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
Comments 4
It seems to be a lot more descriptive of what the organisation is and what it does; it's nice to see “Library” back in the title of a library, and the addition of “Cultural Resources” is an ineteresting one. A good one, I think. Go U of C!
Yeah, I caught that too. Reminds me of a story from when I first started at the SPG. I was at some function with Brenda or Rachel and the speaker was doing that thing where they compare attendance for sporting events to attendance for cultural events. Brenda (or Rachel) leaned over and goes “They've got it all wrong – sports *are* culture.” That's stuck with me.
Sort of similar here – libraries *are* cultural resources (and vice versa – culture includes libraries) so I'm curious why they chose to bring this out specifically as part of the new name?
My suspicion is that it's nothing so deep and meaningful and symbolic. Instead, I think U of C is getting left the papers of a lot of literary and historical figures so this is just a way of identifying that role. Maybe?
You going to the Book Awards Gala tonight? This is the first year I've missed since 1997 so I'm a bit sad. One good thing is I'll get the results posted in a timely fashion for a change – http://www.bookawards.sk.ca if anybody else reading is looking for book gift ideas for Christmas.
wow, actually adding “library” into a name!! That's different for a change!
Yeah, I was very surprised to see it! People have this stereotype of Alberta as being so corporate which is partly based in truth so that sort of makes this even more surprising in some ways.