A question that needs a discussion

There has been some comment on this blog and elsewhere in library land about the lack of respect shown to our profession. I don’t think our profession is uniquely belittled; I think any profession that handles issues of public policy is belittled.

I wonder if we librarians need to reframe our response. The following facts started my thinking

1. Today’s New York Times front page article, “In New York Immigration Court Asylum Roulette. The 27 judges in New York’s immigration courts are searching for ways to handle 20,000 cases a year.”
2. New York City’s public advocate report that the Agency of Children Services (ACS) places at children at risk because staff attorneys leave because of poor pay and excessive case loads. http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/news/acs_attorney_report.html
3. Our own AALL survey found most judges do not use librarians.
4. The large number of dual degree librarians. How many are attorneys fleeing trial practice? Like ACS.
5. The recognition that most practitioners rely on Lexis and Westlaw because it is efficient. It provides good enough answers upon which to base a decision.
6. The declining number of trials and the question whether legal education is preparing students for the reality of practice. Symposium: Vanishing Trial. 1 Journal of Dispute Resolution 1-334 (2006)

Judges are too overworked to read briefs, much less law review articles. The attorneys at ACS admitted that they needed to appeal cases, but workload prevented them. No wonder librarians and libraries are underutilized. When I read articles about immigration judges’ and ACS attorneys’ workloads, complaints about disrespect toward librarians appear trivial.

How do we enter the debate about public policy and resources? Our AALL representatives do wonderful work; I am not slighting their efforts. I respect and admire their achievements. When I read articles like the ones listed above, I cannot help but wonder if we need to enter public life differently. Has anyone else thought about this?

I will be offline all this week. I will be reading comments when I return.