I write this on the longest night of the year. From here on out, the days get longer rather than the nights. I think we can all get behind that. So this has me thinking about the long night for libraries. I think we can all agree that we’ve been in a long night. But are we through it yet? Unfortunately, I think not:
- Not until we completely wake up to where we stand. In a nutshell: beset from all sides, both programmatically and financially.
- Not until we understand the kind of deep, systemic changes that will be required to move into the light. Do you still think you are about collecting books and journals? If so, you are so toast.
- Not until we really get what the new program requires. Content your patrons want — when and where and how they want it. Plus, a place they want to be, whether you sit at the center of a campus or a town.
- Not until the staff of every library is on board with the program. This is one of the toughest requirements to meet, as few libraries can wipe the slate clean and hire from scratch. So instead, we must work hard to retool our existing staff, to inculcate in them the motivation they require, the perspective they need, and the skills they should have.
In the end, I remain an optimist. I’m the kind of person who will go down fighting. I will certainly go down fighting for libraries. Libraries are a societal good, even in these days of what seems like ubiquitous access to digital information. Access to information is not ubiquitous, nor equal, nor (still) as easy as it can or should be.
It may seem like we are going into that dark night, but I prefer to believe — and will work hard to make real the fact — that we are in the darkest point before the dawn.
So here I sit, in the night that is the longest of the year, knowing that tomorrow’s dawn will come sooner, and brighter, than before. Are you with me?
About Roy Tennant
Roy, a quick thanks – great article and so right on target.
Yes, some days I’m optimistic about the future and other times it seems like the more we hear “this is not business as usual” from our visionary leadership, the more some librarians dig in with both (sensible) heels and try their darndest to maintain business as usual at any cost.
Over the holidays I watched the entire first series of Downton Abbey again – and realized this is so very like where we are with academic libraries.
There is an enormous, gorgeous, rather inefficient-but-functioning, clanking old estate with oodles of history. Upstairs and downstairs. Intricate heirarchy. Multiple levels of footmen, chamber maids, ladies maids, scullery maids, housekeepers, and valets and butlers who are extremely skilled in what they do. Cute, funny new innovations (electricity, motor cars, the telephone!).
Series one literally ends with the announcement of World War I at a garden party. There are some gathering clouds, but things appear to remain pretty much the same. The Estate stands firm. (insert comments by the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” school of library thought here)
Yet from our vantage point we know that the entire system will collapse. There will soon be little need for footmen or valets. The whole servant ‘industry’ and class that was once considered by many essential to civilized society will basically disappear. Things that were once assets will become liabilities: the huge estate will become economically difficult to sustain or even heat. The amusing little novelties like electricity or the telephone, will replace jobs and change life beyond all recognition. Social and financial upheaval will force all these people to move on with their lives and destinies. Some will flow with the changes, identify opportunities and adopt new roles and skills. Others will pretty much be destroyed.
For libraries, it seems like change is often out of our hands but how we react, adapt, prepare for it and even use it to grab new opportunities is *our choice*. For me that’s the possibility, the dawn mentioned in your article and I sincerely hope we get there.
Jake / UW Libraries, Seattle (speaking for myself)
Roy’s right, it’s a great analogy. Lately I feel I’ve been surrounded by friends who rave about Downton Abbey, which isn’t really my cup of tea. Now I have yet another reason to watch the series. Thanks, I think.
Michael, It isn’t your “cup of tea”? Surely it must be, given your choice of words!
Wow, what an amazing analogy, Jake! Thanks for your comments. I like where you ended up, too.