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, even to the Librarian of
Congress.
