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Rolling 2007 librarian/library assistant thread

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Food in the libraries, Java in the catalogs...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 23:32 (eighteen years ago)

Java client? I am not sure what that means in this case. Nothing has popped up that says that. (Does it show up if you aren't doing cataloging?)

― R_S (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 23:34 (eighteen years ago)

...and all the non-fiction, alphabetically, together. Really, why the heck not? (xpost)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 23:34 (eighteen years ago)

oh hooray for ye'old ILX with nu-code!

Are you using SIRSI's Unicorn? It used to be the dull grey, and then got upgraded to look like Microsoft Outlook.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 23:37 (eighteen years ago)

I saw someone eat a six-inch sub right before the Christmas break on the quiet floor.

I also bitched out a student yapping on her cellphone RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE `QUIET FLOOR - SWITCH CELLPHONES OFF" SIGN. "I'll call you back, Lessie; some rude guy just bitched me out," she said into the phone. "I'M RUDE?!" I yell. She does a raspeberry and boards the elevator.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 23:39 (eighteen years ago)

We found a bunch of empty pizza boxes on a quiet floor in the library too. Apparently, before I started working here, we had a phantom defecator in the stacks. Gross.

― molly d (mollyd), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 23:41 (eighteen years ago)

Are you using SIRSI's Unicorn?

I feel really idiotic, but even though I use it every day, it's all sort of a blur. I remember "Unicorn," but I think we got an update. Ours freezes up a lot, but apparently we got the budget version.

― R_S (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 23:49 (eighteen years ago)

No no! It's a completely forgettable progam. The icon says for the updated program says "Workflows Java." Freezing up a lot sounds incredibly familiar.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 23:52 (eighteen years ago)

Ours never freezes up. I wish they'd make it look prettier though. And we have it on two different computers, and the icons are like moved around and shit on each computer so it always takes me longer than it should to check someone's movies out.

― less-than three's Christiane F. (drowned in milk), Thursday, 4 January 2007 00:10 (eighteen years ago)

It's quiet here the day before winter quarter starts. TOO quiet.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 4 January 2007 16:22 (eighteen years ago)

It's quiet here too. I love it!

I have a meeting to go to in a little bit, for a project team that's trying to keep itself from becoming utterly useless. I am going through my notes from the last meeting to see what I need to do (meeting is in 10 minutes -- glad to see my grad school procrastination skills are still in full effect), and all I have written down is: "Office of Dead Initiatives." Way to go, Molly.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 4 January 2007 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

Speaking of SirsiDynix, it was just bought out by a private company.
Hopefully it will get better, because it can't get any worse.

http://www.coffeecode.net/archives/108-Musing-about-SirsiDynixs-new-investment-partner.html

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 4 January 2007 21:19 (eighteen years ago)

Haha, so will this turn everything upside down for half a year like it did when we were forced to switched to SIRSI?

― R_S (RSLaRue), Thursday, 4 January 2007 22:43 (eighteen years ago)

My library has been closed for two weeks!

I really don't wanna do another literature search on wound care or obesity, but I know that's what I'll be doing within a couple of days of being back.

Might go through some of the old stock and get some materials for making collages with.

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:36 (eighteen years ago)

Hopefully, SIRSI will just stop existing, and then we can all get on board with ALEPH or Innovative.

jel! I'm jealous! We get the bare minimum of time off here. It's teh sux.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:40 (eighteen years ago)

Hopefully, SIRSI will just stop existing, and then we can all get on board with ALEPH or Innovative.

That would be awesome! I don't have high hopes, though.

― Beth S. (Ex Leon), Friday, 5 January 2007 18:08 (eighteen years ago)

Me either. I am just going to have to live with the whining of fellow catalogers: "Why is Sirsi so slow? Why is it freezing up?" Ugggghhhh.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 5 January 2007 18:13 (eighteen years ago)

This week's telling sign: me overhearing one of the folks who lead campus tour groups of prospective undergrads:

"This is the Langson Library. If you want Internet access without having to logon to anything, come here..."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 5 January 2007 18:18 (eighteen years ago)

Moll, I thought academic librarianship was the cushy?

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 5 January 2007 20:58 (eighteen years ago)

Academic librarianship is a beast. Cushy? Well, there are some nice perks, but for a lot of folks (not mine, thankfully) the "publish or perish" rule still applies, as does tenure (once again, not my job). I don't belong to a union (major bummer), the salary is okay, but not great. We do get some travel funding and I get to set my own hours (this is just because I'm a cataloger and am hidden from the public). Oh, and a lot of jobs require you to have your 2nd master's already (not mine, however it's in teh works). If I want to move anywhere else to another university, I'll probably need that 2nd master's. Oh, and I know some other librarians at other schools that have to teach classes.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 5 January 2007 21:04 (eighteen years ago)

This is *exactly* why I am content not going to library school. I left grad school in the first place because I saw what my life might be like in academia and frankly hated the prospect, so why sidestep into something similar?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 5 January 2007 21:05 (eighteen years ago)

I lucked out, because "publishing is encouraged, not required." Also, I like what I do. It's totally nerdy, and I'm fine with that. I feel like I've somehow managed to sidestep the whole academic librarianship circus, which is fine by me.

Library school. Ugh. People who tell me they want to get their PhDs in library science scare me sometimes.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 5 January 2007 21:08 (eighteen years ago)

I have a coworker who is getting her PhD. She is exactly like Tracey Flick.

My school is more of a vocational/technical college per se than a university so I don't have to deal with a lot of the academic related issues. Which is fine with me.

― Beth S. (Ex Leon), Friday, 5 January 2007 21:53 (eighteen years ago)

The idea of writing about library science is kind of frightening to me, although I guess there are some collection development type issues I would be interested enough to sink my teeth into. I really don't think it makes much sense to treat academic librarians as faculty, and to give them the same imperative to publish. It seems like a very make-believe requirement. (And if the cost of that is not having tenure, then I think so be it.) I wish I had gone into cataloging.

― R_S (RSLaRue), Friday, 5 January 2007 22:55 (eighteen years ago)

I so miss being a circulation lackey at the univ. library. THOUGH right before I moved they were reorganizing the shelves to make room for a fucking Starfucks. I felt like Jesus when he went all gangbusters in the temple. Jesus god and the devil. The library is the only place sacred to me.

― Abbott (Abbott), Friday, 5 January 2007 23:36 (eighteen years ago)

My supervisor had an awesome game where he'd hold a dictionary over our heads and we'd point to a random page. Whoever picked the last word got to sit around on the first floor while the rest went to kick the bums off the other four floors. The bums were kind about it, so it was okay either way. Bums and students. There were students and patrons too.

― Abbott (Abbott), Friday, 5 January 2007 23:38 (eighteen years ago)

Oops, by last word I meant best word, the word he deemed most interesting or unusual.

― Abbott (Abbott), Friday, 5 January 2007 23:38 (eighteen years ago)

Strangely, I really quite enjoyed writing my masters dissertation on bibliographic databases. It did take me ages to get going though. No more education for me! Unless I go to art school or something.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 7 January 2007 10:09 (eighteen years ago)

today, to a 40 something clean cut woman: excuse me madam some children havew cpmplained you are looking at porn on the internet. please stop.

― sami J (bulbs), Sunday, 7 January 2007 11:42 (eighteen years ago)

not that i saw the screen. all she had up was CAUTION HOT CHICK PIC when i busted her.

― sami J (bulbs), Sunday, 7 January 2007 11:55 (eighteen years ago)

This will warm your librarian hearts:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070107/ap_on_fe_st/overdue_book

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Sunday, 7 January 2007 19:07 (eighteen years ago)

A start.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 January 2007 19:08 (eighteen years ago)

$171 seems fairly reasonable! I'd known people in college who couldn't register for classes due to their $500+ university library late fees. F'in academic libraries.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Sunday, 7 January 2007 20:37 (eighteen years ago)

You must excuse me. I find those fines to be utterly appropriate and right. (Working ten years as the billing supervisor for Reserves has hardened my formerly sweet and innocent heart.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 January 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

No no, understood! It's funny how your perception changes once you're no longer a student. I never accrued much in the way of library fines (a dollar here, etc.). I was a good egg. What happened to me?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Sunday, 7 January 2007 20:51 (eighteen years ago)

You tasted the world of the criminal element and were seduced.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 January 2007 21:00 (eighteen years ago)

I only meant that I thought that academic lib. was cushy in respect to vacation days, versus public libraries. People told me they got a month's vaca a year . . . ?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 8 January 2007 02:39 (eighteen years ago)

Depends on the position, but yeah, I'm approaching that level these days.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 January 2007 03:15 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, I see! Well, it depends. I've only been working here for 1 1/2, so my vacation days are somewhere around 22 days a year. I'll accrue more, the longer I work here. I guess that's a month, now innit? We don't get off when the students have breaks, however, like some schools do. I'm a 12 month position too, so I have to work over the summer. If you're faculty, you may have the summers off, but I don't know how common those jobs are.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:33 (eighteen years ago)

I think if you count all the holidays I'm well over a month now a year, actually. The UC system has benefits.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:34 (eighteen years ago)

Ned, does UC give you tuition benefits?

I was contemplating starting a 2nd master's here, but even with the 70% discount, a grad class is no small chunk of change. I think I'll wait to next year. My brain cannot handle GREs right now.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:40 (eighteen years ago)

Ned, does UC give you tuition benefits?

It does, actually, but I think more on the undergrad level. But now that you mention it I'm sure there could be some sort of deal for grad work, depending on the field.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:41 (eighteen years ago)

hahaha we just got a unifed system (NOT sirsi thought we test drove it) and I just thought I'd laugh and comment on how everyone seems to hate it.

Can I ask a really dumb question regarding unified systems: what is the big deal with prediction records for serials? Are unclaimed serials that big a deal? It seems like making prediction records is more trouble than it is worth. Especially for irregular publications. Maybe it's just the system we have. Let me know if I'm being unclear.

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:43 (eighteen years ago)

Do you mean a federated library search engine? One that searches your online journals, your library's catalog, and other stuff? Like Primo?

Or just the regular online catalog?

I don't think we make prediction records here. We have a serials librarian (cataloger) who goes in an takes care of that shit. When I'm cataloging book sets, we only catalog what we have, because we may never get that issue of that irregular publication. Does that make sense?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:48 (eighteen years ago)

Do you mean a federated library search engine? One that searches your online journals, your library's catalog, and other stuff? Like Primo?

Yeah. It's a serials thing, not a book thing. It just seems ridiculously complicated, a big hassle.

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:52 (eighteen years ago)

We're getting a big federated search engine here. It's gonna be a big headache, I'm afraid. It may even let users tag. Joy of joys. (PSSS - I generally hate folksonomies)

It just seems ridiculously complicated, a big hassle.

Welcome to my life as a cataloger!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:54 (eighteen years ago)

It may even let users tag. Joy of joys. (PSSS - I generally hate folksonomies)

Oh Jesus, that is awful. God help you. Ha, you're a cataloger! You know what they say about catalogers. . .

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

I know. I make a stink about it during staff meetings. I don't think the old'uns get how horrendously useless it can be (hello, last.fm!)

You know what they say about catalogers. . .

We're drunks? Socially awkward? Because that's pretty much spot on.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:02 (eighteen years ago)

No wonder they work in a separate building from me.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:03 (eighteen years ago)

actually, all library folks are drunks and socially awkward, right? but catalogers are a special breed. don't get me wrong though--I like catalogers.

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:03 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, a special breed of MAXIMUM NERDINESS.

It's totally true. When I was in liberry school, I thought I was going to be a public reference librarian. And then I took one indexing course, and I was hooked. My geeky little brain was hooked on organizing information.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:08 (eighteen years ago)

PLEASE TO EXPLAIN TO EVERYONE AT MY WORK WHY IT HURTS ME TO KNOW THAT BAD, BAD, WRONG ORDERS WERE MIGRATED TO OUR NEW PURCHASING SYSTEM. NO ONE WILL LET ME DELETE THEM, they just keep parroting something about "data purity." I have been stonewalled.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:09 (eighteen years ago)

Are they records from vendors? Publishers? Catalog records from publishers are generally crap.

What's the point of data purity if it's not the correct information?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:12 (eighteen years ago)

To give people the joy of correcting mistakes.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:13 (eighteen years ago)

I'm hopelessly socially awkward according to Psychology Today's "mating intelligence quiz". Damn my access to so many full text journals!

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:14 (eighteen years ago)

Haha, Molly, we ARE the publisher. It's crap.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:15 (eighteen years ago)

Laurel, this makes me SO SAD.

Could you just say: "you're not helping anyone by keeping bad data"?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:16 (eighteen years ago)

I tried. I, in fact, STARTED CRYING in front of my boss, I was so frustrated. She said she'd champion the cause to the deciding panel but since she has no personal enthusiasm for the cause, I fear a little obstacle-throwing-up will disuade her and I'll be back where I started.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:18 (eighteen years ago)

Good lord, and I thought I had it bad when I almost destroyed a scanner a little over a year ago.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:19 (eighteen years ago)

Oh jesus! Can't you throw some jargon at her like, "bad info will decrease workflow efficiency"? How miserable! Don't they realized bad records could srsly fuck things up?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:21 (eighteen years ago)

Also, the data migration consisted of dumping a whole bunch of text into generic "Comments" fields so it all has to be hand re-typed BY US when we order. I assume this was becuase the old and new systems don't have equivalent fields or classifications for a lot of things but it still sucks.

XP: It won't fuck things up for us, because we know what "happened" and how to avoid/discount the bad records. But Future People who are not "us", which is a big part of who this is supposed to benefit, ARE NEVER GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:23 (eighteen years ago)

Oh dear. That is obnoxious. It's not your fault that they're not looking at the big picture with data integrity. You have none, if it's only you and your groups of folks who can "understand" it!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:25 (eighteen years ago)

This has reminded me I need to update some of the Reserves manuals around here. (But we're still switching over from line-mode to Millennium in full on that front.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:26 (eighteen years ago)

I'm adding internet call numbers and item records to a bunch of catalog records (i.e. The Cambridge Companion to Plotinus). My life is thrilling.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:28 (eighteen years ago)

I'm listening to Gwen McRae, so that's nice.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:30 (eighteen years ago)

I think I'm gonna eat lunch at my desk today because I am not in the mood to tackle the staff lunch room. I'm the youngest librarian here by a long shot, so this means I have about 10 new mothers. No thanks. Not today.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:34 (eighteen years ago)

do they ask you what you brought for lunch and gently squeeze your cheeks, and offer you their applesauce?

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:57 (eighteen years ago)

Pretty much. Or it's, "You shouldn't be going out to these concerts so late at night, Molly." My favorite is when I scandalize them with my food choices. "I love Ethiopian food!" usually gets a "I don't like eating with my hands" from the crabbier set.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:59 (eighteen years ago)

Good god. Abuse these people.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 January 2007 19:00 (eighteen years ago)

It's intense. I know, because I'm eating at my desk, I'm going to get an onslaught of "we didn't see you at lunch today." In fact, I just got one from someone walking by my cube. Awesome.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 19:02 (eighteen years ago)

What would you like to study next, Molls?

Can I ask a really dumb question regarding unified systems: what is the big deal with prediction records for serials? Are unclaimed serials that big a deal? It seems like making prediction records is more trouble than it is worth. Especially for irregular publications. Maybe it's just the system we have. Let me know if I'm being unclear.

Do you just mean regular predictions, or some fancier sort? We do it at my library--I had to be trained on it but kept my knowledge to the bare minimum. There was a woman in charge of it for a while for was really gung ho and perfectionist but then she got fed up and left. There was an article in one of the professional journals a while back about how a certain university library outdid serials predictions to save time--and streamlined check-ins and cataloging--and no one was the worse off for it.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 8 January 2007 20:15 (eighteen years ago)

Latin American and Iberian Studies! Party time!

Ideally, I'd like to get another Master's in Linguistics or Public History, but they don't jive too well with the job (and Vanderbilt has no M.A. in Linguistics).

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 8 January 2007 21:30 (eighteen years ago)

IT STINKS IN THE LIBRARY TODAY.

They're doing construction on the 1st floor, so the cataloging room stinks of vinyl and paint thinner. And, it's coming out of the vent near my cube. AWESOME TIMES IN TEH LIBRARY.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:18 (eighteen years ago)

I looove the smell of paint thinner. And varnish. Any solvent, really, but especially gasoline. Mix in varying amounts of wood shaving and motor oil and you have the smell of my dad's garage and/or any room in the house that's under constuction.

― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:31 (eighteen years ago)

I will come work in your office! And give the biddies a nasty shock.

― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:32 (eighteen years ago)

No no, this is no good. Gasoline smells comforting! Believe you me, this smells foul. My eyes are burning. I want to call the peeps at OSHA, as the lady next to me is having an asthma attack, and I feel dizzy. Apparently, I'm cause a stink (no pun intended) if I called them straightaway, so I just have to wait for the chain of whining to go through until it reaches its appropriate destination.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:34 (eighteen years ago)

Laurel, you just need to eat lunch with the biddies! That's the proper way to shock them.

Me: "I ate horse when I was in France!"
Them: [scandalized] "You ate what?"

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:36 (eighteen years ago)

Do they blanch when you swear? Or forget your hat?

― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:40 (eighteen years ago)

Considering they're fairly liberal ladies, not too much. I tend to keep myself on good behavior when I'm around them, so they don't see me in true Molly form, which is a mild bummer.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:43 (eighteen years ago)

Well that's no fun!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:50 (eighteen years ago)

I don't want to give them heart palpitations.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:50 (eighteen years ago)

Hmph. I insist. (I am cruel.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:51 (eighteen years ago)

Well, if they make me crabby enough, I will.

I think they should send us home. It is clearly not safe to work in this environment. Maybe if I fell out of my chair, they'd let me leave.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:52 (eighteen years ago)

Wow, this is lots more fun than our slight hint of natural gas yesterday!

― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:53 (eighteen years ago)

What can I do so they will let me leave early?

Our fumes (i.e. construction) started yesterday too! I thought it was the apocalypse.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:55 (eighteen years ago)

Meantime, here is calm -- just basic reserve processing, at an easy pace.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:58 (eighteen years ago)

I'm continuing to add URLs to library records, as I can't catalog effectively. Part of my brain may have died.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 20:59 (eighteen years ago)

Swedish librarians profiled in Vice (I like the background shots of the libraries)

http://www.viceland.com/int/v13n12/htdocs/fashion_uk.php?country=us

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 14:30 (eighteen years ago)

Super cute Swedish librarians! I love the one girl's red shoes. The comments, though, are uber sad.

For some reason, I ended up watching "Tyra" last night on Oxygen after "Campus Ladies" with my friend, and I became IRATE at the talk show due to the lame, derogatory comments made by the audience members AND the host on the show. I've never watched "Tyra" before, and it was utterly infuriating. They asked the audience to describe what 5 random women did, who were all on stage; how they dressed, general descriptions, etc. This poor frumpy gal got labeled "a librarian." And just the way the dumb bitch Tyra Banks said "librarian"! Well, I wanted to throttle her. Yo, dumbass, did you ever think about the limited and biased viewpoints of you and your audience members? I got so angry, I was going to write a letter, but decided to have another vodka tonic instead.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 15:57 (eighteen years ago)

The comments, though, are uber sad.

From Vice readers? The shock!

Anyway, everyone knows that librarians are either frumpy or secretly hot when they take their glasses off. The movies wouldn't lie! Here, let me take my glasses off...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 16:00 (eighteen years ago)

From Vice readers? The shock!

I know, I know. I'm still so pissed about Tyra Fucking Banks. She has put me in a foul mood. Well, that and the residual paint thinner stench.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 16:02 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, the comments were ridiculous, but the outfits were inspiring. The sweetest high school ESL class came into my library today.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 20:56 (eighteen years ago)

I wish I had more of an impetus to dress up for work. I wear cute skirts in the summer when it's hot, but my standard of corduroys and cardigans has never led me astray. Also, I've heard everyone's (the biddies) diatribe against pointy-toed or heeled shoes, so I don't even feel like bothering. They'll look at me funny.

I still have a headache from this godforsaken place!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 20:59 (eighteen years ago)

Tyra's show is kind of joke anyway, it's not worth getting upset over. The one where she wore a fat suit for a day and starting crying and was all "ZOMG I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE PAIN YOU ALL GO THROUGH!" was pretty roffletastic though.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:00 (eighteen years ago)

I should also mention that I had been drinking lots, so my reaction was fueled by Grey Goose. I amuse myself with the fact that I actually thought, "I'm going to write a letter!" What am I? 85?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:01 (eighteen years ago)

Catalog-related question:

If you saw the subject heading: Future in literature

... what would you think? Sci-fi? The actual future in literature?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:03 (eighteen years ago)

I amuse myself with the fact that I actually thought, "I'm going to write a letter!" What am I? 85?

With a goosefeather pen on parchment, I hope. You gotta go all out on these things. Or just imagine you're a character in this, the greatest of all videos.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:05 (eighteen years ago)

I would think it meant representations of the future in literature. Am I wrong?

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:09 (eighteen years ago)

I'd vote with Mary.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:10 (eighteen years ago)

Rock videos need more 3 cornered hats!

Or just imagine you're a character in this, the greatest of all videos.

I do everyday.

xpost -- The scope notes of the SH mention Science fiction. It just seems like another crap and vague SH.

This book is about Argentine literature from 1985-1999 and how it predicted the neoliberal movement (big excitement!). I guess Future in literature works. It just strikes me funny.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

I think I found a better one! But no scope notes!

150 Forecasting in literature

Does that sound like it's weather-related?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:21 (eighteen years ago)

ALA meetings! Why do the 8am meetings seem so rough? We should take bets and see if I actually make it to anything before 10:30am.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 16:50 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, and 4 hour meetings: no thanks.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 16:58 (eighteen years ago)

and who doesn't love the subject heading MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION - DRAMA ? C'mon haterz.

― jennpb (jennpb), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 21:37 (eighteen years ago)

I love it. That brings joy to my day.

My favorite is: CORN -- ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 22:10 (eighteen years ago)

Was a nicely quiet day yesterday. And I don't have to work Friday. Nice.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 22:17 (eighteen years ago)

I'm leaving on Friday for Seattle, and I had to work yesterday. Major buzzkill. I've spent most of today filling out travel forms, looking at meetings I might want to attend, and emailing kids who need advice about liberry school. Also, I've come up with a killer mixtape in my head.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 22:23 (eighteen years ago)

molly: are you on a committee?
i am trying to think of meeting-related songs but am coming up way short. any recommendations?

― jennpb (jennpb), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 22:45 (eighteen years ago)

have been considering a library job

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 22:45 (eighteen years ago)

JOIN US/run for your life (delete as appropriate, then switch the following day; repeat).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 22:47 (eighteen years ago)

it's fun! you'll hate it!

― jennpb (jennpb), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 22:48 (eighteen years ago)

I've been signed up to be on an ALCTS committee for Annual. Yay, cataloging! Not sure which one yet, though. Are you on any?

Are you trying to write your own songs about the meetings? I would just end up writing about the weirdos wearing blinking buttons. Did you got to the last meeting in New Orleans? Oh, the beads! The librarians wearing beads! It was terrible!

xpost It is fun! My job is embarrassingly nerdy. I'm proud of that, and sort of sad about that at the same time.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 22:51 (eighteen years ago)

i'm on a PLA Committee--the awkwardly named PLA Demco New Leaders Travel Grant Award Jury. PDNLTGAJ?!

and thanks. now i cannot wash my mind of the bead-bedecked librarian bosoms. eeesh.

i now will start my own genre of popular music: committee rock.

― jennpb (jennpb), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 22:54 (eighteen years ago)

ALA loves the acronyms. All my meetings look like: ALCTS-CSS/LITA PCC

Obnoxious.

Sorry about the bead mention! I think while stumbling back to my hotel one evening, I actually got flashed by a bead-wielding librarian. If I had been sober, I'm sure I'd be in counseling now.

Count me in for the committee rock. "Keynote speaker caused a stir. Schwag bags, power points, and giant name tags."

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 23:00 (eighteen years ago)

"I Love You, Let's Brainstorm!"

