The Good Library Blog

It needs to be made clear that L Kumiega is a member of the library team at the Open Uiversity and an office holder for at least one CILIP committee. It would easy to mistake "other sectors" as meaning working outside the world of libraries - and I am sure this was not the intention.

One other voice of support for CILIP on the blog is Philip Wark, principal librarian of Midlothian.

That CILIP needs shaking up should not be a matter of controversy. A review is currently underway of CILIP's governance and this has produced some pointed criticisms of the way CILIP is managed. The debate - which started in July and peaked in August - is accessible via the LIS-CILIP mailing list at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/lis-cilip.html.
CILIP are, incidentally, planning to close this list down - doubtless because it lets non-librarians like me see what librarians really think about the library service. This would be a retrograde step.

I didn't find Lesley Kumiega's reference to "other sectors" at all misleading. It seems pretty clear from the context that the phrase refers to a library outside the public sector.

I am not sure that "outing" someone as a representitive of CILIP in this manner is really appropriate, after all why shouldn't they comment?

I will refrain from commenting on the closure of LIS-CILIP just as it did during the months of debate but I will point out that not all members of CILIP or indeed LIS-CILIP are public librarians and that there are probably as many different opinions on "the library service" expressed on the list as there are individuals posting to it.

I was confused by "other sectors." The phrase suggested other areas of public service to me. Otherwise why wouldn't the writer say, "as an academic librarian"?

But then I am American, and perhaps easily confused.

I'm not surprised you weren't misled, Miriam, by the word "sector." But then Miriam, you are a librarian yourself, you may know L Kumiega and know that he/she is a librarian, you are used to speaking to librarians in library speak. This blog - unlike LIS-CILIP - is not chiefly for librarians but for those of us who use libraries and want them restored to their pivotal place in the cultural life of our communities. After all, the word sector is not just "librarians, for the use of".

Well I must say that I've never been accused of being part of some kind of sinister library cabal before!

I wasn't misled by the word "sector" because from the context of the reply it was clear theat the poster was an information professional of some sort.

You know, I am getting a little tired of this attitude. I have posted on this board in good faith, I have tried to be polite and fair-minded. I can see that although Tim and I do not agree on all aspects of running a library we do both have the best interests of public libraries at heart and I was hoping that there might be a common ground from which everyone could work.

I stood up for L Kumiega because I don't see why he or she should be criticised simply for involvement in CILIP. The statement made was clearly not intended to mislead anyone and I fail to see the point in personally attacking someone for simply stating their opinion.

What makes you think that librarians don't use libraries? What great insight have you had from LIS-CILIP? What exactly is your problem with librarians?

Please, as you seem to be including me in your attack now I think I ought to know..

I have no problem with librarians at all - save when they seem frankly thin-skinned, over-sensitive and respond in defensive/aggressive mode. To interpret anything in the above as a personal attack is simply ludicrous. My view is that comments can best be interpreted when the reader understand the point of view of the writer that is all. Saying that you are part of the library team in Raspberry Regis, should not be construed as a personal attack.

Of course I don’t think that stating my profession and place of work is a personal attack. Although, as I have already stated on this blog that I would rather not reveal my employer it is somewhat annoying and could put me in an awkward position.

I really don’t see the point in arguing about this. I think you over-reacted, you think I am thin-skinned and defensive/aggressive. You can continue to call me names if you like but I don’t think it will get us anywhere and it certainly won’t be of any use to public libraries.

Instead could you please tell me why you keep mentioning LIS-CILIP? As you have been reading the list you know that it is open to anyone and you will also know that a great many people on the list are opposed to it being replaced with a locked forum. What is your point?