I don't have a problem with functional names such as "Information
Center." After all, that simply denotes what you get there and what we
do. I do, however, have an issue with calling ourselves "Knowledge
Specialists" or "Information Engineers" or some variation thereof. I
also have a bit of a problem with most "alternative" names given to
libraries. It distracts from our mission of saying who and what we are
because our titles are not consistent. Often, the new names don't
describe the functions we provide very well.
For example, my university has an "Educational Resources Center." What's
that, you ask? It is a library for education materials.
A few months ago, the dean of the college of education sent a message to
the dean of the library asking for reference assistance. It was a fairly
ordinary request, but the dean of education said that he didn't know any
other librarians. The dean, naturally, sent on the request to me (as
head of reference) and to the coordinator of the educational resources
center (as the subject librarian).
The irony is that he had only an hour earlier gotten out of a meeting
with the coordinator of the educational resources center. Why didn't he
send the email to her? Because he didn't realize that "Educational
Resources Center" = "Library," and that "Coordinator of the Educational
Resources Center" = "in charge of library resources and services for
education."
I think we should work on changing the perception of librarians rather
than the name.
--Bryan M. Carson
-- Bryan M. Carson, J.D., M.I.L.S. Associate Professor Coordinator of Reference & Instructional Services Western Kentucky University Libraries 1906 College Heights Blvd. #11067, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101-11067 Phone: 270-745-5007; Fax: 270-745-2275 bryan.carson@wku.eduAll original content copyright 2006 Bryan M. Carson
Jennifer Lunt wrote: > > > Jennifer L. Lunt > Head of Educational Services > Thomas M. Cooley Law School Library > 111 Commerce Street S.W. > Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 > > 616-301-6850 ext. 6938 > 616-301-6820 (fax)Just to clarify-I think that we should worry about > names. But I think that our concern should be not with what the name of > our library is or isn't but with the perception that people have when > they hear that name. If we don't like the perception that people have, > then it is the perception that the name evokes that we should work to > change, not the name. That perception, in turn, is shaped not only by > their experiences with the library and with librarians, and the service > they actually receive in response to requests that they make, but also > by their knowledge and understanding of what librarians do and the > services that are available to them. If people don't perceive us as > being relevant, it is because they don't understand what we can do for them. > > For years, librarians have allowed themselves to think that they didn't > need to be involved in marketing and that they could leave that to the > marketing people, but the reality is that marketing is nothing more than > letting people know who you are and what you do. If we want libraries > and librarians to be viewed with respect and to be (and remain) > relevant, we have to be involved in marketing on a daily basis. > > > >>> "Mimi Greenwood" <MIMIG@modrall.com> 9/22/2006 11:23 AM >>> > Right! Let the marketing people worry about titles - it's the service > that counts > > Mimi Greenwood, Librarian > Modrall, Sperling, Roehl, Harris & Sisk, P.A. > P. O. Box 2168 > Albuquerque, NM 87102 > (505) 848-1880 > (505) 848-1891 (fax) > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* Donella Johnson [mailto:djohnson@loeb.com] > *Sent:* Thursday, September 21, 2006 2:26 PM > *To:* law-lib@ucdavis.edu > *Subject:* RE: Library Name > > My department is called the library and it will continue to be called > the library. Maybe I'm just lucky, but my attorneys judge my staff by > the work product we produce. > > Donella > > > > * > Donella Johnson* > > Librarian > > > 10100 Santa Monica Blvd. > Suite 2200 > Los Angeles, CA 90067-4120 > * www.loeb.com* > > > > > ***Direct *310.282.2074 > *Main *310.282.2000 > *Fax *310.919.3947 > djohnson@loeb.com > > > > <mailto:djohnson@loeb.com> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail transmission, and any documents, > files or previous e-mail messages attached to it may contain > confidential information that is legally privileged. If you are not the > intended recipient, or a person responsible for delivering it to the > intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, > copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or > attached to this transmission is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you have > received this transmission in error, please immediately notify the > sender. Please destroy the original transmission and its attachments > without reading or saving in any manner. Thank you, Loeb & Loeb LLP. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* owner-law-lib@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-law-lib@ucdavis.edu] *On > Behalf Of *Bennett, Sarah S. > *Sent:* Thursday, September 21, 2006 12:55 PM > *To:* law-lib@ucdavis.edu > *Subject:* RE: Library Name > > I've been thinking about this myself here at the Sullivan & Worcester > Law Library. > > I've been kicking around Information Center or Research & Information > Center. > > I'd rather be at the Information Center of the Firm than in the Library, > dusting off the books. > > I think these days the term Library has a connotation of a place to > store the books and the equally irrelevant ppl who look after them. > > We know thats not true, but I'm afraid thats the impression that > some people have. > > *Sarah S. Bennett* > *Research Librarian* > > Sullivan & Worcester LLP > One Post Office Square > Boston, MA 02109 > > T 617 338 2425 > F 617 338 2880 > sbennett@sandw.com > www.sandw.com > > *BOSTON NEW YORK WASHINGTON, DC* > > > -----Original Message----- > *From:* Michelle I. Mitchell [mailto:MMitchell@bilzin.com] > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 20, 2006 11:41 AM > *To:* law-lib@ucdavis.edu > *Subject:* Library Name > > I am in the process of "rebranding" this library and would like > ideas on what to call it. Any suggestions? > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > Michelle I. Mitchell > Library Manager > *Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP* > 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2500 > Miami, Florida 33131-5340 > www.bilzin.com <http://www.bilzin.com/> > > > > Tel 305.351.2305 > Fax 305.351.2268 > MMitchell@bilzin.com <mailto:MMitchell@bilzin.com> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > "BILZIN.COM" made the following annotations. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > This message contains information which may be confidential and > privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for > the addressee), you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message > or any information contained in this message. If you have received this > message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail or reply to > info@bilzin.com, and delete the message. 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