"Quorum (DFA remix)"

― jennpb (jennpb), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 23:02 (eighteen years ago)

"Subcommittee Daydream"

"El Sevier Shakedown (w/JC Chasez)"

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 23:05 (eighteen years ago)

I am a member of the ALA-ROFL-LOL committee.

― jennpb (jennpb), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 23:08 (eighteen years ago)

The fun-time party committee, AKA any ALCTS meeting!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 16 January 2007 23:11 (eighteen years ago)

When I'm feeling romantic about the librarian profession, I visit http://community.livejournal.com/library_mofo/

I also derive a lot of voyeuristic pleasure from this thread.

― Melinda Mess-injure (Melinda Mess-injure), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 03:00 (eighteen years ago)

Mofo: "If its not connected to the internet, then WHY DOES IT HAVE A KEYBOARD?"

Me (thinking): Because its a Word Processor, like the big sign on it says.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 04:40 (eighteen years ago)

Oh lord in heaven. Everyone is freaking out here because IT MIGHT SNOW in Seattle for ALA. Southerners need to toughen the hell up.

xpost: I'm quite fond of this one: http://libetiquette.blogspot.com/

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 22:33 (eighteen years ago)

Oh god. Now people are talking about Perry Cuomo and I just had to explain the clothing concept of "layering."

I NEED MY OWN OFFICE. THX.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 22:52 (eighteen years ago)

Wow. ALA. Too many librarians.

If I see another "RADICAL MILITANT LIBRARIAN" bag, someone will get punched.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 22 January 2007 05:04 (eighteen years ago)

Any archivists in the house? Or people in records management? Or at least people who get excited when someone mentions archives on a TV show? :)

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 22 January 2007 06:49 (eighteen years ago)

Pervert. Oh wait.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 22 January 2007 06:53 (eighteen years ago)

I worked at an archives for a while. I almost became an archivist! I also took a class in records management. We learned about filing cabinets. Not so great.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 22 January 2007 07:00 (eighteen years ago)

michael, my long-term GRAND LIFE PLAN involves media archiving (still undergrad, no official training yet), so sorta yes to #1 and of course! to #3.

― joseph (joseph), Monday, 22 January 2007 07:08 (eighteen years ago)

joseph! that's great! do you have a specific type of media (film, digital, etc?) here's some unsolicited advice from someone who has spent that past 3 days with other librarians: if you can get a student job at an archives, or even any type of library, it looks great on a resume, and you'll have a better idea of what you're exactly getting into. it's just really great experience.

when at the seattle public library today, i snapped at some children who were acting like punks. i need to go home.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 22 January 2007 07:16 (eighteen years ago)

i technically work at two different archives right now, actually (here and here). i've already done tons of processing work at the former so i've got a pretty good working knowledge of how special collections archives work. i don't really do so much of that kinda stuff at the other job but it's a foot in the door for future media work, at the very least.

i graduate this semester and after i take off a year, i plan on applying to this program (longer and more costly than eastman house, but covers video and digital restoration in addition to film and also addresses issues of archival management and theory, which i'm greatly interested in, along with the more technical, tangible aspects). it's kind of amazing that there's only about five institutions in the WORLD where you can get this sort of training (two of which aren't even in the states!).

all of this is reminding me that i have to deal with patrons in less than eight hours so i should probably go to bed.

― joseph (joseph), Monday, 22 January 2007 07:28 (eighteen years ago)

Joseph, you are way more together than any undergrad has a right to be.

Three hours until the Newberry & Caldecott announcements:)

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 22 January 2007 14:17 (eighteen years ago)

If I see another "RADICAL MILITANT LIBRARIAN" bag, someone will get punched.

Really? Ew.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Monday, 22 January 2007 15:31 (eighteen years ago)

I'm trying to imagine folks around here with those bags, and, um, no.

Three hours until the Newberry & Caldecott announcements:)

WINNERS: Bryn's Super Carit tales and ILX's "Talk about you at ten years old" thread. (I can dream.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 22 January 2007 15:40 (eighteen years ago)

Ah Joseph, I would like to get into media archiving (although more audio based) too. I've been working on preserving/digitizing oral history projects for the past year at Tufts university, and now I'm working on a committee that is working on starting a digital video repository at Tufts.

Archival theory is something that actually needs to be developed more. Australia, of all places, seems to be quite the hub of this kind of scholarly literature today.

Regarding archives on tv, there was an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, where one of the wives of an architect was an archivist, and turned out to be a killer. She lived in a fancy house and the detectives were like "All this on an archivists' salary? She must be up to something."

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 22 January 2007 16:01 (eighteen years ago)

Where can I get prompt report of award winners?!? ALA website is totes unhelpful, web cast is already full.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 22 January 2007 16:09 (eighteen years ago)

ALA website is totes unhelpful

I hate that website so much. It's an embarassment to the profession.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Monday, 22 January 2007 16:20 (eighteen years ago)

And it's fucking ugly.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 22 January 2007 16:25 (eighteen years ago)

I am applying for a new library job, I finally filled in the application form today. I really want to get this one, even though it pays exactly the same as I get now.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 22 January 2007 17:31 (eighteen years ago)

Hi all,

Allow me introduce myself. My name is Kali and I know about ILX because my boyfriend John Justen is an I Love Everything addict and frequent participant. He told me about this thread for librarians a while ago and I thought I’d check it out and see if I could get some help from my peers.

I am the one and only librarian at a small (for profit—grr) music college in Minnesota. I found out last week that the higher ups are discussing switching up the org chart—moving the library out from under the academic dean and handing it off to the dean of students. There are a number of reasons this does not sit well with me, but in order to state my case with administration, I need to get some facts, some stories.

So, I’m wondering if any other academic librarians out there could share who their library reports to and why this is the best thing for the library, the students, and the school. I’ve contacted some library directors I know as well as the ARCL, but am hoping to get some information from others in the field.

Thanks for taking the time!

― Kali Freeman (Kali and the strange new world), Monday, 22 January 2007 20:16 (eighteen years ago)

, I’m wondering if any other academic librarians out there could share who their library reports to and why this is the best thing for the library, the students, and the school.

My library is a part of academics, and tbh I can't even think of any sane rationale for why it wouldn't be. I think the library needs to be a part of the academic department and the decisions being made there because instruction is such an important component of what we do -- I'm not sure what your college is like, but I end up teaching classes on information literacy, research skills, APA and MLA citation skills, etc. all of the time. Let me know if you would like any more info, you can probably email me and spare the rest of ilx another one of my geeky library related rants - email is nicole. kessler@gmail.com (just remove the space before my first and last name).

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Monday, 22 January 2007 20:34 (eighteen years ago)

And of course I meant ACRL . . . Thanks Nicole; I totally agree with you. This switch would be so damn silly for so many reasons.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Monday, 22 January 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

Kali, a friend of mine, N34l 4xt0n, is a law librarian at William Mitchell College. I don't know if he would have any more insight, but I can get you in touch with him if you like.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Monday, 22 January 2007 20:43 (eighteen years ago)

And welcome to Kali!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 22 January 2007 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

i hope all you librarians ordered my book for your library!!

― phil-two (phil-two), Monday, 22 January 2007 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

Thanks for the recommendation to http://libetiquette.blogspot.com/, Molly!

― Melinda Mess-injure (Melinda Mess-injure), Monday, 22 January 2007 21:19 (eighteen years ago)

Thanks, Ned! and thanks Sara but no need to contact your friend. I appreciate it, though.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Monday, 22 January 2007 21:26 (eighteen years ago)

No trouble either way. :)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Monday, 22 January 2007 21:29 (eighteen years ago)

The ALA annuncements *I don't think their webcast worked for anyone*

lots of unexpected titles!

Book Thief robbed!

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=News&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=146679

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 22 January 2007 22:23 (eighteen years ago)

does anyone here have this week's Booklist magazine?

― phil-two (phil-two), Monday, 22 January 2007 22:36 (eighteen years ago)

You're the centerfold! You saucy man.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 22 January 2007 22:38 (eighteen years ago)

Kali, I would answer you furter about academics, but it's after ALA, I saw too many women wearing VEST WITH BOOKS ON THEM, and I've been drinkign (as per ALA regulation). Also, I'm on a Mac and it's freaking my shit out.

Joseph, you're awesome. You'll totally get a job.

Phil, I can't find you're book in Seattle, but I Will look at Border's tomorrwow.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 23 January 2007 06:49 (eighteen years ago)

You drunkard, you alcoholic, you wastrel! Well done.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 23 January 2007 06:51 (eighteen years ago)

no! really! i was supposed to have been reviewed this week! bt i havent seen

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 23 January 2007 06:54 (eighteen years ago)

blogcritics dude liked it, phil! http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/01/11/050838.php

thanks, molly! from what my bosses also tell me, ALA sounds like every hokey librarian-with-a-NAUUUGHTY-side stereotype i've ever heard rolled into one squirmingly awful week-long ordeal. booze on!

― joseph (joseph), Tuesday, 23 January 2007 07:09 (eighteen years ago)

Any archivists in the house?

Me! I work here www.postalheritage.org.uk It's a fab archive to look after, there are some absolute gems in it, and we've been working really hard over the past few years to raise its profile. I also have records management in my job title, but I'm not enjoying that quite as much, probably because i feel like I'm hitting my head against a brick wall and there's no light at the end of the tunnel at the moment.

― Vicky (Vicky), Tuesday, 23 January 2007 11:12 (eighteen years ago)

Phil, you have no authority record. I may try to make one for you (our library doesn't own it, so technically, I'm not allowed, blah blah blah, I may just do it).

Also, I bought your book in Seattle. I'm kind of mad at you, because I was really hungover on the flight home (see above post -- ahem), and I couldn't put it down and sleep, like I really needed to.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 24 January 2007 17:58 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, and I can tell you that your book is currently held by 139 libraries.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 24 January 2007 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

Held, fondled and caressed.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 24 January 2007 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

And one of the libraries is the US Army, European Library division. They're the ones caressing it, no doubt.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 24 January 2007 18:02 (eighteen years ago)

"It's about these hot chicks all sleeping together, dude!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 24 January 2007 18:30 (eighteen years ago)

My students are so afraid of the stacks, and it's just like six floors and it's not big at all, comparatively. They don't know how easy they have it. How to curb stacks' fear? Send all the books away and replace with coffee?

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 24 January 2007 23:49 (eighteen years ago)

And beanbags.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 24 January 2007 23:50 (eighteen years ago)

I just made my hotel reservation for Annual. The Red Roof Inn has rooms for $139/night. I think that's the cheapest (and obv. where I'm staying).

NEED ALA DETOX

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 25 January 2007 21:58 (eighteen years ago)

Why are students afraid of the stacks? Have they been attacked by ravaging hordes of voracious reference books? So confused now.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 25 January 2007 22:02 (eighteen years ago)

Our stacks are terrifying. Low ceilings, exposed lightbulbs, weird corners and turns. I get lost in them occasionally (mind you, I've only been here a year and a half).

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 25 January 2007 22:03 (eighteen years ago)

Proper stacks are meant to be scary. Where's the sense of conquest and ownership otherwise?

― Stephen X (Stephen X), Thursday, 25 January 2007 22:32 (eighteen years ago)

Ah, I see you were the one behind that Vivid Video entry Head Librarian.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 25 January 2007 22:33 (eighteen years ago)

I'd be scared if there were spiderwebs. And spiders!

I got lost at the St. Olaf College library all the time, but always figured I'd find my way back out. Maybe not everyone does...

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 25 January 2007 22:45 (eighteen years ago)

yr book isn't in the bobcat library catalog, phil. maybe i'll covertly place a copy in that section of the library where they have all the alumnus books

― joseph (joseph), Friday, 26 January 2007 00:02 (eighteen years ago)

i've had to guide people through the stacks before. bobst is fairly intimidating.

― joseph (joseph), Friday, 26 January 2007 00:03 (eighteen years ago)

Yes, there are scary stacks but not the one's at this library. I gave this woman (not a student) a couple call numbers and specific directions about how to get to that area of the stacks, and she came back down 2 minutes later and said, "I got lost. Was I supposed to go in the room that was all dark and cold? It looked really scary." I said, "you mean the room that was filled with books? yes." She looked at me terrified and I almost got up to lead her but instead I just pointed and urged her to try again and lo and behold she came down 10 minutes later with the two books in her hand. Her words: "It was so scary but I did it."

x-post: I've been to the points of tears bc I couldn"t find books at Columbia, but I never would have thought to ask anyone for help.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 26 January 2007 00:25 (eighteen years ago)

I should go and take a picture of the scary exposed water pipes and low ceilings. I do like, however, that there are these weird old chairs hiding in corners in the stacks. I've never seen anyone use them, except the time we were all hiding in the stacks in the basement, during a tornado warning.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:36 (eighteen years ago)

I remember our pub. library stacks being pretty scary when I was kid, but once I figured them out they were a great hideout--full of weird old foreign-language tapes and nudity-rich art books.

― Stephen X (Stephen X), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:53 (eighteen years ago)

You could tell the stackophobes to think of them as a small, dark Borders that hasn't opened its Starbucks yet.

― Stephen X (Stephen X), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:54 (eighteen years ago)

Another time I was leading this man around the stacks, after he asked me to find his books while he studied in the reference room, and I put the kabosh on that, and he asked, "How do you know your way around? It's so confusing." and I said, "I don't really know my way around. You just have to look for the letters and numbers." I don't think he got the concept though. It didn't help that the two books he wanted were mysteriously missing from their places on the shelves.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 26 January 2007 17:19 (eighteen years ago)

Her words: "It was so scary but I did it."

Ahhhh: librarians!

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 26 January 2007 17:20 (eighteen years ago)

Okay, it's official. THE GOOFIEST BILLING QUESTION I HAVE BEEN ASKED IN A DECADE.

So a guy turns in a book late this morning and asks a question of my student assistant at the desk. She calls me up and repeats the question, I incredulously say "No!" but decide to talk to this unique individual.

The situation: the book, indeed, was late, and has been appropriately billed at $20. The student has noticed the book was priced for less than that at the bookstore.

He wanted to know if he could buy a copy of the book and give that to us instead of paying the fine.

The error of his ways was gently demonstrated and he went away.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 26 January 2007 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

My students seem to find it hard to comprehend that they, THEY, could possibly be liable for any late fines ever! They also roll out the old "I've paid £xthousand to study on this course, and now you're charging me £5 in overdue fines?", to which my answer is invariably "yes, yes we are".

― Neil Stewart (Neil Stewart), Friday, 26 January 2007 17:55 (eighteen years ago)

"I [my parents] pay $x thousand dollars in tuition every year, and now I'm not allowed to punch any staff member I meet?"

― Stephen X (Stephen X), Friday, 26 January 2007 18:14 (eighteen years ago)

Librarians, what would section would HQ76 P97 be?

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 27 January 2007 13:31 (eighteen years ago)

Homosexuality. Lesbianism.

(back at work)

― Mary (Mary), Saturday, 27 January 2007 14:38 (eighteen years ago)

Don't forget the old joke that Religion is filed under BS.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Saturday, 27 January 2007 19:36 (eighteen years ago)

Haha, someone just that joke yesterday, to a student worker. So, so bored.

― Mary (Mary), Saturday, 27 January 2007 20:33 (eighteen years ago)

people at my library are CONSTANTLY asking if they can buy their own copy to bring in and whining about how they could BUY IT FOR CHEAPER. or today: "i should just join an internet movie thingie since I'm payin too much in late fines!" yes, yes you should. but everyone who comes into my branch seems to be nuts, so...

and signed up for the gre finally. so library school, here I come, soon, kinda.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Monday, 29 January 2007 03:58 (eighteen years ago)

Good luck! But don't say you weren't warned. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 29 January 2007 04:06 (eighteen years ago)

are you warning me about library school or the gre? OR BOTH?

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Monday, 29 January 2007 04:09 (eighteen years ago)

Uh, yes. (The GRE is nothing much, really, it's just a glorified SAT. I feel justified in warning anyone about grad school, period. ;-) )

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 29 January 2007 04:15 (eighteen years ago)

oh yeah, I know. I have been hesitating because DU here in Denver is insanely expensive. I think I am going to do the emporia distance program which is much cheaper and I could maybe get a scholarship through the library. We'll see! Not going for awhile yet, as I'm NOT READY FOR HOMEWORK. :)

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Monday, 29 January 2007 04:17 (eighteen years ago)

At our library, if you lose a book, you can replace it with one that you have bought, but you have to pay a $5 processing fee.

Good job, Kelly. The schools I applied to didn't require GRE's, which was good, bc I defintely didn't want to take that test again.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 29 January 2007 15:28 (eighteen years ago)

one thing i like about SpecCol: not having to guide ANYONE through the stacks because YOU GRIMY PLEBES CAN'T GO BACK THERE NYAH NYAH

― joseph (joseph), Monday, 29 January 2007 17:19 (eighteen years ago)

Just like Reserves with me. Very handy.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 29 January 2007 17:34 (eighteen years ago)

I've never even visited a library with closed stacks. My education is clearly incomplete.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Monday, 29 January 2007 17:43 (eighteen years ago)

lack of a gre requirement is what was making DU sound appealing -- but the difference in price just doesn't seem worth it. we'll see how I do!

xposted times three or something.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Monday, 29 January 2007 18:56 (eighteen years ago)

Does one stay at work while they are all hopped up on Sudafed and not thinking properly? Or do you stick it out, like a trooper?

xpost - I didn't have to take the GRE for liberry skool. Thank god. Kelly, apply for all the graduate assistantships you can. Hello, free ride to library land!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 30 January 2007 20:53 (eighteen years ago)

Today's LCSH of the day goes to:

Historia de una mujer que caminó por la vida con zapatos de diseñador / ǂc Margo Glantz.

650 0 Shoes ǂv Fiction.
650 0 Prostitutes ǂv Fiction.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 22:40 (eighteen years ago)

Now, there are both drawbacks and advantages to being the only librarian at a music college. I get to do all the reference, but I also have to do all the cataloging. I get to help our (often) completely lost students learn to make sense of the library and its databases, but I also have to sit there and watch our (often) completely lost students learn to make sense of the library and its databases. ("Dude, all I want is to groove to some PHISH. Can't you just give me stuff)

But surely, one of the greatest things is being allowed to (encouraged to) drop $1,000 bucks at a time on CD's. It is like heaven! (granted, I never pictured Carrie Underwood in heaven, but still). I swear to god, I have a body rush!

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:06 (eighteen years ago)

"Dude, all I want is to groove to some PHISH. Can't you just give me stuff"

YIPES.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:13 (eighteen years ago)

I don't normally get to do any purchasing, but I found out I can put in an order for a new dictionary. Leapin' lizards! Big excitement!

When I worked at the music library while in library school, I liked showing the kids how to use turntables.

Kali, what classification system do you use? We mainly used LC, but had a section of Dickinson classified stuff, which was odd.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:20 (eighteen years ago)

HEY I KNOW THAT "KALI" LADY.

― John Justen waitin to get his W2s back so he can file his tax and ball out (john, Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:21 (eighteen years ago)

But does she admit to knowing you?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:24 (eighteen years ago)

She confessed upthread!

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:25 (eighteen years ago)

She only admits to it in public forums.

― John Justen waitin to get his W2s back so he can file his tax and ball out (john, Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:26 (eighteen years ago)

She confessed upthread!

A strategic move.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:26 (eighteen years ago)

John is merely a pawn in the chess game of Kali's life.

(Also envying buying lots of cds for a CAREER. Maybe I should have taken that acquisitions course in library school, but that was where I decided I was done. Post-cataloging!)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:27 (eighteen years ago)

Also envying buying lots of cds for a CAREER.

In ten years time it'll be the decidedly less glamourous 'what quality mp3s do we download onto the server?' approach.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:28 (eighteen years ago)

Sara, are you a cataloger as well!?!

I thought I was the only one!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:29 (eighteen years ago)

Ned wants to kill the album!!!

Oh yeah, my question of the day for Kali is this - was the person who taught you cataloging also fluent in Japanese? The main thing I remember from that course is coming back after all too short a break time to see that the professor had written an entire citation on the blackboard in Japanese. It was a bit surreal.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:29 (eighteen years ago)

Ned wants to kill the album!!!

It's dying without me! (But I'm happy to shovel dirt onto the corpse.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:29 (eighteen years ago)

Murderer. (But I'm old fashioned and I like OBJECTS.)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:31 (eighteen years ago)

Yes but think of the Platonic ideal.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:32 (eighteen years ago)

I'm thinking more of my incompetence with computers, but I realize not everyone shares this issue.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:34 (eighteen years ago)

molly - sorry; I missed your question in the distraction of life. No, I'm not a cataloger; I'm a library school dropout and former bookstore employee. The program I dropped out of is the same one that Kali went through and actually FINISHED - also the only ALA accredited program in MN.

(I started the program in 1995 and had multiple problems, but the main thing was at the time they required you to go to Illinois for 12 weeks to take some of the classes, since the accredidation comes through a school there. I think Kali told me that this is no longer the case and that the profs now come here, which makes a lot more sense.)

Now I'm going to that SAME school to become an R.N. But no travel involved.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 23:40 (eighteen years ago)

It dawned on my that that bit of biography might make more sense if I explained that I had been a premed in college and wanted to be a medical school librarian.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 05:38 (eighteen years ago)

The Times had a little article in the graduate section about becoming an archivist, bless http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8171-2575265,00.html

― Vicky (Vicky), Thursday, 1 February 2007 13:44 (eighteen years ago)

Sara, I see! I didn't really know I wanted to be a librarian until my last year of undergrad. Even then, I put it off for a few years to see what I could do with my B.A. (answer -- not much).

I was waxing nostalgic yesterday about archives and I actually realized I missed it! I looked at the webpage of the place I used to work, and I helped a bit on this collection before I left. This lady was scandalous!

http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/archives/exhibits/meiko/

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 14:47 (eighteen years ago)

Molly, we use LC . . . loosely. We're not even hooked up with Worldcat. But we will be soon! I'm working on establishing interlibrary loan right now. (We are so behind the times here)

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 14:56 (eighteen years ago)

That is a big job to tackle! ILL should become easier once you have Worldcat, I would think. If you ever need help with the wild and crazy world of Connexion, let me know! It's what I do. Like, all day. (well, not all day, but it feels like it)

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 15:11 (eighteen years ago)

ILL should become easier once you have Worldcat, I would think.

It's part of the great mystery. (The ILL folks work next to me and I've heard interesting things from them over time, sometimes involving strong words.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 15:12 (eighteen years ago)

world cat rules! or at least first search does!

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Thursday, 1 February 2007 15:14 (eighteen years ago)

I do love the first search.

Thanks, Molly. We'll see how everything presents itself. Yeah, establishing an ILL program is a bit daunting but also *awesome*

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 15:23 (eighteen years ago)

Anybody taking part in this today? Good times with Gorman, oh yeah.

http://chronicle.com/live/2007/02/gorman/chat.php3

The Changing Role of Academic Libraries in the Information Age
Thursday, February 1, at 12 noon, U.S. Eastern time

Academic libraries face some of their greatest challenges, and greatest opportunities, of the generation. While the Internet has been a boon for information distribution, some librarians have considered it a threat to the vitality of traditional library space. Although the latest generation of students is plugged in and connected in ways never imagined years ago, they also seem disconnected from books and other traditional literary resources. Librarians and their academic colleagues must step up to face those challenges, says Michael Gorman, dean of library services at California State University at Fresno. He will share his thoughts on the future of librarians -- and take your questions

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 16:14 (eighteen years ago)

they also seem disconnected from books and other traditional literary resources

This, shall we say, understates.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

ahhh! I'm having flashbacks to ALA. That's all we talked about.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 16:29 (eighteen years ago)

A very good friend is now in library school and one of the things she told me was how refreshing it was to be among people who actually cared about books. She works at a library already -- and more to the point, she wasn't referring to the patrons as not caring so much as her coworkers.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 16:31 (eighteen years ago)

Ugh. As you can imagine, I'm very pro-book. Catalogers get defensive about it (obv.), as we don't want to be out of a job, which as it turns out, will probably never happen. Everyone at my library (except maybe some of the higher-ups -- ugh) is very pro-book.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 16:34 (eighteen years ago)

A nice pat on the back.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 18:49 (eighteen years ago)

From the Chronical of Higher Education Webcast today. I'll give a point to Mikey:

Question from Karen, small community college:

More and more, colleges are turning to the concept of a Virtual Library (no circulating books) as a means of saving money and space. Do you forsee a time when universities and colleges will have only one branch that actually allows the traditional check out of a book to read for pleasure or research? Do you think this is a passing trend or a permanent fixture?

