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Daniel
I'm a librarian (with an ALA-accredited MSLIS, for the Americans here) and I am NOT AT ALL bothered when someone who doesn't have that kind of degree is called a librarian.
To most non-librarians, people who work in a library are "librarians." I'm fine with that. Because people who value libraries and librarians aren't going to value us any less if they have a less exclusive idea of who ought to be included in that kind of appreciation. Just saying. :-)
To most non-librarians, people who work in a library are "librarians." I'm fine with that. Because people who value libraries and librarians aren't going to value us any less if they have a less exclusive idea of who ought to be included in that kind of appreciation. Just saying. :-)
Rachel
Aidan committed suicide because he could no longer handle the stress and responsibility of caring for a parent with a serious mental illness. I believe they had been without their father for 8 years. It wasn't until Aleisha and her mother connected through her reading aloud that he felt like he could leave them. In his last conversation with Aleisha he says to her "Mum'll be fine, you'll be great with her. You are great....you'll do fine without me."
And out of all the people mentioned who found or were given the reading list "in case they need it", he is the only one who does not take the list. He thinks, "What does he need with something like this?" So not only does he not find the solace in the list that the other readers did, it is an indication of one of the many things he has given up: reading for pleasure, the library, university, the job he wanted, to take care of his mother.
And out of all the people mentioned who found or were given the reading list "in case they need it", he is the only one who does not take the list. He thinks, "What does he need with something like this?" So not only does he not find the solace in the list that the other readers did, it is an indication of one of the many things he has given up: reading for pleasure, the library, university, the job he wanted, to take care of his mother.
Angelique Simonsen
NO -to be honest I know librarian assistants who are far more experienced and better at their jobs than qualified librarians, like myself. And I think that the way Aleisha becomes enamoured with the list and helps people is exactly part of a librarian's job - to create connections and community.
A library is more than the books on a shelf - which you as a student librarian should understand too. 50% of our customers are not readers but people looking for connections
A library is more than the books on a shelf - which you as a student librarian should understand too. 50% of our customers are not readers but people looking for connections
MBG
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Marielle
Although I respect everyones opinion that the term librarian might be misused in this book, I would like to add that maybe in your own country this term is reserved for people who have had a specific education, but in other countries, not so much. In my country, somebody who works in the library is called a librarian. Whatever education they might have.
Sheri
I think it was only Mr. P who referred to her as a librarian. Throughout the book, he has this endearing quality of using the wrong word for things. So that's one possible explanation. Also he was in awe of her supposed knowledge of books, so he may have said it as a compliment at first and it stuck, like when a young person shows an aptitude for something and a parent might say "he's our little mechanic", etc.
Lori
MLS and other library degrees have only been around for a short amount of time, but we've had libraries and librarians for centuries. If you do the work of a librarian in a library, you're a librarian. Especially to the public/patrons, who don't care what degree you have, but rather if you're able to help them with their library needs.
Pamela Hill
Yes, it bothered me too. I feel like the author has no idea what a librarian is. Aleisha is a circulation clerk, not a librarian. A librarian is a professional position. Most professional librarians do not staff the circulation desk at public libraries or in schools. To have her be called a "librarian" when at the beginning she had no interest in books is an insult to all librarians. Plus this just furthers the misconceptions that the public has about librarians - that you can be one with not even a high school education.
Jennifer Sullivan
Yes, that bothered me. A teenager working a summer job is not a librarian; a librarian is a professional position usually requiring a master's degree.
Roxann
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Vickie
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Judith
Uhm...it's fiction, doesn't matter what a "librarian" actually is, to Mr.P (who doesn't care about all that!) she works in a library, so she's a librarian! It's not an insult to anyone's profession, it's just a story. Clearly, Aidan broke under the selfish, cruel demands of a deeply disturbed mother who would rather ruin her son's life that seek medical help.
Kathy KS
I'm a twice retired professional librarian in the U.S. I've also worked in all types of libraries: public, academic, medical, government. I also was a library system consultant to 54 libraries. Most of those were small public libraries, often with a director (sometimes the only staff) that did not have professional qualifications. But they did the same jobs as those with the Masters degree. As many here have mentioned, people using a library don't ask us our qualifications or education. We're all "librarians" in their eyes.
My own sister is the director (with staff) of a small rural library. She officially doesn't have the professional degree, but had years of management and marketing experience, is a reader herself, and learns quickly. She exemplifies "professional" and we have four other librarians with MLSes in our family who would agree. Frankly, I've met "professional" librarians that I wouldn't hire for the circulation desk or shelving. (And, in smaller libraries professional librarians do often take a turn at the circulation desk).
If you are a young professional that feels upset about the distinctions, I understand. You've made the commitments necessary to receive your degrees. But, in the big scheme of things, it's how you do your job. If customers appreciate what you do, that's the important thing.
