Librarian Philosopher

A group of Librarians received the news that they were getting quite a bit of technology in their Libraries next September. These are their reactions.

Group 1.

Where will we put it?

It will break.

It will take too much time cleaning up the mess caused by the technology.

Maintenance on the technology will kill us.

Group 2.

We can’t wait.

It will benefit our students so much.

It’s about time.

The technology was a box of #2 yellow pencils.

Group 1 continues.

Every time we get pencils the district goes low bid and the lead breaks off every time I try to sharpen it.

I don’t have time maintain the erasers and rubbing off the black crusty stuff. And when the students use the erasers black marks are everywhere.

I do not have time to sharpen the pencils.

I am spending so much time at the circulation desk having the students memorize when their book is due that I do not have time to teach the students how to use the pencil correctly.

I spend so much time at the OPAC teaching the students how to remember the call number and explaining how Dewey organized knowledge so that the call number makes sense that I do not have time to monitor the students and all the mischief they can get into with the pencils.

Students always fight over who gets to use the pencil first so I keep the pencils locked up. It takes so much time to unlock them every time a student wants one.

Group 2 continues.

The pencils will keep the students attention.

The pencils will free the students up to do more reading.

Instead of the students having to memorize the date the book is due, the student can just write the due date down.

The more the students use the pencils the more the erasers stay clean, so there is much less mess with the black marks.

I have noticed that the students can sharpen their own pencils. In fact it seems they are better at sharpening them than I am and their lead never seems to break. They are fearless when it comes to sharpening.

The addition of so many pencils in the Library means that I do not have to lock them up. There are enough to go around. I even think that if I lose a few, their usage will be so missed that more will be provided.

The students do not have to so thoroughly understand the Dewey. Now all they have to do is write down the call number with their pencil, then they can spend time finding the book or even reading it instead of memorizing the taxonomy of Dewey to be able to find the book.

By using the pencil, the students will free up time to do so many other things.

We are so glad we will have the new pencils. We know our students will be excited. We wouldn’t be surprised if the students think of new ways to use the pencils, maybe drawing or something we cannot even think of if we will just get out of their way.