Michael Gorman:

If you look at the publishing trade, it doesn't seem that books are headed for extinction any time soon. I think the big change is going to come about with periodicals (if we solve the economic problems)--and I would see far fewer paper journals in our future. By the way, the "book is dead" crowd seem to exult in statistics showing that undergraduates read fewer (or no) books. Is this really a Good Thing? Are they really engaging with complex texts in other media? Or are they frittering away their time with diversion and ephemera? Do we want a generation of illiterates and a-literates with college degrees?

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:40 (eighteen years ago)

Or are they frittering away their time with diversion and ephemera?

GORMAN HATES ILXORS

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:42 (eighteen years ago)

Awwh, Mikey G! I wanna give you a hug!

Gorman was a cataloger! I feel the phrase "SLAM DUNK!" is applicable here, but I'm not sure why. I just want to yell "SLAM DUNK!" really loudly.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:43 (eighteen years ago)

(xpost to Kali's post) Even with periodicals, I'd rather have the print version than have to read an article online. Especially if the information is science-related. I guess if it was online I could print the information out and then study it that way; I just find information easier to absorb if it is on paper in front of me.

My preference for an actual c.d. over mp3 files is harder to explain.

I don't think these preferences are the same as the guy I know who is still mourning the loss of printed card catalogs in long narrow drawers.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:49 (eighteen years ago)

OR IS IT?!?!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:50 (eighteen years ago)

"Or are they frittering away their time with diversion and ephemera?
GORMAN HATES ILXORS"

Mikey just doesn't fully realize the glory of balanced integration. He loves us. yes . . . yes . . . I belive Mikey loves us most of all.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:50 (eighteen years ago)

Or are they frittering away their time with diversion and ephemera?

GORMAN HATES ILXORS

lolz because I should be studying right now...

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:51 (eighteen years ago)

Also lolz to "balanced integration."

That's what I've been doing! YAY!

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:53 (eighteen years ago)

I don't know anyone who actually *prefers* reading articles online. Journals are really expensive to print, therefore they're mighty expensive to buy. Who doesn't like to highlight? Or make notes in the margin?

The crap I catalog will never be digitized. Who's gonna bother putting these tiny print-run Guatemalan books online? They're lucky they're even getting cataloged.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:54 (eighteen years ago)

(re: journals -- to clarify, science journals are ridiculously expensive!)

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:54 (eighteen years ago)

(molly, that is why I go to the library...)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:57 (eighteen years ago)

okay maybe that's not the only reason... ;)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:58 (eighteen years ago)

one of our catalogers just discovered user tagging in flickr and is having a certifiable fit. "this will never replace us! how does this help ANYTHING?"

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 20:59 (eighteen years ago)

Pfft. What the hell would be his problem with user tagging?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:00 (eighteen years ago)

"How dare someone sort their photos!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:00 (eighteen years ago)

no authority control!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:00 (eighteen years ago)

Boo hoo.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:01 (eighteen years ago)

PHOTO ANARCHY FOREVAH

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:02 (eighteen years ago)

In my experience, most students print out specific on-line articles. Of course, they are not interacting with the rest of the journal this way, but then neither was I back in the day when I would photocopy a certain article from a bound journal.

I wanted to drop out of library school many times, but with my final two classes this semester the end is in sight and hopefully I will perseve and receive my commitent 72 virgins or whatever great things lie ahead.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:03 (eighteen years ago)

That's actually what makes me too paranoid to tag my librarything entries! How am I going to remember whether I want to sort under "YA" or "young adult" or "children's" or "tots'" if I'm feeling whimsical?? Never mind sci-fi or sci fi or skiffy or sf/f.

― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:03 (eighteen years ago)

I LOVE AUTHORITY CONTROL!

I got into an almost-yelling match with the silly girls at the Google booth at ALA annual. They had a question on their dumb quiz about Roosevelt (you got swag if you took the quiz). They didn't say which Roosevelt. I called them on it. They got annoyed. My friend yelled, "This is why the internet will never replace librarians!" People cheered. They shooed me and my friend away.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:05 (eighteen years ago)

funny!

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:06 (eighteen years ago)

Mary - you're almost there - go go go!

Laurel, I just organize my books without help of librarything - mostly I do it how we did it at Barnes and Noble when I worked there. The kids books refuse to stay organized at all, though, I think because of the kids. I'm trying to be okay with that.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:07 (eighteen years ago)

As always, it's the middle that's the accurate way. (Internet will never replace librarians but librarians will not necessarily be able to create a standard universal system of cataloging no matter how hard they try. Result: anarchy, the return of the Black Plague and death.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:07 (eighteen years ago)

that is an awesome google story.

i don't know anyone who would read a long article online.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:08 (eighteen years ago)

See, we've already come up with a fancy and somewhat efficient way to organize information! No need to reinvent the wheel (i.e. folksonomies, i.e. user-tagging)! Yeah, our subject headings aren't perfect, but they're STANDARDIZED so you know when to use -- Criticism and interpretation vs. -- History and criticism.

PSSS - I hate user tagging.

xpost -- books at home are not organized at all, save my craft books, but someone messed them up and put my oversized art deco coffee table books there instead, while putting up a new stereo. hrmph.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:08 (eighteen years ago)

Laurel, you could create a thesaurus to prevent mishaps. Molly will teach you how.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:09 (eighteen years ago)

re: user tagging - oh, i do it! it's good for organizing your photos, or fun to put "AM Country Gold" for a Tammy Wynette song on last.fm. But as the wave of the future-- not so much. /end rant

xpost I love making thesauri! Indexing and Surrogation was my favorite class in library school!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:10 (eighteen years ago)

My books are so organized that my husband is afraid to put them away himself!

You've reminded me of the time my boss at B&N got angry at me for telling a new person that the craft books were never in good order and not to worry too much over that section. It's funny that you want to keep those particular books in order. Even mine are only subdivided into "knitting" "needlework" and "crocheting" - they aren't alphabetical by author.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:11 (eighteen years ago)

(OMG maybe I should have stayed in library school. I sound like I have BOOK OCD!!!)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:11 (eighteen years ago)

See, we've already come up with a fancy and somewhat efficient way to organize information! No need to reinvent the wheel (i.e. folksonomies, i.e. user-tagging)!

But it's not treated as a universal subject for instruction. Which like everything else is an 'uh-DUH' statement on my part, but if you taught this at high school level -- hell, junior high -- as a required subject, then you might be onto something. And personally I have no problem with advancing something like that as a means of educational reform; the curriculum changes with the times, and the amount of regular information online for governmental and citizen rights and responsibilities is enough to justify it alone, in some way, shape or form. How *feasible* an idea that is I do not know.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

but someone messed them up and put my oversized art deco coffee table books there instead

Should not be allowed! However I suspect there's a home-made dinner in yr future to make up for it.

― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:13 (eighteen years ago)

Mary, library school blows. 2 more classes? GOOD LUCK! It hurts, but it's worth it.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:14 (eighteen years ago)

Wait, Ned, what do you mean? Teaching LCSH usage and better bibliographic instruction?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:15 (eighteen years ago)

My favorite library school classes, in order of most to least:

Media for Children
Media for Adolescents
History of the Book
Special Collections
Libraries and Information in Society
Practicum
Information Sources and Services
Media Services
Organization of Information
Information Systems

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:20 (eighteen years ago)

In part, certainly. But not just that -- consider: in the US, at least, we are inexorably shifting towards a situation where the Internet is a standard part of just about anything/everything out there. Arguably we've reached that point already and are just building it up from there. So *how* to use the Internet for one's work -- how to research, how to look up information, what databases there are, what to search for specific subjects -- is not simply crucial but intrinsic. It should, indeed, be a matter of civic responsibility, on a local level but as a good citizen as well, if you like. So teaching someone 'library skills' is now all the more clearly part of a larger effort to teach 'Internet skills' -- the searching for and the sorting of information in a small scale and in a broad scale, drawing together all sorts of possible parallels and connections.

This is something that can and should start early. It's more straightforward and practical than simply saying that every high school student should have a computer, say (and some say that).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:20 (eighteen years ago)

Information literacy. It's the wave of the future. woot!

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:23 (eighteen years ago)

Right, exactly! Does this replace librarians? Certainly not, no more than basic instruction in bio makes one a doctor or in math makes one a physicist. But it becomes part of an assumed level of knowledge nationwide -- for all I know the Department of Education already might be pushing for something like it. If not, they should.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:26 (eighteen years ago)

I learned how to search properly in library schoool. Sad! In all honesty, I agree 100% with what you're saying. I was just dissing folksonomies upthread, because they're off the cuff, and not organized. They haven't been thought about, ad nauseum, but some librarian taxonomist. I wasn't saying librarians have it all sorted out, because no one does. How to mandate better B.I. sessions? How to incorporate this into high school?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:28 (eighteen years ago)

Believe it or not, Hastings public school system tried to teach basic library skills in grade school; the ones I learned are hopelessly outdated now of course. (Because I am OLDS.)

I was interested to note that now grade school kids are taught keyboarding automatically starting in 4th or 5th grade; Alex is struggling with handwriting and they basically told us that it's no big deal if he doesn't learn it.

Does anyone know if library/internet skills are being taught in schools yet - and how? You'd think that part of basic instruction would be learning how to separate what is useful and true on the Internet. (Actually, my new physiology textbook has a section on how to do it - but it is a college level text.)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:31 (eighteen years ago)

Well, I think that librarians are actually pushing for this. Information literacy is a hot topic now-a-days. It's just a matter of finding the right method (time, place, and way) to begin itegrating this into the public's lives. shit interrupted. just a second . . .

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:31 (eighteen years ago)

How to incorporate this into high school?

How indeed? It would require a relative standardization and dedication of a teaching role, or else a clear expansion of someone's duties in the system to regularly teach it, and this at every public high school.

Anyway, it is heartening to know a lot of thought is already being put into play on the subject.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:33 (eighteen years ago)

Fucking Connexion just dumped me, and now i have to enter CONTENTS NOTES all over again. I shake my fist!

I should consult my 4th grade teaching sister and she what she does with her kiddies.

Information literacy! I am all for it getting into students' lives anyway possible. Maybe I should have gone into that, but my extremely nerdy anal-retentive ways may not have been utilized so greatly.

Sara, really? They told you handwriting isn't that important?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:36 (eighteen years ago)

it is again, actually, about balanced integration. Only dorks like us would take a class specifically on research methods and find it interesting and pertinent. Information literacy needs to be a vital part of curriculum, its foundation. It's about praxis. Getting our research methods integrated with curriculum. Basically, be stealth. teach students in such a way that they are learning how to search, analyze content, etc. because, well, that's just what you do in school . . . blah. does that make any sense?

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:36 (eighteen years ago)

I mean, I could certainly see a complaint from a sensitive parent: "You're teaching our kids to look up things we don't approve of!" Potential responses:

*) High schoolers can get licensed to drive a car, and that's something that if handled improperly puts themselves or others in grave physical peril. Teaching them to use the Net is rather less troubling.

*) Block/restrict websites via the school's internal network and keep all researching examples aboveboard, as it were. If students use the knowledge gained elsewhere, that's hardly the school's responsibility depending what is or isn't blocked, and if they use it on the home computer for things parents don't like, that's the parents' responsibility AFAIC.

Etc. etc. You could keep this informative, detailed, and of great benefit without getting lost in the weeds.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:38 (eighteen years ago)

Information literacy needs to be a vital part of curriculum, its foundation. It's about praxis.

To be sure. But we're still in a situation where not every teacher in each subject will confess to being 'comfortable' with the Net, and that'll last, well, for a generation or two at least. Therefore the integration has to happen in a way that doesn't simply leave it as 'okay, each teacher will teach the same basics in their classes.' (If anything this reminds me about my feelings concerning composition.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:40 (eighteen years ago)

Kali, I understand exactly what you're saying. And Ned: I could feasibly see a B.I. class required as part of an AP course requirement. If you're sending your kid off to college, you can't be too offended that they'll be instructed to search for *anything* on the internet, you know?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:42 (eighteen years ago)

Kali, yes, that makes total sense; integrating how to do those things in the course of, say, writing a biology paper, etc. Alex is only in 3rd grade and so I haven't seen much of how this is playing out yet in the public school system here.

Molly - yes, they said handwriting (as in cursive) isn't that important. My husband struggled with it as well (although, ironically, he loves to do calligraphy!). But in Alex's case, we may have been told that because he has a really mild form of autism disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Othewise Specified. So it's kind of hard to say for sure what they would say to a neurotypical kid struggling with cursive. (Julia is only 4, but hopefully I will be able to report back on this someday).

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:42 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, I think that such an issue could be solved by teachers teaming up with librarians. I kind of view it as my job here at M.S. to do . . . well, outreach work. I need to show our awesome spacy musician staff what sorts of things are out there for their students. They just need to be comfortable enough to let go a little.

It's all about teamwork.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:43 (eighteen years ago)

(Molly - I agree with what you are saying re: being offended that the kids have to search the Internet. It just gave me a flash of Bob Jones University - or that college for mostly homeschooled right wing Christian kids who want to go into politics... ugh, I wish I could remember the name of that. There was a whole article about it in The New Yorker a couple of years ago.)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:45 (eighteen years ago)

(Also, Kali might have the coolest job I've ever heard of.)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:46 (eighteen years ago)

And Ned: I could feasibly see a B.I. class required as part of an AP course requirement. If you're sending your kid off to college, you can't be too offended that they'll be instructed to search for *anything* on the internet, you know?

Indeed, but why stop there? Let me explain: so not everyone goes to college, but everyone (supposedly) must graduate from high school. Correct me if I've made an error, but civics courses are required one way or another (sometimes in the guise of US history courses) for everyone. An awareness of 'citizenship' in a formal sense is at the least encouraged, and the knowledge of our political system is thus inculcated at this level. Knowledge and training, then, of using the Internet in this way, as a 'good citizen,' for reasons of government and one's role and rights within it, has an ineluctable logic. You can demonstrate how to contact those who serve in office, the offices themselves, what they say, how to search material online, etc. That is core information literacy, and that should be, indeed, universal.

that college for mostly homeschooled right wing Christian kids who want to go into politics

Patrick Henry.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:47 (eighteen years ago)

"For Christ and for liberty", doncha know.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:48 (eighteen years ago)

Sara, it's a pretty good job to get right out of library school. But my heart remains in the urban public library system. I loves me the library outreach.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:49 (eighteen years ago)

Ned, I was saying that that could be a possible starting point for integrating research skills for the internet and beyond.

While taking a Government Information course in library school, it blew my mind that I'd never EVER heard of of firstgov.gov, which I'm realizing has just been changed to : http://www.usa.gov/

How could I not have heard of this? or THOMAS? SuDocs are a scary place, but it's so important! MedlinePlus is an AMAZING resource, and why are people still using WebMD for information on their prescription drugs?

You're right! It is our civic duty to get this information out to the masses.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:54 (eighteen years ago)

Patrick Henry! Thank you Ned.

Kali - either type of job sounds great, really and I hope you are enjoying this one! I'm just thinking of your comment upthread about spending tons of money on music c.d.s FOR WORK... I am sure you will find your perfect dream job eventually, though. (I kind of remember you talking about the urban public library system adoration at the Red Dragon last summer, but it was really loud in there and I was distracted/overwhelmed. Uh, and drinking a Cosmopolitan.)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:55 (eighteen years ago)

Molly, I had the exact same experience in my gov docs class. It was amazing to see what was out there.

Let's take it to the streets guys. Information literacy for one and all! Now where did I put my sign-making supplies??? Oh well. Maybe another time.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:59 (eighteen years ago)

I don't know anyone who actually *prefers* reading articles online. Journals are really expensive to print, therefore they're mighty expensive to buy. Who doesn't like to highlight? Or make notes in the margin?

I have to admit I love online journals. If I need to make notes or highlight something, I can always print a copy.

The thing I hated about print journals as a grad and undergrad is that I would look for the issue I needed from the shelf and it would be stolen or missing. Or the article I needed would be torn out of the journal because somebody was too cheap and lazy to photocopy the article. With online journals you never have to worry about not having access.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:01 (eighteen years ago)

Hello all! I am in library school too, starting my second semester. I am also working in the library school library as I type this. I guess it is sort of a meta-library. It is weird because I know most of the people who come in here, so my treasured anonymity is shot.

I am becoming afraid that I will never get a job after I get out of here. Am I being paranoid or realistic or both? Are there any particular areas of librarianship where I'd have a better chance????

― askance johnson (sdownes), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:03 (eighteen years ago)

Online journals are great! It's late in the day, and I hope I didn't mean to sound like a total crab and diss all online journals. The thing is, I don't like reading on the screen, nor does anyone I know. Granted, we're all librarians and have poor eyesight. I'd much rather print it out, which sort of defeats the purpose for me in my little brain (paper -> print, screen -> online)

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:07 (eighteen years ago)

I don't know, I am getting used to reading stuff online. Though I end up printing a lot of it anyway, because if I read it on my laptop I will inevitably spend more time reading internet message boards than reading the article.

― askance johnson (sdownes), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:11 (eighteen years ago)

Ned, I was saying that that could be a possible starting point for integrating research skills for the internet and beyond.

Right, I'm not trying to say yours was the 'wrong' way -- merely also offering another one!

Online journals are quite excellent, and definitely so with my reserves work.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

askance johnson -- Hello! I think a big question is, regarding getting a job, is, are you willing to move? Cities with library schools are usually saturated with unemployed librarians. I had to move 800 miles to get a job, but I also wanted to leave where I was at with a passion.

Do you know what you're leaning towards, librarianship-wise? Reference? School media? Cataloging? Archives?

I think a good bit of advice is: apply to jobs LIKE A CRAZY PERSON. At least 1 a day, if not more. I had about 40 resumes out before I got my first phone interview. It's a bit daunting, but do-able.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:22 (eighteen years ago)

Cities with library schools are usually saturated with unemployed librarians.

Thick as flies. They roam in great herds, and are fond of being described in both metaphors and similes.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:23 (eighteen years ago)

1. FirstGov is great.
2. Ned OTM re: info literacy taught in high school under civics requirement.
3. I like user tagging. Cataloging people who get uptight about authority control bug me. DON'T WORRY, SUBJECT HEADINGS AREN'T GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON. Still, maybe we can take some cues from indexing schemes that non-library people actually like to use. Doesn't mean everything needs to be up in the air (although I'm not really opposed to that either), but adding some non-hierarchical elements to existing schemes won't bring on the apocalypse, you know?
4. I think educating libraries about the public is just as important as educating the public about libraries. And it's a two-way, discursive street.
5. Then again, do I actually work in a library? No. Have I? For three months. Am I in library school? Yes. Does library school have anything to do with the real world? Not sure.

Full-text online and tabbed browsing are a match made in research heaven. Woah, big x-post.

― plan b: videodrome (fauxhemian), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:26 (eighteen years ago)

A.J.-- Molly is right. My best friend had to move from Minnesota to Alaska to get her dream cataloging job.

As far as school and job seeking is concerened, be well rounded. Know a little bit of everything because you will be that much more marketable and that much more comfortable with whatever comes along. I, for instance, thought of nothing but reference and outreach in library school. I am now working as the one and only librarian at a music college. Everytime I have to do original cataloging I kick myself for not paying more attention in my organization of knowledge class.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:27 (eighteen years ago)

Exactly. They drink up all the booze, and talk about reference sources until closing time. It is not a pretty sight.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:27 (eighteen years ago)

5. Then again, do I actually work in a library? No. Have I? For three months. Am I in library school? Yes. Does library school have anything to do with the real world? Not sure.

"Do I contradict myself? Very well, I contradict myself." Er, wait. Anyway, you drunk, what are you up to now?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:29 (eighteen years ago)

DON'T WORRY, SUBJECT HEADINGS AREN'T GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

I am one of those "uptight" authority control people. Subject headings becoming obsolete aren't the issue. It's a use of a standardized controlled vocabulary which facilitates searching. Sure, throw in some natural language (i.e. keywords), but a standard is what keeps information organized.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:31 (eighteen years ago)

So in D&D terms, you're Lawful Evil and Struggin aka Matt is Chaotic Neutral.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:32 (eighteen years ago)

hi molly. I'm totally willing to move, though I guess it depends where to. I don't know if I could handle living in, say, oklahoma, but who knows? And, yeah, this area does seem pretty saturated by library graduates, though, actually, I know quite a few people who seem to have gotten jobs around here...I guess if you get a good internship, and they like you, and they have an opening...

I am totally not certain about what area of libraries I'm most down with. I vacilate wildly. I was orginally more interested in archives, and I actually just became the secretary of our campus archives group. I'm not sure about cataloging...is that an area where there might actually be jobs around?

I like school media but I don't like children, so I guess that's out. I had pondered at some point trying to learn about GIS/maps stuff and parlay that into some sort of career, but I'm not sure where to even start with that.

I guess I'm just confused.

― askance johnson (sdownes), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:34 (eighteen years ago)

also, I totally like the idea of user tags in an opac. Supplementing, and not replacing, traditional headings, of course. Actually, in one of my courses we talk about this like every class and people seem very pro.

― askance johnson (sdownes), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:35 (eighteen years ago)

If worse comes to worse you can whore yourself out to the corporate library world. Think big, like creative mis-information and the tobacco industry.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:37 (eighteen years ago)

That's exactly how I was. I thought I was going to be a public reference librarian at first, but here I am, as a cataloger at a university. I worked at an archives during library school, and I really enjoyed that, so I applied to both cataloging and archiving jobs. My nerdy heart took to my indexing class, and it was cataloging for me. Also, I got this interview first. So, there it was. I had bills to pay!

Question: how are your foreign languages? My undergrad was in French and Spanish, and that's how I landed the cataloging job here.

xpost - user tagging -- look at last.fm! People put "brazilian" on Tom Waits songs! I think it's going to be so much extra work to police it, that it might not be worth it. I don't know if the big ups have thought about that yet. I'm not saying LCSHs are the easiest things to understand. They can be damn clunky. Perhaps RDA will save us all. Who knows?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:39 (eighteen years ago)

Question: how are your foreign languages?

If you're out in California and know Spanish, Chinese or Japanese, you are pretty much gold somewhere on the coast. (Russian never hurts either, I've been given to understand.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:42 (eighteen years ago)

I think it's going to be so much extra work to police it, that it might not be worth it. I don't know if the big ups have thought about that yet. I'm not saying LCSHs are the easiest things to understand. They can be damn clunky. Perhaps RDA will save us all. Who knows?

It's going to be a 'learn to live with it' situation. Even in my ideal I've described, that was strictly limited to the US -- worldwide user coding/tagging = chaos.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:45 (eighteen years ago)

Doing shit busywork assignment about shit online ref management thingy that you guys probably subscribe to as well (refworks). Also, drinking vodka straight out of the bottle. HA. I mean coffee, straight out of the pot.

Kali: I want to work in a music library. Any suggestions?

xpost: And standards are made by people. Socially agreed-upon standards can work just as well as standards-by-committee. Vocab control has to exist, I'm not arguing with that, just that I think we need to think about "organized for whom?" when we say that "a standard is what keeps info organized." Or, at least make sure we look at that question pretty closely before things are absolutely set in stone.

― plan b: videodrome (fauxhemian), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:45 (eighteen years ago)

xpost - user tagging -- look at last.fm! People put "brazilian" on Tom Waits songs! I think it's going to be so much extra work to police it, that it might not be worth it.

Yeah, good point, although in theory the sorting is supposed to happen statistically thru large volumes of people. But this sort of thing has major drawbacks too (tyranny of the majority, etc). And wikipedia blows. Maybe it's a fun idea more than anything?

― plan b: videodrome (fauxhemian), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:48 (eighteen years ago)

haha, well I am pretty much monolingual, like the good amerikan that I am, so there's one strike against me!

