Library Worklife

Volume 2, No. 12 • December 2005

Support Staff

We Honor Raymond Roney and LIBRARY MOSAICS, The Magazine for Support Staff

Raymond Roney, Charlie Fox, and Ed Martinez—are those names you know? Some of us know them and their work well and wanted to let them know that we appreciate the work they’ve done over the last sixteen years to promote the value and issues of our nation’s library support staff.

Raymond Roney is the Publisher and Founder of LIBRARY MOSAICS, The Magazine for Support Staff. Ray, Mrs. Ruth Roney (Circulation), Charlie Fox (Editorial Director) and Ed Martinez (Consulting Editor) have worked diligently to provide a tangible forum for a formerly silent group to have voice. LIBRARY MOSAICS celebrated library support staff contributions to the field of librarianship, introduced us to support staff across the country, honored support staff and support staff supporters, produced the first library support staff salary survey, launched writing careers and helped to build a global community.

Ray retired as Dean of Instructional Services at El Camino College, in Torrance, California. Ray has had an illustrious career in his professional positions and his continuing service to library associations, especially the Council on Library/Media Technicians.

Here are tributes from a small portion of those who have been touched by the enthusiasm and dedication of the LIBRARY MOSAICS staff: Dave Dowell, Wendee Eyler, Rayna Hamre, Jennifer Kutzik, Tinker Massey, Alice Poffinberger and Julie Ree.

Tribute to LIBRARY MOSAICS

By Dave Dowell, Ph.D., Director of Library/Learning Resources, Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

In the post-COPE 3 world it is now politically correct to speak in inclusive terms and to talk of the contributions of all library workers rather than just use the term librarians. We have become aware of the benign neglect we have visited upon the two-thirds of library workers who do not have jobs requiring MLS degrees. Ray Roney, Charlie Fox and Ed Martinez did not bring about this consciousness-raising all by themselves. However, they provided an essential ingredient. In many ways they were the glue that bound together those who were support staff and those who were interested in supporting staff. Two of the four support staff members with whom I shared a work group at COPE 3 had first become aware that there were others out there who shared their concerns and issues when they first stumbled across an issue of LIBRARY MOSAICS. This was not a big sample size, but who knows whether they represented two individuals or 50% of our energized support staff leaders?

Has separate but equal outlived its time? Much work remains to be done. Nevertheless it is a testament to how far we have come that we can discuss whether our profession continues to need such a niche voice or whether it is time to mainstream support staff issues into all organs of the library press. Thank you Ray, Charlie and Ed for having the vision, and being willing to pour your blood, sweat and tears into this often-lonely effort for all these years. By helping to unleash and channel the energy of library support staff, you have truly lifted our profession’s ability to provide access to information, inspiration and imagination to all our citizens.

The Last Issue of LIBRARY MOSAICS—The End of an Era

By Wendee Eyler, Editor, Associates (http://associates.ucr.edu)

Printed magazines are special—the cover with color pictures, the glossy pages, the illustrations, photos, and articles inside. Print journals can be tucked under your arm and the entire issue can be taken to lunch with you; with personal copies, you can make notes in the margins or even paperclip or dog-ear certain pages. The last issue of LIBRARY MOSAICS in November/December 2005 is the end of an era of print journals specifically for library support staff.

The rising cost of paper and postage and decreasing revenues for print journals has forced LIBRARY MOSAICS publisher Raymond Roney to cease publication of his bimonthly journal that is a milestone for library support staff. LIBRARY MOSAICS has continued bimonthly publication since vol. 1, no. 1 (Sept./Oct. 1989).

I am saddened by the end of LIBRARY MOSAICS, but Raymond, Charlie Fox as Editorial Director, Edward B. Martinez as Consulting Editor, and the entire editorial staff should be proud of their accomplishments as leaders in the explosion of information for and about library support staff.

