OK, OK, lest I be cast in the light of practicing ageism, or generationism, with the final wording in my last post let me assure you I most certainly am not. Though I’m firmly a GenX gal born in 1972, I have two compelling pieces of evidence. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Exhibits A and B: my parents, Don and Roseen Lynch. Dad will turn 77 in August, and mom wants to celebrate her 70th birthday next spring by walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. Yep, my parents are the same age as those of my collegues 20 years my senior. And no, I’m not a “happy surprise” child – my sisters are just 2 and 4 years older than I. My parents just got married later in life (something that’s becoming much more the norm now, but not so much in the mid 1960s…)
Anyway, I’m sure mom is dying that I’ve told the world her age (dad probably doesn’t care too much) – but I’ve done so to illustrate a few points. First of all, it’s thanks to my parents that my favorite TV channel is Turner Classic Movies, that my husband and I use phrases like “Hey Toot – Let’s Scoot” in our daily conversations, and that I think big band music is just swell (so is Johnny Mathis, mom). In short, I have a fairly good grasp on the fact that just cause it’s new doesn’t mean it’s necessarily better.
But just as important as the rich experiences I gained from my parent’s different point of view while growing up amidst a sea of “Boomer” children, is my relationship with them now. I see how my dad is positively enamored with all things Google, and it’s ability to connect him with everything and anything. Dad’s a ”everyday is a fresh new learning experience” kinda guy, and his overflowing bookcase is evidence of this. I told him over the weekend about LibraryThing, how he could catalog his beloved books online and share his thoughts about them with others, and the man’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. And mom, despite her fairly advanced RA, has a burning desire to master the mouse and has attended her local library’s “Beginning Internet” class more than once to absorb all the info. After helping dad with LibraryThing this weekend, we’ll set her up a Gmail account, so that she can communicate with her daughters, other family, and friends without having to rely on my dad to check his account.
My parents are living proof that age is just a number. And more just like them are your library customers.
There are plenty of librarians that are excited and motivated by change and challenges. A great article in Library Journal highlights 5 women who are “Driving Library Technology”, and guess what? These librarians aren’t all young whipper snappers.
IT DOESN’T MATTER – their unbounded passion for our profession is inspiring for all ages.
Hi – couldn’t help but add that my soon-to-be-87 year old mom and I email each other every day. She still volunteers at the library, reads “The New York Times” online, and puts holds on her local library’s website….you’re right, age has nothing to do with it!!
Dear Leaping:
I came round aboutly to your web site and caught Don and Roseen Lynch — not a common name combination.
So the question is would your maternial grandfather be John Grimes [1892-1962], born in Ulster County, New York and maternal grandmother Helen Gorman [1897-1980], born in Ballymahon, Longford, in the Irish Republic. If so, let me know. Thanx.