― askance johnson (sdownes), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:49 (eighteen years ago)

Matt/Molly -- Surely the emphasis would be on contextual searching and strategies (fuzzy logic, if you like, misapplying the term a bit). Is this not already regularly taught, though? (An honest question; it's been over a decade since I did any sort of library/reference instruction in a class sense.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:50 (eighteen years ago)

Socially agreed-upon standards can work just as well as standards-by-committee.

How so? The DDC and LCSH definitely have their biases, but they've been changing that throughout the years (at least LCSH). Attend any ALCTS (cataloging) meeting at ALA, and you'll realize that a room full of catalogers are bound to look at things pretty closely, if not to death, before issuing their first revision of whatever they're working on.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:53 (eighteen years ago)

Plan b--I'm afraid I cannot offer you sage advice. It was complete happenstance that I fell into this job. A girl I graduated library school with was working here, she left for Connecticut, I interviewed and got the job--in a matter of 3 weeks, a whirlwind. I was lucky. The school has been around since the 80's yet only in the last year did they decide to hire a person with an MLIS. right place, right time.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:54 (eighteen years ago)

Plan b-- a lot of times (not always), working at a music library requires the double master's of Music and Library Science. There are only a few schools that offer it. Two that I know of, off the top of my head are UB (University at Buffalo) and U. of Indiana at Bloomington (I think).

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 22:57 (eighteen years ago)

Ned: You mean like approximate matching? Or offering a variety of strategies based on need/use/subject etc.? I'm for both! And I'm sure this is all taught; I just haven't taken the class yet (I'm in my second quarter).

Molly: I don't have any very good examples. Just an unverified hunch more than anything. I would love to see what a room full of catalogers come up with!

Kali: Nice! Luck is probably what I'll have to rely on once this is over and the student loan bell starts tolling.

― plan b: videodrome (fauxhemian), Thursday, 1 February 2007 23:03 (eighteen years ago)

I would love to see what a room full of catalogers come up with!

A room full of catalogers is frightening! Believe you me.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 23:04 (eighteen years ago)

Ned: You mean like approximate matching? Or offering a variety of strategies based on need/use/subject etc.? I'm for both!

Yeah, pretty much. Quite obviously part of the art of searching is knowing how to refine/expand results, and so openly allowing for lack of standards rather than always saying there will *be* standards will help in terms of getting used to the Net-as-such, not as we would have it. But obviously further instruction can be given in what databases and search strategies could give better results than others, etc. etc.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 February 2007 23:06 (eighteen years ago)

Oh Ned! Don't get me started on relevancy rankings! My brain is too fried right now!

oh, fine.

But obviously further instruction can be given in what databases and search strategies could give better results than others, etc. etc.

Thing is, library patrons want their OPAC to work like google. They don't want to search the catalog AND the online journals AND special collections AND the institution's digital libraries. Our library is testing something out, actually, that will search all our resources AT ONCE, and put them in a google-like search result.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 23:11 (eighteen years ago)

Would it try and do relevancy sorts on everything? That sounds pretty cool. And complicated! Semantic web, here we come???

― plan b: videodrome (fauxhemian), Thursday, 1 February 2007 23:17 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, so it would list all the stuff in our catalog, mixed in with stuff from our TV archives, and our electronic journals too. It hasn't been released on the masses yet, but it's coming.

http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/primo.htm

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 1 February 2007 23:20 (eighteen years ago)

Cities with library schools are usually saturated with unemployed librarians.

The Fr33 L1br4ry 0f Ph1l4d3lph14 (hereafter called the Fr33) regularly hires librarians from outside the immediate area. (Of course this could be uncharitably construed as a comment on locals knowing certain things about that system and on the continuing difficulties retaining employees there.)

― Rockist Scientist, Hippopoptimist (RSLaRue), Thursday, 1 February 2007 23:20 (eighteen years ago)

Federated seaching is a mess, in my experience*. Maybe it would work better in an academic setting, but I don't like the way it mixes relatively general level material with more advanced material that sometimes turns up in our journal databases. Granted, the same thing can happen with a book search. (Also, a great many of our patrons, of all ages, have difficulty telling whether or not a citation is pointing to a book or a journal article.)


*Not in the hands of an experienced searcher who can select particular databases to search, of course.

― Rockist Scientist, Hippopoptimist (RSLaRue), Thursday, 1 February 2007 23:47 (eighteen years ago)

We confused a lot of people by suddenly switching to a federated search where there had previously been a search box that just took you into the catalog. Patrons and librarians were both very annoyed with the change.

(I say "we," but I wasn't involved with the decision, and apparently neither were 99% of the librarians, though some people in the web office thought it was a swell idea, and no doubt a few of the visionaries at the top were behind it as well.)

(And I should really be more careful because I'm not out yet, but it's really hard to give a fuck when there is absolutely nothing to look forward to there except getting out, and a pension if I live long enough.)

― Rockist Scientist, Hippopoptimist (RSLaRue), Thursday, 1 February 2007 23:55 (eighteen years ago)

haha, this thread upped its level of geekiness considerably; well done!

I think school librarians are the key to intergrate search (internet and otherwise) with the curriculum, but that depends on the teachers buying into working with the librarians. I know that current school library graduates are very savvy and interested in helping their students sift through information.

Last semester I was really panicked about not being able to find a job, but I'm not really worried at the moment. I'm more worried about finishing up school and passing this rediculous test we have to take. Also, I am willing to work in public and in children's and it seems that entry level jobs in those areas might not be that hard to get, but who know's? I also worry about getting only a part-time, 20/hr week job, it seems like lots of library students start out that way.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 2 February 2007 01:32 (eighteen years ago)

I'm building a thesaurus right now, and I couldn't be happier. I wish there were more indexing jobs.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 2 February 2007 17:41 (eighteen years ago)

I have no clue how you would go about doing that, and yet it sounds strangely appealing!

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Friday, 2 February 2007 17:46 (eighteen years ago)

I want thesauri to build themselves, in that I am lazy.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 February 2007 17:57 (eighteen years ago)

It's kind of tricky, unfortunately! A lot of indexing jobs are freelance, but if I could ever score and indexing job for a publishing company, I would be the happiest girl alive.

I'm really having the best time. It's just organizing an index on one of our webpages, but I'm making CROSS REFERENCES. Sheer delight!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 2 February 2007 17:58 (eighteen years ago)

New least favorite subject heading: "Motion Picture Authorship" for Screenwriting.

― Rockist Scientist, Hippopoptimist (RSLaRue), Friday, 2 February 2007 18:22 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, that is pretty bad. "Screen writing" is given as a reference. Blah.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 2 February 2007 18:24 (eighteen years ago)

I got to create the subject heading in LCSH for "Erotic poetry, Guatemalan."

My life is now complete.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 2 February 2007 18:25 (eighteen years ago)

! A lot of indexing jobs are freelance, but if I could ever score and indexing job for a publishing company, I would be the happiest girl alive.

That's one of my dream jobs too! There is really few library-related things I enjoy more than indexing, but I haven't had a chance to do any since grad school.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Friday, 2 February 2007 18:48 (eighteen years ago)

Wow, I honestly didn't realize that was such a demand/interest in indexing. (Then again there are reasons why I don't work in tech services -- I think I prefer the rather protean nature of my job as it has evolved, which now covers everything from building responsibility to improving contacts with the university clientele at large.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 February 2007 18:51 (eighteen years ago)

The only thing better than ordering a shit ton of cd's, is actually receiving a shit ton of CD's. I have, like, 40 sitting on my desk right now. (sigh) I'm in heaven. Oh, and look! I see Molly here too; she's making cross references on a fluffy little cloud.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Friday, 2 February 2007 20:14 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, but are they *good* CDs?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 February 2007 20:15 (eighteen years ago)

Jeez Ned, Kali ordered them. Questioning her judgment already! (welcome to ILX Kali!)

You are all having heavenly fun and I'm envying it; I am trying to re-understand chemistry. (Oh, but I went to the library and got Chemistry For Dummies. Sadly, no one has yet written Chemistry for Complete Morons, which is likely the volume I need.)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Friday, 2 February 2007 20:18 (eighteen years ago)

Ned, I know enough about you from John J that I'll never get into a war over music.

Some of it is great. Some is crap. A lot of these were student requests so we have our carrie underwood, Dylan, Soulive stuff. Lots of Minnnesota stuff, Husker Du, Replacemnts, Low, God Damn Doo Wop Band; I'm building my local musician collection

I just pushed Kid Dakota on the one kid in the school who listens to indie rock. He was ecstatic. I am too.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Friday, 2 February 2007 20:24 (eighteen years ago)

Questioning her judgment already!

Yes, precisely! I'm evil!

I'm building my local musician collection

This is good and noble work.

the one kid in the school who listens to indie rock

Times = changed.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 February 2007 20:25 (eighteen years ago)

(Ned is secretly wondering, but where is the My Bloody Valentine?)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Friday, 2 February 2007 20:27 (eighteen years ago)

As they were not from Minnesota I have no reason to complain.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 February 2007 20:29 (eighteen years ago)

*relief*

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Friday, 2 February 2007 20:30 (eighteen years ago)

Yes! I'm also happy to report that I will continue to report to the Academic Dean. No crazy re-org.

On a much more scary note, I have to come up with a ten year plan for the library. (!!!) I actually feel a little bit of fear in my chest.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Friday, 2 February 2007 20:55 (eighteen years ago)

"Year 1: All library monies to be invested in remastered Prince CDs."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 February 2007 20:59 (eighteen years ago)

(spooky lurker says "whoohoo" to Kali re:academic dean deal.)

― John Justen goes to work like an architect (johnjusten), Friday, 2 February 2007 21:05 (eighteen years ago)

Excellent plan! I'm going home early today. I have to be here for an open house tomorrow.

I'm off to read more of the Diamond Age. (My first sci-fi novel)

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Friday, 2 February 2007 21:05 (eighteen years ago)

John J., thank you for your creepy, lurking enthusiasm.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Friday, 2 February 2007 21:06 (eighteen years ago)

I'm off to read more of the Diamond Age. (My first sci-fi novel)

A slippery slope. But we'll be waiting for the in-depth discussions of Dan Simmons and why David Brin is a feeb.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 February 2007 21:09 (eighteen years ago)

Deal.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Friday, 2 February 2007 21:09 (eighteen years ago)

Oh god this internship.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 2 February 2007 21:22 (eighteen years ago)

I'm also happy to report that I will continue to report to the Academic Dean. No crazy re-org.

That's great news!

I've only ever had to do a five year plan, which wasn't too bad. A ten year plan would be a bit daunting though.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Friday, 2 February 2007 21:38 (eighteen years ago)

Yay to no re-org, going home early, and sci-fi!

(And to Fridays)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Friday, 2 February 2007 22:04 (eighteen years ago)

Mary, if you think government documents are frightening, wait 'til you meet the people who create them.

― Stephen X (Stephen X), Friday, 2 February 2007 22:07 (eighteen years ago)

I forgot to chime in on the re-org happiness! A good thing especially since in my case I've seen approximately 134123 shifts in the wind there...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 February 2007 22:08 (eighteen years ago)

I had a 2nd interview today for an archives/records management position at Harvard Medical, going to find out next week what the decision is. Oh, the waiting...

Cities with library schools are usually saturated with unemployed librarians.

This seems true of the Boston area.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Saturday, 3 February 2007 01:03 (eighteen years ago)

Wow - good luck. That sounds like it would be a really cool job!

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Saturday, 3 February 2007 02:36 (eighteen years ago)

Michael, good luck! My friend / former boss worked at the archives at Harvard (not medical, though) and really enjoyed it. Fingers crossed!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Saturday, 3 February 2007 16:52 (eighteen years ago)

You'll do fine. And then you'll take over the world.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 3 February 2007 18:45 (eighteen years ago)

It's weird, right after I got done geeking out over indexing my employee asked if it was okay to re-arrange the schedule so he can take the indexing & abstracting class. Indexomania!

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Saturday, 3 February 2007 20:04 (eighteen years ago)

Thanks for the encouragement folks. It's good to see a lot of catalogers here. While I was going through Library School, it was incredibly unpopular among all my classmates.

Speaking of which, surely people have weirdo stories about their library school classmates? First person who comes to mind for me was the guy who was a civil war re-creationist, came to class in costume, and then was asking people out for coffee before the class was over.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:24 (eighteen years ago)

surely people have weirdo stories about their library school classmates

I say this with love (not least re: friends and fellow employees), but I have yet to meet anyone who works in a library in general who isn't a little weird, and sometimes a lot. (I rank myself pretty high on that scale.) Surely library school concentrates this factor.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:28 (eighteen years ago)

First person who comes to mind for me was the guy who was a civil war re-creationist,

OMG YES. I think we had several of these in liberry skool. One actually followed me out to my car after class one evening. It was terrifying.

I have so many stories, I don't even know where to begin. Library school was filled with utter weirdos (myself sort of included).

Cataloging was totally unpopular. Actually, there were a few of us (ok, 3) who loved cataloging so much and just nerded it out to the next level of library school. Ironically, we were all (and still are) graced with above-normal social skills.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:32 (eighteen years ago)

OMG YES. I think we had several of these in liberry skool.

Civil War reenactors specifically? (Maybe it's down to where you're at -- out here it would be SCA and WWII types.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:39 (eighteen years ago)

No, this was in Buffalo. Total Civil War reenacators. I think we had some war of 1812 dudes too.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:40 (eighteen years ago)

Do not want. (Admittedly French and Indian War geeks would be truly hardcore, and yet would smell worse.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:44 (eighteen years ago)

Nicole, my friend and I were so in love with indexing, that we started a fake band called The Indexers. Originally, there were three of us, but we had to throw someone out due to a riff one evening in our "Intro. to Computer" class. He then went off and formed his own hippie solo project, Thesaurus Rex. We know have about 5 members (a varying line-up, as we violently threw some people out), which includes a saw player and a washtub bass player. We started off as a aging riot grrl band, but now it's just whatever we can muster, in theory. Coincidentally, my friend (and fellow cataloger!) just sent me some lyrics to a fake song called: "Your semantic web will undoubtedly render my framework obsolete. Okay. Pass the hot sauce."

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:46 (eighteen years ago)

You have just made me ridiculously happy with this story. (And if I could find a way to create an Indexers entry in the AMG...)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:48 (eighteen years ago)

I think we even have a myspace page.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=32003938

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:50 (eighteen years ago)

Seriously, the more I ponder this, what *is* the exact love for indexing, or rather, how would you describe the itch that it satisfies? I'm quite curious. It's not one I have in any recognizable sense; I'm strictly an end-product user.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:51 (eighteen years ago)

It's fun to organize!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:52 (eighteen years ago)

It's a pretty hands-on way of organizing things. I can't really explain the joy of differentiating between a SEE ALSO and USED FOR reference. It's all about using your brain in a terribly nerdy, analytical way.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:53 (eighteen years ago)

Cataloging was the Very Last Class I took; the 3-4 hours on Sunday afternoons aspect of it was wildly unappealing. But I didn't mind the actual activity.

I love the fake band story - and all the "library school weirdos." I remember no one else who was in library school with me (I guess I blocked it out) - but feel that I would definitely qualify for the label "weirdo." Even though I'm only a librarian bystander these days.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Saturday, 3 February 2007 23:02 (eighteen years ago)

x-post -- Interesting -- I suppose I have my equivalent in something like my home collections, then, but I don't see it in that sense consciously (and if anything might explain why I've been talking about collection reduction on other threads, rather than expansion!).

For me the fun at work lies in problem-solving and constantly improving what can be done at all levels -- my driving factor is to streamline and simplify, by getting everyone involved more closely in the process (so, ensuring professors and instructors are using redesigned online forms, taking paper reserves out of the equation in favor of online resources already maintained by the library, and further improvements in instruction for reserves users, which will be a long-term project of mine if a couple of other things can be settled first). Not to mention better training for the students I supervise (which has now come about) and many other factors. And then having done all that thinking about ways I can make it better, continuing to change things when there is clear benefit rather than letting the rules simply stagnate if the circumstances allow. Now this isn't separate from what everyone else wants to do, I'm sure! In my mind it's more of a marshalling and revision of the resources to hand rather than creating the resource in the first place that I think I'm after, though I don't know if that's the best comparison.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 3 February 2007 23:02 (eighteen years ago)

Maybe I can put it another way: I can look back on a decade's worth of work and I can see so much about the job that I've had a direct hand in improving. Everything from creating proper student/staff instruction manuals (when I first arrived it was nothing but a blizzard of smudged and old photocopies) to detailed training in summoning emergency services as needed to finessing a way to relieve a massive crunch of activity at the loan desk when it and the Reserves section were combined. The thrill and pride is knowing that I did things like that, and left things better than when I started. Regardless of what happens next, that's a good feeling.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 3 February 2007 23:06 (eighteen years ago)

Sara, unless you always wear a t-shirt that says "PIZZA ASS" and do not know how to create a new file on your desktop, you do not qualify at a library school weirdo.

I was fortunate enough to enter library school with other folks my age who got just as excited about Yoko Ono and silk screening as I did.

Yeah, indexing is sort of similar, Ned. It's all about taking a text in front of you, and making it accessible (which is probably why I like cataloging so much). It's a pretty tricky thing to accomplish, but my mind and indexing certainly "jive". I also love taking my audience into account, i.e. "will a kid look for this?" or, "should I separate each segment by letters? In bold? Italics? Which would they find the most helpful?"

Librarianship is truly an altruistic field, which is something I find completely wonderful. It's just a matter of finding out where you work best to help out the general masses.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Saturday, 3 February 2007 23:14 (eighteen years ago)

unless you always wear a t-shirt that says "PIZZA ASS"

And of course these days you can get pants with that right *on* the ass for maximum impact.

I also love taking my audience into account, i.e. "will a kid look for this?" or, "should I separate each segment by letters? In bold? Italics? Which would they find the most helpful?"

Ah, see, that's a good way of explaining it to me, because I'd be terrible with that! I'd see such things strictly through my own lens (big surprise), and I'm glad there are others with the broader view of a userbase. One thing I appreciate about reserves it's the simplicity of searching for material and interpreting the information.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 3 February 2007 23:20 (eighteen years ago)

My library school peers are fairly mainstream as far as I can tell. The one person who befriended me based upon similar interests turned out to be a little too out there on the "weird" scale in the end.

Reference librarians, how do you help someone find articles when they not only lack the skill to conduct a search of a database (which I taught them for about half an hour last week) but also lack the reasoning skills to interpret the results of the search, i.e. faced with a set of 10 citations cannot determine which one might be the best for her? I spent so long with her last week, which I was happy to do because it was her first time, but none of it sunk in. I can't decide whether she in unable to do it herself, or simply prefers the ease of me doing it for her... But I don't have the time nor the inclination to do all of her research for her.

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 4 February 2007 00:20 (eighteen years ago)

Sara, unless you always wear a t-shirt that says "PIZZA ASS" and do not know how to create a new file on your desktop, you do not qualify at a library school weirdo.

Cruelly blackballed from yet another club. *sob*

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Sunday, 4 February 2007 01:40 (eighteen years ago)

Sara, unless you always wear a t-shirt that says "PIZZA ASS" and do not know how to create a new file on your desktop, you do not qualify at a library school weirdo.

Cruelly blackballed from yet another club. *sob*

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Sunday, 4 February 2007 01:42 (eighteen years ago)

Sara, no! You're in the club. If you play an instrument, or even think about playing one someday, you might be asked to be the newest member of The Indexers.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Sunday, 4 February 2007 03:18 (eighteen years ago)

Hmmmm... even if the instrument I secretly want to play is the CELLO?!

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Sunday, 4 February 2007 03:39 (eighteen years ago)

That just means they're going art-rock.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 4 February 2007 07:49 (eighteen years ago)

Reference librarians, how do you help someone find articles when they not only lack the skill to conduct a search of a database (which I taught them for about half an hour last week) but also lack the reasoning skills to interpret the results of the search, i.e. faced with a set of 10 citations cannot determine which one might be the best for her?

This is really something someone should be learning in a class. I don't see how you can do much right on the spot, while someone is doing the research, at least not on a regular basis. If you want to be helpful in a situation like that, you can always ask questions like, "Well, are you going to discuss Wordsworth's social context in your paper (in which case citations 4, 7, and 12 might be useful) or? . . ." But naybe that's the type of thing you already did.

Sometimes thinking is part of an assignment, and I don't think that a librarian should be a student's surrogate brain. So I don't worry about it too much, frankly (but if it's not obvious from everything I've already said, I'm really burned out on this job). But the thing I hate about reference work even at its best is that so much of it involves hand-holding. You aren't doing research for someone, but you aren't really teaching research principles either. You are there to help them along.

― Rockist Scientist, Hippopoptimist (RSLaRue), Sunday, 4 February 2007 13:33 (eighteen years ago)

Speaking of which, surely people have weirdo stories about their library school classmates?

There was the creepy pre-op transexual who would hit on all of the girls in class and dominate every classroom discussion -- I can't stand people who have to talk all of the time, to the exclusion of everyone else. I don't think becoming a woman was going to make this dude any less obnoxious.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Sunday, 4 February 2007 21:31 (eighteen years ago)

Yea, I think part of the problem is the assignment. The teacher asks them to bring in articles on certain subjects, and I suppose they summarize or talk about them? But the teacher's points are really vague--it would probably be of more benefit if the teacher put some iconic articles on reserve or something. But some returning middle-aged students have a fear of doing anything online at all, with the catalog or with the databases, and they just expect me to find all of their articles for them.

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 4 February 2007 22:19 (eighteen years ago)

Okay, I am officially tripping out a bit here. The UCI Libraries is purchasing an island location in Second Life, "to support UCI courses wishing to use it as a platform for computer design projects and to use it as an innovative learning environment."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 5 February 2007 21:33 (eighteen years ago)

NO NO NO NO NO.

I hate the ideas of libraries and Second Life. Full stop.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 5 February 2007 21:37 (eighteen years ago)

That is seriously screwed up.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Monday, 5 February 2007 21:37 (eighteen years ago)

I've seen articles reference its use at secondary schools. I've never done 'Second Life' - is it any good, or just as useless as it seems?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 5 February 2007 21:39 (eighteen years ago)

I dunno, I actually like it! On the one hand I will always have relative doubts about anything that's closed-system on the Net (hi dere AOL) but on the other hand Second Life has some traction to it. If anything it could be an interesting test case. (I'm just waiting for the official WoW characters now -- Blizzard's right on the other side of campus!)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 5 February 2007 21:39 (eighteen years ago)

I think my problem is partially that I don't "get" Second Life. My first life is more interesting (admittedly I didn't try any of the more uh... interesting activities possible at Second Life). So the notiof of spending money there is foreign to me - much less a library system.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Monday, 5 February 2007 21:42 (eighteen years ago)

The idea of a library in Second Life makes me angry. Using a computer in Second Life from your own computer also makes me angry. Some catalogers were trying to recruit other cataloger to CATALOG MATERIALS FOR SECOND LIFE. All this "meta" shit drives me bonkers. YOU ARE ALREADY USING A COMPUTER. JUST GO TO YOUR PUBLIC LIBRARY AND TALK TO ACTUAL HUMANS. Other than that, I don't really care.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Monday, 5 February 2007 21:46 (eighteen years ago)

The faculty members who initially suggested the idea are in computing (unsurprisingly) and film and media studies, which are logical folks to be interested in looking at this as a teaching option. I wonder if there's a larger campus initiative for this? Hmm!

(The other thing that hit me as a use would be for distance learning, and thus library resources for said distance learners via Second Life.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 5 February 2007 21:49 (eighteen years ago)

Oh god it's tax time.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

I just got my w-4s on Saturday. Let the procrastination begin!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:03 (eighteen years ago)

All mine are in place and I owed about what I figured so I'll just rest until they come due.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:05 (eighteen years ago)

I hope I don't owe anything. This is my first full year of librarinism, w/o having been a student for any part of the year, so I can't expect a big fat refund check. If I owe anything, I will cry. Happily, TN doesn't have an income tax, so it's only federal for me.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:06 (eighteen years ago)

Ah, being in California means I get a double-whammy. But it's always been something manageable.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:08 (eighteen years ago)

Sometimes my job drives me bonkers. The anal-retentive nature really is a buzzkill, and makes me want to run off and be an indexer full time. I mean, if someone puts "port." in the 300 (descriptive) field, and there's more than one portrait, is the world really going to end? Does the patron even know what a "port." is? The ensuing bickering about it also drives me to drink.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 21:20 (eighteen years ago)

Everything drives me to drink, that's why I drink.

― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 21:21 (eighteen years ago)

Hah, me too, Laurel. Crazy co-workers do not help. SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE, DUDES.

Get me teh booze, ASAP.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 21:23 (eighteen years ago)

I meant it's that time of year when patrons file into the library searching for not only tax forms, but help with filling those forms out. As VA has decided to go paperless this year, we can't even offer our usual meager level of service.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 22:35 (eighteen years ago)

We get a bit of that here too, but thankfully more questions about where the forms are than help with them. At least I think that's the case; maybe the reference desk is slammed with those kind of things.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 22:53 (eighteen years ago)

Do you think there's a way of getting around the American Society of Indexers $100/year fee to get some free-lance indexing work?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 00:31 (eighteen years ago)

Could you just form relationships on your own with publishers? When I worked in publishing one of my fellow editorial assistants loved to index and she just basically did it for free for people who didn't like to do it.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 14:09 (eighteen years ago)

When I worked at a public library, tax time was always a total nightmare. I dreaded it. At a college library, it's not so bad -- you will get students asking where they can find the forms online, but that's about it. Nothing like the deluge of tax-related questions you get at a public library.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 14:25 (eighteen years ago)

We can't really help people, but the large, active nearby local county library has like month-long sessions featuring accounting volunteers--so we direct them over them.

I do think it's ridiculous that Va won't provide paper forms anymore. It's fine if they want to cut back, but they can't assume that everyone is savvy enough/has the capability to download the forms from the internet.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 14:50 (eighteen years ago)

So the library and IT services are being converged, we were told a year or more ago. So a new director was appointed in May, started in November. So then we are told that student services, the projects office and something else I forget are also being converged, and that we shall be called "Academic Services". I have been told I have "impressed the right people" but I have not a clue what my job will be in two months.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

x-post -- So no paper forms, period? Interesting. Part of me approves but as you say that's assuming a hell of a lot. (All the more reasont to educate everybody in the Net!)

Nick, you will be employed to polish the keyboards so they look nice.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 14:59 (eighteen years ago)

Yea, we've got the federal, but if they want VA they have to 1) make photocopies of the forms held at the info desk (for a fee) or 2) go on the computer and download the forms and then print them out (involves buying a print card)or 3) preferred VA method--file online (involves having a library card and being able to navigate the internet). Our most excellent nearby library system, the one that recently gained national attention on account of misreporting of its weeding system, also offers workshops with federal employees on just how to do #3.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 15:04 (eighteen years ago)

We have a (joke) sign in our library that says "NO TAX HELP." Well, it's a sign that says "TAX HELP" with a big red X through it.

Whenever we get a new library, we're going to call it "The Learning Commons" due to the big Starbucks-type monstrosity that will be situated in our reference area.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

You are an enabler of the modern agora, no mere librarian!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 17:48 (eighteen years ago)

due to the big Starbucks-type monstrosity that will be situated in our reference area.

That seems to be the trend, doesn't it? However, my college is really rigid about students having food and drinks anywhere on campus outside of the cafeteria/student center so I can't see such a setup being foisted on me any time soon.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 17:51 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, I think it is the new HOT TREND with Head Librarians everywhere. There was also mention of making WorldCat our OPAC (!?!?!?), but that'll be shot down pretty quickly, I hope. We're not getting a new library for about 10 years, so I'm sure the whole "information learning commons" won't be so trendy by then. Well, one can hope anyway.

I sound like a curmudgeon.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 17:56 (eighteen years ago)

It is DEFINITELY the trend, without question and near without exception -- Nicole's situation is about the only place I can think of bucking the tide! We're slightly helped by having the actual study area building right next to ours so people can go there as needed, but even so.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 18:03 (eighteen years ago)

I like coffee; I need coffee. However, I need your insight even more!

As you may all be aware I am the one and only librarian at a for-profit career music college First time librarian, first time manager. I have been charged with the task of creating a *10 year plan* for the library.

What is the end of that 10 years? As far as I can tell, in the board's mind, accreditation and a dream to be up to fame and quality of a mini Berklee (in Mass.) or Full Sail. (until this year I only knew Full Sail to be a tasty micro-brew from Oregon) All I know is that it's amorphus and grand and . . . insanely intimidating.

So, library students: read any books recently on strategic planning?

Library workers: good god, can you give me any advice? any tried and true resources I should take a look at?

I just never expected I would be managing a library (small though it may be)7 months after grad school, in my late 20's.

Ned: I do, however, agree that enriching the scope of our Prince collection in year 1 is a definite to-do.

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 21:41 (eighteen years ago)

Kali, is that your proper email? I'll send you some stuff from my liberry.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 21:56 (eighteen years ago)

That's one of them. That would be great, Molly. Thanks!

― Kali and this brave new thread seeking world. (Kali and the strange new world), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 22:10 (eighteen years ago)

There is an actual Starbucks in the building of the library where I am doing my internship. You have to enter it and the library separately though.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

The Cataloging Service Bulletin came out. New subject headings include:

Pole dancing
Male insecurity

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 8 February 2007 16:08 (eighteen years ago)

Showgirls must have been added to the National Film Registry.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 8 February 2007 16:11 (eighteen years ago)

I just got sent a bunch of free Scientology dvds to add to the collection! It is kind of horrifying yet funny to even be on their radar. I have no idea what to do w/the dvds -- maybe I should use them as cruel, jokey gifts.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Thursday, 8 February 2007 16:22 (eighteen years ago)

Are there bonuses? Did they include that great album they did back in the mid-1980s with The Man Himself croaking through a song?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 8 February 2007 16:28 (eighteen years ago)

It's actually kind of scant on information re: the contents, other than containing "An interview w/L. Ron Hubbard". It's not like I'm going to watch to find out.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Thursday, 8 February 2007 16:31 (eighteen years ago)

Tell your sister it's a rare S*M*A*S*H spoken word effort and get her to tell you what's on it.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 8 February 2007 16:32 (eighteen years ago)

What, no complimentary copy of Battlefield Earth?

A (non-ILXor) high school friend of mine sent me free copies of the Book of Mormon twice while we were in college. Extra bonus: they came with missionaries.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 8 February 2007 16:33 (eighteen years ago)

What, freeze-dried and shipped?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 8 February 2007 16:34 (eighteen years ago)

No, they show up at your home (or college dorm, in my case), ready to talk about their faith with you. I got rid of them both times by making stuff up.

(Not to worry; I returned the favor, which was extra fun since the person who did this was one of the few Jewish people in town.)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 8 February 2007 16:40 (eighteen years ago)

Apparently I should have sent one to my local public library. I'm sure my former boss there would have been duly entertained.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 8 February 2007 16:41 (eighteen years ago)

How many listservs / discussion groups are y'all on?

Do you actually read all of them?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 8 February 2007 19:30 (eighteen years ago)

(library related, that is)

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 8 February 2007 19:30 (eighteen years ago)

I'm just on a locally based one, it's a good source for finding library equipment cheap and for getting workshop/professional development information.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Thursday, 8 February 2007 19:36 (eighteen years ago)

I think I'm on too many!

Autocat
OCLC-CAT
PCC list
One from my library school
and I just signed up for some ALCTS Future of Subject Headings discussion group.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Thursday, 8 February 2007 19:44 (eighteen years ago)

Hello library people. I'm not a library person, really, but I work in the archives and special collections department of a university library so I'm gradually being exposed to library stuff.

I've been given the task of finding a large format flatbed scanner, for scanning old maps and drawing and other delicate, irreplaceable type items. There are plenty of big sheet-feed printers, but the archivists seem to cringe at the idea of anything other than a glass flatbed scanner, which seem to max out at about 18" x 24" or so. We've already got one of these.

What do archivist types seem to use for scanning large, fragile items? Any suggestions?

― joygoat (joygoat), Thursday, 8 February 2007 23:57 (eighteen years ago)

How many listservs / discussion groups are y'all on?

An e-reserves one through ALA, I think.

Do you actually read all of them?

Uh...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 9 February 2007 00:45 (eighteen years ago)

My library has scientology videos--Dianetics--and they get checked out.

Eek: it is science-project season.

List-servs:

Two from my school
Contrarian Librarian
Child Lit
Middle School Lit
Young Adult Lit
Victoriana

formerly: Sharp-L (rare books)

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 9 February 2007 16:33 (eighteen years ago)

Joygoat,

for anything big format we want to scan we either use an off-site company who have a large-scale flatbed scanner, or we'll have to use a digital camera, tripod, lighting etc. It's very fiddly work, and we don't have any space to set up a permanent studio, so unless we just need a reference dgital image we'll take it to a nearby large local authority archive who have a large reprographics department who will take on outside work.

― Vicky (Vicky), Saturday, 10 February 2007 13:18 (eighteen years ago)

I just told this lady (same lady as before) that I could assist her in her search, but that I couldn't do her research for her. Is that wrong?

― Mary (Mary), Saturday, 10 February 2007 20:51 (eighteen years ago)

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m64/eljeffebonanza/IMINURCATALOG.jpg?t=1172158462

― Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows, Thursday, 22 February 2007 16:49 (eighteen years ago)

I need me one of those.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 22 February 2007 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

FB is desperately talented at training pets.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 22 February 2007 16:54 (eighteen years ago)

Unfortunately most of these cards now read, "See also: Kill Bird/Ignore Owner"

― Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows, Thursday, 22 February 2007 17:19 (eighteen years ago)

Mine would have: "See also: Sleep/Shed Cat Hair"

That's why I haven't tried to train them to work with card catalogs; I can't wake them up.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 22 February 2007 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

I had a job interview today! Made me realise that I'm much more interested in teaching/helping people search for information, than techy behind the scenes stuff. 15 windows of Excel spreadsheets is not for me.

So, damn, I better pull myself back together in my current job.

― jel --, Thursday, 22 February 2007 18:25 (eighteen years ago)

jel, how did the interview go?

I just read this article on user tagging. Nothing got punched while I was reading it, so everything is ok. I'm not anti-user tagging, I just think it won't and shouldn't have a major role in an academic library, like everybody thinks. Also, I'm realizing that these people who think it's a good idea have probably never used it extensively.

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/402/tagging-play

I'm a crabby cataloger!

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 18:24 (eighteen years ago)

Fluffybear, I LOVE the picture. It's getting hung up in my cube as we speak.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 18:25 (eighteen years ago)

i love this thread!

― s1ocki, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 19:00 (eighteen years ago)

It's a portrait of a job, a mindset, a way of life. Now turn in your damn books on time.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 19:01 (eighteen years ago)

The ladies I lunch with have told me I've lost my library school optimism, and that's not a bad thing. I'm one of them now. I don't know how I feel about this. KEEP ME AWAY FROM APPLIQUE SWEATSHIRTS. What am I turning into?

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 19:03 (eighteen years ago)

Did any of youse guys have to sign up for Facebook? Our library staff is really getting into it, and I've been asked to sign up as one of the more "tech-familiar librarians." Ugh.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 20:19 (eighteen years ago)

How horrifying.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 20:20 (eighteen years ago)

All the acceptable pictures I have "for my profile" involve me in various drinking establishments. Oh well. Professionalism, my ass.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 20:22 (eighteen years ago)

I should go find that link to Carleton's librarian trading card site. I so want that to catch on with librarians everywhere. (I want to know what all of yr superpowers are...)

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 20:42 (eighteen years ago)

I know one of the super-powered librarians at Carleton! She's great!

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 20:43 (eighteen years ago)

MUST FIND THE LINK NOW! (Shoot, going to have to call my husband, who works at Carleton, and who told me about the trading cards in the first place).

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

Google = faster than a phone call. Here:

http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/library/help/help/liaisons/cards/

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 20:46 (eighteen years ago)

Ahem. Let's see if this works:

[Removed Illegal Link]

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 20:47 (eighteen years ago)

Carleton Librarian Trading Cards

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 20:48 (eighteen years ago)

Ooh! They've made new ones since I last saw them (in person) at ALA this past summer.

What the hell does "poke" mean of Facebook? Why the hell are people poking me? ARGHHH.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 20:48 (eighteen years ago)

oh god. I already found out too much about my co-workers:

"Religious views: Pagan."

DAMN YOU, FACEBOOK, AND THE LIBRARIANS' DESIRE TO HOLD ON TO ALL THAT IS TRENDY.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 21:03 (eighteen years ago)

Pagans with appliqued sweatshirts? Something is seriously wrong there.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 21:04 (eighteen years ago)

Paganism's gone suburban. Old hat.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 21:06 (eighteen years ago)

I think this brings the number of pagans at work to 2.

I once worked with a woman who legally changed her name to "Pagan." She was bonkers and had a "WHO IS JOHN GALT?" sign at her desk. This wasn't at a library, though.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 21:08 (eighteen years ago)

Paganism's gone suburban. Old hat.

Maybe in L.A.... (I'm waiting to see a photo of Ned in an appliqued sweatshirt now.)

I once worked with a woman who legally changed her name to "Pagan."

There was a character in a book I read in high school called "Pagan." I wish I could remember what book it was. Some trashy thing that had been made into a tv movie... argh, what was it?

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 21:10 (eighteen years ago)

No one takes any of my suggestions here at work. I'm finding this annoying.

I am in a crabby mood today.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 21:22 (eighteen years ago)

That would be frustrating... hope your day improves! (If it's any consolation, my kids don't listen to me at all... plus they don't pay me. AND they keep moving the books around so that I have to re-shelve them!)

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 21:36 (eighteen years ago)

Thanks, Sara! I just feel like I'm working with recovering luddites sometimes.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 21:39 (eighteen years ago)

Well, at least they are recovering!

Seriously, I have a some good former boss and co-worker stories, but I suppose I should not put them online. It's amazing how I have been a SAHM for almost 9 years and yet I still remember them so clearly...

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 21:47 (eighteen years ago)

My college hates myspace and facebook and as a result has forbidden any of the departments (inc. the library) from having any involvement with them. Probably some higher up has seen too many episodes of To Catch a Predator. Not that I'm that broken up over it.

― Nicole, Wednesday, 28 February 2007 21:56 (eighteen years ago)

I'm doing original cataloging for a book right now. Its title:

Poemas para mi fueye : y para los amigos / Teddy Peiro.

Which translates to: Poems for my accordion : and its friends / Teddy Peiro.

This has just made my day.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:15 (eighteen years ago)

On the back of the book, it says:

"Tango is like a drug, and the accordion sells it."

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:16 (eighteen years ago)

It's so clear that my understanding of tango is, well, nonexistent. (But accordion?)

I'm kind of considering adding that book to my Amazon.com wish list and waiting to see which family member decides to send it to me.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:23 (eighteen years ago)

That's flippin' sweet!

This is the best thing I read today (for all you tech-head librarians out there):

Blogno-scenty: Thirteen years after it released CK One, the mega-selling fragrance that, for some, embodied the essence of the mid-'90s grunge era, Calvin Klein is trying to capture the scent of the blogging, texting "technosexual" (a word the company coined and trademarked) generation. Hence the fittingly texty name of the new scent: CK in2u. A line from the press materials: "She likes how he blogs, her texts turn him on. It's intense. For right now." As the New York Times reports, though, not every Internet geek is going to be turned on by the scent's base play for tech cred. Gothamist food blogger Youngna Park tells the paper, "I just imagine kids putting on cologne to sit behind their computers. That's really weird," while CollegeHumor.com founder Zach Klein (no relation to Calvin) says, "Abbreviating in2u like that is lame, to put it simply." ("How to Bottle a Generation," N.Y. Times)

It's this that kills me: "She likes how he blogs, her texts turn him on. It's intense. For right now."

― Caledonia, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:29 (eighteen years ago)

That's hilarious! And absurd! Cologne for bloggers!?

I love the kid's reaction: "Abbreviating in2u like that is lame, to put it simply."

xpost to Sara: Sadly, I doubt amazon even has this book. It's from a tiny publisher in Argentina. :(

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:34 (eighteen years ago)

Well, and if our generation doesn't have enough problems with committment. That "For right now" fuckin' slays me.

I am also loopy because it is at the end of mid-terms here at the music school. Musicians trying to do academic work . . . it's funny. They are all SO stressed out. I've just been psyched they're asking for my help.

― Caledonia, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:38 (eighteen years ago)

LOL at "technosexual."

Molly, if it's not at Amazon, that's even better; my in-laws all ask for such obscure things for gifts that I've come to believe it is a game to ask for hard to find things. Probably my SIL would find it for me somehow through her "being a professor" connections...

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:39 (eighteen years ago)

Kali, do you then get your own "spring break" where you get to have your own quiet library time while the students are off on vacation?

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:41 (eighteen years ago)

(Caledonia = MN music librarian, K., right?)

"For right now, until she finds another hot blogger who presses her buttons."

Is anyone crying yet? When I worked at a music library, there was usually someone crying over the turntables during midterms and finals.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:41 (eighteen years ago)

Yep, that's me!

Nobody has cried yet. It's mostly boys here. angry stressed out boys. (actually one of my student workers was crying today, but it's unrelated to midterms)

I've also had a lot of those kids who have never stepped foot in the library before, kids coming up to the circ desk looking stoned and confused, throwing out half-senetences about some book for their (fill in the blank class) and do we have it? Also, folks who needed us to help them decipher their syllabi.

― Caledonia, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:46 (eighteen years ago)

I've been responding differently throughout the week. Sometimes I'm sympathetic and encouraging. Yesterday I was very short with them.

― Caledonia, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:47 (eighteen years ago)

That is the way to do it; make your student workers cry...

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:51 (eighteen years ago)

I've been responding differently throughout the week. Sometimes I'm sympathetic and encouraging. Yesterday I was very short with them.

That's how I was yesterday as well. Normally I'm sympathetic, but when your paper is due tomorrow and you started your research today, there's only so much I can do for you. I'm not going to do the research for you, and I'm certainly not going to write your Works Cited pages because "APA is hard".

― Nicole, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:21 (eighteen years ago)

I read the cologne add to A. (DH), and was entertained when he informed me that he is "too old" to be a technosexual. (for the record, he is 33). So, do I buy him a bottle for his birthday or is it too far to go for a joke?

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:23 (eighteen years ago)

I'd say if it smells good, then you should. Pleasant-smelling, funny present! But, if it stinks (literally), it wouldn't be so funny.

I have a meeting at 3:30pm again. ON A FRIDAY.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:38 (eighteen years ago)

I will have to go shopping to check on the scent. It will be a hardship, but I will force myself.

Friday afternoon meetings are the worst. When I was pregnant with my son (NINE YEARS AGO) I clearly remember a meeting at 4 pm on a Friday. I could barely keep my eyes open and the meeting was in a room in the same building as a cafeteria and I was feeling so nauseated. One of the people I worked for (who didn't know I was pregnant yet) blithely suggested that I should "go get some coffee." That man is lucky that I didn't throw up on his shoe. What kind of person schedules a meeting for that time of the week?!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:45 (eighteen years ago)

Usually, I get annoyed enough in these meetings to keep me awake. Usually, we meet at 2pm on Fridays, but today there were conflicts. At least I know it can't go over an hour and a half (still, far too long).

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:57 (eighteen years ago)

I'm trying to remember if you are one of the knitters, Molly. If so, you could take your needles in and brandish them as a weapon if the meeting gets too long or too testy. (Not that I've ever done this myself, of course. I do like to have knitting needles on hand, though, just in case. I have used knitting at meetings to keep myself awake in the past.)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:10 (eighteen years ago)

I am one of the knitters! Sadly, I left all my projects at home. Once, my knitting needles were used as drumsticks at a concert! I've never knit at meetings! It's not frowned upon?

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:12 (eighteen years ago)

I suppose the meetings I actually knitted at were local political meetings. Come to think of it, they got me to stop by making me Secretary for a while... hmmmm. I quit work so long ago, and my job was so quiet and mellow, that I have no idea what a "real job" is like anymore.

I have huge fat wooden knitting needles that look like they could double as stakes for vampires. I have not used them for this purpose, instead preferring to make scarves with them.

(meetings to knitting needles to vampires... now THAT is thread drift.)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:17 (eighteen years ago)

Why do I torture myself with looking at job listings? A cataloging job just opened up in Santa Rosa, CA. The pay is great. Spanish fluency needed -- hooray!

le sigh.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 9 March 2007 23:04 (eighteen years ago)

And you're not going to apply because of your desperate allergy to the California sun? Fear of earthquakes (okay that would stop me)? You hate moving with a passion? Or...?

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 23:09 (eighteen years ago)

El boyfriendo is here, as is his family. I do like my job as well. But it would be so lovely!

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 9 March 2007 23:10 (eighteen years ago)

I totally understand that; A. is here (and so is his job, which has awesome benefits, aside from being cool); my family is here and most of my friends are here. Moving is beyond the scope of possibility, really. (Part of that is the kids, too, I admit; I don't even want to move across town because I don't want to disrupt which school my son goes to.)

Still... I do think there might be other places I'd like to live (warmer ones, for starters). That job does sound great. I sigh right back at you.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 23:14 (eighteen years ago)

Perfomance evaluations -- do y'all have to do them for your job? Ours is a yearly process. Mine is due Friday. I have opened the document, but have not filled in a single thing in. Mind you, I also have to do performance evaluations for myself AND the head of every committee/project team I'm on. That's a lot.

Let the procrastination continue!

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 12 March 2007 18:16 (eighteen years ago)

Perfomance evaluations -- do y'all have to do them for your job? Ours is a yearly process. Mine is due Friday. I have opened the document, but have not filled in a single thing in. Mind you, I also have to do performance evaluations for myself AND the head of every committee/project team I'm on. That's a lot.

I have to do them every six months, they are a pain.

― Nicole, Monday, 12 March 2007 18:20 (eighteen years ago)

I've escaped that fate so far in my life, and for that I am truly glad.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 12 March 2007 18:24 (eighteen years ago)

Nicole! Every 6 months!? That's disgusting! How long is it?

Ned! Welcome back! And, you lucky devil.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 12 March 2007 18:27 (eighteen years ago)

The eval is about two pages long -- I have to do one for myself, my two part time employees, and for my supervisor. It's not that time consuming, but I just don't like doing them.

― Nicole, Monday, 12 March 2007 18:38 (eighteen years ago)

We do ours so we can get a raise, which barely covers cost of living expense. There are a few merit awards, i.e. 3, and out of a staff of 70 or so, I don't expect much.

There's lots of writing about our position responsibilites, duties, etc. Gross. I need a drink.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 12 March 2007 18:40 (eighteen years ago)

another question: how many library committees/project teams/etc. are y'all on?

I just volunteered (stupidly) to be on another. This brings the total up to 4.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 12 March 2007 21:18 (eighteen years ago)

I'm only on two library committees, but I have an additional three academic committees.

― Nicole, Monday, 12 March 2007 21:22 (eighteen years ago)

Currently none, but I've been on a few in the past, as well as some interview committees.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 12 March 2007 21:23 (eighteen years ago)

I was on the easiest possible committee for PLA and oh, how my resume shines. I keep getting sucked into the vortex of internal library committees, the most recent of which is the Strategery Planning committee with a few of our cantankerous trustees. I am lured by the promise of free cookies. When will I learn?

― JPB, Monday, 12 March 2007 23:29 (eighteen years ago)

Do your libraries operate under the "working group" paradigm? At my internship all the decisions are made only after copious communication.

― Virginia Plain, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 02:20 (eighteen years ago)

At my internship all the decisions are made only after copious communication.

This is pretty much how my library rolls.

