Salvete!
*lights match, positions gin based cocktail, and preps for incoming hate mail*
With all due respect Mr. Morgan, I wholeheartedly disagree.
Most Public Libraries are Rural Public Libraries. [IMLS 2013] Most Academics are also small by FTE enrolment [ies of NCES 2012] So "we are the little folk we". We might not actually have different fancy pants departments. I will cede the gentleman his perception amongst those Academic Ivory Behemoths that possess battleship turning or are eligible for ASERL membership.
I would also further venture that anecdotally, folks in settings similar to the ones I've chosen are less likely to have a Master's degree period, much less a Master's degree from a prestigious Institution. (Please, not in the face! I hate the paper standard, but it is there.) This lack of paper could well lead to someone being made to feel inferior. How many times have we heard in passing that so and so is not a "real" Librarian since they do not possess their $50k+ piece of paper?
Your most humble and obedient servant,
Brooke
----- Original Message -----
> From: Eric Lease Morgan <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 6:54 AM
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] reearch project about feeling stupid in professional communication
>
> In my humble opinion, what we have here is a failure to communicate. [1]
>
> Libraries, especially larger libraries, are increasingly made up of many
> different departments, including but not limited to departments such as:
> cataloging, public services, collections, preservation, archives, and now-a-days
> departments of computer staff. From my point of view, these various departments
> fail to see the similarities between themselves, and instead focus on their
> differences. This focus on the differences is amplified by the use of dissimilar
> vocabularies and subdiscipline-specific jargon. This use of dissimilar
> vocabularies causes a communications gap and left unresolved ultimately creates
> animosity between groups. I believe this is especially true between the more
> traditional library departments and the computer staff. This communications gap
> is an impediment to when it comes to achieving the goals of librarianship, and
> any library — whether it be big or small — needs to address these issues lest it
> wastes both its time and money.
>
> For example, the definitions of things like MARC, databases & indexes,
> collections, and services are not shared across (especially larger) library
> departments.
>
> What is the solution to these problems? In my opinion, there are many
> possibilities, but the solution ultimately rests with individuals willing to
> take the time to learn from their co-workers. It rests in the ability to respect
> — not merely tolerate — another point of view. It requires time, listening,
> discussion, reflection, and repetition. It requires getting to know other people
> on a personal level. It requires learning what others like and dislike. It
> requires comparing & contrasting points of view. It demands “walking a mile
> in the other person’s shoes”, and can be accomplished by things such as the
> physical intermingling of departments, cross-training, and simply by going to
> coffee on a regular basis.
>
> Again, all of us working in libraries have more similarities than differences.
> Learn to appreciate the similarities, and the differences will become
> insignificant. The consequence will be a more holistic set of library
> collections and services.
>
> [1] I have elaborated on these ideas in a blog posting - http://bit.ly/1LDpXkc
>
> —
> Eric Lease Morgan
>
