Janet Swan HillOhio Library Council Technical Services Retreat, April, 2008

You Are The Most Important Tool You Have

 

WHY TALK ABOUT ADVOCACY NOW?

Library of Congress series authority decision catalyzed the cataloging community 

Circumstances surrounding the announcement provide illustrations of:why it is important to engage in advocacy and

activism things that we need to be aware of useful tactics

Activism or advocacy should not be limited to response to some crisis

An environment of constant change means that if we are not proactive and visible, we are in danger of not being heard, considered, or understood

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT RECENT ACTIONS?Reasons given for the decision varied according to

the audience and over time There were hints of possible additional actions being

consideredStudies cited were unpublished in the traditional

senseCatalogers engaged the attention of those outside

their own community Assertions were often based more on opinion than

on actual data or serious research Arguments were sometimes characterized by poorly

defined terms and lack of common understandingPeople outside technical services can become

valuable allies and supporters

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Providing bibliographic control and access to information is flying apart

People knowledgeable about bibliographic control are few in number

People knowledgeable about bibliographic control are isolated socially, professionally, and organizationally

People knowledgeable about bibliographic control are stereotyped

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Your jobRespectInfluenceParticipation in decision makingPride in accomplishmentAbility to manage materials for internal

needs Service to users

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?Take responsibility

No one knows your circumstances as well as youYou can’t rely on other people to make your case for

youHaving many people speaking up is more effective

than having one or two  Mingle Use your professional associations Investigate and Publish Watch your language

Beware of unfortunate connotationsDon’t abandon old terms for trendy new ones unless

thay are an improvementKnow and use trendy terms, but be alert to possible

misunderstanding Speak English, not Abbreviation, Jargon, or Tag

NO STEP IS TOO SMALL TO MATTER

Get to know your public services colleagues as people Get to know their work and concerns Join working groups outside your specialty Go to conference programs or meetings outside your

specialty Realize that what you do is special and point it out If a standard or document is up for comment – comment Never let your first answer be no  Be prepared for the outrageous Look forward not back Don’t grieve over the past or over hard-won skills now

no longer needed Realize that what you learned in the process of learning

is still useful

NO STEP IS TOO SMALL TO MATTER

Understand that it’s up to us Every one of us All the time