Library Journal (a professional periodical renowned in our field) publishes a poll called "Stat Watch" in each issue which shows results from a quick-response question asked on its website. The results of the poll which appeared in the February 1 issue flabbergasted me. Online users of the lj.com site (mostly librarians I would assume) were asked to reply YES or NO to the following statement: "My library's administrators are respected by peers in the community."
A no-brainer, I thought...a huge majority would answer YES. Librarians are always out in the community doing something wonderful, I reasoned!! To my utter surprise, 90% of the 434 respondants answered NO. I am at a loss to explain this disheartening result.
As I library administrator myself, have I been deluding myself? I have always been proud of my community involvement, my commitment to Dover's (not just the library's) betterment, and the many collaborative relationships I maintain with other departments and organizations in our city.
Were the librarians who answered the poll disillusioned with their managers? Do they think more should be done? Did only the dissatisfied answer the poll? Are there library administrators who hide within the four walls of their library and never venture out? I suppose there are. I have no answers...just more questions. I'd love to hear your opinion!
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It seems to me that you're the exception and not the rule. We need to get more dynamic and engaged administrators in our libraries!
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