LIBRARY MOSAICS was the spearhead for the collective voice of library support staff that moved to electronic format. LIBRARY MOSAICS was the print journal. As computers and the Internet became widely available to library staff, sharing information nationally and internationally became commonplace and, most importantly, free. In 1992, the inauguration of LIBSUP-L, an Internet discussion list in the United States for library paraprofessionals became available (http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/libsup-l). Associates: The Electronic Library Support Staff Journal, a no cost journal for library paraprofessionals that is published three times per year began in July 1994 and is continuing (http://associates.ucr.edu). In October 2000, Mary Niederlander started a comprehensive, informative, and professional website for library paraprofessionals called LibrarySupportStaff.com (http://librarysupportstaff.com). Blogs are the latest forum-supporting technical wizardry for providing information. One example is a blog hosted by Marianne Lenox called Library Supporter that is an open weblog dedicated to library support staff (http://librarysupporter.blogspot.com). The sites listed are only brief examples. The list of online media devoted to library support staff grows every day. But we’ll miss the print.

The time to say goodbye to LIBRARY MOSAICS seems too soon. I know I speak for everyone in wishing the best to our friends at LIBRARY MOSAICS and we all thank the people at LIBRARY MOSAICS for their excellent publication and devotion to library support staff.

My Piece of the Mosaic

By Rayna Hamre, University of California-Irvine

Over the years LIBRARY MOSAICS has given the paraprofessional community an inside look at the many facets of library clerks', technicians' and assistants' jobs. We have gotten to know each other better through "Staff Spotlights." Many of us have ridden the roller coaster of the 1990s with the introduction of the Internet and the dramatic changes in print-to-electronic materials. We have also welcomed younger paraprofessionals into our ranks and enjoyed their commitment and energy. LIBRARY MOSAICS has been a resource for them to enjoy. LIBRARY MOSAICS stimulated and enhanced our conversations with each other and the larger library world.

I first heard about LIBRARY MOSAICS at a paraprofessional conference in San Marcos, California in 1995. Ed Martinez spoke at a "Writing for Publication" breakout session. His encouraging attitude made me start thinking about writing an article. The idea stayed with me over the next few years, and the opportunity presented itself in 1998. "Reference Desk Partnering: Success Story," co-authored with Susan Lessick, was published in the November/December issue. The article evolved as a natural outgrowth of our participation in a California Library Association panel earlier that year. By 2005, I fulfilled one of my long-time dreams four times over. I am published, thanks to Ray Roney, Ed Martinez and Charlie Fox.

I have had business correspondence with Ray and Charlie over the years concerning the length of my articles, deadlines, etc. One of my favorite LIBRARY MOSAICS story has to do with Charlie Fox. Last March, I somehow hit the wrong key in my address book and sent him an e-mail that I had composed to my husband. I was asking about a plane reservation for an upcoming trip. I think Charlie was surprised to open an e-mail from me calling him "Dearest." We did get it straightened out, but he expressed his relief at not having a parallel life going on that he knew absolutely nothing about!

Many, many, thanks to Ray Roney for giving library paraprofessionals a voice in the publishing world. The commitment and encouragement from the LIBRARY MOSAICS ’ publisher and editors has greatly enhanced the professional life of this paraprofessional, and the entire library community.

Stumping for Support Staff: A Tribute to LIBRARY MOSAICS

By Jennifer S. Kutzik, Colorado State University Libraries, Fort Collins, CO, Jennifer.Kutzik@ColoState.Edu, http://lib.colostate.edu/lts/jk/jk.html

The Student Center plaza at Colorado State University is home to a massive tree base, which occupies a singular place of honor. Nicknamed "The Talking Stump," this wooden hulk is nearly 5 feet across and 3 feet high.* Over the years, a traveling circus of orators has used the stump to broadcast their message to any passers-by within earshot. Recently, the CSU Alumni Magazine listed hearing a speech at The Stump as one of the 50 things every CSU student must do before graduation. The topics vary from religion to race to politics to people. First Amendment rights are clearly upheld by allowing this activity, but the audiences are usually spotty and distracted, as they hurry across the plaza to classes or appointments. Could it be that the very nature of this free and open "pulpit" diminishes both the speaker and their message?

