Marilyn
Johnson
February
2010
In an
attempt to stir my ego, I picked up this book.
I am/was a librarian. You mean I
can save the world? Hot Damn!
Marilyn
Johnson is not a librarian, but I bet you she has some kinky fantasies about
them. Intellectually at least, she is an
information groupie. If you are able to
get that info to her in a timely and concise fashion, you will receive her
adoration. That being said, she did an exhausting amount of research for this
book. She presents an intimate picture
of the varied roles of librarians as well as their takes on that role and its
evolution in the digital age.
I appreciate
her take on the democratization on information.
As a librarian, I recognize the importance of technology and a
willingness to embrace things that are on the cusp of greatness or failure.
Take for example Second Life, it is a great way to disseminate information. People as avatars are unencumbered by
inhibitions and our willing to ask questions they may otherwise be to
embarrassed to ask. Great! But on the flip side, they are unencumbered
by inhibitions and lose all sense of social decency. Eww!
Where does one draw the line?
Should a line even be drawn?
According to Johnson, and my comrades she interviewed: No.
*** Up Next: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson***
