Thread by @brembs

@MostlyPhysics @Dmitri145 @Protohedgehog @BMittermaier @cmplxtv_studies @petermurrayrust @waltcrawford @natesjacobs @lteytelman @marcschiltz1 @fzjuelich_zb @deal_projekt 1/ You mention an attitude that has been getting on my nerves for a number of years now.

The idea that libraries are somehow serving their faculty. They're not our service providers just as little as we are their customers!

@MostlyPhysics @Dmitri145 @Protohedgehog @BMittermaier @cmplxtv_studies @petermurrayrust @waltcrawford @natesjacobs @lteytelman @marcschiltz1 @fzjuelich_zb @deal_projekt 2/ This thinking is a pernicious consequence of the economization and corporatization of universities and other institutions of research and higher education.

Every unit serves the mission of the institution, whether that is faculty or libraries. We are colleagues!

@MostlyPhysics @Dmitri145 @Protohedgehog @BMittermaier @cmplxtv_studies @petermurrayrust @waltcrawford @natesjacobs @lteytelman @marcschiltz1 @fzjuelich_zb @deal_projekt 3/ This entails that if librarians find a way to provide faculty with the same or better functionalities for the same or less tax funds, it is their duty towards the tax payer and society to implement the new functionalities irrespective of faculty whining.

@MostlyPhysics @Dmitri145 @Protohedgehog @BMittermaier @cmplxtv_studies @petermurrayrust @waltcrawford @natesjacobs @lteytelman @marcschiltz1 @fzjuelich_zb @deal_projekt 4/ There is absolutely no reason why faculty should have a word in when the choice is whether to keep an objectively exploitative, counter-productive and wasteful system, or replace it with a equitable, effective and cost-efficient system.

@MostlyPhysics @Dmitri145 @Protohedgehog @BMittermaier @cmplxtv_studies @petermurrayrust @waltcrawford @natesjacobs @lteytelman @marcschiltz1 @fzjuelich_zb @deal_projekt 5/ Were faculty asked whether they wanted to have their secretary replaced by a desktop system so they can type their papers themselves, rather than dictate them to their secretary?

@MostlyPhysics @Dmitri145 @Protohedgehog @BMittermaier @cmplxtv_studies @petermurrayrust @waltcrawford @natesjacobs @lteytelman @marcschiltz1 @fzjuelich_zb @deal_projekt 6/ Were faculty asked whether they wanted email such that students can reach them 24/7?

If this "but what would faculty think" attitude had been around in these days, there would likely be no computers on our desks and no internet.

@MostlyPhysics @Dmitri145 @Protohedgehog @BMittermaier @cmplxtv_studies @petermurrayrust @waltcrawford @natesjacobs @lteytelman @marcschiltz1 @fzjuelich_zb @deal_projekt 7/ I have the suspicion, that it is precisely this servile, corporate attitude that is a major reason for the lack of modernization of our infrastructure since ~1995.

@MostlyPhysics @Dmitri145 @Protohedgehog @BMittermaier @cmplxtv_studies @petermurrayrust @waltcrawford @natesjacobs @lteytelman @marcschiltz1 @fzjuelich_zb @deal_projekt /8 Instead of asking "how can we serve our mission better?" Too many people have been asking "how can we climb ranks?" or "How can we please our faculty so they don't go to the better ranked institution?".

This kind of attitude is a recipe for disaster and its got to stop!