I attended
Library Camp NYC this week at Brooklyn College.

Jonathan Cope facilitated this session. What follows are my random notes taken during the session. Another participant's notes about this session are
here.

Jonathan Cope facilitated this session. What follows are my random notes taken during the session.

Librarianship as an Intellectual Craft

ethics of print collections (from the past) and how this evolves moving forward

shifting role of librarians; no longer curators of print; librarians at risk? Formats of media versus the practice of librarianship

“practicality” mechanics and logistics versus critical thinking

library school-mind-numbingly practical; doesn't teach yo u to write professionally. Jill did more intellectually satisfying work in computer science grad school.

What is information-- NOW?

How does our role as objective ruin our perceptions of ourselves and by the public? Stereotypes, etc. Will we raise our voices about things such as the patriot act, etc. How can we take stands, be information activists?

Informed public-democratic society-access to information

philosophical background of librarianship and political role-is uncomfortable with political role, doesn't care about privacy (feels that privacy issues undermines a positive face of librarianship)

getting away from politics inherently; copyright-one fight (free access to info?) that librarians can be at the forefront with these issues (without being political?)

Critical thinking support through libraries; what piece do we provide to the well-being of the institution

Important thing that we do is asking why and when you ask why, you inherently become political. Free access to info is a political stance (we stop seeing it as political, but others-Soviet-still see it as inherently radical.

Philosophical concepts versus political concepts; librarianship as a profession-no science in library science (when you think about proper science). What makes library science a science?

It's a science like a political or social science. Philosophical underpinnings always contested. Modeled on arts sciences.

Little conceptual work in library school

When we play as a social scientist, it's less than successful since we are not trained. Jesse Shira; lack of professionally philosophy of librarianship. Shira: too much $$ and it would be wasted without an underlying philosophy. Why is our profession not as interested in its past?

Craft (the art and craft of librarianship); qualitative vs. quantitative; why do we do what we do and how does it affect our users? Do we only have personal philosophies and not collective ones?
Is RR part of our library philosophy?

We should just say no. Be willing to stand together on issues.

Professional organizations; we pay dues, and yet they do not do their parts. Does not compare to other organizations. Make us cost-effective, value-added service.

Public librarians; not expected to be actively engaged in the profession; publishing, etc. Managers teach and not those in the field; those who are able to and not those in the trenches. BPL is trying to encourage ongoing learning, keep that culture of learning going.

BPL had its own unconference after the last NY one; management saw its importance.

Developing analysis and understanding versus having training and workshops be reactive. Instead of having to adapt instantly to buzz words/topics (2.0), there would be a foundation of continued exploration.

Foundations are great, but they need to be flexible and able to change to handle new topics as they arise.

Uncomfortable agreeing on anything as librarians/foundations...

Continual dialogue about what the characteristics of librarianship should be and understanding the outside forces flowing around you.

Coffee house discussions; too institutionalized-what do we do with the information we learn today? We have to make what we learn local for us and then build upon that. Lack of respect for library profession; patriot act, low salaries, lack of funding, etc. all shows this

Open access journal “library philosophy and practice.” as a reference librarian, you are better prepared when you are in shape intellectually.

Is the intellectual global concepts left out of library workshops

Critical pedagogy very important but left out of most conversations

Changing cataloging rules and how we are not talking about this. Learning drupal is less important than having the larger conversations

Library school students already practitioners; don't get a chance to work closely with researchers/faculty

More collaboration between other department faculty in library school to encourage more rich thinking

Publishing outside of library publications

Librarians as gatekeepers, gate has been opened, changed the profession

Are librarians now authoritative? Why do students trust us? (used to be gatekeepers, what are we now? Shepherds of info?)

Everyone is a learner-students, teachers, librarians, etc.

Do we still serve the public? We're more like guides now, and it is participatory (instead of public servants)