Futurist
Gentle Reader,
I spent today at an annual obligatory boredom…eh, training session. The speaker spent seven hours discussing the future of libraries, a monumental feat to my mind. (I can’t imagine spending seven minutes in front of a crowd). She was knowledgeable and passionate about her subject, obviously having spent quite a lot of time in research and analysis of the library environment. From suggesting that circulation desks be set up like Genius Bars to predicting that the demand for e-content will only increase, her bottom line seemed to be that libraries must be willing to consistently and constantly adapt to the ever-changing needs of the market.
Any strategist in any field will spend time assessing trends both within and without the specific environment and suggest ways to change. Instead of focusing on her suggestions, however, I found myself wondering about our self-centeredness. A theme that surfaced time and again throughout the lecture was the patrons (anyone who doesn’t work in a library) desire for one-on-one interaction. Not only should e-content be available (I shake my fist at you, Kindle!), but each librarian should be equipped to handle any e-reader with ease – meaning that the librarian, not the patron, should set up the e-reader, download the content and then show the patron how to access it.
The librarian is also to listen to and validate hopes, dreams and business ideas.
She should provide the education, via storytime and other activities, that children aren’t getting at school.
He should be willing to spend an hour helping a patron on the computer, while other tasks pile up.
Do you see where I’m going with this?
It is a delicate act, to be a public servant. Without a focus on the task, the services cannot be provided and patrons suffer. Yet if the patrons feel that they are not getting the “me time” attention, they won’t utilize the services.
We all want to have our cake and eat it to. We want wonderful experiences at all times, but we want the people providing the experiences to be totally focused on us, to the exclusion of all else (and all others). The ticket-taker at the movie theatre should move the line along because I’ve been standing here for approximately two minutes and that is two minutes too long. The teacher should not give me homework this weekend because I have other things to do. The grocery store clerk should care that I couldn’t find the “right” brand of lactose-free milk because this completely ruins my morning and, after all, the world revolves around my belly-button.
Convenient, immediate, me-centric.
That got me to thinking about attitudes toward Christianity – what does “it” provide for me? What do I get out of “it?” When I’m bored, how should “it” change? Why doesn’t the church have a tithing app? Why isn’t the pastor available any time I need him/her? Why is the music so outdated?
Needs aren’t wrong. Wants aren’t always bad. But I wonder when it became acceptable to go about our days with the belief that everyone must recognize our greatness and meet our every demand?
Grace and peace,
I work about a ten minute walk from the Boise Main Public Library and like to spend my lunch hour there reading and getting away from the computer. One of the things I’ve noticed, in the striving to provide better customer service, is that library employees chat it up with patrons in the stacks more and louder. No one is even trying to keep their voices down. Once, I even had to ask two library employees who were having a conversation to keep their voices down (I try to sit as far away from public areas as possible since, amazingly, I go to the library to enjoy a book and the silence).
It seems as if people have become increasingly “me” focused over the years (and decades) and have very little room left to consider others in their thoughts. Of course, you could say that same of me, since I’m complaining about my desire for quiet being violated, but the library used to be a place where most folks understood that they were quiet for the sake of everyone around them. Now, people treat the library like a coffee shop or their office.
I fully understand what you are saying, Marie. It would be a much happier world if we lived by the Scripture verse which tells us to “not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to” and to act on the needs and desires of others because they are more important than our own. Alas, I will strive to do that on a daily basis as I am a “work in progress”. Blessings and love to you always!
Love your posts, as always!
Ouch. This hit home, but that’s good. I needed it.