My own sister is the director (with staff) of a small rural library. She officially doesn't have the professional degree, but had years of management and marketing experience, is a reader herself, and learns quickly. She exemplifies "professional" and we have four other librarians with MLSes in our family who would agree. Frankly, I've met "professional" librarians that I wouldn't hire for the circulation desk or shelving. (And, in smaller libraries professional librarians do often take a turn at the circulation desk).
If you are a young professional that feels upset about the distinctions, I understand. You've made the commitments necessary to receive your degrees. But, in the big scheme of things, it's how you do your job. If customers appreciate what you do, that's the important thing.
Debra T
I am a retired professional librarian with a MLS. It did bother me that Aleisha was called a librarian. When Mr. P. used the title, it is completely understandable. However, when her boss, Dev, calls her “one of our brilliant librarians,” that was ridiculous. All she did was read and suggest books from a list she found. It was great that she connected with Mr. P., as that is ideal service. However, there is little to suggest that she was able to go beyond the list or provide a similar service to others. Not so brilliant in my opinion. However, she is young and intelligent, so there is potential for growth!
Susan
<spoiler> I thought sure that Aidan was going to turn out to be on drugs, or in some criminal trouble; suicide wasn't on my radar. I was really worried about him, and so the suicide was a surprise, I thought that what he was up to would be revealed. I would also think that he would have left a suicide note for Aleisha.
And I only felt irritated that a girl who didn't like books got a job in a library, that's a job I would dearly like to have! </spoiler>
And I only felt irritated that a girl who didn't like books got a job in a library, that's a job I would dearly like to have! </spoiler>
Morgan
Yes on both counts.
Terry
It bothered me, too, that they called a teenager with a summer job working at a library a librarian.
Phil
Yes, I found Aleisha's role one of the most unbelievable things in the novel. I could believe that those coming in to the library might think she was a librarian, but what I couldn't believe is that a 17-year-old with no experience or training would be left in sole charge of the library, which happened on more than one occasion.
Regarding the suicide, I wasn't expecting it, but I did think the author made it clear that he was struggling to cope and starting to fall apart beforehand. And suicides tend to leave a lot of unanswered questions, so that was realistic - for those left behind, there is never a 'why' that justifies what has happened. What I did find hard to deal with was the way in which life seemed to get better for Aleisha and her mum after he died - that made me feel angry, because so many people struggling with suicidal thoughts feel that their loved ones would be better off without them, and this story seems to justify that feeling. I also felt it was quite irresponsible not to put any hint on the cover that the book dealt with suicide and mental illness - from the blurb, I was expecting a much 'cosier' read than I got!
Regarding the suicide, I wasn't expecting it, but I did think the author made it clear that he was struggling to cope and starting to fall apart beforehand. And suicides tend to leave a lot of unanswered questions, so that was realistic - for those left behind, there is never a 'why' that justifies what has happened. What I did find hard to deal with was the way in which life seemed to get better for Aleisha and her mum after he died - that made me feel angry, because so many people struggling with suicidal thoughts feel that their loved ones would be better off without them, and this story seems to justify that feeling. I also felt it was quite irresponsible not to put any hint on the cover that the book dealt with suicide and mental illness - from the blurb, I was expecting a much 'cosier' read than I got!
Donna
I am a librarian and it does not bother me when people call anyone who works in a library a librarian. In America I don't think most people realize what you need to be a certified librarian. What did bother me was that the library hired someone who didn't like to read and had no knowledge about books.
Also, I do wish there would have been more closure to Aiden's story. I really thought he was into some illegal activity. I didn't expect suicide.
Also, I do wish there would have been more closure to Aiden's story. I really thought he was into some illegal activity. I didn't expect suicide.
Libtechgurugoddess
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Jerilyn
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Barbara Harris Marshall
In the UK, there are not many classes for public librarian as an undergraduate, but there are as a graduate student. Remember Aleisha was just a teenager preparing for higher learning. I am certain our requirements in the UK are very different from Australia, most certainly they are from the US.
Susan D'Entremont
I was mildly annoyed that an author would make this mistake, but am used to people calling everyone who works in the library, with the possible exception of the custodians, a librarian, so it didn't bother me that much.
Beth
Anyone who works in the library is a 'librarian' to the patrons. They don't care what degrees we have.
Tom Holehan
Yes, I also loved the book but had to overlook the role of Aleisha as "librarian" because she technically wasn't. Also, her job seemed terribly limited from what librarians really do. I have worked in a Library with librarians for the last 30 years as PR director and I can assure you they bear little resemblance to Aleisha. Still, that's why fiction can take liberties. It's a wonderful read.
Whitney
I’m a library technician in Canada (different educational accreditation than a librarian) and I have no problem with Aleisha being called a librarian. I’ve found in my own experience that anyone not in the library field thinks everyone who works in a library is a librarian and just gets confused when I mention my role and explain the differences in jobs. To be honest, to most people, we’re all librarians and considering that we all work as a team, it doesn’t matter who has what title or level of accreditation 🙂
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Mar 11, 2023 04:21PM
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