notes on a utopian information system

I'm writing my paper on feminism/libraries/radical organizing [which is singlehandedly ruining my chances at finishing big bang, and also distracting me from the very important task of haggling for over-priced Beirut tickets for the July 9th show at the Phoenix in Toronto], and I found this passage from 1972 in Revolting Librarians:

We need to encourage more flexibility so that people can split the same job (within the day, week, month or year) rather than having one affluent but drained by the system while another has all the time and energy for creativity but no means of support. The Radical Historians' Caucus presented such an idea to the American Historical Association as an antidote to the current recession, and a similar proposal was made at the ALA Conference this June. Recession or not, job-splitting would help us all.

We also need to create and support alternative jobs in our profession. Much important work for change is currently performed by volunteers holding full-time jobs. Not only does this place a heavier burden on them, but it also naturally makes the results less than satisfactory. Can't at least some of this work become paid labor? The money for it can be raised from a fund to which people contribute rather than pay ALA dues, or in which they invest rather than pay the part of their tax that goes toward war. Again, we all would benefit from spreading the work and the wealth.

Start working now toward these distant dreams, but don't forget that special one of your own. Maybe it's a bookstore cum restaurant cum cultural center cum crisis and referral service all together in a big old Victorian where you and all your friends both live and work and there's a garden in the back, a cat who likes to sleep in the most comfortable chair, people make good music and pretty things and there are always new faces and new ideas and . . . .

It's so apt it kills me. I'm volunteering for my own employer because my actual job doesn't allow for me to push for any real change in this massive godforsaken system. In January, unemployed, I had the time and energy, but now that I'm 'affluent' by hippie standards and drained by the system, my creativity is shot. Or at least on hold. Until school is done and work is fulltime, and then I'll be even more drained/affluent? Idk. Librarians from 1972 are trying to warn me of something, but I'm not too sure what the answer is.

Anyway, my point here is that I want to pay a lot of cash monies to get to Beirut. TO people, you are on notice: I am comin to ur city in July [if I can get my hot paws on these tickets].