“Opinionated, Humorous, and Scathing”
Library Journal has a piece on blogging in libraries. One interesting comment: “unlike a transaction at the reference desk, blogs needn’t be neutral. In fact, many librarian-authored blogs are personal, opinionated, humorous, and scathing.”
The notion of neutrality came up in one of the Chronicle pieces on tenure that we’ve been talking about here. In arguing that tenure hampers our work, Deborah A. Carver says “librarians are also expected to maintain neutrality with respect to political, moral, or aesthetic views.” So where does that leave our bloggers?
Actually, I think what librarians must do is welcome a wide range of perspectives onto their shelves and through their doors. We shouldn’t provide services or instruction that push a singular perspective. We should be disinterestedly avid in the pursuit of knowledge, but that doesn’t mean we should have nothing to say for ourselves (and therefore no need for academic freedom or tenure).
Nevertheless, this issue is a rich one when it comes to blogging because this truly is a new genre and the authorial voice, whatever its source, is rarely neutral.
Posted by Barbara Fister on October 1st, 2005 under Worth Reading.
Comments: 2
Comments
Comment from Rebecca Johnson Melvin
Time: October 17, 2005, 9:50 pm
Jacob Nielsen’s current article is timely as ACRL begins this new venture:
Weblog Usability:
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/weblogs.html
Comment from Barbara Fister
Time: October 17, 2005, 10:00 pm
Yes, I read it this morning when it was posted to another blog I’m involved with-Librarians at the Gate – for undergrads interested in the profession). I admit I’m sometimes in violation of these rules, but it’s such a fluid form of expression it’s hard to be too rule-bound. Here, admittedly, we’re just starting something that is bound to evolve as more voices join in. It will be an interesting ride! Thanks for jumping right in.
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