Comments on: Get Over It?

By: Brian Gray

Brian Gray — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 04:24:00 +0000

I agree. The wording is not user-friendly. I am surprised how much of this behavior or communication style I see, even though we are in a service industry.

I also wonder what others had thought by that message, especially when very few (if any) complaints were received to the initial announcement of the switch to electronic. Do people just not care? Was it a long over due change? Or, are people holding back until they see the new product?

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 19:33:00 +0000

Brian: I do appreciate the new LEADS from LAMA blog (and all you’ve done there!), and will also subscribe to the new one you mention when it’s live. I joined LAMA in the first place because I appreciate its focus on both management and leadership (and, as I mentioned, because I enjoy LA&M). This particular editorial, though, really rubbed me the wrong way. One of my points in posting was to note, if it rubbed me the wrong way, even though I’m predisposed toward the advantages of electronic publication, what effect does this type of language have on those who are more upset about the change?

By: Brian Gray

Brian Gray — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 05:29:00 +0000

I hope you give everything LAMA has a chance to keep your membership in the future. It is not just for administrators but focuses on other issues like leadership and effectiveness throughout an organization.

The new edition of the publication will probably see many changes before the best foot is put forward. It will allow for many electronic-based supplementary materials that could never be offered before.

We just completed the skin for another LAMA blog: LA&M Editors Desk. I hope it offers another ways for members to get more involved and drive the direction of LA&M.

I created and moderate the Dialog with Directors Discussion Group within LAMA. I can tell you that the old publication was almost useless in publicizing or sharing information on your events. Due to the publication schedule, it was great for articles but poor for columns or short member submissions.

I am now on the e-LA&M taskforce and will be attending my first meeting at ALA Midwinter as the LAMA Web Coordinator. If people have comments, I (bcg8@case.edu) would be glad to share or act on them as appropriate.

By: librarybob

librarybob — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 18:05:00 +0000

I think there’s another issue here … an abysmal regard for history (and the history of computer formats in particular). It’s nice that it’s available now on pdf (assuming it doesn’t lock the computer), but ten years from now?

Somehow, a shelf of paper — if slowly mouldering — seems a lot more secure for what LAMA editors see fit to print.

By: walt crawford

walt crawford — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 15:43:00 +0000

I’m not a LAMA member (I’ve never been a library manager or administrator)…and “Get over it!” sure won’t encourage me to change that status. I’m with you on this one: That little phrase ranks right up there with “inevitable” in the “shutting down discussion” pantheon–but it’s a whole lot more insulting. (And I guess I can say this now without sounding like a Luddite Grinch, since my credentials for not wholly opposing electronic-only publication are reasonably well established…)