tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post2850765272933326810..comments2023-09-16T04:58:07.261-04:00Comments on the Annandale Blog: Cost-cutting measures mean reduced services at Fairfax County librariesAnnandale Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543558586252790593noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-85168967020506829852013-08-20T09:00:55.037-04:002013-08-20T09:00:55.037-04:00So I take it that all those who have signed the pe...So I take it that all those who have signed the petition have zero balance on their own library account!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-8309006526424051282013-08-15T13:19:44.296-04:002013-08-15T13:19:44.296-04:00One of the problems is the misconception that ever...One of the problems is the misconception that everyone is as versed in using resources, both online and in print, as those who are English-speaking, college-educated, frequent users of libraries and information. In reality, many library users may be using libraries for the first time {in some countries libraries are very formal affairs and users can only use the resources with what is basically a letter of referral}, have never used the internet, don't know how books are arranged {Dewey is international but still takes getting used to}, etc. There is also library programming. Programs by librarians are not haphazardly thrown together. Often librarians work to offer programming unique to their library's population. Story hours are not just a random reading of books. In addition, there are a lot of services you just don't see being done by librarians in the library...because they are out in the community. Librarians who visit schools to give book talks or promote the summer reading programs or bring books to the elderly based on their interests. Yes, self checkout is great - I use it myself and much prefer it to standing in line. I can do meaningful searches on Google because I am lucky to have the education and the means {and the skepticism} to find or ignore information. But if you just pay for more books, you will soon have a shell of just that: books. It takes a trained librarian to really know how to connect with and create NEW readers and enthusiastic library users. Amynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-74818746006587594572013-08-12T16:06:57.355-04:002013-08-12T16:06:57.355-04:00My sister is a librarian so I understand why the F...My sister is a librarian so I understand why the FCPL staff is upset. It is hard to see the job you trained so hard for be taken by someone with far less experience (and student loans) than you. <br /><br />Unfortunately for librarians, it is pretty easy to find meaningful information on Google and other internet sites. I don't need a librarian to show me where to find information on medical diseases etc. And you certainly don't need a master's degree to shelve books. I can't remember the last time I interacted with a librarian at FCPL. I use the self-checkout and find things myself. It's unfortunate that this is happening, but it is happening. All over the country. <br /><br />As a FC resident, I'd far rather see the library's limited funds go towards more library books and e-books than to pay for a bunch of librarians standing around, hoping that someone with a book report comes in the door. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-84304817194256983992013-08-09T15:51:38.702-04:002013-08-09T15:51:38.702-04:00I want to know if these people's SNAP benefits...I want to know if these people's SNAP benefits are being reduced by the amount of free and reduced breakfasts and lunches their kids are getting all year long. I would hate to pay twice for meals, especially since the rates of childhood obesity are so high.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-75991427346732082642013-08-01T14:54:03.991-04:002013-08-01T14:54:03.991-04:00Yeah, Heaven forbid that poor people should be fed...Yeah, Heaven forbid that poor people should be fed in the summer when they can forage for food!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-52701830474484336832013-08-01T09:17:54.148-04:002013-08-01T09:17:54.148-04:00Sounds like this person could benefit from the use...Sounds like this person could benefit from the use of a library.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-2293641864918339492013-07-27T20:16:15.980-04:002013-07-27T20:16:15.980-04:00Mr. Sam Clay saying there is less need for profess...Mr. Sam Clay saying there is less need for professionally trained librarians, because there is so much information on the internet, is a little like saying there's so much information in books that we really never needed librarians. As a library user, I must observe that Mr. Clay is completely out of touch with what takes place in libraries. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-91818248760307271862013-07-27T15:33:20.958-04:002013-07-27T15:33:20.958-04:00The specific challenge with some foreign language ...The specific challenge with some foreign language materials like Korean is that it is almost impossible to identify an item to put it on hold. The catalog is incomprehensible to both the foreign language speaker and English speakers since it uses a phonetic way of "translating" titles and authors rather than characters or a standard English spelling -- it is not reliably searchable and very awkward to "browse." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-42496183461635974602013-07-25T18:15:47.412-04:002013-07-25T18:15:47.412-04:00The job requirements to become a librarian in Fair...The job requirements to become a librarian in Fairfax County have been revised. Now all an applicant will need is sixty college credit hours and two years of customer service experience. So,the expert advice the public is relying on could very well come from a former 7-11 clerk or sales person at Target with no college degree. This is the new excellence in customer service standard in Fairfax libraries. I will start calling the the Loundoun County PL reference desk for real library service. So sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-25515483082656577582013-07-23T16:53:29.703-04:002013-07-23T16:53:29.703-04:00Didnt Sam Clay teach Library Science for CUA until...Didnt Sam Clay teach Library Science for CUA until recently? You can still find his name there http://lis.cua.edu/directory/clay.cfm but I didn't see it on the schedule for teaching this fall. <br /><br />Seems like he's really undermining that LIS program. He is listed as teaching 607 Management in the LIS program but is replacing LIS graduates with non LIS graduates???