In this month’s issue of American Libraries, I came across an interesting article by Jen Waller entitled, "Consider the Jaybraian". As a 2009 MLIS candidate at the University of Washington Information School, Jen’s article highlights the importance of fresh eyes in a library. A quote that I found interesting in the article was from Jen’s boss who told her several years ago that within Jen’s new job as a manager, she had six months to make change. According to him, after that time period she would "start seeing the same things the rest of us see day in and day out."
Jen points out that new librarians should be encouraged to be innovative and that the solutions they come up with should be heard out. While more seasoned librarians may be quick to discount these suggestions by saying that it has already been tried or it won’t work within the environment, this kind of negative attitude benefits no one. As a seasoned librarian, be open to new ideas and be willing to work together with the new professional to implement the valuable solutions that will improve your day-to-day prcocesses and the organization as a whole.