Library support staff were accustomed to using any platform available to communicate their news, even a stump. And the audiences were spotty and often distracted. Ray Roney, mastermind of LIBRARY MOSAICS, saw the need for a truly professional organ for support staff. He put his talents and his own money on the line to establish the magazine that dared to call itself THE magazine for support staff. Ray and his small staff have dedicated themselves since 1989 to publicizing the programs and activities of library workers to the larger library community. Over time, LIBRARY MOSAICS brought credibility to the people and issues contained within its pages. As the circulation of the magazine increased and more librarians became aware of its unique content, LIBRARY MOSAICS became the de-facto source for support staff information.

Although I was a reader and subscriber to LIBRARY MOSAICS for many years, I became a regular contributor in only the last 3 years. Kindly editor Charlie Fox encouraged my every submission, offering pointers and advice. He applauded when I made my deadlines, understood when I needed extra time and even tolerated my nearly pathological need for attention-grabbing article titles. We learned about each other, our library career paths and our connection to Bob Dylan. I found my focus shifting from just wanting to see my words in print (what writer doesn’t?) to aspiring to direct more attention to the issues of support staff. I attempted to make the varied readers of the magazine recognize the great strides that were being made on many fronts for all library workers. In short, writing about support staff for LIBRARY MOSAICS made me want to be a better writer so I could better tell our stories. The payoff wasn’t money, or fame or even much feedback from the readers. My big payoff was the kindly letter from Ray every time my submissions were published. Without fail, Ray would pen a personal note at the bottom of the form letter sent to all contributors. His words varied but inevitably said everything an author needs to hear: "Your support and contributions through the years have been greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. We are indeed grateful."

Instead of a stump, LIBRARY MOSAICS offered support staff a beautiful podium made of highly polished wood with a gleaming nameplate, just like those found in the most upscale hotels and convention centers of the world. The information being transmitted from that podium may have been identical to the messages coming from "The Talking Stump," but a professional platform gave our words credibility. When each glossy issue arrived, it announced with authority, "Stop, Observe, Read and Understand." Ray and the staff of LIBRARY MOSAICS, we are the ones who are indeed grateful for all you have done for us. May your lives continue to be enriched by the good will you have engendered with your fellow colleagues. Your ground-breaking and influential publication will be greatly missed.

*Photo of the Colorado State University Talking Stump available at: http://tinyurl.com/9h36z.

The Mosaics of Life

By Tinker Massey, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL

Just sitting down from a short presentation at a COLT Conference in New Orleans, I heard another speaker being introduced. Mr. Ed Martinez was giving a workshop on writing for publication. The information was thorough, the excitement was instilled in each word and exercise, and the air was filled with the essence of motivation. Who was this man? The wry sense of humor, broad smile and soft voice belonged to the editor of LIBRARY MOSAICS, the only print journal for support staff in libraries. When the session ended, I managed to monopolize him for some pertinent questions on writing articles. He was very instructive and invited me to join a small group of people writing for MOSAICS. I agreed with some trepidation and months later, I was sending him my first article. With Ed’s guidance, I became a fearless writer, approaching most subjects with great aggression and passion. I daresay I was not the only one he touched that day or others that followed.

Years from that, the memory fails me for exact time, I rounded an aisle in the vendor’s room at ALA after some successful presentations at COLT and saw the LIBRARY MOSAICS/COLT table. I was looking for Ed and found a delightful, soft-spoken gentleman who handed me some literature and began to speak about writing opportunities and techniques. When I introduced myself to him, he grinned and shook my hand. Ray spoke to me about how hard it was to find support staff who would risk writing for them. I vowed to help publicize his plight. I had had some touch with publishing ventures and people, but never had I met such laid back, gentle souls trying to gather the passion of a group in need of vocalization. We talked about possible reasons for the problems and some ways to stimulate support staff into action. The touch that day, reminded me of the dry period of my writing days and I promised Ray some future articles.