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-43598036575459655122013-07-19T00:18:59.715-04:002013-07-19T00:18:59.715-04:00They plan to change the Librarian job title to Cus...They plan to change the Librarian job title to Customer Service Specialist. Seriously. Can you believe it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-56564044923256731152013-07-15T17:53:57.032-04:002013-07-15T17:53:57.032-04:00The cure for what ails the library is money. Money...The cure for what ails the library is money. Money, unfortunately, is something Fairfax County tax payers will never agree to pony up more of, ever! This area claims to be liberal leaning, but when it comes to putting their money where their mouths are, tax payers go for the budget cuts every time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-53349980823501826282013-07-15T17:05:52.568-04:002013-07-15T17:05:52.568-04:00www.lastofthelibrarians.comwww.lastofthelibrarians.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-16705198031038026882013-07-15T16:52:25.623-04:002013-07-15T16:52:25.623-04:00Sam Clay is that you? Jan?? Katie???Sam Clay is that you? Jan?? Katie???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-21839654435168320322013-07-15T15:29:50.716-04:002013-07-15T15:29:50.716-04:00Fairfax County brags about having world class amen...Fairfax County brags about having world class amenities and school system, but does not fund libraries. Right now, thousands of FCPS students are flooding our libraries to keep up their reading skills over the summer - and they are being helped by FCPL children's librarians, who know what the children need to succeed in school. I hope the Board of Supervisors sees this connection - libraries help keep our schools strong. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-1502031011894694932013-07-15T15:28:43.494-04:002013-07-15T15:28:43.494-04:00It is really unfortunate that this is not a better...It is really unfortunate that this is not a better article. It is very one-sided with its tone and obviously written from the standpoint of someone disagreeing with the proposed changes for FCPL. The positives on floating the collection, for example, aren't even mentioned. And there are many, aside from saving money.<br /><br />I happen to disagree with some of the proposed changes, but the cause would be better served by coverage that's more balanced that what looks like an angry press release written by a library employee.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-940164033779854242013-07-15T13:55:45.886-04:002013-07-15T13:55:45.886-04:00Dont worry, even if they do they wont for long! Dont worry, even if they do they wont for long! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-57976869122042742692013-07-15T08:54:49.615-04:002013-07-15T08:54:49.615-04:00As an FCPL librarian I have helped college student...As an FCPL librarian I have helped college students find appropriate research materials for their online courses; located obscure articles in foreign journals for authors; helped many people prepare resumes and conduct job searches both locally and out-of-state; tracked down family birth records, wedding licenses and death certificates for genealogical research; taught basic and not-so-basic computer skills; and recommended 1000s of books to children and teen readers as well as adults -- books I have read as part of my job as a reader's advisor. I'm so glad to know my job can be handed over to a non-professional because Library Director Sam Clay thinks anyone can do it. It will be a sad day for Fairfax libraries if the residents are willing to sacrifice professional level library services to save a penny on their tax bills.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-12603051451849460052013-07-15T00:41:06.137-04:002013-07-15T00:41:06.137-04:00Wow, I hope you dont work for FCPL! Wow, I hope you dont work for FCPL! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-1570430704285199412013-07-14T13:33:48.402-04:002013-07-14T13:33:48.402-04:00I am not confident that more analysis is going to ...I am not confident that more analysis is going to change anything. The Library Board and FCPL need to be a lot clearer to the public now on the proposed changes in service and service levels that will affect the public. They seem to think that they can cut the staff by a third, lower their qualifications, and not impact the quality of library services. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-6636518661405929412013-07-12T19:12:08.798-04:002013-07-12T19:12:08.798-04:00How about free breakfast and lunch all summer? How about free breakfast and lunch all summer? CDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-44826013459258390682013-07-12T11:36:12.540-04:002013-07-12T11:36:12.540-04:00I heard that there was a full house at the Board m...I heard that there was a full house at the Board meeting and people voiced their concerns in a respectful and constructive manner. The pilot program, I hear, will be postponed until October after more analysis of the situation will occur. YAY! I <3 libraries. : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-45247232189695412352013-07-11T19:54:14.393-04:002013-07-11T19:54:14.393-04:00Actually I wear what I sew. I reap what I sow.Actually I wear what I sew. I reap what I sow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-74260131818581585102013-07-11T14:53:21.177-04:002013-07-11T14:53:21.177-04:00"This article is the worst "
I guess as..."This article is the worst "<br /><br />I guess as a librarian you are used to people complaining about services they don't pay for - but note, unlike libraries, this blog doesn't receive govt funds either. IIUC its basically a labor of love. <br /><br />If you have more info, it would be great if you could provide it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-74549693715422158932013-07-11T11:49:50.110-04:002013-07-11T11:49:50.110-04:00Articles like this amuse me. Customers that freque...Articles like this amuse me. Customers that frequent the library I work at come in now and see two people out on the floor - one circulation and one reference - where there used to be three or four people working blame the politicians and the "budget cuts" they amuse me also. The truth is we don't need more than two people on the floor. We don't have the numbers to justify hiring the positions vacated by retirees so my library system hasn't filled positions in years. And another fact, scary but true, 95% of the questions I answer at the reference desk can be answered by anyone. We librarians appreciate the props I'm still an awesome search engine but... Libraries aren't what they used to be and they never will be that again so as a profession we are struggling to find our way. Hopefully we will or we will go the same route as the buggy whip.<br />P.S. This article is the worst - what services are being cut? - list them! And they are talking about a floating collection (when materials are kept where they are returned and not sent home) libraries, including where I work now, have been doing this for years. It allows the customers to build the collection instead of the library so the mentioned Vietnamese books will stay at whatever location where they get the most use. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com