have interests that are in tension with those of their professionals on the staff.

In order to make a claim to professional autonomy, librarians need more than a set of admirable values to justify it. They need a body of professional expertise that is incontrovertible, made up of knowledge and skills that others recognize required extensive education to gain. They need to be able to make the case that what they offer as professionals is something that other people cannot do nearly as well. They need to show that what they do is not only interesting and admirable and important, but that doing it takes expertise, and that they possess that expertise. The importance of the professional status of librarians was first recognized in the 1920s in the famous Williamson Report, which led directly to the establishment of graduate level education as a prerequisite for employment as a librarian. The reason for the masters in librarianship has a lot to do with the importance of professional autonomy for the pursuit of the honorable goals of librarianship as a profession, which are not necessarily the direct priority of institutions. That autonomy is just as important as the fact of our employment, if our employment is to have any meaning in a social sense.

Part of the process of deprofessionalization, somewhat ironically, has been a move among library management thinkers toward a reconception of the professional librarian as primarily a supervisor of front line staff. This pattern first appeared in the area of technical services, as a result of the advent of shared cataloging, but it has begun to spread to other areas of library work as well, with the move toward cross-training support staff in formerly-professional work roles.

(Readers who are interested in the issue of the deprofessionalization of librarianship may be interested in a paper I wrote about it for Progressive Librarian a couple of years ago.)

Making the case for the importance of maintaining our presence in libraries as professionals is, as I mentioned, dependent on being able to claim an area of indisputable expertise. This expertise should be understood as constituting what it means to be a librarian. The knowledge and skills that make up this expertise, and the work that goes into advancing that knowledge and those skills, should be our primary concern as librarians, and should be the main content of our communication with each other as librarians, especially where that communication is before the public.

This is where I find the library blogosphere to be a problem, and to be a contributor to the deprofessionalization of librarianship. I realize that this is a controversial statement to make and not likely to be popular, so let me qualify it a bit before making my case. It’s important to say that there actually is substantial amount of discussion in the library blogosphere about real professional issues, exploring new problems and advancing the profession’s knowledge and expertise. This can take the form of intelligent essays like those that appear in Lead Pipe, and can also be found in the more personal musings of typical library blogs, from time to time.

--Rory Litwin

Full article: Library Juice

Librarians Unite!

When a library association ceases to represent the interests of its 'community' - What does one do?





The 8 R's, of course:

Reevaluate
Recontextualize
Remind
Reinvigorate
Represent
Reorganize
Revive
Reassemble

Here are a few excerpts from the recent discussion on the relevancy of the Canadian Library Association.

The Canadian Library Association (CLA), which represents Canadian libraries and library workers who are members, sees itself as the “advocate” and “public voice” for “Canadian library and information community.”1 The association has a simple, straightforward2 “Code of Ethics” that outline the responsibilities of the CLA and its members. It is necessary for an association, especially one with members from disparate places and backgrounds, to have a clear code of ethics and responsibilities because it shows its members what the association stands for and what its role is. It is also necessary and expected that an association will follow through with their code of ethics by acting in according with them and advocating for causes that are in line with their ethics and mission. We should expect that an organization that represents Canadian libraries and library workers also takes these ethical principles and translates them into actions. However, recent issues, such as the cuts to the Toronto Public Library System, the librarian and archivist strike at UWO, and the altering of the mandate of Libraries and Archives Canada, show that the CLA chooses not to advocate and be the voice of the library community, but instead remains silent or attempts to be neutral.

“What exactly would it take for the CLA to take a stance and defend libraries?” The only recent statement that they have on their website that condemns an action20 is on the destruction of the People’s Library at Occupy Wallstreet in New York City.21 This suggests that in order to provoke the CLA, one must deliberately physically destroy a library; from the Toronto example “destroying” a library through cuts and branch closures is not enough to justify a statement.

By looking at these three issues, it is clear that the CLA is unable or unwilling to put its Code of Ethics into practice. Meanwhile, the CAUT and other unions are not just strong voices in support for librarians and library workers, but also libraries as a whole. Based on this, there is no point in trying to improve the CLA’s Code of Ethics or attempt to make the CLA follow these statements: the CLA has shown that it is not interested in representing librarians through its inaction and complicity on issues that its Code of Ethics indicate it should be actively promoting and defending. This may seem like a harsh judgement, but the CLA has no excuse: how can we not judge it for not upholding its own values? Why should we continue to support an association that does not support us? Instead of trying to overhaul the CLA, librarians interested in protecting and promoting the profession should spend their time and energy within the organizations that are already doing this work: their unions. CAUT and TPLWU have both shown that they will come up to bat on library issues and that they are capable of translating their support for librarians into real activism.

The problem with this situation is that it leaves librarians without a unified, national voice. This is why I call on librarians around the country to create a national professional organization that can be a real voice for librarians and the profession and take on the critical issues that the CLA has decided are not within its mandate.

