Thank you for this!! I don't think this is the only poorly written policy and I wish more librarians/ALA members would stop drinking the ALA kool-aid and use their own critical thinking skills. The organization is not perfect and needs to go back to revisit a lot of definitions, standards, and policies.
As a young librarian, I will admit the vibe I get from the organization is that I am welcome to express an opinion, but only if it toes the line already clearly marked. I appreciate that there are librarians willing to point out some of the issues with ALA expected perspectives.
Thanks, Abigail. You're absolutely right that this isn't the only poorly written policy. I think part of the problem is that most ALA policy statements, statements of ethics, and (especially) resolutions are purely reactionary: policies are drafted ad hoc in answer to some cultural shift or technological change. That's fine in emergency situations, but these after-the-fact policies add up to an inconsistent, incoherent whole.
I agree with you: revisiting definitions, standards, and policies is the way to go. I like to say that the ALA is supposed to speak on behalf of librarians, not the other way around.
Thank you for this!! I don't think this is the only poorly written policy and I wish more librarians/ALA members would stop drinking the ALA kool-aid and use their own critical thinking skills. The organization is not perfect and needs to go back to revisit a lot of definitions, standards, and policies.
ReplyDeleteAs a young librarian, I will admit the vibe I get from the organization is that I am welcome to express an opinion, but only if it toes the line already clearly marked. I appreciate that there are librarians willing to point out some of the issues with ALA expected perspectives.
Thanks, Abigail. You're absolutely right that this isn't the only poorly written policy. I think part of the problem is that most ALA policy statements, statements of ethics, and (especially) resolutions are purely reactionary: policies are drafted ad hoc in answer to some cultural shift or technological change. That's fine in emergency situations, but these after-the-fact policies add up to an inconsistent, incoherent whole.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you: revisiting definitions, standards, and policies is the way to go. I like to say that the ALA is supposed to speak on behalf of librarians, not the other way around.