I'm starting to notice issues with the old guard of librarianship. Has anyone else had problems dealing with those who may be less technologically advanced? Lots of resistance to change, being suspicious of those who may know more than them on a subject of the INTERNETS, etc. I'm finding this to be utterly frustrating and the source of lots my anger these days. Listen, doods, I'm going to steal your job or make you obsolete. I'm just helpin' out.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 16 March 2007 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

I'd say around here there's been much more of an open embrace of it; it helps that UCI is so technologically inclined to start with, therefore being up on what's out there is kinda crucial. That said as with any institution with a wide age-range spread some are more comfortable with it than others, but my impression's always been that people are at the least very grateful for the ease of researching ability and assistance they can provide to patrons, while the new challenges it offers gives folks a chance to resharpen older skills. Handy, really.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:04 (eighteen years ago)

That's how I thought it would be, Ned. But, I'm dealing with catalogers here, and it's not the most pleasant of environments sometime. Is it because I'm 30 years younger than these people and they don't want to listen to me? We have to read an article about it (a dept. blog that I lovingly created) and discuss it to death? We don't deal with patrons directly (something that I worry is missing in my life, tbh), and the mentality of the cataloger is a bit different. It's all about workflow and statistics, not about listening to the "nexgen" librarian and seeing how she could help us out. Just because I'm 30+ years your junior, doesn't mean I don't have anything to offer.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:09 (eighteen years ago)

We don't deal with patrons directly (something that I worry is missing in my life, tbh)


Ah, see, that would be perfect for me. (I'd be the world's worst reference librarian.)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:14 (eighteen years ago)

But dealing solely with catalogers is no picnic, believe you me.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:15 (eighteen years ago)

So I've heard.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:26 (eighteen years ago)

Hi everyone!

Nearly a year since I got my Information Studies qualification but I'm still in sort of librarian limbo what with maternity leave and all. Starting to miss 'real' work a bit now I must admit, mainly because it seems like a picnic compared to looking after a baby...

I'm going back to my old language centre job in June but not indefinitely I hope. Anyone know much about being an indexer (from home)?

― Archel, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:37 (eighteen years ago)

Hi Archel!

Indexing! I tried to get a freelancing indexing job, but I'm finding it difficult if you're just starting out as an indexer. They all seem to want lots of experience and reference.

I know there's a Society of American Indexers, which has a listserv, which may be worth checking out (or seeing if it has an English counterpart).

Today, my little pinko heart is beating, I'm in the mood to become a Children's librarian at a public library.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 16 March 2007 15:50 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, unfortunately they are v specific about indexers & experience! I'm not sure that even knowing someone who knows someone will get you in. :(

― Laurel, Friday, 16 March 2007 15:51 (eighteen years ago)

Sometimes I feel like I should be a goat farmer.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 16 March 2007 17:18 (eighteen years ago)

Today, my little pinko heart is beating, I'm in the mood to become a Children's librarian at a public library.

That would be my ultimate nightmare job. There's so many cool things about that job -- storytime, and the collection development would be so fun. And a lot of the kids themselves are pretty fun to work with. However, at least at my local public library, it seems like a lot of parents drop their young children off there and expect the children's librarian to babysit their kids and keep them entertained. That would just drive me crazy.

Anyone attending acrl?

― Nicole, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:42 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, there is that, but sometimes I miss feeling like I'm making a difference. Well, I know I do, but I don't get to hear about it, and I find that terribly dissatisfying.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:46 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, and not going to ACRL, but will be going to ALA in DC.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:46 (eighteen years ago)

I am considering doing an information management PHd, so that I can get into teaching, and basically take over from my tutors at my old uni. This is probably madness, but I was thinking of writing a diatribe against 'knowledge management' - I linked it with media manipulation and epistemology the other week, but have lost the paper I scribbled my ideas down on. It's this or do another masters in public health/health promotion. I want to be an eternal student basically have always considered library work the closet thing to still being a student.

― jel --, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:52 (eighteen years ago)

I work in a library, but I'm not a librarian. I don't have an MLS. I just got a promotion that includes the word "Librarian" in my job title. Am I a librarian: y/n? I say no.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:55 (eighteen years ago)

If the job title says "librarian..."

― Sara R-C, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:56 (eighteen years ago)

Snooty librarians would say "no" Mr Que, I would say 'yes' as it's in your job title.

― jel --, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:57 (eighteen years ago)

snooty librarians = those who sing their name MA, pgdip, MLS etc.

― jel --, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:58 (eighteen years ago)

sign their name, i mean. If they wanna sing their name, then I got love for 'em.

― jel --, Friday, 16 March 2007 18:59 (eighteen years ago)

Singing librarians always start with "Goodnight, My Someone." It's the law.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 16 March 2007 19:01 (eighteen years ago)

Sing your name, cross my heart, etc.

Sing your life even.

One of these days I might attend a librarian conference. But I'd rather go to something like Terrastock.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 16 March 2007 19:01 (eighteen years ago)

yeah a snooty librarian used to work here, he left awhile back and now I have his job.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 16 March 2007 19:01 (eighteen years ago)

A lot of folks in the "paraprofessional" realm (sans MLS) do the work of librarians, so if your job title says so, then I'd say you are.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 16 March 2007 20:41 (eighteen years ago)

MQ, there is a 99% chance that you are a librarian, but just to make sure, I recommend that you complete an M.L.S. program.

I took comps yesterday--if all goes well I will have the librarian credentials by May, though not the title. I'm going to ALA, but not ACRL.

Molly, what kind of statistics do catalogers compile? I've only thought about statistics in terms of reference transactions and circ records. But I've never taken cataloging (oops).

― Virginia Plain, Sunday, 18 March 2007 20:10 (eighteen years ago)

re: statistics -- How many books you cataloged, re-classified, for which dept., blah de blah blah.

― molly mummenschanz, Sunday, 18 March 2007 22:45 (eighteen years ago)

MQ, there is a 99% chance that you are a librarian, but just to make sure, I recommend that you complete an M.L.S. program.

Assimilate!

― Sara R-C, Sunday, 18 March 2007 23:07 (eighteen years ago)

I have catalogued about 3000 books, but we use National Library of Medicine schedules, so no fuxoring about with dewey.

― jel --, Monday, 19 March 2007 18:09 (eighteen years ago)

Dewey - bleck. We use Library of Congress classification here. The PQ schedules are my friend.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 19 March 2007 19:00 (eighteen years ago)

Anyway, it's my duty to let all on this thread know that ILX veteran Rainy McMaster's group Haunted Love is about to release the video to their song "Librarian," which you can hear on their myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/hauntedlovelovesyou

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 02:41 (eighteen years ago)

My favoriet lyric:

"don't you find me appealing in a nerdy sort of way?"

Thanks for sharing that!

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 02:57 (eighteen years ago)

I think ALA has a new theme song!

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 04:33 (eighteen years ago)

Library books are disgusting. I was handling a large number of them today, and after over an hour and a half, my hands were so coated with dirt that I could rub it off, almost like dry glue.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 21:53 (eighteen years ago)

Well, they do get dusty on the shelf, plus the number of people handling them makes it hard to keep them pristine. That being said, I worked in a public library and have checked out many books and the only complaint I've ever had is that occasionally I'll get one that a really heavy smoker had before me.

I was reading the yahoo group of a writer friend and people are talking about their library experiences. Some of them are complaining about their libraries and librarians who send them to bigger libraries for books instead of going through Inter Library Loan. I guess I am spoiled by having never had a problem with the two southern MN systems I've used (SELCO and MELSA).

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 21 March 2007 22:22 (eighteen years ago)

I have to find an article on "blogging" for my dept. A part of me just died inside.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 22 March 2007 15:18 (eighteen years ago)

Some have very tiresome personalities, even those you thought were cool. O get me away from them! (I'm not quite dying.)

― youn, Friday, 23 March 2007 23:24 (eighteen years ago)

I am trying, in rather desultory fashion, to analyze what I have done on the job as a librarian and break it into concrete, resume-ready, achievement-quantifying sound-bites that could be used in resumes for non-library positions. Very little that I have done as a reference librarian actually adds up to that sort of measurable accomplishment. Even my off-desk duties don't lend themselves to that type of description. Selected x number of books? Which proves what, that I am capable of spending money? Do I talk circulation? I can't claim to have had that much influence on departmental circulation one way or another, and from what I remember, the circulation figures cycled up and down, which is pretty much what they had been doing for years.

(One thing I need to do is get figures on the number of serials subscriptions I dealt with in my last department.)

Any suggestions of what I might be overlooking? I've done a lot of book selection and dealt with all the subscriptions for the last department I was in, but I haven't done a lot of sexy things like programming (which mostly hasn't been called for) or even teaching workshops.

As to the obvious question of what other type of work I'd be looking for: I don't know, except that I'd like something that doesn't involve directly dealing with the public.

― Rockist Scientist, Sunday, 1 April 2007 20:21 (eighteen years ago)

I was looking at the SOAS library catalogue online, and I was ASTONISHED by the funny shelfmarks they use... they bear no relation to Dewey whatsoever. Does anyone know what they are using? LC? Bliss? Ranganathan?

― The Real Dirty Vicar, Monday, 2 April 2007 09:32 (eighteen years ago)

Rockist Scientist- dealing with subs is a massive job, involving budgeting, supplier liason, and all-round good amnagement skills. Lots of employers need them!

― Neil S, Monday, 2 April 2007 10:15 (eighteen years ago)

DV, I have NO IDEA what they're using! It's definitely not LC. I looked on their webpages for some info, but no luck. Maybe it's a local classification system?

Rockist, el boyfriendo has his MLS and experience, but a recent move left him an unemployed cataloger. He was able to parlay his skills and experience into a taxonomy position in Corporate America. From what I can tell, there's a big need for "information management" in the corporate world.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 2 April 2007 13:55 (eighteen years ago)

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately, my description was misleading. I dealt with the Serials Dept., which handled the real nitty-gritty of the subscriptions. I just alerted them to problems or coordinated with them. I wasn't responsible for a budget or for actually contacting vendors. (There was still a fair amount of work to be done handling problems because of the large numbers of title being dealt with.)

― Rockist Scientist, Monday, 2 April 2007 14:55 (eighteen years ago)

I have just learned that dogs (in films) do not get authority records. I'm sort of bummed about this.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:20 (eighteen years ago)

Even if they are recognized dog-actors? That surprises me.

― Rockist Scientist, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:26 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah! There are topical subject headings (650s) for Lassie, but name-authority records for the dogs who played Benji or Lassie. I really don't know who'd search for this information ("I need to know what else the dog in 'Lassie, Come Home' did!").

Oh boy. This is my job (thinking about this stuff). Sometimes, it depresses me. But, sometimes, it's totally great.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:39 (eighteen years ago)

There's serious talk of moving our Technical services out to a warehouse in a shady part of town. Awesome. When I decided to become a librarian, my first thought was: "I want to work in a converted warehouse, far from the university in an area with a high crime rate!"

Has anyone else had to deal with this?

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 15:18 (eighteen years ago)

I'd like to see that happen around here. "Yeah, we're going to move you to the rotting slums of Irvine."

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 15:27 (eighteen years ago)

First of all, I won't be able to do my job effectively. Second of all, it's sad that we're not valued as professionals.

This is such crap.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 15:40 (eighteen years ago)

Meantime, doubtless Nicole heard about this directly in Baltimore, but hurrah for the ACRL's top ten...ASSUMPTIONS! (Uh to that terminology, I'm sorry to say.)

---

ACRL ANNOUNCES THE TOP TEN ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

BALTIMORE - The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) unveiled its Top Ten Assumptions for the future of academic and research libraries today during the ACRL's 13th National Conference held March 29 to April 1 in Baltimore.

The ACRL Research Committee developed the top ten assumptions after surveying member leaders and conducting a literature review. A panel representing community and liberal arts colleges, research university libraries, as well as an observer of the higher education environment reacted and commented upon the assumptions at the ACRL National Conference.

"These assumptions underscore the dominant roles that technology and consumer expectations are increasingly playing in libraries," said Pamela Snelson, president, ACRL and college librarian at Franklin and Marshall College. "The underlying trends offer new opportunities for academic libraries and librarians to embrace the future."

1. There will be an increased emphasis on digitizing collections, preserving digital archives, and improving methods of data storage and retrieval.

2. The skill set for librarians will continue to evolve in response to the needs and expectations of the changing populations (student and faculty) that they serve.

3. Students and faculty will increasingly demand faster and greater access to services.

4. Debates about intellectual property will become increasingly common in higher education.

5. The demand for technology related services will grow and require additional funding.

6. Higher education will increasingly view the institution as a business.

7. Students will increasingly view themselves as customers and consumers, expecting high quality facilities and services.

8. Distance learning will be an increasingly common option in higher education and will co-exist but not threaten the traditional bricks-and-mortar model.

9. Free, public access to information stemming from publicly funded research will continue to grow.

10. Privacy will continue to be an important issue in librarianship.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 16:46 (eighteen years ago)

Ha ha, er actually I skipped that session.

If my college tried to send me to a warehouse I'm afraid I'd go all Baader-Meinhof on them.

― Nicole, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 19:28 (eighteen years ago)

ALA Annual in DC. Who's in? (I was just harassing the DC folks for information).

The idea of working in a warehouse, well, I can't even fathom it. I wouldn't let it happen. UT Austin's job site, here I come.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 17:00 (eighteen years ago)

I'm going to be indisposed, I think. And I'm still traumatized by getting hit on by a robot at ACRL.

― Nicole, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 17:07 (eighteen years ago)

We are having a Peepopalooza today for staff members. We are going to dip Peeps in chocolate and eat them.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 13 April 2007 16:41 (eighteen years ago)

Chocolate fondue-ing with Peeps; this could start a trend.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 13 April 2007 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

Dip them in salt instead.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 13 April 2007 16:57 (eighteen years ago)

Is it punishment for this?

http://www.xnerd.net/users/KentricCubed/Peeps.jpg

― Caledonia, Friday, 13 April 2007 17:18 (eighteen years ago)

Peeps should know better than to stand in the reference section.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 13 April 2007 17:56 (eighteen years ago)

There will be pictures of the peeps party. I will be sure to show them to you.

I don't really like Peeps, tbh, but everything gets better whend dipped in chocolate, right?

My friend mentioned something about recent a Peeps/Library incident. Sadly, I had no idea what he was talking about.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 13 April 2007 17:59 (eighteen years ago)

everything gets better whend dipped in chocolate, right?

Yes. Dark chocolate, obv.

My friend mentioned something about recent a Peeps/Library incident.

It's an epidemic!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 13 April 2007 18:01 (eighteen years ago)

I AM THE PEEP CHAMPION.

I came up with 41 ways to incorporate the word "Peeps" into regular words. I won a plush Peep.

Some highlights:

PEEPonography
PEEPistan
PEEPadelic

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 13 April 2007 18:56 (eighteen years ago)

Be proud!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 13 April 2007 19:00 (eighteen years ago)

My boss was trying to win too, but I totally shut her down. I don't know what came over me. It was probably the sugar.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 13 April 2007 19:02 (eighteen years ago)

my boss was one of the "movers and shakers" in the latest library journal.

plus, co workers are whiny and have bad attitudes and i found a box of tuna fish in the book drop last week!!

― gunther heartymeal, Friday, 13 April 2007 22:16 (eighteen years ago)

Something else that was found in a bookdrop, which made me cry when I read his full story, because I am a saddo cat lady.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 13 April 2007 22:25 (eighteen years ago)

I hear that they are having these things called "interviews" at ALA DC and it turns out that there will be a lot of city public libraries there that I wouldn't mind working for. Has anyone interviewed at ALA before? What would be the proper attire?

― Virginia Plain, Sunday, 15 April 2007 17:50 (eighteen years ago)

I've never interviewed at ALA, but I know several people who have, and a lot resulted in job offers. I'll email my friend now and see what her clothing recommendations are.

― molly mummenschanz, Sunday, 15 April 2007 18:06 (eighteen years ago)

Thanks! I was going to dress really casually, before I knew about the interviews. Now I think I should appoximate "business casual" -- I really don't want to wear a suit or anything that professional.

― Virginia Plain, Monday, 16 April 2007 13:29 (eighteen years ago)

I haven't heard back from said friend, but I don't think a suit is necessary. First of all, you'll be at ALA, and it'll be hot and everyone knows you'll be doing a lot of walking. I think you should be fine with business casual. Hell, you could even wear a sweatshirt with applique cats on it, and you'd still fit in.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 16 April 2007 15:01 (eighteen years ago)

Hell, you could even wear a sweatshirt with applique cats on it, and you'd still fit in.

This is true. At my library I have to wear professional business attire, so even wearing business casual stuff at ACRL I felt waaaay overdressed. Birkenstocks and sandals! I'm still trying to get over that.

― Nicole, Monday, 16 April 2007 15:35 (eighteen years ago)

So we've just discovered a Facebook group that says some extremely uncomplimentary things about staff & policy, in particular making people eat outside of the library (totally unreasonable, I know). Has anyone else come across this, and if so what (if anything) did you do about it? The students in question are snooty trainee barristers!

― Neil S, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 09:37 (eighteen years ago)

Well, National Library Week is coming to an end. We've had fun at the music library. Our graphic designer whipped up some great posters, my assitant and I displayed some of our favorite library CD's/DVD's/Books.

But most importantly, there was candy all week long. My assitant and I decided to take some pictures to commemorate National Library Week 2007! Whoooo!

Here is me helping Sh@nn@ keep her energy up at the circ desk. Please notice the poster, the displays, and (our pride and joy) our Ice Cube READ poster:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g125/kalifreeman/EnergyforShanna.jpg

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 19:35 (eighteen years ago)

Did everyone else have a good week?

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 19:38 (eighteen years ago)

Are you feeding her candy? Obviously the proper way to celebrate... well, anything. (Especially if it is dark chocolate).

Great pic. :)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 19:41 (eighteen years ago)

Yes. It is important to keep one's blood sugar up as our students start freaking out over finals.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 19:50 (eighteen years ago)

The Ice Cube poster is the best! I need that for my cube.

My boss' boss gave us a dark chocolate Hershey bar and a card.

Here, it can be seen with the bummer of a documentary I'm in the midst of cataloging:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/466418641_311f160dc9.jpg?v=0

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:06 (eighteen years ago)

sheesh.

That's one way to kick of the weekend.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:12 (eighteen years ago)

I have a stack of bummerz documentaries from Guatemala, as our bibliographer just got back from a buying trip there. In May, she's going to Peru. SHINING PATH!

They should give me more chocolate.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:15 (eighteen years ago)

Our air conditioning is broken and the library is the hottest room in the whole damn building, so National Library Week has been a bit of a wash.

― Nicole, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:16 (eighteen years ago)

re Nicole: booo!

re Molly: I just cataloged "Wham!-Make it Big" and a cd of Kraftwerk covers done entirely with 8-bit computers and video games.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:21 (eighteen years ago)

Nicole, that sucks!

Kali: Is it as awesome as it sounds?

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:23 (eighteen years ago)

i slept (very poorly) in our library last night.

still here, too.

― impudent harlot, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:31 (eighteen years ago)

Oh my lord, the CD is called "8-bit Operators" and the parts I have hear are *amazing*. Prob. be a big hit on your radio show.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:34 (eighteen years ago)

Sleeping in the library: classic or dud? (Get some good rest tonight)

Nicole - stay cool if you can.

Caledonia - lol at Wham! cd.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:35 (eighteen years ago)

always and forever dud until bobst decides to spring for sealy posturepedics for thesis-weary students

― impudent harlot, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:36 (eighteen years ago)

(joke is on me, apparently, as endless loop of "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is now playing in my brane...)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:37 (eighteen years ago)

I'm going to look this up in OCLC right now. If our music library has it, I'm running over there ASAP!

xpost - why the sleeping in the library?!

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:37 (eighteen years ago)

(no, we don't have it ;_;)

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

oh no! So sad!

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

my undergrad thesis is due on monday --> i am here all wknd, more or less (didn't feel like making 25-min. subway ride from here to home at 5:30am)

― impudent harlot, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

of course in all likelihood i wouldn't be up quite so late if i weren't clicking refresh on ILX every five minutes but what're ya gonna do

― impudent harlot, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:40 (eighteen years ago)

wow - good luck with that. Hope you are almost finished (and that you get some good sleep soon in a comfortable spot).

(Also, yeah, I should be writing a physiology test, but ILX is more interesting than cardiac output).

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:41 (eighteen years ago)

Oh lord, I spent so many nights in the library during my undergrad thesis. They actually checked out pillows and blankets at the circ. desk. (I preferred using my own sleeping bag)

Oh memories! Keep going! The end is in sight.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:42 (eighteen years ago)

Well, if your thesis happens to be on anything relating to Latin American or Iberian studies, I'd be happy to help provide some internets reference.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

I wrote my thesis before MySpace and ILX even entered my venacular. I putzed about by going outside and smoking cigarette after cigarette. don't know which is worse for you . . . :)

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

I know lots about elizabeth bishop and music post WWII

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

Kali, me too, although liberry school didn't require a thesis, just a lot of obnoxious projects/practicums/papers/busy work.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:45 (eighteen years ago)

mine grad school didn't either, but oh the pathfinders I made!

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:46 (eighteen years ago)

I know a few things about biology, women's studies, and cancer...

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:46 (eighteen years ago)

Throwin' out the cancer card!

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:47 (eighteen years ago)

j/k of course

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:47 (eighteen years ago)

see i've been doing myspace AND ILX AND smoking like a chimney. in fact i think i'm due for one about now...

― impudent harlot, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:47 (eighteen years ago)

Oh god, pathfinders! I made a pretty bitchin' one on French film.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:48 (eighteen years ago)

or at least some food, god i'm hungry

― impudent harlot, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:49 (eighteen years ago)

You're like a rennasaince woman of procrastination. (woman, yes?)

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:49 (eighteen years ago)

I did a sweet pathfinder on GPS technology. oh, yeah . . . I used that thing for 3 different classes.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:50 (eighteen years ago)

ps. umm . . . I can't spell.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:50 (eighteen years ago)

Kali, you didn't have to travel to Illinois, right? I talked to a CSC library school grad yesterday who graduated in 1999 and students were still driving down there. I don't know when they changed that. (Also, did you know your transcripts are housed at Dominican? Fascinating fact I discovered when re-applying to CSC.)

ha ha cancer (um, I shouldn't be laughing at that, should I. FB wouldn't give me a cigarette today, either.)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:51 (eighteen years ago)

I think the XML schema I came up with for my 1st cataloging class no longer exists on the interweb. It was pretty awesome. I had to come up with my own classification system to catalog my really ugly collection of salt and pepper shakers. That was my shining moment in library school, I think.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:52 (eighteen years ago)

I just re-read what I posted, and immediately was filled with dread, a la "OMG this is what I have become."

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:53 (eighteen years ago)

That's because FB cares about you Sarah.

CSC is in the final stages of it's relationship with Dominican. I actually don't have a degree from CSC. I have a degree from Dominican. A college I have never set foot on, and had only 3 classes that were actually taught by DU professors.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:53 (eighteen years ago)

I think what you've become is fabulous!

haha! I love it!

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:55 (eighteen years ago)

FB should stop caring about me and just do as I command. He will never learn that. :(

Dominican was Rosary College back when I was in library school (in the ancient days of 1995 and 1996). I never saw it either, but then again, I quit pretty fast, instead spending my tuition money on going to Japan and getting some cavities filled. I hope for the current & future library students of MN that CSC gets its own ALA accreditation soon.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:57 (eighteen years ago)

Molly, Kali is right - that is very cool, actually. (Do you actually use them or just collect them? I vote for collect.)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:58 (eighteen years ago)

Awwh! Thank you, Kali!

Wait, what's CSC? Also, are you two near Carleton? (Excuse my unfamiliarity with MN geography). I know a librarian there. She's great! She has her own trading card.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:59 (eighteen years ago)

Please please PLEASE make trading cards of all yourselves, I beg of you.

CSC = College of St. Catherine; it's in St. Paul.

My husband works at Carleton (and I live in Northfield); awesome/bizarre school. I was there today and there were signs all over the hall that said "I (big red heart icon) female orgasms."

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:00 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, I collect, much to Ben's dismay. He "accidentally" broke my cabbages that were on a special shelf. I was very bummed about this. I actually have an extremely tacky set on my desk right now, that someone gave me, but I'm afraid to bring them home, as I fear for their safety. My favorite pair (which got cataloged): the crocodiles in top haps w/ bow ties.

Oh! I've seen pictures of the surrounding areas of Carleton! So pretty!

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:02 (eighteen years ago)

(St. Paul is maybe 50 minute to an hour drive from Northfield. Northfield has a huge used book sale next week starting Tuesday afternoon at 5 pm, btw. HUGE - and well organized. I am sad that I have class that night, but will go Wednesday morning.)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:02 (eighteen years ago)

Those trading cards are so damn cool! I'm uber envious.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:03 (eighteen years ago)

Will you take a picture of your very special shelf and post them. I collect nun paraphanalia.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:04 (eighteen years ago)

Molly, you should post photos of those.

