Bridging the professional divide before the digital

Philippine librarianship is as divided as the archipelago. It didn't help that the Philippine Librarians' Association Inc., the professional association for librarians is now composed of regional representatives, which by the way took years to be realized.

We, as professionals, are divided by differing values, beliefs, and motivation. While we all cry for improving our lot as professional librarians and demand to be recognized as such, we are not guided by a vision on how we want to see ourselves and how we want others to see us.

The malignancy that permeates the bureaucracy also afflicts the profession but who will stand up and admit it? Don't we have a culture of denial; that admitting a mistake is a sign of weakness?

We are such a small group that in a social network analysis, the six degrees theory could be cut down to two. Yet, why are we so divided? What is it with power, with authority that makes us think we are indispensable? We do not have a monopoly of knowledge even if we've been in the profession for ages.

Why is it difficult for us to let go of our titles? Our positions? Our appointments? We cannot move on if we don't let go. Remember the story of the monkey whose hand got stuck in the jar? There was only one way to liberate his hand. That is if he let go of the thing he wanted most in his hand.

But I am the eternal optimist and I know someday whatever divides the profession will eventually be bridged. Who knows, the digital divide might even be the unifying factor?

Oh send out your light and your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your tabernacle. (Ps 43:3)