Head Tale

Here at library school, we talk a lot about what we call things.  Patrons or customers or clients or users (or even neighbours as one classmate suggested.)  You also have libraries or resource centres or information centres or Idea Stores.

The trend seems to be towards taking the traditional terms – “library” and “patron” – out of the mix and going with terms that (to me at least) connote corporate values – you work at a resource centre serving clients or customers. 

That's why it was nice to see the following notice in the latest CLA Digest about my former workplace (true, I only worked there for a week shelving books before getting an offer from the Writers Guild of Alberta but it still counts – especially since it's the only “real” library experience I have!)

NAME CHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

Dr. Alan
Harrison, Provost and Vice President (Academic) of the University of
Calgary, recently announced the change of organizational name from
Information Resources to Libraries and Cultural Resources in his
presentation to the University’s Board of Governors on Friday, October
20.  He also announced a change of title for Thomas Hickerson,
currently Director of Information Resources, to Vice Provost for
Libraries and Cultural Resources and University Librarian. For further
information, please contact Lauren Spencer at spencerl@ucalgary.ca