Shhh!

Introduction (the "White Paper")

Some readers may remember when patrons entered a library, browsed the shelves, searched the card catalog, or enlisted the help of a dutiful librarian to find the book or reference material they needed. Once a book or journal was selected, the patron removed the circulation card from inside the front cover, signed their name, and handed the card and book to circulation staff, who then stamped the due date on the inside of the book and on the card. The circulation card was then filed in the correct due date file.

Or maybe, a few people remember when media selections in the school library included: books, guides, cassettes, handbooks, student workbooks, film strips, sound filmstrips, and reel-to-reel films (Miller, 1972). Of course, the reel-to-reel films were only for the teachers or school nurse. The film was viewed in the 'Little Theater' which substituted as the tornado shelter, and was marked with an eerie looking yellow radiation poster informing students that it was also where they would be sheltered in the event of a nuclear attack.

Times have changed. The technological age has been integrated into every corner of the modern library. This blog is an opportunity to discuss many of the technologies being used in libraries, and by librarians. The card catalog, with real cards, has been replaced by a database. Films have fallen out of favor, while DVDs, and computer technologies, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Second Life, are all the rage. And, libraries more and more are abandoning print resources in favor of electronic information and databases.

Despite these changes, some issues like privacy and censorship concerns, and budgetary constraints, continue to plague the modern library and librarian. Professional salaries are also a concern. Librarians graduating from Rutgers' MLS program in 1972 could expect to earn on average $9,139 (Gleaves, 1974). Adjusted for inflation, this equates to $47,818 today (CPI, 2010). Since the median salary for all librarians in 2010 is $52,530, it is clear that library salaries have not as a whole kept up with the pace of technology. This is a real concern for anyone that is considering a position in a technology-laden library.

References

CPI Inflation Calculator. (2010). Retrieved from http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.plcalc.pl

Gleaves, E. S. (1974). What if everyone wrote everywhere for a job and no one responded? Wilson Library Bulletin. Vol. 48, pp. 703-705.

Miller, M. J. (1972). Connecticut School Librarian's Resources for Teaching Library Skills. Wilson Library Bulletin. Vol. 46, p. 539.

Chart 1: Desireable Librarian Skills