MLA Connections Blog
I am sure a lot of you are familiar with Mark Funk's OnlyConnect blog. Well MLA will soon debut the MLA Connections Blog as a method to keep memebers and others informed about MLA as well as generate discussions. According to Scott Plutchak, the blog is "another experiment in trying to make the organization more open and transparent. "
It will probably come as no surprise that I am all for the blog. I am the type of person who likes to pop the hood of a car to see what is going on. I like transparency. I like hearing other people's perspective on things. The blog will be open members as well as non-members allowing for discussions to be truely open (through comments) to the medical library community. Hopefully openness will generate some truely interesting discussions. As Scott mentions transparency and submitting posts can only go so far. It is a two way street. The Board members and headquarters staff will be posting, but for it to be a truely communicative process, readers must share their thoughts and perspectives through comments.
I think it is an exciting and interesting time to be involved in MLA.
Labels: MLA, Technology
posted by The Krafty Librarian @ 7:01 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
It'll be an interesting experiment. One of the challenges for the Board members will be figuring out how and when to differentiate between our individual opinions, and our responsibilities as board members. Often, we may come to a discussion (in person) feeling one way about an issue and by the end of the discussion we'll have changed our minds and vote differently. Sometimes I don't necessarily want to venture my own opinion because I'm not sure of myself and I want to hear what the others say. And while I might be willing to risk what I think might be an unpopular opinion in a room of fifteen or so people that I know pretty well, how comfortable am I putting that opinion out on a blog where anybody can start taking potshots at it? And at the end of the day, whether I agree with a decision by the board or not, it's my responsibility to support that decision and do my best to see that it is effectively implemented. Are there potential negative consequences to my going "public" with my views before that final decision is reached?
I don't know the answers to these sorts of questions, but they are the kinds of things that we'll have to sort through. I hope we can be bold enough to do it well.
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