I’m not sure that I ever met Charlie Fox except on email, but that was an active engagement. Whenever I thought I could take a rest or head in a different direction, Charlie was there to stimulate me into writing action again. I bounced ideas off the sides of his computer and explored many new topics or different slants of old topics until I felt incomplete unless I wrote for him. He encouraged me to join a local writer’s group and use readers all over the world for feedback to my writings. Oddly enough, the last action motivated others to write and so the cycle spun round and round.

I’m not sure I can put dates or values to the trio’s impact and passion upon my writing. I know they were very important to my rehab from a stroke. I needed a reason to improve and be able to relearn the English language enough to convey my opinions and love for the profession. Ed, Ray and Charlie provided me with that impetus. I could never envision a world without LIBRARY MOSAICS, but I guess I will have to do so. Not only are we losing a great magazine, but three motivated men who have given their time, money and love to promote our voice to a higher level. There are probably stories far stronger than mine, but no greater a touch to my very soul. I applaud them personally, their expertise and their impact on all of us and the changes in our treatment.

I also applaud the continuous positive focus they have given our contributions to the profession and the support and spotlights they have shone on our everyday work lives. Their impact has helped so many new organizations to grow and they have plowed the fertile literary environment for journals like Associates to flourish. There are no words to truly thank them for all they have done. All I can say is thanks for the opportunities, the support and the encouragement to voice our needs, opinions and dreams. May you have restful days ahead, thinking about all the people you have touched in this world, but keep thinking of other ways we can change libraries. We will listen for your hopes and dreams now!

Regarding the Loss of LIBRARY MOSAICS

By Alice Poffinberger, Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) President, 2005-2006

In general:

The thing that has struck me most about the staff and publisher of LIBRARY MOSAICS has been their overwhelming enthusiasm for the writing project in general, but also for writing done by support staff. The almost-frantic, continual search for authors is a given in journals publishing, the support for the work of those authors is not. That is perhaps what we readers will miss the most with this particular publication’s demise, because it is so often lacking elsewhere in the library world: the absolute, unqualified, support demonstrated for support staff and the promotion of their voice within the profession, all documented by the physical presence of a magazine-with 4-color cover, ink, glossy paper, photos and advertising-entirely devoted to that constituency.

For me particularly:

I worked as an editor for a long time, and my training was excellent in its emphasis on respect for both the author’s work and the reader’s project. I was taught to appreciate how difficult the writing process can be, and to assist the authors in their writing, all in order to make the final piece better for the readers. However, this made writing my own material even more difficult (I edited myself as I wrote), so the process of writing became a correspondingly greater trial for me.

LIBRARY MOSAICS is the place where I first published my own writing. The initial piece I wrote was "just" a short summary of conference sessions, but word count limitations combined with being forced to find something productive to say to those who were not conference attendees made it a particular challenge for me. My second piece, a longer article, was more of a persuasion piece, again a challenge and a departure for me in that I’m more accustomed to writing scholarly works.

For those who have not crafted even a short paragraph for publication, you cannot imagine the pleasure of having the final piece in print, with accompanying references to your article in the Library Literature database (H.W. Wilson). My colleagues have also commented favorably on these articles (we have several published writers of novels and short stories in my department, so their good opinion means a lot to me), so I know that publication adds something, perhaps indefinable, to my professional standing here. So, I have moved from being an editor to being a sole author; if I still struggle with the writing process, at least I now long for the time, reason, and energy to craft my own words into something that may potentially see publication. I have everyone at LIBRARY MOSAICS to thank for that.

LIBRARY MOSAICS: Our Champion

By Julia D. Ree, University of California-Riverside

I had heard rumors earlier this year, but the reality of it all did not hit me until I actually read it in print: Due to rising costs, it becomes necessary to cease publication of LIBRARY MOSAICS with the November/December issue.

In spite of the rumors, the finality of reading it was quite a shock. It can’t be! For sixteen years this publication has been a resource for Library Support Staff. For many of those years, it was the only place we could go, to learn, to teach each other, and ultimately, to understand that no matter where we live, no matter where we work, we are all facing the same challenges.

