fly into the mystery

From “Libraries, History, and Helping Customers” by Bernadette A. Lear in Public Libraries Nov/Dec 09

Serving our customers is not really about collections, facilities, staffing or technology… We may operate within limits, but within them we have the opportunity to make important choices. We can decide whether to value history and cultural endeavors… We can also choose to be attentive to every detail, to create environments that enable opportunities for success, to mobilize whatever resources we have, to have an outlook that sees beyond immediate needs, to be tenacious in hunting down facts, and to take advantage of the luck of finding a spare moment in a hectic day. Or we can decide not to.

This quote is from a librarian who asked an interesting reference question of 3800 libraries and got a response rate of 48 percent. That is, only 1800 libraries gave her any kind of response at all! The article is sympathetic to librarians, but the numbers speak for themselves- a majority of librarians are not doing their jobs. Sure they’re putting books on the shelves, opening the building, presenting storytimes, but what about basic service? If her query was simply ignored, how many others are also missed? Her conclusion is that it is not a matter of resources, but the personal decision and effort to answer each question. I strongly agree. I have not written very much on this blog about librarianship, but my stint over at the Desk Set inspired me.

On Friday night I was honored to be included in a discussion of sustainability (economic, ecological, community) in my county. We talked broadly of goals and tools and maps but what I think is most important are the individual moment by moment choices we each make. How do I use my energy each day? I walk to work. I buy local food. I try to listen to each person who talks to me. I try not to waste energy in any form: especially emotional energy. Is this enough?

I think about people who are caught up in emotional energy traps. Imagine if one tenth of that energy were put toward, say, clearing off your desk. Responding to one email. Sending one postcard to an old friend or relative. Such small things. Like the fireplace in an old house, all the heat goes up the chimney. We need internal weatherization. Work or home: the same principles apply.