(first a thank you to Chas. for giving a classic Texan charm story and my
best Friday laugh!)
I'm less likely to want to display my credentials and more likely to want to
disavow them, especially when asked by people I don't want to talk to. On
my commute, on the street, or any time when asked what I do and the intent
isn't just some friendly conversation to while away time, I've taken to
looking cheerfully daft and saying, "oh, a bookkeeper" and returning to
reading my book. Hasn't failed yet. Stops the conversation cold and
certainly cuts those encounters when "do not engage" is the safest thing to
do.
As for work, I prefer to play modest librarian and enjoy the victory when
they realize who and what they are talking to. Frankly, I don't care if
they don't know. It's their loss if they learn, as many eventually do, that
this person they've been underestimating is the mayor's wife, the governor's
sister-in-law, has a medical degree, was a colonel in the Navy, or is simply
the best darn local county law librarian who will ever save their bacon in
court. (I made all that up, by the way - for the gullible - I'm not any of
those! Well, except for the last bit :-) I've gotten more satisfaction,
and enjoyed few stories more, than those from people who are treated like
Leona's "little people" only to have the perpetrator get his or her
comeuppance later when it turns out that a grave mistake was made.
There's a scene in Larry Beinhart's "The Librarian" that plays on this very
theme - and very satisfying it is.
Of course I don't and have never worked in a law firm, where a whole
different set of rules likely apply. I'd probably post a few degrees
myself. Or maybe just a Picasso, which probably cuts to the chase. Surely
a Picasso trumps a J.D. - hmmm?
Laura
Laura Orr
Law Librarian
Washington County Law Library
111 NE Lincoln Street
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Phone: 503-846-8870
Fax: 503-846-3515
Email: laura_orr@co.washington.or.us
-----Original Message-----
From: John Pedini [mailto:jpedini@socialaw.com]
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 12:32 PM
To: Judith Cole
Cc: LAW-LIB@ucdavis.edu
Subject: Re: "MLS" vs. "MA" or "MS"
I still have a problem with "conductor".
I was talking to a guy recently who said he was a conductor. I asked,
"really, what rail company?" He got all mad and said he was with the
symphony.
Can anyone help me?
Judith Cole wrote:
>The current thread on "college" vs."school" reminded me of an issue I'd
like to hear some others to weigh in on.
>
>Although I would not hesitate to use the initials MLS after my name, my
degree is technically an MA in library science. Nobody puts an MA after
their name without appearing pretentious, because the MA degree is fairly
common given the many disciplines it's awarded in. My guess is that even
many of our attorneys don't know I have an advanced degree.
>
>Has anyone finessed this issue effectively?
>
>Judy Cole, Law Librarian
>Hillsborough County Attorney's Office
>601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 27th Fl.
>Tampa, FL 33602
>Tel: 813-272-5673, Ext. 126
>Fax: 813-272-5758
>colej@hillsboroughcounty.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
--John Pedini Director of Media Services Social Law Library John Adams Courthouse Pemberton Square Suite 4100 Boston, MA 02108 PHONE (617) 226-1337 FAX (617) 523-2458
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