Comments on: Open Thread Thursday: Rock Lobster

By: John Jackson

John Jackson — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:25:49 +0000

So I’m terribly sorry Andy but I’m going to join the Haters Club on this one: I hear the term “rock star librarian” and I immediately stop taking the conversation seriously. As already stated, I don’t think there is a single librarian known outside of our profession. There are famous people who have library backgrounds (e.g. Laura Bush) but none that I can think of who are known for their library work. Maybe Dewey or Conan.

Even inside the profession, I wouldn’t put money on anyone [alive] being a rock star. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve mentioned some seemingly popular librarian and the room fell silent. The profession is so huge, at best, we can only be known in small pools (and yes, the internet is merely a small pool in this regard).

And why would we want to be Rock Stars anyway? (Warning! Hipster moment coming)… Aren’t most rock stars people whose celebrity outshines their actual work? This isn’t to say that rock stars are lazy or washed up, but really, how many musicians out there currently labeled as “rock stars” are simply riding the wave of past accomplishments? (I’m talking to YOU Roger Daltrey)

That said, there are plenty of you who are rock stars in my book. Those of you who build things and bring people together, those who work hard every day for dismal pay and little respect. Those who want nothing more than to connect people with information come hell or high water! You people are rock stars. Metaphorically speaking

By: Helen W. Mallon

Helen W. Mallon — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:41:53 +0000

As a non-librarian, I’d like to live in a world where the notion of a “rock star librarian” doesn’t produce a cynical snort. You all are in a position to have a significant impact on the publishing industry. As a writer of fiction,I know that this pretty damn important right now.

By: John Schoppert

John Schoppert — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:00:01 +0000

I have to agree with Alex. Celebrity transcends profession. Nancy Pearl may be the only celebrity librarian by her stints on NPR (and the action figures). I’d like to see her on Fox or CBS, etc advocating information literacy and how public institutions (libraries, but not just) benefit the social fabric. When I see a librarian on a talking head show I might be convince.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 19:04:21 +0000

I’d call librarians who are well known within the Library community ‘prominent.’ Rock star or celebrity librarians need to break into wider society and be known there – on Oprah, or Today, or Jimmy Kimmel. It happens with other professions so it’s possible (Johnny Cochran, Dr. Drew, Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars fame).

By: Jenny Reiswig

Jenny Reiswig — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:45:46 +0000

When I hear the term “rock star librarian” I think of folks within our profession who seem to prefer to have a following as opposed to a network of colleagues. Superhero has a better tone to me. I would rather have a superhero advocating for libraries. Better box office too.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:54:37 +0000

I’m going to be the wide-eyed optimist here and say any librarian can be a Rock Star Librarian. Yes, it is a little about recognition for doing a great job, but it’s not necessarily about national recognition. If I do an awesome program for my teens, or help a patron find books for a picky ready, for that little bit I feel like a Rock Star Librarian or be recognizes by the people I helped as awesome … I helped someone, I went above and beyond, I made sure they had a good experience at the library. Does everyone in America know that I did this? No, but that doesn’t matter because to the teens or the patrons, I was a Rock Star. While there are celebrity librarians and known rock star librarians, everyday librarians can also be rock stars by just doing their job and being great at it. In this way the term is more about a personal feeling of accomplishment and success than an outside recognition. Yes, it’s wonderful to have that other person/organization/world recognize you for being a great librarian, but that’s not your job. Your job is helping people and sometimes it’s that simple to be a rock star.

So, basically similar to others’ thoughts on grass-roots rock stars.

By: Cory

Cory — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:39:51 +0000

I wouldn’t say that I’m against the rock star librarian, but I’m wary of them. To begin with, I think most librarians are superheroes. And I know the rock star librarians are supposed to be out there getting recognition for the rest of us, but. . .much like the difference between good candidates and good politicians, I’m not always sure that that people who become rock star librarians are the people who I most want representing our profession. Some of the celebrity librarians I know are AWESOME, and some are not anywhere near as cool, or doing as cool of stuff, as other obscure librarians I know. There is an impulse I see to be famous within the profession, and it’s not one I want to reward. . . I guess I mean that there are celebrity librarians and celebutante librarians, and the line is thinner in some places than others. One concern I have is that, you know, the average librarian is busy as hell, with outreach and their daily work and keeping their funding and committee work. If they spend enough time getting noticed to become celebrities. . .I worry that their actual patron services may suffer, and I think of that as part of the lifeblood of librarianship. I am more fond, I guess, of the grassroots kinds of superhero-ship than the splashy national kind, although God knows work needs done at the national level. I know, I sound bitter and cynical. I really like a lot of those people who are becoming leaders in the field. I like you a lot! I just am wary of the rock star label, in this context.
I’m still short on coffee though, so after 9 hours dressed as Tonks and hanging out with excited kids at Harry Potter Day today, I may have lost all my cynicism and feel amazing about the whole concept.

By: shander

shander — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:12:08 +0000

Here’s something I wrote while in library school that might entertain you. It’s called “Rock Stars vs. Librarians.” It doesn’t at all explain rock star librarians, but hopefully it’s good for a giggle.

http://infospace.ischool.syr.edu/2010/04/07/rock-stars-vs-librarians/

P.S.

By: Jessica Olin

Jessica Olin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:45:53 +0000

When I was trying to explain to a non-librarian friend how exciting it was that Will Manley complimented my new blog, I said that Will is a celebrity librarian. My friend’s response: “‘Celebrity librarian.’ Possibly the nerdiest phrase I have seen in months, if not years.”

So we can call our grassroots leaders “rock stars” or “celebrity librarians” or “celebrarians” or whatever else. I don’t think the labels matter so much as the work being done. One of the things I love about being part of this profession is what Mylee said. Our leaders are our leaders because they have ideas and are willing to share their knowledge.

By: Open Thread Thursday: Rock Lobster « Agnostic, Maybe « Agnostic « Church Leadership

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:43:48 +0000

[...] Andy. New Jersey ex-pat and fellow librarian Tom Bruno wrote a …Read the whole article here:Open Thread Thursday:Rock Lobster « Agnostic,MaybeJuly 14th,2011 | Tags:agnostic,black,church [...]