7. 7 Library, as defined by librarians
library
– From the Latin liber, meaning "book." In
Greek and the Romance languages, the
corresponding term is bibliotheca. A collection
or group of collections of books and/or other
print or nonprint materials organized and
maintained for use (reading, consultation, study,
research, etc.). Institutional libraries, organized
to facilitate access by a specific clientele, are
staffed by librarians and other personnel trained
to provide services to meet user needs. By
extension, the room, building, or facility that
houses such a collection, usually but not
necessarily built for that purpose.
10. 10 The librarian definition?
librarian
– A professionally trained person responsible for
the care of a library and its contents, including
the selection, processing, and organization of
materials and the delivery of information,
instruction, and loan services to meet the needs
of its users (to see examples, try a keyword
search on the term in Google Images). In the
online environment, the role of the librarian is
to manage and mediate access to information
that may exist only in electronic form.
11. 11 Wait, there’s more!
librarian
– In the United States, the title is reserved for persons
who have been awarded the M.L.S. or M.L.I.S.
degree, or certified as professionals by a state
agency. Also refers to the person responsible for the
overall administration of a library or library
system, synonymous in this sense with library
director. Classified by functional specialization
(acquisitions librarian, cataloger, instruction
librarian, reference librarian, serials librarian,
systems librarian, etc.), librarians in the United
States are organized in the American Library
Association (ALA) and its affiliates and the Special
Libraries Association (SLA). Compare with support
staff.
12. 12 What does this mean?
1. The definition attempts to define limits for the
title by designating an academic qualification
(it is “reserved for persons who have been
awarded the M.L.S. or M.L.I.S. degree, or
certified as professionals by a state agency.”).
It also notes that this is a “professionally
trained person.”
2. At the same time, the definition implies that
there is great variance in how it’s applied,
from “mere” professionals to administrators,
to the Librarian of Congress.
