John Berry sets libraries back 50 years; or Elsevier Editor complains about the profession and tells us how to do our jobs (glad he’s not my boss)

John Berry is so 1950. He'd probably only be happy if we unplugged the computers and brought back the card catalog. Seriously, this dude is so McCain in an Obama-world. He's one of those people who loves to complain, criticize, and toss around monkey-wrenches—without offering any SOLUTIONS. It's time to wake up Mr. Van Winkle-- the revolution has passed you by.

His latest column tries so hard to be relevant, it's just so sad. I can just picture Berry and Gorman sipping tea at ALA conference talking about the glory days of the profession—back when it was noble and respectable.

I have to disagree with him on pretty much everything– in fact, I feel that my library is more humanized now as we have become user-focused / user-driven. I hear over and over again from students saying that the library inspires them and makes them more productive and creative due to the changes we've made… but John Berry doesn't care about that--- he only wants a big dusty book collections and an army of librarians sitting behind a giant reference desk shushing patrons.

Final Thought:
There are those who “teach” and those who “do”--- John Berry is obviously a teacher.

Furthermore:
What it comes down to is that Berry is an elitist, trying to perpetuate the divide between the have/have-nots. This is fitting for someone who hasn’t seen the frontline in probably 30 years. We have many staff without MLS degrees that make significant contributions to our organization everyday. What I really think it comes down to is that Berry has lost touch with the modern patron.

Comments

[Roman]

I know too many librarians whose defensiveness creates a counterproductive environment. It seems like it goes beyond the realm of behavior (which is changeable) and into the realm of personality (which is very hard to change). What is it about librarianship that seems to have attracted so many people with hypersensitive, defensive personalities?

[Angel]

You were doing fine, until you had to go and pull that little "those who teach" cheap line. As a librarian (and teacher), not very appreciated (and I am sure a lot of teachers who DO a lot with students don't appreciate it either).

And yes, Berry is pretty much a dinosaur. What else is new? In fact, Berry does not even teach. To equate him with the concept of teaching is just not right.

Best, and keep on blogging.

[brian]

@ Angel-- Sorry. I found something about him that said he was retiring but planned to still teach. My comment (caught up in the spirit of the post) simply aimed to say that it is easy for ppl who don't work at a ref desk to second guess what goes on there. I can just picture him in a rocking chair talking about "back in my day" when he talks about library services.

[stevenb]

I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to say about this column when I first came across it about two weeks ago. I decided to wait until the print copy showed up and then see if I still had the same reaction. It is weirdly anti-change - or it perceives a change taking place that I don't think many of us would agree with. I thought it had more public library overtones to it - with all the bookstore/shopping center references. Then again, he's not out there trying to compete.

I agree with the other comment about the teaching and doing. A few of can teach and do - or at least we think we can.

[Pam]

Thank you and Amen. That's about as much rebuttal time and effort I'm prepared to give the piece and I don't think it deserves much more so thanks for saying it well enough for many of us.

"Mr Van Winkle". Beautiful.

Pam

[Kris]

Mr. Ubiquitous -- you are going to have to offer some evidence for your charge of elitism. What does that mean in this context? How is anything that Berry said elitist?

I worked many years as a paraprofessional and I was good at it -- thousands of users would agree. But I would not have been that good without training from professionals. Valuing professional work isn't elitist by definition. Is it? If it is, by your thought, say so, and let's see if your hallelujah chorus sings along...

I'm not saying Berry is right. I'm saying you haven't proved your case any better than he did -- you're worse, actually, because your arguments are ad hominem (so McCain in an Obama world); chock full of hyperbolic strawmen (sipping tea? , an army of reference librarians behind a giant desk shushing patrons); and jargon-laced (user-focused / user-driven). You don't even trust your own words enough to type without SHOUTING.

Your comments add nothing to the discussion. Expand them a bit. Use a bit more logic and bit less of the dead-end rhetorical strategies (ad hominem attack, hyperbole, strawmen, jargon -- and your dominant strategy of placing your oppenent in an alternate world created from your head, not his). Prove it, don't say it.

Please, and maybe we'll stop laughing at you...

[Brian Mathews]

@ Kris
Thanks for reading my blog. I would much rather hear about interesting things going on in your library. If you were a regular reader you’d know that I try to focus on new ideas. So, sorry my friend, you can’t draw me into a philosophical debate. I’m just not that interested in commenting on other people’s editorials/articles. Try the annoyed librarian, she is more along the lines of what you’re looking for.

Go ahead and laugh at me if that makes you feel better, but if you want to talk about improving your library I would be more than happy to give you an hour of my time. I used to live there in Loudoun County... I can’t say I care much for Leesburg though. Your public library system is very good. If you’d like my suggestions on how it could be better let me know-- but oh wait, you’re probably not interested in user feedback—that’s not in the classic library model.

Once again, thanks for taking 28 minutes out of your workday to read 9 pages of my blog. I truly appreciate it.

[William]

John Berry is so 1950.

It’s true. John Berry captained the St. Roch and summited Annapurna in the wake of his role as mastermind of the Brink’s job.

Seriously, this dude is so McCain in an Obama-world.

It’s more of a toddler’s world, actually, and I, for one, welcome our new 0-4 overlords. Unsolicited advice: You seriously better start making way for Noddy.

It's time to wake up Mr. Van Winkle

Is this a reference to Irving or Vanilla Ice? (It works surprisingly well either way.)

Once again, thanks for taking 28 minutes out of your workday to read 9 pages of my blog.

Necessary?

[Van Winkle]

Your response is too reactionary. A more nuanced, sophisticated arguement would have been more effective.

[Brian Mathews]

@ "reactionary" Slow day at U of Nebraska huh? Anyway, I suggest you turn to Steven Bell if you want a more nuanced and sophisticated arguement

[JB]

You were a little too inflammatory and off the mark for my tastes with this one: I've never been one for knocking down straw men. (Do you really think Berry wants to change the libraries into "big dusty book collections" populated by "an army of librarians sitting behind a giant reference desk shushing patrons"?)

You're not into philosophical discussions, so I'll end by saying that it's not necessarily "philosophical" to realize and to accept people's criticism, especially when it's on target. After all, isn't the modern librarian supposed to be more user focused?

[Van Winkle]

Was that an attempt to disparage NE? I find that amusing. Yeah, we're busy cataloging cows these days.

You have some interesting ideas, but your rants tend to obscure things a bit. That is all. Blog on.

[Brian Mathews]

@ Mr Bodnar-- libraries are about books and only books! User focus is a passing trend!

@ Van Winkle - Thanks for reading. I used to be a fan of Neb, but they've fallen off. I do like your Tar Heels in basketball though. Sorry to be so obscure-- I'll try to stay on task.

@ William - I wish you'd comment more-- always interesting to read your responses.