I have not posted in a while. Working twelve hour days is quite tiring at times… On another note I have been reading quite a good deal on millenials. I guess the reason this topic interests me is because I feel it so personally. Being born in 1983 I am in the generation Y area. In this way I suppose I have a unique opportunity to connect to the student because of my age. I have come up with some dos and don’ts for my generation.

1. Do notice the problems we have. If a students keeps misunderstanding like say something in a handout or website, look at again.
2. DON’T blame the students for not understanding something. Even if you do not say it and are thinking it, it comes across. Remember grabbing the patrons trust is like the old restaurant adage. “It takes forever to build up a successful eatery, and one cockroach to kill it.” In other words one little thing can destroy ay chance of trust.
3. DO listen to what the students are needing in their studies.
4. DON’T be close minded. This includes adding technology. Sometimes librarians are so sure that Library 2.0 tools will work that when they do not, suddenly it is the population’s fault. What looks good on a supermodel does not look good on the girl next door.
5. DON’T treat us whippersnappers like another species. We may do different things, but we still need help. Also DON’T be fooled and think we know how to find electronic resources because we somehow were born with magical knowledge.
6. DO DO DO remember that although we may see the library differently, remember that we still come to the library for the same reasons that our ancestors came: “To find information that can better our lives.” Libraries are about people and their information needs. The tools may have changed (once the card catalog and typed cards were revolutionary) but the mission has not.

I am a generation Y and I am a librarian, hear me roar….