LIBRARIANS - Take Action!

Library & Archives Canada needs your help!

because:

"Incorporating business models into the management of academic and cultural libraries clearly leads to disaster, as evident at the Library and Archives of Canada (LAC). Librarians at the University of Toronto and other institutions have been distressed for some time over these developments.
— University of Toronto Academic Librarians."

Canadian Association of University Teachers launches campaign:
to Save Library and Archives Canada

(Ottawa, November 2, 2011) The Canadian Association of University Teachers today unveiled a national campaign to protect Library and Archives Canada (LAC).

The “Save Library and Archives Canada” is being launched by CAUT in response to funding cuts and internal managerial decisions that are threatening the quality and integrity of Canada’s only national public library and archives.

“Badly conceived restructuring, a narrowing of its mandate, and financial cutbacks are undermining LAC’s ability to acquire, preserve and make publicly available Canada’s full documentary heritage,” James L. Turk, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers said at a news conference in Ottawa today.

These changes, Turk added, have already led to a reduction in the number of specialist archivists and librarians, reduced public access and services, and the loss of rare and important materials.

Liam McGahern, president of the Antiquarian Booksellers of Canada, said a growing number of Canadian materials are not being collected by LAC because of reduced funding and a change in its acquisitions policy.

“Canadians recently lost a unique and irreplaceable set of journals chronicling late 19th Century stories of settlers and First Nations people of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Labrador Coast. This is just one of many examples,” McGahern explained. “Rare military documents, sheet music, and literature that would otherwise have gone to Library and Archives Canada are quietly all slipping away.”

CAUT is calling on the federal government to amend the LAC Act to ensure its mandate includes developing a comprehensive, not selective, collection of Canadian material.

“Our nation’s artistic, historical, and cultural heritage is at stake,” said Turk. “Genealogists, historians, researchers, graduate students, Aboriginal communities, and the general public are all affected by what is happening at LAC.”

The Canadian Association of University Teachers is the national voice of 66,000 academic and general staff at 120 universities and colleges across the country.

Sam Trosow, strike by librarians + archivists of UWO (resolved Sept. 23/11)

Update:
Western Librarians and Archivists Ratify Collective Agreement
September 23rd, 2011

Unionized members of the UWO Faculty Association Librarians and Archivists bargaining unit voted 36 to 7, or 84% in favour of the deal.

A tentative contract agreement was reached Tuesday, September 20, following a 13-day strike that began September 8.

"I'm pleased to see that the membership has endorsed the deal," said Bryce Traister, UWOFA President. "I'm proud of the resilience they demonstrated during this strike."

The 51 unionized librarians and archivists at Western have been without a contract since June 30, 2011.

source: UWOFA

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Samuel E Trosow"
To:
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 6:15:16 AM
Subject: UWO Librarians & Archivists on strike

I hope you are all following the situation here at the University of Western Ontario where the Librarians and Archivists (L&As) are now officially on strike. If not, here is some background info, with some questions about the nature of professional reference services and how the library community outside of Western can help.

Some background:

Here at Western, both the Faculty and the L&As are in the same association (UWOFA, the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association) but we have two separate bargaining units (there are over 1,000 members of the faculty unit and about 50 members of the L&A unit). Last year, the faculty were within a few hours of hitting the picket lines, but there was a last minute settlement which averted the strike. Two years ago, the L&As also came close to a strike, but it too was averted at the last minute - - but they only agreed to a short contract. So here we are again.

The strike started last week and there was a picket line by at the two main entrances to campus and the city bus drivers are not crossing the line and are dropping riders off outside the gates. While classes are going on, we are without our librarians. Meanwhile, the administration is is trying to minimize what it means not to have librarians on the job.

So here is a question for the list......

Where do you draw the line between those reference services that are part of the jurisdiction of professional librarians (hence the work of the bargaining unit) and 'directional' or other non-professional questions? And where do you draw the line between typical (albeit hardball) management tactics and the unwarranted and harmful derogation of academic librarianship itself?

The Western admin is saying in its release...

" Highly subject specific, in-depth reference services are not available "

So what about 'somewhat' subject oriented reference services? Or what about the even more puzzling reference questions where the patron does not accurately "announce" the precise subject specialty that might be needed to service the query? What about reference services that are not necessarily "in depth" but are initial inquiries that could go in a variety of directions. What about reluctant or less formulated inquiries from patrons who have some pressing information needs but have not yet sharpened their query into a "subject specific request" that will lead to "in-depth reference services." Don't most patrons come to a reference desk without what the western admin characterizes as highly subject specific, in depth reference needs (even in an academic library)? There was an even more troublesome communication from the administration of the law faculty (where I also teach) that said:

"All services to students will carry on as usual."

