I agree, too. The name of my library is Mercy Health Resource Library - try
that when you answer the phone. I just say Mercy Library and let it go at
that.

Pat Wilson
Mercy Health Resource Library
Joplin MO 64804

> ----------
> From: Judith Siess, Information Bridges
> Intl[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To: Judith Siess, Information Bridges Intl
> Sent: Monday, July 17, 2000 9:26 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Library name change
>
> I AGREE!!
>
> I wish we would spend half as much time trying to improve the image of
> libraries and librarians as we do discussing
> name changes.
>
> I changed the name of my library to Corporate Information and Research
> Center (CIRC, get it?) at the request of my boss who
> hated the name library. I answered the phone "Research Center." Guess
> what people always called it? Right, the Library!
> Even my boss.
>
> >Twenty years ago we opened a new library and called it the Learning
> >Resources Center. Every time we've answered the telephone in those
> twenty
> >years we have wished we hadn't. I'm convinced that the fewer words we
> have
> >to say on answering the telephone the better we communicate with our
> >customers.
> >
> >More important, though, is the fact that we seem to be in a sort of
> identity
> >crisis these days. I think we should not be too eager to throw out the
> word
> >library after thousands of librarians have worked so hard to make it mean
> >"service" and "information delivery" and not just a collection of books
> and
> >journals. Libraries have always used the technologies of their times,
> and
> >unless their fundamental purpose has changed (and I don't think it has)
> >perhaps we should trust our patrons to understand that WHAT we do is the
> >important thing. HOW we do it is just details. We may have more to lose
> by
> >muddying the waters than we have to gain by trying to explain ourselves
> too
> >much.
> >
> >> Our library is currently undergoing an expansion and renovation.
> >> In discussing the signage for the new library the powers that be
> >> suggested we call the library something else to reflect the use of
> >> computers and new technology in the library. We are hoping to
> >> remain the library and were wondering if this has happened to
> >> anyone else and if so how did you handle it?
> >> Any advice on how to approach our administration would be
> >> appreciated!
> >> Thanks!
> >> Sue
>
> Judith A. Siess
> INFORMATION BRIDGES INTERNATIONAL, INC. /I\B/I\
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