'Fotched-On' is a term used by mountain folk when referring to Settlement School teachers who left the comforts of home and hearth to navigate uncharted clan-type communities within the Appalachia region at the turn of the 20th century. The actual phrase is "fetched in;" however, regional dialect overtook the pronounciation and configured it into "fotched on." The phrase refers to these teachers having been "fetched" from the city - or outside the settlements - and placed in rural, isolated communities within the region to create educational outreach programs.
'Fotched-On' is used here as a phrase exemplifying a modern concept of maverick librarians who promote an eclectic form of librarianship. Through moving out of metropolitan areas - and the traditional concepts of librarianship - a 'fotched-on' librarian is one who is "called-out" as a type of circuit-out-rider into remote, rural regions which do not have close proximity to a library system. A 'fotched-on' librarian is one who either promotes, establishes, or builds up a non-traditional information center for communities which may or may not have existing library services available.
This blog is being designed to indicate and establish an ongoing interest in special libraries, the special needs of communities requiring customized library services, and the solo or one person information professional who asserts the marketing and advocacy necessary for the creation, implementation, and survival of these unique and specialized emerging units of the modern library system.
More about 'Fotched-On' is available at this link:
http://www.ket.org/settlement/setschools_01.html
This image is available at:
http://maqonline.org/
