a little announcement

I'm going to be moving back to Australia, probably at the beginning of February 2004. I plan to continue working on this blog, although it's very likely that my focus will shift a little, so there will be more postings directly about Australian topics. But I certainly won't cease writing about those American issues which have ramifications for Australia and the other small countries (politically speaking) of the world. American domestic laws and politics, whether we like it or not, have a great effect on Australia. ...

For example, the US in its trade negotiations with Australia, is trying to make us enact an equivalent to the DMCA. The US was once a example to the rest of the world concerning freedom of speech, rights to political dissent and the rule of law (domestically and internationally). But as these things begin to be compromised in the endless war against terrorism and extreme partisanship, it makes things worse for civil liberties and democracy everywhere - when one of the biggest proponents changes course and starts undermining rather than promoting these values.

I hope that my experience of living in the US for six years will help give me a more nuanced view of this country, when I write about it from abroad. Too many people in Australia and other western countries fall into the trap of anti-Americanism, which is ultimately unproductive and inaccurate, because it simplistically dismisses the good (the good people, the good ideas and the good works) that takes place in the US. There is currently a struggle taking place for the American soul, which the rest of the world ignores at its peril.

Comments

[J.R.]

THE LIBRARIAN SHORTAGE IS A COMPLETE MYTH.

Email address:
unemployedlibrarian@yahoo.com

All across the United States repeatedly, there's this repeated mantra, there's a shortage of librarians being propagated in a chorus of ever growing louder voices. I would like to know what planet these librarians come from? I am an unemployed librarian and have been for over a year now looking for work all across the United States. I have a 2 academic year Master of Librarianship degree. I also hold an MBA and I cannot find full time work. It seems that there are 40 or more applicants for every position I apply for. Sometimes as many as 80. Then there's all this talk about all of the positions that are going to become available in the current crop of library leaders retiring in the next 10 years. I have news for you, it is not going to happen. Lots of these people who are retiring are having their positions eliminated due to budget cuts. Honestly if I could get a job as a professional librarian, I would consider emmigrating to Australia. Now in honesty there are a few major American cities like New York that do have lots of library jobs available, but they pay $33,000 a year, which in New York city means you can't even live in a safe neighborhood.
I have to tell you the people who advocate that there is a shortage of librarians in the United States are kidding themselves. The only actual shortage that exists is in the venue of school librarianship. In the United States professional librarians however are not allowed to work in the public school system by law, and by the efforts of the teacher's unions, unless they are also degreed and/or state certified teachers. So the national shortage of school librarians is entirely artificial, as a professional librarian, I'm not even allowed to apply for this type of work. If you don't agree with my position please write to me and tell me why, as I would love to know where the jobs are? In any case thanks for taking the time to read this.

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA287122

http://www.geocities.com/infobrokerage/