New Directions Initiative - Latest comments on Betsy Wilson http://blogs.lib.berkeley.edu/newdirections.php?disp=comments en-US http://backend.userland.com/rss 60 In response to: Betsy Wilson Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:32:56 +0000 Dori Hsiao [Visitor] c9577@http://blogs.lib.berkeley.edu/ Karen, <br /> Thanks for your thoughtful reflections on the talk. I especially appreciated the "looking outside ourselves" perspective. <br /> But to indulge in a bit more navel-gazing, I do want to comment on <blockquote>I no longer feel that there is any particularly assured future for academic libraries, the book, or professional librarians.</blockquote> <br /> I am actually quite optimistic and excited about the profession. I believe there will continue to be a need for "librarians" as mediators/navigators/experts to help users access quality information. Having said that, and echoing your comments on survival, if librarianship doesn't prove itself adaptable, especially in a technology-based environment, it dooms itself. New directions, yes!<br /> It seems to me that in order to support adaptation, in order to not only survive but thrive, we have to provide a teaching library not only to our users, but to ourselves. Thanks for your thoughtful reflections on the talk. I especially appreciated the "looking outside ourselves" perspective.
But to indulge in a bit more navel-gazing, I do want to comment on
I no longer feel that there is any particularly assured future for academic libraries, the book, or professional librarians.

I am actually quite optimistic and excited about the profession. I believe there will continue to be a need for "librarians" as mediators/navigators/experts to help users access quality information. Having said that, and echoing your comments on survival, if librarianship doesn't prove itself adaptable, especially in a technology-based environment, it dooms itself. New directions, yes!
It seems to me that in order to support adaptation, in order to not only survive but thrive, we have to provide a teaching library not only to our users, but to ourselves.]]> http://blogs.lib.berkeley.edu/newdirections.php/2007/10/16/betsy_wilson#c9577 In response to: Betsy Wilson Fri, 19 Oct 2007 18:26:23 +0000 gford [Member] c4337@http://blogs.lib.berkeley.edu/ Karen, thanks! for your great notes from the meeting. They are very comprehensive, readable, valuable. http://blogs.lib.berkeley.edu/newdirections.php/2007/10/16/betsy_wilson#c4337