Librarian by ethnicity
I quite enjoyed this “Ethnically Librarian” post over at Library Avengers.”
There are librarians who work in libraries, and there are librarians who just Are.
It’s the difference between being a Jew by Religion, and being a Jew by Ethnicity. Both groups contribute to the cultural whole.
While a Librarian by Profession is inherently a Librarian by Ethnicity, the opposite may not be true. A trained librarian can sport a different job title, but her clarity and understanding will still contribute to her work.
My own answer to this question is still evolving — I had to look back to see what I said several years ago, but talking to so many libraryfolk working outside libraryland while writing What’s the Alternative? has helped bring my thinking on the subject closer to the “ethnically librarian” camp.
Rachel Resnick:
I was a Librarian by Ethnicity long before I became one by profession, so I think the description is correct. I have always loved books, enjoyed looking at the maps, seating charts, coupons, etc. in the telephone books when new ones were published, provided information to my friends about books, subjects, hobbies that they were interested in, etc. Eventually, I decided that I’d like to get paid for doing all that. If I should ever leave the profession, I am sure I will always be an “ethnic librarian.”
28 January 2009, 10:06 am