LIBRARY MOSAICS and its insistence in dealing with Library Support Staff issues has paved the way for other publications, like “Associates,” to begin and thrive. Other library related journals rarely spotlighted Support Staff before the introduction of LIBRARY MOSAICS. More often now, the issues that face Library Support Staff are being addressed by the very same journals that wouldn’t take the time for us before. LIBRARY MOSAICS was a first for the library world. But the magazine was hardly a first for its publisher, Raymond Roney.

The thing is, you can’t say “LIBRARY MOSAICS” without also saying “Ray Roney.” They are one and the same, and while the magazine has had an incredible editorial staff, it is Ray who is the heart and soul of this publication.

Almost 40 years ago, Ray, along with a group of other Library Directors from Library Technical schools heard a cry in the wilderness. “Help us!” said the voices. “We work in libraries, but we are not respected for the very professional work that we do. We are not paid well, and yet we are called upon to do so much. We try to work as a team, but this teamwork seems to threaten some. We have value! But we are not valued by everyone.”

Ray and the others heard these cries and worked to address these very real issues. They began the Council on Library/Media Technicians (COLT). It became apparent that a formal publication as a means to communicate was necessary and again, Ray answered the call. This time, the answer was LIBRARY MOSAICS, the first and only print publication, by, for, and about Library Support Staff.

For Sixteen years, LIBRARY MOSAICS has given a voice to those who would otherwise not have one. Consider what it was like, sixteen years ago. Can you imagine a magazine devoted to Library Support Staff issues?!? And ONLY Library Support Staff? Can you imagine 16 years ago having a magazine that gave Library Support Staff an outlet? Ray did. But it did not stop there.

Ray is a giving man. He is not afraid to believe in others and make them better people for that belief. To Ray, we are all VIPs, and he never let you forget that. He made it his life’s work to be an advocate for Library Support Staff. But it wasn’t enough for him to do this, he wanted his family to also be fully involved. You may not know it, but his wife Ruth is the behind-the-scenes expert on the LIBRARY MOSAICS subscription lists, and so much more.

In the 14 years that I have known him, there was never a time when Ray was not a driving force for Library Support Staff issues. He was still serving as an Executive Board member of COLT when I first met him, even though his responsibility to COLT should have ended years before. He continued to speak at COLT functions. He initiated the awards for the Outstanding Library

Support Staff Person of the Year, and the Outstanding Library Supporter of Support Staff. Other library periodicals may have some kind of similar award now, but Ray initiated the first one. Others simply follow in his footsteps.

Ray has continued to embrace our struggle. When asked, he would always provide positive support. His speeches are inspirational! He has come to the rescue of many a workshop and presentation. I believe that the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of COLT survived as long as it did solely because of Ray’s commitment to Library Support Staff issues. He would often send his editorial staff—the incredible Ed Martinez and the extraordinary Charlie Fox—to speak to Support Staff groups. Whether it was with a relatively small request, to send sample issues of LIBRARY MOSAICS, or a huge request, to provide free passes to the ALA exhibit hall for an entire conference, Ray was always there to make a difference in the lives of Support Staff. This is his legacy and is forever intertwined with LIBRARY MOSAICS.

I was fortunate enough to write a few articles for Ray during these past 14 years, as a member of the Executive Board of COLT and as an individual, wanting to express humor or reflection. In each case, my submissions were joyfully accepted. This is the kind of positive environment that Ray has always nurtured.

I am grateful that Ray answered the call. I will miss seeing LIBRARY MOSAICS. I doubt even I realize how much I will miss it, until January rolls around and I begin to notice an absence. In the sixteen years that LIBRARY MOSAICS has been in publication, we have seen many of the issues for Library Support Staff discussed. These issues of recognition, professionalism, worth, team-building, respect, salary, etc., are still problems that continue to plague us. We have been truly fortunate that Ray decided to shine a light on these issues and to champion our causes. Who will be our champion now?

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