I am not exaggerating, that's what they said. But, one wonders . . . if all services can carry on as usual without the professional library staff, why do we need a professional library staff? If anyone thinks this is not an issue in the minds of cost-cutting managers, then remember the notorious piece in AL several years back that asked “What if you ran your library like a bookstore?” (American Libraries, 29 (3) (March 1998)) .

Libraries without librarians (and archives without archivists) is hardly business as usual.

While it is not surprising that management will try to minimize the impact of a work stoppage in the context of a labour dispute, I think the UWO admin is going over the top in its denigration of the role of professional library services. In my view, they damage the credibility of the institution and it will have negative repercussions long after this particular labour issue is settled. When you consider the actual cost to the university of resolving this dispute (remember there are only 50 or so members of the bargaining unit) it seems apparent that there is something else at play here. It is unfortunate that the UWO admin has decided that in order to gain some short-term advantage, they will issue statements that denigrate the role of librarians more generally. This is not a good strategy for what purports to be world-class research university.

What can members of the broader library community do to help?

Once again, we see a situation where librarianship is under attack. There needs to be a better and more coordinated response. If our associations are to remain relevant, they cannot ignore issues like what is unfolding at Western (or in Toronto as I have addressed in a previous posting).

There are a number of ways you can concretely support Western's Librarians and Archivists:

1) If you are in the London area, you can join the picket line at the Richmond Gates and Alumni Hall entrances to campus, they run between 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. weekdays. They are information pickets only, cars are not being stopped and traffic is not being impeded. Even helping for a few minutes will lend much-needed support.

2) Send an email expressing your support of the Librarians and Archivists to President Amit Chakma ( achakma@uwo.ca ) and Chair of the Board of Governor’s Frank Angelletti ( franka@filion.on.ca ). Keep the pressure on by continuing to re-send the letter (or new letters) daily or weekly until the strike is over. A sample email could contain something like the following:


Dear President Amit Chakma and Western Board of Governors Chair Frank Angeletti:

I am (identify yourself and your capacity) writing to express my support for Western’s Librarians and Archivists in their fight for fair and equitable treatment. Western’s libraries earn the university respect across the province and the country yet its librarians are earning 20% percent less than their colleagues at universities across Ontario. This gap gives the impression that Western is not interested in providing access to “in-depth, subject-specific” knowledge to either its students or faculty. I urge you to return to the bargaining table and seek a just and fair settlement. (you might want to add something from your own perspective about the crucial role that librarians/archivists play and how libraries without librarians cannot be considered business as usual)

3) Follow the developments in the social media. "Like" the UWOFA Facebook page and follow UWOFA on Twitter. “Favourite” UWOFA's tweets and retweet them to your own network.

UWOFA's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UWOFA

UWOFA's Twitter: UWOFA

After you email your letter to President Chakma and Board of Governor's Chair Angeletti, please also consider copying and pasting your letter to the official UWO Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/theuniversityofwesternontario
(you must click "like" to be able to post)

4) Write letters of support for the L&As to the London Free Press , the London Community News , the Western Gazette , and the Western News or to other papers.

I am also hoping that the CLA leadership will issue a statement in support, it's important that our professional associations support their members.

Samuel E. Trosow, Associate Professor
University of Western Ontario
Faculty of Information & Media Studies / Faculty of Law
strosow@uwo.ca

Deskilling - ALA Leading the Way? Progress or Decline?

LLAMA of ALA is presenting the following conference session at the end of this month. Will the results of this research support the further erosion of the profession?

Hiring Non-MLS Librarians: Trends and Training Implications

Sun., June 26, 8–10 a.m. Libraries hire professionals from outside librarianship for positions traditionally held by MLS-degreed librarians. Hear results of ALA-funded research to examine hiring practices in public and academic libraries and the essential elements of an orientation for non-MLS hires in librarian positions.

We really need research on how to strengthen the MLS and stop this dilution of library staff.

Hear and protest! -- John Berry

Source: Library Journal, online

Losing Libraries -check out the site!

Losing Libraries: Saving Libraries "Sometimes we have to know what is at risk before we can engage in saving it. This summer, as libraries continued to get budget hit after budget hit across the country, several readers asked for a comprehensive picture of the ravages of the recession on library service. Cindy Orr, a Cleveland librarian and editor of LJ’s Collection Development series, sent along a link to Paper Cuts, a website that documents the jobs lost at newspapers, and urged us toward gathering a similar national picture of cuts to libraries. In partnership with Movers & Shakers Laura Solomon and Mandy Knapp, LJ launched LosingLibraries.org.

The site maps the variety of cuts across the country from the start of the downturn in 2008 onward. It also gathers information on the numerous advocacy efforts waged against threats to funding. As it is populated with information from across the country, the Losing Libraries resource will inform a national view of the budgetary tug of war that is currently twisting this critical institution in its grasp."