Home » Writing & Publishing » Library/Information Science » Librarians' Christmas Wish List

Librarians' Christmas Wish List

© Gillian Davis

Librarians rarely ask for anything for themselves, we're usually a pretty selfless bunch; helping others is what we enjoy and why we chose this profession. But there are many things that we would love to have that would help us perform our jobs better and allow us to help others more efficiently... Below is a list of what I think most librarians would wish for this holiday season.

1. More funding, more funding, more funding!
This is a no-brainer. What many a public librarian could do with a few thousand more dollars per year in the budget for books, electronic databases, attending conferences, other professional development activities....

2. Higher salaries.
Ok, I had to throw one "selfish" wish in here. But it's really not that selfish when you consider the paltry (albeit improving) salaries many librarians make. Library Journal reports that "the average starting salary for 2001 LIS graduates is $36,818, a 5.49% increase over the 2000 average of $34,871. This rise substantially exceeds the rate of inflation (1.3%) and returns to the trend of 1998-99, when LIS starting salaries outdistanced inflation."

3. Increased staff.
With the addition of more staff, librarians could have more time to spend with patrons on one-on-one instruction, spend time away from the reference desk "roving" the stacks and helping patrons at their point of need, and be better able to get away to attend conferences and other professional development functions.

4. Additional space.
We'd love it if we didn't have to weed the collection so much simply because we don't have room on the shelves for new materials, and wouldn't it be great if space didn't have to be an inhibiting factor when ordering new materials.

5. Internet/information access for everyone.
We all should be able to access whatever information we need whenever we need it. Librarians would love the opportunity to help those who don't have access to technology such as the Internet, especially in rural and low socioeconomic areas. The Digital Divide Network reports: "Despite the incredible growth of the Internet since the early 1990s, many citizens still do not have easy access to basic IT tools, whether it's access to hardware, software, or the Internet itself. Access is an issue that affects people at home, at school and in the community at large. Neighborhoods with less technology access are at a disadvantage in contrast to those neighborhoods with more access when it comes to seeking better education, better jobs, even higher levels of civic participation."