Comments on: I Don’t Trust the Library Journal

By: The Liminal Librarian » Blog Archive » The mildly perturbed librarian

The Liminal Librarian » Blog Archive » The mildly perturbed librarian — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:31:16 +0000

[...] Some folks that I respect a lot now respect Library Journal a lot less, due to LJ’s decision to pick up The Annoyed Librarian. And, since people have asked me for my take via email (and, last week, in a live Q&A session), I figured I’d come out and say it: [...]

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:19:50 +0000

DonnaB wrote, “…most blogs which spend an inordinate amount of time in self-promotion and self-aggrandizement (and ditto for the little clique of bloggers that all seem to spend a lot of time patting each other on the back, quoting each other, and acting smug about their careers).”

Amen. Bravo LJ and AL!

By: The Book’s The Thing » Six of one, a half dozen of another

The Book’s The Thing » Six of one, a half dozen of another — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:17:38 +0000

[...] The backlash—and response to it—came quickly, on Twitter, FriendFeed, David Lee King’s blog, and on AL’s as well. The negative posts and personal emails fell into two categories: How [...]

By: mc213

mc213 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:12:02 +0000

I think its fine to be anonymous as long as the ideas and information are getting out there to start discussions. Why do we have to know who the person is? Is a name and a face really important when many are made up anyway? I like the mystery of not knowing. And, to be honest, we need a quick kick in the butt most of the time to get our heads out of the clouds and really re-think and re-evaluate the services we provide.

By: » Web 2.0, ur doin it wrong Chris in 768

» Web 2.0, ur doin it wrong Chris in 768 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 04:28:35 +0000

[...] latest controversy to be all abuzz in the library blog world is Library Journal’s decision to hire the Annoyed Librarian, an [...]

By: another Kathleen

another Kathleen — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:35:46 +0000

“I see the AL as more of a place where satire and sarcasm take place.”

I think that this just might be the point. And perhaps exactly why some people do choose to read that blog.

As for the AL’s “negativity” is this an issue of tone (satire, sarcasm, snarkiness)? Or is it that it is “negative” to question paying people to hang out in Second Life (very little reference happens, btw) when budgets for materials, including books, videos, and online content are being cut?

By: Kathleen de la Peña McCook

Kathleen de la Peña McCook — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:47:46 +0000

Emily, You say, “AL’s anonymity allows him/her to express unpopular opinions which could be damaging to his/her career.” But you think it o.k. for him/her to name people and attack them? If I am going to attack a person by name, I think it is only ethical that I do so with my name.
Karen Schneider at Free Range Librarian said it well:
“I didn’t read LJ to hear the cowardly natterings of some anonymous blogger. I read it for straight-up reporting I could believe in, and opinion from people who had the balls to put their bylines on their posts. John Berry could be outrageous, but I could pick up the phone and talk to him.” —
http://freerangelibrarian.com/2008/10/10/rip-library-journal/

By: davidleeking

davidleeking — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:21:16 +0000

Emily: A couple responses:

on the unpopular opinions/damaging thing… if a blogger can’t say it to someone’s face, they shouldn’t say it. Either get a backbone already, or simmer down… don’t be a coward and hide behind anonymity.

On the “guaranteed to offend no one” bit – most bloggers I know don’t have a goal of offending others – they tend to focus on DOING things… like my post on improving a facebook page. So it’s really an apples/oranges thing.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:12:57 +0000

AL’s anonymity allows him/her to express unpopular opinions which could be damaging to his/her career.
Many Librarians who blog are also hyper-aware of the self marketing aspects of blogging, and as a result post bland and uninteresting pieces guaranteed to offend no one.
A single anonymous blog does not destroy the credibility of LJ. It provides a little diversity and contrast. I am reminded of the original set-up of the Talk of the Town section in the New Yorker: short anonymous blurbs.
I can understand that Librarians who have felt the cutting edge of AL’s blog might be disappointed by this decision, but (and I mean this gently) they should toughen up a little bit.

By: Boofuckinhoo | Alan Cordle

Boofuckinhoo | Alan Cordle — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:51:33 +0000

[...] usual suspects are whining that the Annoyed Librarian is now being hosted and paid by Library Journal. [...]