I have heard this many times, and here's my own experience with this. I have been a librarian for 40 years. I swore I would never be a librarian for free. When a lawyer friend of mine said he provided legal services and an accountant friend provided accounting services as volunteers, I was willing to provide library services as a volunteer. I have now been doing this for over 20 years. I work all week in an academic library and then spend my Sunday mornings running the library and working with the religious school kids. I admit I do not provide library services all the hours that I could (Wednesday nights when the confirmation kids have classes or after services), but at least I'm there for the parents who come and the classes that I serve on Sunday mornings. I don't donate money (we all know librarians don't make much), but I give my time and expertise instead. I am on an ALA book award committee that gives an award for the best adult, Jewish book for the general reader for which I get about 150 books a year, and I donate all of them to the temple library, so beyond my time, I am keeping up the adult collection, since I no longer have a library budget. I certainly have to fight for what I need and need about twice as much space, but I'm also happy to know our little temple has a good library.
When it comes to cantors, I have only had a professional cantor once in my life that I know of. Usually, the cantors are simply people who can/like to sing. When I lived in Lubbock, Texas in the '60s, the person who chanted/sang the prayers wasn't even Jewish. They do get paid, unlike what is being considered here. If we librarians are willing to donate our time and skill, it is truly a mitzvah, because otherwise, I bet there would not be a library, or at least not as good a library. Emily Bergman Temple Sinai Glendale, CA [email protected] On Sun, Nov 1, 2015 at 1:59 PM, Amalia Warshenbrot <[email protected]> wrote: > *Shalom,* > *I was asked to post the message below from a qualified trained librarian*. > > Amalia Warshenbrot > Vice President, Association of Jewish Libraries > Phone: (704) 365-3313 > > Recently, my position as a synagogue librarian was all-but eliminated on > the argument that minimally-trained volunteers can do my job just as well > as I can. I don't know of any other field that seems so easily replaceable > to decision-makers. For example, our board would never consider replacing > the cantor with someone who just so happens to like to sing - let alone the > education director, rabbi, Etc. with hobbyists in those fields. > > I believe that the library is going to suffer very much from this > decision. But mostly, the field as a whole is going to suffer. Real people > are really trying to make a living through their (that is, our) work as > librarians. When we don't stand up for the essential skills we offer, I > believe that we undermine the entire future of our status as a profession > ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* > > I think it's important to get this sort of sentiment out there - even if, > as has been both of our experience, no one seems to be listening. At least > that way, with whatever else we lose - personally and professionally - we > maintain our voices . . . even if they have to remain anonymous. > > (I am so glad for the various levels of support that AJL offers its > members. Being able to have this conversation is yet another example of > that!) > > __ > Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual > author > and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries > (AJL) > ================================== > Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: > [email protected] > To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: > https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] > Ha-Safran Archives: > Current: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html > Earlier Listserver: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html > AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org > -- > Hasafran mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > >
__ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected] https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
