Shadow work [is] all the unpaid jobs we do on behalf of businesses and organizations: We are pumping our own gas, scanning our own groceries, booking our travel and busing our tables at Starbucks. Shadow work is a new concept, so as yet, no one has compiled economic data on how many jobs we, the consumers, have taken over from (erstwhile) employees. Yet it is surely a force shrinking the job market, and the unemployment it creates is structural. Thanks in part to this new phenomenon, widespread joblessness could become entrenched in the social landscape
An interesting article and libraries are not immune as they increasingly move towards self-check, mobile apps and self-serve holds among other technological changes that impact the staffing requirements of the organization.
One one hand – increasing automation feels inevitable and has been ever since the spinning loom was invented in the Industrial Revolution. The question then becomes how does society continue with this new reality? For example, could the increasing calls for a Guaranteed Minimum Income offset the increasing loss of entry-level, service sector and other jobs?
David Letterman’s final show is this Wednesday and he’s been having a farewell run of top-notch and personal favourite guests all of whom are paying tribute to Letterman’s innovation and influence (and I definitely don’t disagree – how radical was David Letterman when he first started?)
Anyhow, Norm MacDonald’s comments after his stand-up set the other night, twenty-five years after Letterman gave him his first big break, was pretty touching…
All teams have players playing through injury in the Stanley Cup Finals but it’s also fascinating/frightening to hear the exact nature of the injuries once a team is eliminated. This year’s Flames were no exception.
I often feel guilty that Shea and I don’t do a better job of keeping up Pace’s reading log but after doing a few “I’m a librarian. I can confirm he’s reading all the time. We’re good.”-type entries at the start of the year, we’ve slipped off completely.
Stumbled across this folk/Americana version of “Wish I Was Skinny” by 1990’s Britpop band, Boo Radleys, which makes one of my favourite songs possibly even better! 😉
