WebJunction

One Librarian, Many Lives

John DeBacher is the Public Library Administration consultant in Wisconsin, a position he had held for two-and-a-half years. Before that he was director of the Monona Public Library, a small public library in the metropolitan area of Madison, Wisconsin. Prior to that, he served as director of the Big Rapids Community Library in west central Michigan. And he got his start as a children’s librarian at the Bridgeport Branch (now the Richard J. Daley Branch) of the Chicago Public Library. He earned his library degree from the University of Chicago in 1987. In a past life he worked as a book designer and production manager for a book publisher, a university press, and a startup software company.

So John has worked in public libraries in three different states—in large city, in a rural area, and in a suburban community. But now, instead of service to the public, John advises library directors and trustees. Instead of selecting books, he drafts guidelines to operations. Instead of roaming the book stacks, now he works in a cubicle. John's love of Japanese Samurai films has apparently colored his self-image, and as a librarian he had adopted the persona of a samurai: tirelessly devoted, fearless, alert and ready to serve. "Now that I am a state consultant, I think of myself as a ronin—a masterless samurai drifting between confrontations, joining in when necessary to win a battle or protect some library turf."

An array of consultancy projects

DeBacher also sometimes refers to himself as a recovering library director, and claims to be working on a 12-Step program to assist others in the recovery process. Until that’s available, he has worked on a project called Administrative Essentials, a sort of owner's manual for new directors of small public libraries. "Few who wind up in the job of library director have been adequately prepared for the task. And there are enough serious responsibilities that you don’t want to learn by trial and error." 

Recently, John fell under the spell of WebJunction and took a break from working on Administrative Essentials to serve as trainer for Wisconsin's Rural Library Sustainability Project. During a moment of inspiration (or distraction) during the project training in Seattle, he dubbed the series of 10 regional workshops Greener Pastures. "I thought the name not only conveyed the pastoral nature of Wisconsin as the Dairy State, but also carried with it the notion of a better place we all hope to get to—often on the other side of a metaphorical bridge guarded by an evil troll."

In keeping with the rural theme, the workshops were assisted by Esmeralda, the crowd-controlling chicken (seen above, in John's hands). "When grasped by the neck, she makes awful choking noises, sure to get the attention of wayward workshop participants," John explains. Esmeralda's task list is specific: "Unlike many public library directors, she does not do filing, answer reference questions, or replenish paper supplies in the restroom." But she will play the 'chicken dance' polka upon request.

DeBacher found the workshops not only seemingly helpful for the 260 library directors who attended them, but also useful to himself in his job. "Even though I had a personal sense of the duties, challenges, and responsibilities of serving as a library director in Wisconsin, the workshops gave me the opportunity to meet the directors throughout the state and listen to their unique situations and local issues."

Despite his overall sense of accomplishment in regards to the workshop series, John also can't resist poking fun at himself. The diarama shown below, he explains, "shows me in my workplace, with some of my satisfied Greener Pastures customers." 

Future for the ronin

What's next? In addition to his regular duties, John is temporarily filling a vacancy and addressing issues with public library certification and continuing education. "There's rarely a dull moment as a state library consultant. Though I miss new books, children, and other direct patron services, I'm grateful that I can help others address the administrative challenges that go along with providing public library services in Wisconsin. And I am especially happy to pass along the tools and resources offered through WebJunction, TechAtlas, and the MaintainIT project."

DeBacher claims to be too old for Library 2.0. "I've always been an early adopter of technology solutions to streamline, automate and improve library services. But the removal of face-to-face leaves me with a feeling of groping around in the dark and passing along something intangible and inchoate. I don't think I'm cut out to be a virtual librarian—I hope being a ronin librarian instead can help keep library places and people going in Wisconsin."