The right hand knoweth not...

from an article on Ex Libris: Have you noticed an interesting dichotomy between our profession's theory and practice regarding recruitment? While our professional organizations and journals are working hard to recruit the next generation of librarians before we all retire en masse in the next ten years, library administrators and coworkers are treating newly minted young librarians badly -- as Rachel Singer Gordon says, "some of us might cynically think ALA's true campaign recruitment motto is "Recruit, Refuse, Ridicule."

I couldn't agree more. And it isn't just the brand spankin' new librarians who get shafted. In terms of pay, benefits, and general respect given, librarians have, in my experience anyway, often been given the short end of the stick. I know many directors who will fight like mad for a few extra dollars to buy more materials but will not fight to pay their staff fair wages. Of course, I believe that it is good to be committed to your community and to want to afford more materials. However, it is also important for us to demand the respect -- which can often be measured by pay -- that our professionalism and education deserves.

Okay, off the soapbox. Read the rest of the article.