K.G. Schneider

I have to say I'm quite surprised to see LJ supporting this. - Jill, Superhero Librarian

I musta' missed something. Did LJ give the AL a column? - David Rothman (☤)

David: yup! - joshua m. neff

Link? - David Rothman (☤)

That seems really wrong to allow an anonymous columnist. - David Rothman (☤)

http://www.libraryjournal.com/... - joshua m. neff

LJ boycott? - Jill, Superhero Librarian

I'm thinkin' that one isn't gonna last real long. The library world has enough trouble with *me*, and I'm a pussycat compared to AL. - Dorothea Salo

There's a lot wrong with this. Anonymity doesn't bother me, but I do demand some content and benefit from reading something. Never got that from AL. - Jason Griffey via twhirl

Better than boycott- All Movers and Shakers post their disappointment in LJ. - David Rothman (☤)

Yeah, I think voice will make more of a difference than boycott in this particular situation. - Dorothea Salo

Be polite, though... don't be the anonytwit who's been all over RoyT lately. - Dorothea Salo

draft: Dear Library Journal, Are you kidding me? You MUST be kidding me, right? I admit that I have, on occassion, read posts on the blog of the Annoyed Librarian (no link love here- Google it if you want to). He/she is sometimes funny and sometimes I even agree with him/her. But for a supposedly reputable publication to give a column to an negative writer who only ever screeches criticisms, never offering a single bit of constructive insight? And who doesn't even have the courage to write under his/her own name? How do I give my "Movers & Shakers" recognition back? I don't want to be associated with the trade mag that loans credibility to the AL. Sincerely, -David Rothman - David Rothman (☤)

That's a weak draft. Help? - David Rothman (☤)

Any chance that AL has been a M&S honoree at some point? - Julian

C Ú ƦIƠųƧ CĦľʆD, I really doubt it is that seedy. The AL, catering as she does to the lowest common deniominator, gets readers. - David Rothman (☤)

The AL is at the cross-section between the traditionalist and the resentful. I think that chunk of the Venn diagram is smaller than LJ apparently thinks it is. - Dorothea Salo

Dear LJ: I cant believe you were *this* desperate! The AL?! Why didn't you *call* me, LJ? I'd've written something coherent and *useful* for you... - ωαřмaiden

The more I think about this, the more I think it's just clicks they want. There's no denying that the AL is far, far more read than most librarian blogs. - Jason Griffey via twhirl

AL must really have wanted the Benjamins for the complete sacrifice of street cred to have been worthwhile. And LJ must really have wanted the attention. Can't wait for AL's M&S wrap-up. Should be special. - Greg Schwartz

I'm not surprised at the response to AL, but, frankly, most of the people who I've asked over the years to blog for LJ have soundly rejected the idea because we're commercial. I don't always agree with AL, but she does take aim at some of librarianship's sacred cows, and she has full license to continue doing so at LJ. Besides, everyone always tells us LJ is way too serious. I'd be glad to balance AL's blog with another. And it doesn't have to be anonymous. email me. Francine (fialkoff@reedbusiness.com) - Francine Fialkoff

Francine, I don't think it is possible to "balance" your giving of credibility to a negative and anonymous writer. - David Rothman (☤)

Dudes, I'll keep it cool. And they aren't paying me that much. "Benjamin" singular is more like it. - Steve Lawson

thank you for saying what I've been thinking for years, maybe now that someone with like you says it, people will take notice - Bobbi Newman

Francine, I know 15 other people who would write for LJ, shake things up, be positive AND have more legit cred than AL. AL is damagingly negative and that is the last thing libraries need right now. Dorthea Salo above said "AL is at the cross-section between the traditionalist and the resentful" and I agree. We need no more of that in our profession. Poor choice (though it will get you attention for sure). - Michael Porter

If LJ is anything like the pubs I've worked for, they're going for hit counts and are basically not going to care what we all think about the AL. I am, therefore, not going to spend time emailing LJ or commenting on this further. (*Realizes she is totally failing at that by posting this. . .* Do I contradict myself? Very well, then, I contradict myself. - laura x

Gosh, I'm sure AL and LJ are hating all this attention. - Steve Lawson

Can't wait to rake in all that dough! Oops! Did I out myself? - RyaП Ðeschamps

I'm a M&S and I disagree with "shame on you" commentary to LJ. They are a revenue-based, highly editorialized magazine and their role is to surface and publish the diverse multiplicity of voices in the profession. I don't see anything "bad" about their publishing AL (even if I agree with KGS that it's toxic, negative, etc.). Also, we should not wait for LJ to contact us about blogging *or* writing. We should be proactively filling their inboxes with so much good stuff that *they're* overwhelmed! :x - Chrystie Hill

And while I'm at it, here's a plug to publish the volumes of good stuff we all seem willing to write at WJ (under your own creative commons licensing). Just go to any section, hit the documents tab, upload your stuff to your heart's content. - Chrystie Hill

I look to LJ for inspiration, innovation, and information, the AL provides non of these, so I say again - shame on LJ - Bobbi Newman

Chrystie Hill- you agree that the AL is toxic and negative...but DON'T think it is a bad thing that LJ is going to give her credibility. Y'lost me there. Diversity is good, but I stand my position that there's a difference between tolerance of diversity and tolerance of assholes. - David Rothman (☤)

I kind of always thought of AL as the Fox News of the library blog world. I know people read it, but those are the people I don't really want to know. Not sure if LJ changes that equation any. - Jason Griffey via twhirl

I don't think that LJ gives AL credibility. AL's views speak for themselves, as with counter views. I'd like to see more of this sort of thing surfaced so that we could have more productive debates w/in the profession. I am personally tired of like-minded people talking at each other. For example, although I was personally offended when AL took a shot at me, it pushed me to be a better thinker/writer and I appreciated the push (ultimately, though not the tone). - Chrystie Hill

I'm very shocked by this. He/she is so nasty and not constructive in his criticisms - it really puts our profession in a bad light. Not to mention, the writing really just sucks. What was LJ thinking?? Especially when there are so many really good, thought-provoking, intelligent librarians who would be able to provide engaging, respectful, and professional blog-style writing for their site. - Laura Savastinuk

"I don't think that LJ gives AL credibility." Seriously? That seems like quite the indictment of LJ. If being published by one of the leading publications in our industry doesn't lend credibility, I'm not sure what does. - Greg Schwartz

I can see where the "won't blog for money" thing is a barrier. I certainly won't take money to blog (though I'll enter a contest in a good cause, cf Open Access Day), and in all honesty, I didn't realize LJ's bloggers were paid (um, LJ? got a disclaimer anywhere about that?). That doesn't mean that bringing AL on was a good decision, but I guess I see where it comes from. Money can't buy ya love. - Dorothea Salo

I can't help but see Fonzie on water skis right now. AL must be the shark. - MLx