Page 233 - Training for Librarianship Library Work As a Career

CHAPTER XX

General Conclusions

In his essay entitled On a Certain Blind-
ness in Human Beings, Professor William
James makes clear that only as one partici-
pates actually and sympathetically in the
experiences of others can he understand and
realize those experiences. The detached
individual and the unmoved onlooker remain
blind to the real significance of things and
of life about them. " The right way of seeing
each other's work " requires the sympathetic
entering into the occupational experience of
others. The first essential is to do the work
that others do. In other words, life must be
lived to be known and interpreted.
He who would pursue a chosen task effec-
tively must understand it intelligently in all
its details, and be capable of interpreting it
sympathetically to others. This he can do
only if he has had occupational experience in
the task. Therefore the would-be librarian