Turns out I’m an extrovert. I know you are as shocked as I am to find this out, but I love people. Not all people, mind you, but most people. I love talking to people, laughing with people, and showing people how to do cool things on the internet, which brings me around to the topic of this post: training. Yes, once again, I have something to say on the subject, but I am more than a little excited to see a vendor reiterating what I have been saying for a long time: it’s far better to have a librarian training patrons on how to use services, than a vendor. Continue reading 'Who Should Teach Your Patrons to Fish?'»
When I was eight years old, I had an excellent Wonder Woman costume that I would wear for nearly every formal occasion. At one point I even started to believe that my wrist cuffs had special powers. Basically, I came to believe I was a superhero who moonlighted as a second grade student. I was thinking about this the other day when one of the librarians here told me about an article highlighting 20 heroic librarians. I have to admit that I have never seen the movie The Librarian (for shame) but the list includes some pretty awesome literary and movie characters that play librarian by day, world protectors by night. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Nothing makes a library cooler than a collection of books about the occult. Especially if you have already read Kardashian Konfidential and you need a spell to get four hours of your life back.
[editor’s note: Rex Libris is one awesome librarian dude, I recommend the comics.]
Call me a Luddite, but personally I tend to agree with Nicholson Baker’s diatribe against e-books. They’re just weird, but again I’m willing to admit that this attitude threatens my already dismal ranking on the cool-o-meter. Despite my opinions e-books are here to stay and they are boosting library usage all over the country.
Digital book distributor Overdrive reported that library e-book checkouts have seen an increase of over 200% in 2011. The fact is e-books are getting patrons back into the library. The American Library Association has even launched a blog that is all about e-content, named aptly E-Content. While still in its nascent stages, the blog promises to update readers on all issues related to e-content, including the controversial privacy debate. Lexis and West have jumped on the bandwagon. West even provides an option for renting casebooks on ereaders. This is a new product outlet that vendors can’t afford to ignore and neither can we. Continue reading 'The E-Reader Revolution'»
With another January upon us Public Domain works that may have been, if not for current Copyright Law, are 1955 works. Creativity, art, access, imagination, commercialism, and so much more could have taken advantage of the following [list from Duke University’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain]:
Not only is eating right alongside breathing on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, eating has become a national pastime, nay, a sport. When I was a kid it was Hungry Man dinners and so long as the peas didn’t touch the mashed potatoes, I was happy. Now I want duck pâté canapés with huckleberry compote and challah French toast with hazelnut mascarpone. All the better if the huckleberries are artisanal and grown on a commune by a man named Sutra. Continue reading 'An Appetizing Archive'»
Did you read the one about the comedian/librarian, Meredith Myers? It seems that Ms. Myers, a former publicist-turned-comedian-turned-librarian, was looking for ways to gain library experience and signed up to do some volunteer work fundraising for the West Hollywood branch of the L.A. County Public Library. Since the newly minted librarian was unable to find a library job, she offered to promote literacy and libraries while perfecting her comedy routine, StandUpLibrarian.com. Too bad, her career plans back-fired.
Myers was ready to volunteer at the new library branch when she was offered a job there as a temporary library page at $9.25 an hour. She had just begun her page gig when a couple of columnists from the Los Angeles Timeslearned about Myers and her plans to staff the West Hollywood Book Fair. The Times staff wanted to interview her about her comedian/librarian pursuits, however, supervisors from the county library informed her that she could be interviewed, but was forbidden to say she was a page at the West Hollywood branch.
In the end, Meredith Myers lost her job as a library page, but she ended up donating her first and only paycheck to the West Hollywood Library fund.
What sort of career advice do you have for Meredith Myers?
Hey folks! I have some rather startling news. Despite what some retailers might think, between Halloween and Christmas there is this rumored holiday called “Thanksgiving”. (True story: I was at Walmart at midnight this past weekend and they were playing Christmas music. It wasn’t enough that I was at Walmart, but I had to listen to that awful Paul McCartney Christmas song while buying a ladder and light bulbs.) Thanksgiving is the time when we stop and reflect on the things we are grateful for, whether it be friends, family or E! green-lighting another season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. And even one library system is getting in the spirit by helping their fellow man. Continue reading '‘Tis the Season (No, not that one)'»
This is not quite an action figure like Nancy Pearl, but it’s still cool, and you can make your own bookmobile. Also related is a relatively new national holiday, which will be in its third iteration: National Bookmobile Day. Which will be held April 13, 2011. It always falls on the Wednesday of National Library Week. Here is a short video, including still photos of bookmobiles, past and present, produced for the second annual Bookmobile Day in 2011.
One of the things I love about my line of work is that I get to wear ridiculously uncomfortable high heels on the job. Such is the life of performing e-reference and e-training throughout the day. I especially enjoy presenting at practice group meetings on video-conference. Much like newscasters, hair and make-up are key. Despite my temptations to kick up my legs and show off my shoes, I refrain.
If you aren’t barging your way into practice group meetings on a regular basis, then you’re not doing enough outreach. No matter how many times you tell your attorneys how to get to your homepage on the Intranet, they will forget. And since we’re frequently subscribing to new services from time to time, we’ve got to spread the word. Continue reading 'The Librarian Whac-A-Mole'»
When I first got my current job directly out of library school, I was scared out of my mind. My first professional job and I land at the biggest law firmin the region. Despite being confident in the knowledge I acquired in the legal research courses I took during library school, I still felt unprepared. In the weeks leading up to starting, I stayed up late into the night reading Law 101. One of its Amazon reviews described it as 3 years of law school in 368 pages and I was determined to “graduate” before my first day on the job. The first time an associate asked me about “motions in limine,” I knew the term related to evidence, even if I didn’t know what it meant! Continue reading 'Let’s do it!'»
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