Karen M. Drabenstott
Associate Professor
School of Information
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1092 USA
Voice: (734) 763-3581
Fax: (734) 764-2475
karen.drabenstott@umich.edu
New topic -- "Open Topics"
Many thanks to Joanne Twining Williams for introducing many of us to Nitecki's work. We've never before had a discussion of this type, that is, focusing on a particular writer in the field, and it was a welcome change from our usual routine. Thanks, Joanne, for suggesting this topic and helping us along the way.
We haven't had an Open Topics discussion for several months. Despite a schedule of five topics for this fall, we have weeks in which no topics are scheduled (Nov. 2 to 15, and after November). We also need to plan for the new year (already).
To ensure a healthy, informative, useful list server discussion, we NEED guest editors to come forward and volunteer to lead discussions. Leading a discussion is not a complex, scary, all-time-and mind-consuming task. That's all it takes is an informative introduction to get the discussion started. Then monitor the discussion during the one- or two-week discussion, comment on ideas, summarize to refresh the discussion, or, sometimes, be provocative to stimulate the membership to respond.
Let's use this short week for identifying new topics and guest editors. You can always contact me directly (karen.drabenstott@umich.edu) to talk about your ideas or about guest editing generally. Please, send your ideas to me or to the list server so that we can be assured of a full schedule in the months ahead. Thanks.
Bob Watson
Executive Director
Franklin Park Public Library District
10311 Grand Avenue
Franklin Park, IL 60131
bwatson@linc.lib.il.us
One issue I think worth discussing at some point is the history of librarianship, seen as decisions made which affected the profession librarianship became.
Here are some issues that have clear historical roots:
The thought behind this suggestion is that looking at roots has, in itself, some value in determining abstract relationships. Knowing "why" something diverged can be useful in determining whether or not the divergence continues in importance or can be erased.
You may join the discussion and look over the list of past and future topics.
 |
|