On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 18:51, Weinheimer Jim <j.weinheimer_at_aur.edu> wrote:
> I encounter this type of reaction among non-specialists--which
> includes many librarians who have never done cataloging by
> the way--and I find it highly revealing.
Ugh, you missed my point entirely. I'm not saying we don't need
specialists. I'm saying what you're specialists in isn't relevant to
what the world wants, and unless that is changed, the world will make
sure those kind of specialists disappear.
> Still, I think that the foundational basis of cataloging remains as valid
> as ever
Why? I guess that's rooted in how you define those foundational things.
> and are definitely not supplied by the Googles and Yahoos and
> Mendeleys out there, although they may desperately try to convince
> us that people need nothing else. We need them and they need us.
Prove it. With anything. Prove that anyone needs catalogers in any
meaningful or compelling way. Prove that they are relevant to what's
going on in the publishing and academic industries.
> It may take a few decades for people to realize they need
> specialized-librarian controls
James, you don't *have* two decades for this. This needs to happen now!
Regards,
Alex
--
Project Wrangler, SOA, Information Alchemist, UX, RESTafarian, Topic Maps
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Received on Thu Apr 22 2010 - 07:10:04 EDT