Access Services - The Open Door

I’m not your average librarian. Many in the profession wrap themselves in the cloak of being atypical, embracing the notion of being different. I believe some of them fit the bill. If we use the analogy based on the adage “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”, then it stands to reason that a unique person in a unique career such as librarianship is… not unique? Still, as an access services librarian, I consider my work unique.

The traditional roles in this profession tend to reflect instructional and research endeavors. As for me, I work in access services. I’m a problem solver, dealing with day-to-day operations, serving on the front lines. Kicking ass and taking names. A library isn’t a library without cataloging and reference, but they don’t open the doors without access services - in whatever form it takes.

My concept of access services developed in a small academic library. At the time, it was the latest fad; a newly created position that would encompass a broad swath of library functions that seemed to be beneath the rarefied air of reference and instruction. Because this library had no faculty governance, I started to believe that what I did fell outside the bounds of faculty contribution. The atmosphere, while wonderful and challenging, exerted no pressure on publishing or conference work. Success was a job well done, or the completion of a project, or simply the act of not irking the dean. When I left the small pond for the vast ocean of academia, I started to see the error of my ways.

Where I once believed access services was something of an anomaly within the library profession, I now recognize it as but one piece (a very important piece, mind you) of the larger puzzle. Before, I hid behind the excuse of saying what we do in access services isn’t as professionally sexy as instruction, or reference, or even cataloging. How does one frame the concept of desk schedules, restroom signage, and a book return as part of an academic imperative? It’s not as difficult as I once believed.

Now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we focus on the physical aspects of today’s libraries. It would be easy to let access service get pushed aside for the promise of technology. Both are important and need to coexist to perpetuate the profession for decades to come. Even with the growing importance of social software, gaming, and virtual communities like Second Life, the library as place still has meaning.

Where technology lays the groundwork for what is to come in libraries, access services has and will always provide the open door.

Self-Imposed Exile

It has been nearly a year since I posted here. A lot has happened in the interim, but I’ll explain that in subsequent posts. I’ll explain my absence as such:

Sometimes it’s okay to mix professional and personal blogs. For me, not so much.

The reason L is for Library exists is because I do need a professional outlet, and I want to share my thoughts and ideas with the world. Many of you have discovered me on Twitter, a device I’ve put to very little use up until now. I’ll give it another try, and re-introduce myself to Libraryland.

Prepping for ALA

It’s almost time for Annual 2007. Until a couple of years ago, I didn’t participate. Now, continuing appointment makes it a necessity. I hesitate to deem it a waste of time, as I consider it a necessary part of the profession - for better or for worse. I would like to believe I’m doing my part to instigate change within a very large bureaucracy. In some ways, it reminds me of my experience many years ago with Boys State.

During that experience, teenage boys are required to quickly assemble and form a mock state government in the course of a week. There’s certainly more time to build relationships and reputations within a professional organization, but the bulk of what happens takes place during a couple of hectic days in a strange new place. So much depends on the impressions made as you press the flesh at annual and midwinter conferences. In the end, you vote for somebody that you know vaguely by name, based on a few minutes of face time or the opinion of a trusted colleague.

Currently, I’m preparing to moderate a presentation that I hope will provide me with some greater exposure. I’m not striving for library world domination, but increasing name recognition within the profession will help make tenure a slam dunk. As I said, it’s a necessary evil, but I do enjoy D.C..

Some of my similarly-titled colleagues in the profession have concerns about the lack of opportunities in Access Services. I agree, but feel like pushing for change from within. There are few alternatives for our kind, and we can either stay away or try to fix it. As for me, I’m a fixer - a trait embodied by most Access Services types.

I’ll have more to say about ALA in the coming days, especially my forthcoming sociological experiment.

L is for “Let’s Begin!”

Welcome to L is for Library, a blog by a librarian and for librarians. I plan to use this as both a sounding board, as well as a resource for all interested in the library profession. Also, I would like to explore the inner workings, the politics, and the machinations of academic libraries - both as an observer, and as a reluctant participant.