Code4Lib Epiphany
I had a bit of an epiphany lately in my thinking about Code4Lib (what it is, what it should be, etc.) It’s all thanks to a post by Ed (who has the ability to shift my thinking every now and then).
I’ve always been of the mind that Code4Lib is an experiment… that it shouldn’t be centralized, organized, etc., and it’s colored my thoughts on other Code4Lib-ish issues (conferences, projects, etc.) I’ve ranted on at times that all these Code4Lib-ish things should be as Code4Lib is. I don’t think so anymore. In fact, I think thinking in this way was sort of putting the cart before the horse. I think thinking like that was actually trying to see Code4Lib in a centralized way — see it as a single thing.
My new approach to Code4Lib is that, if I don’t have a strong enough preference about something to actually get involved with it, I’m going to refrain from commenting unless, of course, opinions are solicited. Then I’ll just offer an opinion and go on my way. Take, for instance, the Code4Lib Planet. Sure, I have opinions but, no, it’s not something I really want to take up at this time. For that reason, I should just let the editors do what they want (which is what Ed said in his post basically).
In a way, this is approaching activities in the same way that I would an open source project. So what if the editors do something I don’t find useful. There is nothing stopping me from setting up my own Planet of Code4Lib authors for my own use if I feel so strongly about an issue. If I find an open source project that is close to what I want, but not quite there, it makes more sense to use it as I need to, modifying it as needed (rather than to try and sway the project’s owners away from their well-considered path).
This doesn’t mean I shouldn’t offer suggestions if solicited, or provide feedback about how something might be more useful to me as a random user, but there’s no need to feel some sort of distributed ownership over anything just because it’s Code4Lib-related. That just gets in the way of those who are already doing great work. If there is a project related to Code4Lib that I want to work on, I can work out the sticky issues with those who also want to put in the time.
As with most epiphanies, this isn’t really a big revelation. Most people were probably already thinking this way. I guess when you realize you’ve been deluded, though, it seems like a burst of light, voices on high, or something like that.
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