[WEB4LIB] Re: customization is a double-edged sword

[GRAY, PAUL]

Well -
I'm not a librarian so I am probably talking out of school here.
I have worked with librarians for about 18 years, though. So as far as
increasing the respect given their profession - I'm for that 100%.

But, personally - I am not the least bit interested in protecting anyone who
sends out death threats (the example used in Eric's original post) or
otherwise violates the law.

In fact - we have a written policy -- which I hope the librarians maintain
and enforce --
that states that use of our machines in any manner which violates the law
will be dealt with accordingly.

Which I interpret to mean they will be turned in to the proper authorities.

Frankly - to me  - the danger of someone hiding behind the anonymity of a
public station to conduct illegal activity is a good argument --in favor--
of having patrons held identifiable and accountable.

Don't bother to flame me :-)
-- you won't change my opinion any more than I am likely to change yours.  
Just felt a need to voice my opinion - which, after all, is REALLY what
freedom of speech is all about.

Paul H. Gray,Manager - Library LAN & CLC
TCC Northeast Campus Library
817-515-6623
"Those Williams boys they still mean a lot to me - - - Hank and Tennessee"

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan Marmion [mailto:dmarmion at nd.edu]
> Sent: Friday, October 20, 2000 9:32 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: customization is a double-edged sword
> 
> 
> Eric is, of course, straight on target with his 
> final-paragraph suggestion.  If
> successfull, it will serve the double purpose of not only 
> protecting those whom
> we serve (and ourselves), but it will also go far toward what 
> should be a goal
> for all of us, and that is to increase the stature of our 
> profession as
> _professional_.  Right on, Eric!
> 
> Dan Marmion
> 
> -- 
> Daniel Keith Marmion           email: dmarmion at nd.edu
> Associate Director for Information Systems and Access
> University of Notre Dame Libraries  http://lib.nd.edu
> 221 Hesburgh Library, Notre Dame, Indiana  46556-5629
> voice: (219) 631-3811             fax: (219) 631-6772
> Editor: _Information Technology and Libraries_ (LITA)
> 
>            "It's all about access"
> 
> Eric Lease Morgan wrote:
> > 
> > (This message is cross-posted to web4lib and pacs-l. Apologies.)
> 
> [Likewise, my apologies for a cross-posted response -- DM]
> 
> > 
> > Customization is a double-edged sword, and are ready to go 
> into the jungle?
> > 
> 
> [Some good stuff snipped...]
> 
> > 
> > IMHO, the answer lies in advocating, demonstrating, and 
> promoting the idea
> > of a librarian/patron relationship similar to the doctor/patient
> > relationship in medicine and the lawyer/client relationship 
> in law. While
> > we, as a profession, practice this sort of relationship, do 
> our patrons know
> > it? In this world where information is seen as the driving 
> force of our
> > economy, maybe such an idea is not so far fetched, and 
> libraries can build
> > on its aura of good will to promote it.
> > 
> > --
> > Eric Lease Morgan
> > NCSU Libraries
> > http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/staff/morgan/
>