What’s the definition of this?

As a prominent volunteer for the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa as editor of it’s fortnightly newsletter for it’s membership, a small part of me bleeds each time I see a new tool, service or technology being advertised to give you the most up to date news on developments in learning, education, literacy, libraries, whathaveyou.

I bleed.

Why do I bleed?

Because I feel that something that I spend a lot of my spare time working for is being done elsewhere, and I feel my efforts are futile.

No one individual or institution can hold or share all the information there is to share that is of relevance to any one industry.

Why do we continue to work where we do then, in libraries, the archetype institution of collections of various things?

Are we working for the same cause?

Or are we institutionalized, oblivious to the futility of our efforts?

 

note: I last edited this on August 22, 2011, possibly started the draft earlier than that even.  I appear to be cynical and depressed, which is not my usual self.  Just thought I’d publish this to let you know that I do have my down days.  It’s a pity that I’ve recently attended two conferences and one symposium and haven’t managed to write something positive about those.