Librarian trading cards could be the New Big Thing, guys. I'm just saying; the world is waiting for you.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:04 (eighteen years ago)

two trading cards--just me and Sh@nn@--would be a bit pathetic.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:05 (eighteen years ago)

I collect nun paraphanalia.

So awesome. (Wait, you're not a lapsed Catholic, too, are you? Or was it just the CSC influence? Every time I see and older woman on campus I get nervous because I realize that I should really stop swearing and making inappropriate jokes out loud.)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:05 (eighteen years ago)

Okay, two trading cards is a small number, but then maybe other librarians would do it, too... all the ones on this thread (I would totally collect them), and I think I could get N34l to do it. And I really want Dan P's mom on a trading card; that would be the best thing ever.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:06 (eighteen years ago)

Not catholic. loved nuns before working at and attending CSC. The Trouble with Angels staring Haley Mills and Rosalin Russell is the best nun movie ever.

I dressed up as a boxing nun two halloween's ago. John J. has some pictures on his hard drive. Will post later.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:07 (eighteen years ago)

I think there is a "build your own" trading card site!

I should find it!

Also, I will take pictures of them! I have 2 shelves, actually. Also, I collect puking cows (i.e. creamer containers that pour out of the cow's mouth).

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:09 (eighteen years ago)

I might consider going back to the Catholic church if they let the nuns run it. (Uh, and changed some of the other policies).

A boxing nun? LOL, awesome.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:10 (eighteen years ago)

Also, "puking cows" awesome.

High school friends of mine (none of whom are on ILX) had a whole made up religion based around the Holy Cow called the "Fu Chung Mah." Thanks for reminding me.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

oh me!

ok, so there's no macro or something to make your own

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:15 (eighteen years ago)

I just got these beauties from a coworker:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/201/466479065_43f61c990f.jpg?v=0

Actually, I don't know if I *love* them as much as the ceramic ones.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:23 (eighteen years ago)

Still, kudos to them.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:24 (eighteen years ago)

My dad got be a set of Laurel and Hardy shakers (!!), but Hardy got lost in a move. I was srsly heartbroken.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:26 (eighteen years ago)

It does say you can email her to get your own trading card underway.

Impressive salt and pepper shakers, there!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:31 (eighteen years ago)

Fluffy Bear and I are heading off for some patio sitting and adult beverages. Have a good weekend library folk! I like you best of all.

― Caledonia, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:52 (eighteen years ago)

Enjoy your weekend (and I'm super jealous - have a drink for me, plz)!

Oh and happy end of National Library Week to everyone. AND happy weekend!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:53 (eighteen years ago)

Yes! Happy weekend / library week all around! I'm going to a hockey game and now leaving for drinks for some pre-playoff excitement.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:55 (eighteen years ago)

BUMP.

― John Justen, Friday, 27 April 2007 03:05 (eighteen years ago)

Ladies and gentlemen I give to you the face of a thief in the library:

http://www.newu.uci.edu/images/article/0475.jpg

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 27 April 2007 03:09 (eighteen years ago)

ALSO:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/474141083_879f909b5a.jpg

― John Justen, Friday, 27 April 2007 03:19 (eighteen years ago)

A drunkard!

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 27 April 2007 03:22 (eighteen years ago)

omg AWESOME. The shoes and the boxing gloves make the outfit. They do say that accessories are important...

― Sara R-C, Friday, 27 April 2007 03:24 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, boy! Look what I want to buy!

http://www.bretford.com/_includes/asp/enlargeImage.asp?file=l_ithaca_carrel_df.jpg

― Caledonia, Friday, 27 April 2007 14:34 (eighteen years ago)

ummm . . . I'll try again later. It's a really cool study carrel.

― Caledonia, Friday, 27 April 2007 14:35 (eighteen years ago)

Sounds cool. Is it expensive?

― Sara R-C, Friday, 27 April 2007 15:49 (eighteen years ago)

Ladies! I've been meaning to take pictures of the S&P collection, but the parents came down to visit, and my need to clean my tiny and over-crowded apartment trumped my photo-taking.

Anyway, I plan to get some tonight.

I have to go to Series Authority Training from Wednesday - Friday. It's an all-day ordeal. I cannot contain my excitement (no, not really).

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:00 (eighteen years ago)

I thought this thread title said "library assassin"

― Ms Misery, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

I wish.

― Nicole, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:02 (eighteen years ago)

Library degree programs would become more popular if there was an assassin component.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:03 (eighteen years ago)

But who would you go after? Administrators who cut your budget?

― Ms Misery, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:04 (eighteen years ago)

Give me time (esp. after this 3 day training).

Reference librarians: tell me the truth. Do you actually search by series? Do patrons (I doubt the regular Joe P. Student does, or even knows what it is).

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:04 (eighteen years ago)

guys teach me how to search

― river wolf, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:18 (eighteen years ago)

i am joe p student

― river wolf, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:18 (eighteen years ago)

Ok! What are you looking for, exactly?

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

journal articles

― river wolf, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:23 (eighteen years ago)

i am srsly bad at research

― river wolf, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:23 (eighteen years ago)

journals! Ok, I am the master of searching catalogs, but I don't think I'm too shabby at journals (referencers, plz feel free to correct me).

Which journals? Which subjects?

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

specifically, EMS response times and how they impact mortality rates for myocardial infarctions

― river wolf, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:25 (eighteen years ago)

I can't say that I've ever searched by series. I keep dutifully adding them to my records but . . . I am always searching for books as monographs. More pertainent information. It is rare that a patron wants to know the breadth of knowledge available within a series. They are usually looking for something much more specific.

That's a lot of days of training, molly. dear lord! xpost

― Caledonia, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:26 (eighteen years ago)

Ok, not really my area of expertise, but I shall see where I can guide you.

What journals have you used in the past? (I'm not sure what your library has access to)

Here are some basic searching tips:

1) Keyword searching can be a harsh mistress. It brings back all sorts of junk.

2) Subject searching is great.

3) Don't be afraid to browse the stacks. Call numbers are given to books of similar subjects, so while it may not show up in a search, it's helpful to go look at the books on that shelf near the book you've identified as being helpful.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:29 (eighteen years ago)

About this library assassin idea.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:30 (eighteen years ago)

(Not against river wolf, he is good and is showing initiative.)

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:30 (eighteen years ago)

Ned could bring the assassin component into the mainstream of library school coursework. He just needs a target.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:34 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, Kali! I find that professors and hardcore researchers are the only ones who do the majority of patron series searching. Alas, I have to train for it, even if .005% of the population does it. Mind you, I do think it's important, but it's so tedious and intense. /end whining.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:34 (eighteen years ago)

These are the sorts of things one has to go through if one wants to be crowned the queen of cataloging.

I bow before you, fair mistress.

(Hmmm, that just took a turn towards the renaissance festival . . . better stop typing now)

― Caledonia, Monday, 30 April 2007 18:45 (eighteen years ago)

Molly, that sounds exhausting, but I have no doubt you will conquer it.

Um, I'll bow before you, too, especially if there are Renaissance Festival treats involved (mmmmm turkey legs and pecan nut rolls).

― Sara R-C, Monday, 30 April 2007 18:51 (eighteen years ago)

Thank you, ladies! You are far too kind.

I enjoyed my Subject Headings training, but this will be hellish.

Woah. I'm a dork.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:01 (eighteen years ago)

Three days of it does seem kind of intense. I hope you're planning to reward yourself afterward.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:08 (eighteen years ago)

I should, with a big bottle of somethin'.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:15 (eighteen years ago)

CHOCOLATE

Carefully catalogued and tagged by amount, country of origin, year of release...

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:15 (eighteen years ago)

DARK chocolate.

Mmmmmmm.

Oh, but a bottle of something with that would surely not go amiss.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:16 (eighteen years ago)

Okay people, do I ever have a story for you. Not so much about my library so much as the academic institution I work for.

It's graduation day and the school has really worked hard to get a top notch speaker for the event. You want to know who it is?

R@y P@rk3r Jr.

Who's that you ask? Why, that is the man who wrote the theme song for "Ghost Busters" of course!

Wow. What a way to get all of the musicians graduating today pumped up about the future. (As it stands, I think that most of those students were barely out of the womb when that movie came out)

― Caledonia, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:37 (eighteen years ago)

Hey, people still know and hum that song; most musicians would want to be so lucky.

(Personally I'd want him to do more of the Raydio era stuff. "Just like YOU do...")

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:38 (eighteen years ago)

I think that is both hilarious and awesome.

I don't even know who the guest speaker is this year, and I don't think I want to know.

― Nicole, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:43 (eighteen years ago)

Jimmy Carter is speaking on campus today, and I'm surprised at the level of attention it's getting from students around here.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:45 (eighteen years ago)

True Ned, but certainly you cannot deny the hilarity of the proposition. If he was coming in to do a talk for the @rtist and 1ndustry series we have, that would be one thing.

But graduation?! That's fuckin great!

― Caledonia, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:47 (eighteen years ago)

Jimmy Carter's presidential library is awesome. Has anyone else ever been there?

― Caledonia, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:47 (eighteen years ago)

But graduation?! That's fuckin great!


Didn't Kermit the Frog speak at some graduation a few years back? As far as I'm concerned, anything goes now.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:50 (eighteen years ago)

I know more of Kermits songs than R@y P@rker Jrs.

― John Justen, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:21 (eighteen years ago)

It's not easy being me.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:22 (eighteen years ago)

That's awesome/hilarious! I am now hoping to download that song. THANX.

Also - I haven't been to the Carter library, but would love to visit. I have only made it to the Gerald Ford museum, which has some great features (like the endless loop video of Betty Ford on 60 Minutes talking about how great it is that abortion is finally legal and that yes, she thinks her kids have probably tried marijuana).

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:48 (eighteen years ago)

I'd also like to point out that the St. 0l4f speaker this year looks thorougly lame. I literally got an email saying something like "this dude who graduated from 0l4f in whatever year has been practicing business ethics for over 20 years!" I don't know; it's just not enough to get me to drive up the Hill to hear him. Meanwhile, I was considering driving to Gr1n3ll to hear Angela Davis...

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:00 (eighteen years ago)

Le sigh.

Just now:

EAGER IF ABRUPT STUDENT ACTIVATING LIBRARY CARD FOR E-RESERVES PURPOSES: "So you guys have regular reading books here?"

ME: "...it's a *library.*"

Embarrassed silence follows.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:53 (eighteen years ago)

lol

I think that could be the opening scene of a play or film. Get to work on the script, stat.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:56 (eighteen years ago)

Really, does it need anything more?

I passed on this scenario to a professor I know who I passed on the way out from work. He was almost in tears laughing.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 4 May 2007 01:41 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, you kids and your newfangled short shorts, jeez.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 4 May 2007 03:53 (eighteen years ago)

must buy for cubicle:

http://www.alastore.ala.org/catalog/img/pgraphic1-1013.jpg

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:43 (eighteen years ago)

I think that poster would also be perfect for my 8 year old son's room.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 23:44 (eighteen years ago)

Woah. lolbrarians.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 17 May 2007 18:41 (eighteen years ago)

Oh hell yes! to myspace I must go!

― Caledonia, Thursday, 17 May 2007 18:53 (eighteen years ago)

Molly, you are so freakin' rad! I so,so wish I could make it to ALA this time around; I think we'd have an awesome time.

That website made my day!

― Caledonia, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:05 (eighteen years ago)

I posted our picture on the May 2007 what do you look like thread

― Caledonia, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:11 (eighteen years ago)

Now that's some beautiful stuff.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:18 (eighteen years ago)

Actually, Kali, I don't think I can make it to ALA for annual! I'm bummed, but I'm moving into an AWESOME place July 1st, which is fine with me! Anyway, we would have an awesome time! I'll be there for next year's mid-winter AND annual, as I'm an intern on a cataloging committee. You heard me correctly: INTERN. CATALOGING COMMITTEE. You better believe that is going to be one non-stop party.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:24 (eighteen years ago)

You two look somewhat different than I remember from your other photos. But still gr8!

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:25 (eighteen years ago)

You better believe that is going to be one non-stop party.


On Second Life, right? *runs away*

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:27 (eighteen years ago)

OMG. ALCTS committees on 2nd life. Don't spread that around, Ned! They'll get ideas!

Kali, you and I are hot, even with disapproving glances.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:28 (eighteen years ago)

We're stern and I'm okay with that.

― Caledonia, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:29 (eighteen years ago)

The disapproving glances are just evidence that you're hot.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:30 (eighteen years ago)

Woah. lolbrarians.

-- molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 17 May 2007 18:41 (57 minutes ago)


Thanks for dat! Lurved it!

I had a deja vu sense when I saw all those pics of the white-haired guy with the beard. I thought, that looks like my mum's former boss. Yup, it werz M1ch4el G0rm4n!

― Melinda Mess-injure, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:46 (eighteen years ago)

I am now officially a librarian! Only a part-time one though, so I must search for more employment.

Hey Mel--are you enjoying the ROTT tour? I have only been to SF so far, but I am just not feeling it this time aroud.

(formerly Mary)

― Virginia Plain, Thursday, 17 May 2007 21:19 (eighteen years ago)

Mary has transmogrified! Congratulations etc.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 17 May 2007 21:34 (eighteen years ago)

Hi, Mary! Congratulations on officially being a librarian! We should have a toast to Mary's new status.

Well, I enjoyed many dates on the ROTT tour LAST year (2006). Post-Pasadena, it's turned into the "Greatest Hits" tour. Went to the first couple of dates in Stockton and Sparks. Absolutely wonderful with the Smiffs chestnuts and unreleased new single!!!

But am too busy to follow the tour outside of SoCal. I might even skip some of the L.A. dates.

― Melinda Mess-injure, Friday, 18 May 2007 06:24 (eighteen years ago)

I just discovered that [Removed Illegal Link]. Had no idea that an ILXor was in the band. I'm really sad to have missed the show they had in the library. I'll probably try to catch them on Tuesday.

― clotpoll, Friday, 18 May 2007 11:59 (eighteen years ago)

Thanks y'all! I couldn't have done it without you:)

Mel, I only saw the San Fran date on this tour, but I felt a little ambivalent about the setlist. (And the performance.) I thought some of the choices were sort of too obvious--i.e. opening with TQID. Maybe I would have liked the Euro dates more . . . I like the shows with more B-sides and rarities and covers and so on. Though he is doing Drive in Saturday now. I also felt he was a bit lackluster--understandably, he's been touring for over a year. Hopefully I will like the East Coast dates more. Loved the new song though:) Will it be released as a single?

― Virginia Plain, Friday, 18 May 2007 12:20 (eighteen years ago)

Rowrbazzle, that link was supposed to be to the Haunted Love "Librarian" video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne_WXP7lUWM

― clotpoll, Friday, 18 May 2007 12:25 (eighteen years ago)

Mary, congrats on the MLSitude!

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 18 May 2007 14:22 (eighteen years ago)

There's no stoppin' you now lady! Congratulations!

― Caledonia, Friday, 18 May 2007 14:38 (eighteen years ago)

http://images.skysports.com/images/playerpics06_07/Live/carragher-barca.jpg

come ed soft lad, im made up, i'll tax some bevvies from the offy for later if theres no bizzies there eh?

― 696, Friday, 18 May 2007 15:06 (eighteen years ago)

File Under: "Administration Frustration"

An email i should never have had to send, but did.

Good morning,

I just saw the final copy of the Student Handbook for the Summer of 2007 and I’m afraid that there are some glaring errors about the library in the handbook. I find it quite frustrating that this information was sent through a final edit without ever landing on the library’s desk. No matter what time crunch may occur I am a proficient writer and a skilled and efficient editor and would greatly appreciate being included in any process that provides information about the library to the school’s internal community or the public at large.

The role of the librarian is to provide and disseminate information; therefore, I find it disconcerting that the information we are providing is incorrect. I sincerely and respectfully request to be included in such processes in the future.

whew. Anybody else need to vent? Let's get that icky stuff out before the weekend begins, eh?

― Caledonia, Friday, 18 May 2007 16:00 (eighteen years ago)

Ouch. That really blows, Kali! Have you gotten a response yet?

Surprisingly, I have nothing to really vent about today (always time for a first, etc.). We're having our staff picnic today, and I intend to eat my fair share of BBQ.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 18 May 2007 16:13 (eighteen years ago)

yeah. I know it wasn't intentional, but it's just frustrating that there is no infrastructure for such things, you know? It'll be cool. I just need them to remember that I exist.

― Caledonia, Friday, 18 May 2007 16:39 (eighteen years ago)

I hope it all gets resolved for the next edition, Kali; I don't think they'll forget you exist again.

Molly, I am envying your staff picnic!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 18 May 2007 16:43 (eighteen years ago)

I mades it me-self!

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g125/kalifreeman/KalisLOLbrarian.jpg

― Caledonia, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:09 (eighteen years ago)

I like the card catalog there!

And I DARE you to go to work dressed like that.

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:19 (eighteen years ago)

Kali! Hah! I LOVE IT!!

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:21 (eighteen years ago)

Ok, I don't have a caption, but this is an awesome picture:

http://library.sps.edu/exhibits/sesquicentennial/Exhibit2/Images/Librarian.jpg

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:23 (eighteen years ago)

Lovin' his work.

Classic or dud -- having to explain for about five minutes that it doesn't matter what your privileges were as a grad student, now that you're out of the university you aren't able use to ILL anymore, sorry...

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:24 (eighteen years ago)

Total dud.

Havin' to harsh someone's buzz like that is no fun. Ever.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:25 (eighteen years ago)

Classic. Nothing makes anyone feel more entitled that a grad degree.

― Caledonia, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:26 (eighteen years ago)

(xpost) That guys seems a bit overdressed for hanging at the card catalog.

Ned - that is DUD, clearly. At least from the graduate's perspective... on the other hand, it could be CLASSIC, since you get to be the heavy.

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:28 (eighteen years ago)

But the explaining part! When I did reference AGES ago (ok, like only 2 years ago), that was a royal pain in the ass, when you had to take a long ass time to explain procedural crap to patrons, or in this case, former patrons (sucka!).

I've been here too long, and I'm here for another 2 hours. OY VEY.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:32 (eighteen years ago)

Today is totally crawling by. The kids start school tomorrow, which is actually a good thing. I get a lot more done when there is a fire under my ass. The last few weeks I'm been such a slacker.

― Caledonia, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:33 (eighteen years ago)

(xpost) I always admired this woman, Phyllis, who was the manager at a bookstore I worked at. She never cushioned stuff like I did; there was no, "I'm sorry, we don't have that in..." She's just say, "No, we don't have it. Do you want me to order it for you?" I admired her ability to be direct and non-apologetic.

Caledonia, can you use your methods to motivate yourself? (If so, pass the methods on to me, plz; I'm behind on homework and housework. Blah.)

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:36 (eighteen years ago)

Heheh, cushioning, around here, I've noticed is a little more necessary...and that's all I'll say!

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:37 (eighteen years ago)

Damn it! I have to go to another one of those motivating our youth sessions tomorrow, you just reminded me, Sara. I have not practiced any of these stellar techniques over the week.

Tonight I will have to ask John J a lot of open ended questions, so he feels willing to take ownership of his feelings. I shall ask him question as such: hungry? happy? drunk? And see where it goes from there.

― Caledonia, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:39 (eighteen years ago)

Ned, just bring a pillow to work to sit on. ;)

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:39 (eighteen years ago)

xpost: ned you're most likely dealing with a lot of fragile egos, huh?

― Caledonia, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:40 (eighteen years ago)

The rest is silence.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:40 (eighteen years ago)

Kali, good luck with your motivating. I will attempt to ply A. with open-ended questions tonight if you think it will help. Sadly, he has to stay home while I go out tonight, so I don't know what will happen. (One prediction: my ethics paper will remain unwritten.)

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:41 (eighteen years ago)

If I have to catalog another book on Don Quijote, someone is going to pay.

"Motivating our youth" sessions sounds painful.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:41 (eighteen years ago)

To dreeeaaam the impossible dreeeeaaaaam....

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:42 (eighteen years ago)

Robert Goulet, I love you.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 21:45 (eighteen years ago)

Happy. Drunk.

― John Justen, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 22:04 (eighteen years ago)

You accidentally drank a beer.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 22:08 (eighteen years ago)

Anybody going to ALA that needs my hotel room?

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 22:12 (eighteen years ago)

Speaking of which, I need a drink. I'm in the mood for whiskey.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

"Do you love books? Do you love people?"

1947 Vocational librarian video!

http://www.archive.org/details/Libraria1947

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 24 May 2007 21:29 (eighteen years ago)

The first, certainly. The second, conditional.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 24 May 2007 21:31 (eighteen years ago)

Anybody know of any subject headings that relate to:

Gay liberation movement ǂz Brazil ǂx History ǂy 20th century. ?

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 24 May 2007 21:33 (eighteen years ago)

Ned OTM.

"I don't know the title or the author, but it's a blue book and it's about television..." omg I think I met that guy once while working at a bookstore. But I liked him A LOT better than the idiot who wanted a really technical book about how to do S Corporation taxes - which were due the next day - and who, after we had established that we didn't have that (after about half an hour of discussion), next asked me where he could find a copy of The Bell Curve. I hated that guy.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 25 May 2007 04:29 (seventeen years ago)

OMG BEST SUBJECT HEADING EVER:

650 0 Vomiting ǂv Pictorial works ǂv Juvenile fiction.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 25 May 2007 19:30 (seventeen years ago)

This is from the book:

Spacegirl pukes / ǂc Katy Watson ; illustrated by Vanda Carter.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 25 May 2007 19:31 (seventeen years ago)

Oh, and my son's birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks and everything!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 25 May 2007 19:44 (seventeen years ago)

omg. a coworker just gave me a card with a painting of a girl with curly hair playing with a cat on the front.

"this looks like you!"

i am officially a saddo cat lady librarian. ;_;

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 30 May 2007 20:33 (seventeen years ago)

Stab her with your knitting needles. ;)

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 30 May 2007 20:34 (seventeen years ago)

(More seriously, I was just looking at your photo and that is SO NOT ACCURATE.)

(The high gauge needles could be good weapons, just in case.)

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 30 May 2007 20:35 (seventeen years ago)

I put the picture up next to my "In Mememory of Henrietta Avram, "Mother of MARC" death button.

My sock needles could so some serious, low-grade impaling.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 30 May 2007 20:36 (seventeen years ago)

Strange morning. But now I'll settle in and process some course records.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 31 May 2007 16:56 (seventeen years ago)

I am cataloging total bummer books, such as:

José Pérez Armendáriz : ǂb obispo del Cuzco y precursor de la independencia del Perú / ǂc Severo Aparicio.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 31 May 2007 17:03 (seventeen years ago)

After working as an assistant at my small specialised hospital/uni library for 18months, I'm doing my first session on the main uni library issue desk. I've issued and returned more books (and witnessed more arguments between staff and users) in the last hour than in the past two weeks at my usual place. There's nowt wrong with a bit variety, is my opinion.

― Bocken Social Scene, Thursday, 31 May 2007 17:16 (seventeen years ago)

See, that sounds awesome to me. It is summer session and our student body has been cut in half. It is terribly boring. I miss my kids and the commotion.

― Caledonia, Thursday, 31 May 2007 17:20 (seventeen years ago)

our student body has been cut in half. It is terribly boring.

That sounds exciting - and kind of bloody - to me!

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 31 May 2007 17:29 (seventeen years ago)

(j/k - I think the commotion and more people sounds better, too.
Busy >>>>>> Bored.)

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 31 May 2007 17:30 (seventeen years ago)

dear whoever it is who works in the library and has every dead can dance album on their itunes network:

i like you. REVEAL YRSELF TO ME

xo
joe

― impudent harlot, Thursday, 31 May 2007 19:50 (seventeen years ago)

Must be me.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 31 May 2007 19:51 (seventeen years ago)

I KNEW IT

(they've also got every cocteaus album)

(haha and every coldplay album!!)

