Comments on: on heroism

By: On Letting Go – Or Not « Just Another Day

On Letting Go – Or Not « Just Another Day — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:36:24 +0000

[...] Jennifer Jessamyn West wrote a rather thought provoking post on librarian.net recently entitled on heroism. In essence, she withdrew from a project that she was managing because she was “trying too [...]

By: Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:14:38 +0000

Quitting is probably good for all concerned. Particularly for the person who will eventually manage and use the new ILS. There’s nothing like being put in the position of actually having to do a task yourself to understand what the task is.

By: Michelene Orteza

Michelene Orteza — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:02:10 +0000

I commend you for your willingness to let go. Realize that the fact that you CAN let go of this one project is because you have other work waiting for you, and you have other work waiting for you because of all the projects you have followed through to their ends throughout your career. Having been a “human patch” myself (not in library work), I can understand some of what you were going through.

By: rambleonsylvie

rambleonsylvie — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:54:06 +0000

sharon, i just meant not to set all the questions/problems aside without even trying (at least a graceful shutdown ;)

By: sharon

sharon — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:05:30 +0000

rambleonsylvie said: “it’s just that it’s time for everyone to see tech as part of everyone’s job”

I hope you’re not suggesting that the role of “technology librarian” is already obsolete. It’s true that tech is “part of everyone’s job,” in the sense that learning how to use the phone system, search the databases, and gracefully shutdown a computer are everyone’s job, but there’s much more to the job, and there will always be people who don’t have the inclination or desire to learn any more than that. And that’s okay. Should we not have a “business librarian” or a “science librarian” or an “associate director,” either, because it should be everybody’s job? I can do all those things–after a fashion–but maybe I’m not going to give the best answer or find the best solution. I know how to change the oil in my car, too–I did it all the time when I was in my 20s–but that might not be the best use of my time anymore.

By: M Wms

M Wms — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:41:52 +0000

Seems like a good move. The tricky thing is that you can still feel like a hero FOR bowing out, because in doing so you give them what they _really_ need.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:20:23 +0000

Jessamyn,

That must have been a difficult choice to make. Ultimately, it seems like making a change is often harder than continuing to do the same thing. Strategies aside, it sounds like you were careful to consider the future impacts on the project, something we should all try to do.

By: Michael Golrick

Michael Golrick — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:33:23 +0000

Jessamyn.

Sometimes it is hard to let go. It is also hard to know when to let go. I admire that not only did you let go, but that you reflected on the “whys” of what was going on.

As someone who has gone from “let’s make it perfect before we switch it on” to one who says “that’s good enough, we can fix it later” I can understand both where you are, and where the librarian is.

That being said, I am glad that you did what is right for you.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:02:39 +0000

We chatted about this, and I think you did the right thing — and the library will flip the switch to automating, even if it waits until the consortium version is ready. I’m nothing about persistent.

Plus, don’t be so hard on yourself. We think you’re awesome.

By: Owen

Owen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:16:42 +0000

“Flip the switch and work out the bugs” is a perfect description of our switch to Koha, and we were doing it ourselves with a much less mature version. I think your instinct is correct with regard to what a small library is capable of (at least in the abstract). Willingness is another matter.

By: rambleonsylvie

rambleonsylvie — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:07:24 +0000

ah, “I didn’t get the feeling that the library was learning to use the tools themselves, I got the feeling that they were getting used to me being available to solve problems and answer questions”… I am stuck in this same frame where it seems people are quick to “call it a technology problem” and set it aside and quit trying. I was asking just this morning if they would do the same with history research or business reference, they are not historian or MBAs but they still help patrons with that type of questions. They (not all of them, but many) do however have no problem with telling someone who just got an ebook for christmas that “they just can’t help them with that…”

sad.

we have to recognize that having separate tech teams, tech plans, Tech budgets and often even tech directors; has created the perfect climate for that.

it’s just that it’s time for everyone to see tech as part of everyone’s job.

a few days ago, michael casey blogged about a HBR article that stated satisfaction at work comes not from praise, not from money but from PROGRESS. Good luck and go forth.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:41:03 +0000

Thanks for that Matt. I just met Brogan’s co-author Julien Smith and I’ve been enjoying some of their lessons.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:36:51 +0000

I don’t know if you have read this post by Chris Brogan (www.chrisbrogan.com/never-give-up-no-give-up/)but it may give you another perspective on “quitting”. It’s a good take on what it means to quit.

Good luck with your future endeavors. Stay warm up there.

By: Linda

Linda — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:27:45 +0000

“The hero is a human patch.” Ouch, I think you just described the role I’ve been given in my library. We’re small and rural also and over the years I’ve been the one to do it all—bring in computers, get local Internet access to come in, networking, automation, website, getting grants to pay for it all, maintaining & repairing said computers, etc., etc. All for my low, barely above minimum wage salary. Should I decide to retire or just plain quit I seriously doubt the Board could find any one person to replace what I do for the salary I get. Have I done them any favor? It had occurred to me I haven’t and your post just backs that up. Now I’m getting sucked into a similar position with the Fire Dept. It’s hard to get out once you’re in. Your post has provided some enlightenment.