― impudent harlot, Thursday, 31 May 2007 19:53 (seventeen years ago)

Okay, it is so NOT me.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 31 May 2007 20:00 (seventeen years ago)

I also broked the till (y'know, cash register) every time I went near it - we only have a cash box in the drawer in my usual site. And I had no idea what to do with membership - research students and finalists and postgrads and all sorts. It made me realise I've not learnt an awful lot over the past year, I've very much found a comfort zone at my library, and I can get away with not doing an awful lot.

Anyway. I have a staff review next week. I can't really be bothered doing it. My supervisor cares even less about doing it. I didn't apply for librarianship school this year (mainly 'cos I can't afford it, but partly because I'm not too confident of going back to uni after messing up my first degree course, and I've never been the most academically-minded person), I might apply next year, but I don't know. I'm worried I'm going to end up with a 'reputation' around here: most assistants are applying for promotion to senior assistant roles, or for the MA after a year's work, but I really don't feel ready for that. I think I have a problem dealing with responsibility.

― Bocken Social Scene, Friday, 1 June 2007 10:09 (seventeen years ago)

Bocken, as for academics in library school, don't worry about it. Library school is fairly easy and borderline vocational. It's just a lot of busy work, to be honest. So, don't let that aspect stop you. Money, on the other hand, well, that's another beast. Also, library school kind of sucks, but is kind of great as well. Most of the other people in the program are flat-out weirdos.

Also, staff reviews are the bane of my existence.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 1 June 2007 13:19 (seventeen years ago)

Today, we were hooked up with CatExpress, which means we no longer have to manually catalog all items AND our catalog will finally be connected to WorldCat!

When I saw my school's name on WorldCat for a Gloria Estefan's Greatest Hits Vol.II, I got a little teary eyed.

My boss is extatic and we are one step closer to ILL. Fuck yeah! I feel like a proud mama.

RE: library school. It's really not that bad. It drains a lot of money and time, but honestly it is pretty easy. (I found my undergrad education much more challenging.) And you will meet some of the most bizarre people. It really attracts quite and eclectic, somewhat socially awkward group for the most part.

― Caledonia, Friday, 1 June 2007 18:08 (seventeen years ago)

Also, my sentence structure is terrible.

― Caledonia, Friday, 1 June 2007 18:11 (seventeen years ago)

Just got back from an ALA-sponsored webcast re: copyright. I love me Kenneth Crews.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 1 June 2007 18:14 (seventeen years ago)

Yay! Kali! What's your code? We're TJC.

I am excited about National Bingo Night tonight. I think I'm going to DVR it, as I won't be home to watch it live. I'm taking it to a whole new sad level.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 1 June 2007 18:16 (seventeen years ago)

MCSLC! We still have to batch all of our old records and send them off to WorldCat. But every new book and cd we add from now on go directly to that database.

national Bing Night? I had no idea!

― Caledonia, Friday, 1 June 2007 18:33 (seventeen years ago)

Yeah. It's on ABC. It's super sweet.

There's this dude named Sunil who yells out "noooooooo BINGOOOOO" while making crazy hand gesticulations.

Every book I pull off my book truck has SERIOUS issues. Book in hand is a "supplement" to a 3 v. series, but isn't really labeled as such (i.e. no series statement that works). WHY GOD. WHY MUST YOU TORMENT ME SO?

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 1 June 2007 18:35 (seventeen years ago)

any advice on what to include in a cover letter for a library assistant job? i am afriad of sounding like an idiot.

― artdamages, Thursday, 7 June 2007 20:19 (seventeen years ago)

Emphasize your public service skills. (I am v. much not kidding.) If not a public desk job, emphasize your skills in teamwork, working with others, etc. Obvious points but they will go a long way.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 7 June 2007 20:21 (seventeen years ago)

is library school, like museum school, full of white women and nobody else?

― Maria, Thursday, 7 June 2007 20:24 (seventeen years ago)

er well, not nobody else, obviously, but overwhelmingly so? maybe not, it's a bigger field than museums

― Maria, Thursday, 7 June 2007 20:25 (seventeen years ago)

Wait, what's museum school?

(Also, in my experience, yes - but that was 1995, and in Minnesota, so make of that what you will.)

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 7 June 2007 20:25 (seventeen years ago)

Also I have to give major props to librarians this week since they have helped me a ton with finding material for a paper I have to write. You all rock.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 7 June 2007 20:26 (seventeen years ago)

museum studies certificate/master's programs. (what i was looking at doing before i decided to take a year or two off after college. and maybe become an archaeologist instead.)

and yeah librarians are pretty awesome.

― Maria, Thursday, 7 June 2007 20:38 (seventeen years ago)

That sounds cool, Maria. I've never heard of it before!

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 7 June 2007 20:42 (seventeen years ago)

Maria, become an archaeologist who digs up old libraries.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 7 June 2007 20:42 (seventeen years ago)

is library school, like museum school, full of white women and nobody else?

Not so much! Lots of folks who were disenchanted with the power (or complete lack thereof) of what their BA could do for them. Yeah, there are a bunch of old ladies ("biddies" as I liked to call'em). Lots of D&D players too.

Library school: Five me your socially awkward, your weirdos, and your huddled drunken masses.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 7 June 2007 22:22 (seventeen years ago)

Give. Not five.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 7 June 2007 22:23 (seventeen years ago)

(I was part of the drunken mass)

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 7 June 2007 22:23 (seventeen years ago)

two weeks pass...

I am not at ALA.

This makes me very happy.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:30 (seventeen years ago)

Hahaha.

Was at a very interesting talk last week regarding some developments between the UC and OCLC -- a guy working in the general OCLC structure was essentially recapitulating known but still good-to-keep-in-mind points about the continuing shift in knowledge access/searching online. What was interesting to me was the sense of understated fear and loathing regarding the social networking sites, MySpace et al.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:35 (seventeen years ago)

Really?

I'm kinda sad I'm not at ALA. Mostly because one of my best friends (who moved to Alaska for a cataloging job) is attending and I could really use that time to catch up with her and drink. And also, drink more.

― Caledonia, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:38 (seventeen years ago)

Ned, why do social networking sites threaten them? What do they think will happen because of them?

― Caledonia, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:39 (seventeen years ago)

Really? Fear and loathing? How so? That's interesting. Everyone I work with seems to think Facebook is the "hot new thing!" It's a bit depressing, tbh. I have to show everyone around me how to send messages via Facebook. I want to tell them, "dudes, just send an email. It's faster" but I don't want to harsh their social networking buzz.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:40 (seventeen years ago)

Yeah, I'm pretty sad I don't get to catch up with one of my cataloging BFFs, but he's probably going to come down to visit in the fall.

Kali, are you going to any next year? I have to be at both. We can schedule lots of drinking time if you go!

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:42 (seventeen years ago)

It's mostly to do with their sheer popularity, but also as initial information source for finding out about stuff where classic library databases rank a lot lower (and obviously it's not just the social networking sites -- Google's digitizing of books was brought up as a key turning point, wisely). I think there's an (understandable) institutional concern about trying to maintain an air of restrained professionalism/information straight up in a world of customization and Amazon reviews (for instance -- that latter point was brought up a couple of times), when at the same time it's clear that users are preferring the latter course in general. Again, I'm not surprised by it, I think these are legitimate points, but I also think there's a bit of swimming against the tide happening.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:43 (seventeen years ago)

And that said, there was also an air, just an air, of 'oh this'll pass' going on, when I think it's all gaining more traction by the day.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:44 (seventeen years ago)

does anyone know why OCLC charges so much* for FirstSearch but gives WorldCat away for free? And why there is so much difference between what's listed at each site?

*aside from the usual answer, i.e. money

― Mr. Que, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:45 (seventeen years ago)

Is FirstSearch a giant, federated search engine for searching electronic journals, etc.? Here, we're partnering with A Giant Organization to create one of those. It's still a bit hush hush, but my impression is that these federated search engines are what's "Up and Coming" and there may be a bit of competition with them.

My guess: WorldCat - more steps involved. First Search - supposed one step searching.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:50 (seventeen years ago)

lolz @ first search page img

http://www.oclc.org/firstsearch/images/banner/blankprodbkgd.gif

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:54 (seventeen years ago)

yeah, it searches journals and books and is very useful. basically when I search for a book

World Cat=local law school libraries
FirstSearch=EVERY library in the area, including federal agencies, law schools, law firms, public libraries, any other library you can think of.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:58 (seventeen years ago)

Is it your primary search? I know UW uses Worldcat as their main search OPAC, and it's causing a certifiable shitstorm with patrons b/c it's so crappy.

Do you have the option of searching your local OPAC first, or it it straight to First Search? I'm pretty sure we don't use it here, but I'm a cataloger who doesn't get let out to run amok with the patrons very much.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 22 June 2007 17:01 (seventeen years ago)

yeah it's primary. it's a dollar a search for FirstSearch. just seems like a lot.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 22 June 2007 17:05 (seventeen years ago)

Wait? Doesn't firstsearch work on a subscription basis?

― Caledonia, Friday, 22 June 2007 17:06 (seventeen years ago)

Good god! That's expensive. Now this makes more sense why other companies are developing some competition.

I wonder how much the subscription is.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 22 June 2007 17:08 (seventeen years ago)

Wait? Doesn't firstsearch work on a subscription basis?

-- Caledonia, Friday, June 22, 2007 5:06 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

Yes, but then you pay a DOLLAR for one search. Crazy!

― Mr. Que, Friday, 22 June 2007 17:09 (seventeen years ago)

Bastards!

― Caledonia, Friday, 22 June 2007 17:11 (seventeen years ago)

That's super shitty! How big is your library? That price seems outrageous for any library, regardless of the size.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 22 June 2007 17:13 (seventeen years ago)

I'm just so confused. I don't think I have to pay per search. If so, since I started this job in October, I'm going to owe a ridiculous amount of money. Yikes!

― Caledonia, Friday, 22 June 2007 17:18 (seventeen years ago)

You might have a different agreement with them, is what I'm thinking.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 22 June 2007 17:44 (seventeen years ago)

I am at ALA, but I haven't made it out of the placement center, and fear I won't for the rest of the weekend. I had three interviews today, and more scheduled for Sat. and Sun. Any inspiring tales of being hired straight off the ALA floor?

― Virginia Plain, Friday, 22 June 2007 23:49 (seventeen years ago)

(I think the idea with giving away Worldcat for free has to do with OCLC's mission of letting average people know that they can find a book in a library, just as simply as they could order it on Amazon. It was part of their to promote seamlessness by allowing the embedding of Worldcat (find it in a library) links on websites in order to promote library services to the broader public. I actually prefer Worldcat because the interface is simpler, but I guess Firstsearch allows for much more rigorous searching. I don't handle ILL, but I assume you can only do it through Firstsearch, though I don't know.)

― Virginia Plain, Friday, 22 June 2007 23:55 (seventeen years ago)

There was a huge OCLS island in the stacks today. I could have asked them, but I was too busy scamming YA gallerys.

― Virginia Plain, Saturday, 23 June 2007 22:18 (seventeen years ago)

Yes! My friend was hired pretty much directly from the ALA placement center floor. He then proceeded in recommending my friend, who also got a job. So, double the employment, double the fun!

(Don't even get me started on using Worldcat as an OPAC for any given library. It's gross. Super for what you mention, but not for individual library's main catalog-go-to point. SEE ALSO: UW's current debacle)

PSSS - I love that one can make XREF jokes the library thread, and someone gets it. Or, at least I hope they do.

― molly mummenschanz, Sunday, 24 June 2007 01:32 (seventeen years ago)

yay, indexing!

― molly mummenschanz, Sunday, 24 June 2007 01:32 (seventeen years ago)

We have met the hipsters and they are us. (Though I admit stories like that inadvertantly reconfirm for me why I'm glad I haven't gone the 'proper' librarian route -- like the story does mention, I prefer to work within larger contexts and step between all kinds of roles rather tying everything down to one path, but I prefer to do so as my interests and impulses dictate rather than within a formal role.)

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 24 June 2007 23:39 (seventeen years ago)

Ha, I thought that article was going to be about faux-hipster librarians. I finally made it into a few presentations today, and it's so disheartening when young people think they are somehow exceptional because they read a certain literary magazine that is somehow supposed to be minutely differentiated from the mainstream, or because they are familar with the term zine. Faux-hipster librarians listen to NPR; learn about The Decemberists. News at 10.

ALA did set me up nice with the placement center. If nothing else, I saved myself the writing of numerous cover letters and passed through to the initial screening interview process. Some of the interviews were light and exploratory, while others were full-on civil servant exams. I need to think of or bluff some good examples of group work I have accomplished. I cancelled my interview with Chicago so that I could attend a presentation, and because I am afraid of the weather, but mayble they had my dream job.

― Virginia Plain, Monday, 25 June 2007 01:37 (seventeen years ago)

I will cross my fingers that you will find the perfect job.

Chicago could be fun, but they aren't kidding about the windy part; I'm from Minnesota and I found the cold wind when I was there to be overwhelming. Probably because I was actually outside, but still...

― Sara R-C, Monday, 25 June 2007 01:59 (seventeen years ago)

Guys . . . I know it goes without saying, but . . . I love us (librarians, techs, clerks, collection developers, catalogers, indexers, ILL'rs, researchers, managers, library lovers and users) so very much.

Just a few minutes ago I was talking with my circulation supervisor (also known as Shanna, a rock star and the only other library employee) about how good we feel about our jobs.

And that's just it. There is a lot to complain about. And thank god there are resources on this here interweb where we can connect with others who know the weird and frustrating parts of library life. I mean, a job is a job, but we do some good stuff here, and we should completely celebrate that fact.

go us!

― Caledonia, Monday, 25 June 2007 20:12 (seventeen years ago)

Also, I was never, at any point in my life, a cheerleader. I just overflow with enthusiasm sometimes. it's my way . . . I'll be snarky again soon enough but for now. . . (shrug)

― Caledonia, Monday, 25 June 2007 20:14 (seventeen years ago)

Oh, I do all kinds of good. The rest follows.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 25 June 2007 20:16 (seventeen years ago)

You all should be paid a lot more, much like teachers.

I cheer you all on (also in a not-very-cheerleady way)!

― Sara R-C, Monday, 25 June 2007 20:18 (seventeen years ago)

Awwh! Go us!

Sometimes I get crabby (big surprise!) about what I do, as there is no one on the other end saying, "thank you for rush cataloging those Borges dvds!" But, then I realize I'm putting information out there, that may have not been there before, and a general sense of well-being sweeps over me, until the next crappy catalog record reaches my computer screen.

Hey, Ms. Plain! How was ALA? Did you hear anything about jobs yet? Now that I've found a job, I sort of miss the hunt, if that makes any sense. It was exciting, applying to places all across the country, and not being sure where I'd end up. Now I must live vicariously though others.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 28 June 2007 15:04 (seventeen years ago)

But, then I realize I'm putting information out there, that may have not been there before

Which is kinda the way I think about it -- now I'm not selecting the texts or anything, but I am making sure that books that professors ask for that the library doesn't have are ordered and routed for student use ASAP. It's almost like I serve as a conduit, which I've no problem with, since I've sped up the process tremendously over time.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 28 June 2007 15:13 (seventeen years ago)

I've sped up the process tremendously over time.

The students should worship you for this. (Especially if they are procrastinators, like me!)

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 28 June 2007 15:34 (seventeen years ago)

Hey Mollz,

I really liked ALA, though it was overwhelming. I've gotten feedback from one library that they'd like to set up an on-site interview and with me and from another library that they expect I will score very highly on their exam, and my boss told me yesterday that another library was calling to check my references. It's sort of scary now--I really didn't expect things to be moving so quickly, after I'd read so many articles about MLS grads who couldn't find jobs. But it's also exciting--I can see now that my MLS is paying off--i.e it hasn't all been for naught.

Otherwise, I made it to two presentations--one on "exploding genres"--cult(ish) fiction for twentysomethings--that featured the authors Zane and Kelly Link, and moderated by a librarian from Seattle who was excellent--he also does the He Reads part of the column in Booklist, and another presentation on the use of iPods in libraries with YA's--which featured a name that tune recap of the past #1 of the last 50 years--in celebration of the years of YALSA. This was a bit confusing as they were suggesting having an iTunes library at a certain computer station, from which teens could check out songs, but then they would have to return them later.

The exhibits were amazing, and both days I came home so loaded down with stuff that I could barely walk. All in all, a good experience, and I would definitely go to Philadelphia midwinter if I got the chance. I also got my resume reviewed in the placement center and saw part of a presentation on interviewing, which was really good, but I had to leave it to go to an interview. I was really impressed with the Placement Center, the services offered by ALA there, and the goodies offered by the libraries (See's chocolates from SFPL). All the libraries were super nice, accept for one that was bitchy--a certain major city north of NY.

― Virginia Plain, Thursday, 28 June 2007 16:39 (seventeen years ago)

Oh excellent! Checking references is a SUPER sign. When my current employer checked my references, my former boss let me know. I had actually forgotten I'd applied to this job, because they took their sweet time responding (4 months!).

Here's what I think, from my experience: recent-MLSes can totally get jobs, if they make applying for jobs a part-time profession. No fannydangling about and applying to only those in hip places. Mind you, I was applying for both cataloging and archives jobs (sometimes the 2 overlapped, happily), and all of the sudden I had all sorts of interest. Mind you, a lot of the jobs wanted me (or someone, I should say), right away, but I still had a semester of the ol'liberry skool to go. I applied to about 60 places. I also had a deathly fear of moving back to my parents' house, unemployed. Also, those who are picky and have their heart set on certain places, well, that can take time to score a job. My friend really really wanted to go to NYC, and it's taken her almost a year to land a full-time job there. If a job was offered to me in a cornfield in Nebraska, I would have taken it (I got bills, they're multiplying).

It sounds good for you! Presentations, ALA attendance, resumes, on-site interviews; these things will help you out, for sure.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 28 June 2007 16:57 (seventeen years ago)

My mindset is a bit different--because I am already at the low point of living at home, and have a librarian job I really like (though it is part time) so I sort of feel I can be picky and wait for something that I want--generally majorish large urban public library systems on the East or West coast. Luckily, the two libraries that seem to be moving quickly are the ones in that most coveted area--NYC--but now my question is, can I afford to live there on the librarian salary? I suppose I can, but my mom is off a different mind, and is wondering why I did not apply for Roanoke and VA Beach. I was sort of planning on taking the summer off anyway to relax and to get some experience as a part-time librarian (while leisurely applying for jobs), so anything that happens this soon would be a bonus.

― Virginia Plain, Thursday, 28 June 2007 17:17 (seventeen years ago)

Yikes! I just got a job offer in the Bronx.

― Virginia Plain, Friday, 29 June 2007 15:58 (seventeen years ago)

That's awesome!!! What do you think? Is it something you'd be interested in persuing?

― Caledonia, Friday, 29 June 2007 16:05 (seventeen years ago)

Congratulations! That sounds awesome/terrifying!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 29 June 2007 18:03 (seventeen years ago)

Awesomely terrifying! And yay for job offer.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 29 June 2007 18:03 (seventeen years ago)

I'm conflicted--it's with NYPL--but in the Bronx--but a doable part that is easily accessible by train. Also, Queens was planning to set up interviews . . . and I'm also interested in them. Also, it's a bit scary to accept a job without visiting the site/seeing who I would be working with . . . Looks like I have some thinking to do over the weekend. Thanks for the kind words! (The branch that they offered actually looks really nice--not scary or anything--but it's just not as glam --or possibly as convenient--as Manhattan.)

― Virginia Plain, Friday, 29 June 2007 20:36 (seventeen years ago)

Congrats! That's fantastic! My friend was offered a job at the main library of Queens PL, but turned it down for a higher paying job (understandably so). Anyway, the benefits there looked pretty great, and she would have been part of a union. Le sigh. Yay! Exciting!

― molly mummenschanz, Saturday, 30 June 2007 14:28 (seventeen years ago)

What are these "higher paying jobs" of which you speak, and how can I find one?

― Virginia Plain, Saturday, 30 June 2007 18:25 (seventeen years ago)

She got a sweet job at Upstate Medical College, I think. It's more of a commute, but like, $10k more! Mind you, she'd been looking for a while, after having 2 part-time library jobs post liberry skool.

― molly mummenschanz, Saturday, 30 June 2007 19:00 (seventeen years ago)

Oddly enough, our compact shelving is on YouTube -- one of the librarians here just discovered this and sent a note around:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abCOtdYKRnM

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 2 July 2007 18:12 (seventeen years ago)

Wow, that student seemed astounded! I think the main library at St. Olaf has similar shelving, but it has to be moved manually. Which is still kind of fun.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 2 July 2007 18:42 (seventeen years ago)

So apparently we're all Marxists.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 7 July 2007 00:01 (seventeen years ago)

Yes, it is definitely evil-doing Marxism when you actually give a shit about what happens to people other than yourselves. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

― Sara R-C, Saturday, 7 July 2007 02:38 (seventeen years ago)

Of course, just by posting on this thread, I have probably inadvertently admitted to Marxist Librarian sympathies. OMG

― Sara R-C, Saturday, 7 July 2007 02:40 (seventeen years ago)

So, apparently, we're all hipsters.

― Mr. Que, Saturday, 7 July 2007 14:47 (seventeen years ago)

That article is worse than the one the Gray Lady ran about 1997.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 7 July 2007 14:52 (seventeen years ago)

The groups’ members were librarians. Or, in some cases, guybrarians.

“He hates being called that,” said Sarah Murphy, one of the evening’s organizers and a founder of the Desk Set, a social group for librarians and library students.

Ms. Murphy was speaking of Jeff Buckley, a reference librarian at a law firm, who had a tattoo of the logo from the Federal Depository Library Program peeking out of his black T-shirt sleeve.

Well, at least he stopped singing. Vocal cords must have rotted away.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 7 July 2007 15:21 (seventeen years ago)

I know Ned enjoys blueberry martinis and has a passion for pop culture, activism and technology.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 7 July 2007 16:41 (seventeen years ago)

Well, that proves he is a Marxist hipster librarian guybrarian beyond a shadow of a doubt.

― Sara R-C, Saturday, 7 July 2007 16:48 (seventeen years ago)

"I really dig activism," said guybrarian Ned Ragget. "I have a passion for it."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 7 July 2007 16:50 (seventeen years ago)

Thankfully this alien figure has only one t in its name, and is therefore a fraud.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 7 July 2007 17:07 (seventeen years ago)

Oh gosh, are people going to think I am cool now? I passed on the job offer for now, btw, am waiting to see if anything else comes up. Also left things open to get back in touch with NY at end of summer.

― Virginia Plain, Saturday, 7 July 2007 20:05 (seventeen years ago)

What about "gaybrarians"--why aren't they mentioned in this article?

― saudade, Saturday, 7 July 2007 23:11 (seventeen years ago)

They had the sense not to be quoted.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 7 July 2007 23:38 (seventeen years ago)

I barely passed the LAPL exam. Damn you, Moz Angeles!

― Virginia Plain, Sunday, 8 July 2007 00:29 (seventeen years ago)

so wait, is the Robert Sullivan referenced in the photo credit the guy who wrote the road trip book?

― gabbneb, Monday, 9 July 2007 17:12 (seventeen years ago)

*rolls eyes*

Not any more. With so much of the job involving technology and with a focus now on finding and sharing information beyond just what is available in books, a new type of librarian is emerging — the kind that, according to the Web site Librarian Avengers, is “looking to put the ‘hep cat’ in cataloguing.”

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 9 July 2007 17:17 (seventeen years ago)

Hey daddy-o, get down with the new freaky styles. Man.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 9 July 2007 17:20 (seventeen years ago)

Be cool, my man. I've got the latest subject heading lists that will blow your mind.

*snaps fingers*

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 9 July 2007 17:21 (seventeen years ago)

“I went to see a band a few weeks ago with old co-workers and turned to one and said ‘Is it just me or is this really, really loud?’ ” said Ms. Klein, the former publicist. Her friend, she said, “laughed and said, ‘You have librarian ears now.’ ”

Oh, how quaint. We wrote an article that tries to break the librarian stereotype, and end it with a stupid shush-related-library-as-a-temple joke. Spare me.

(NB my plumbing at the new place is hosed and I am in a crappy mood {no pun intended})

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 9 July 2007 17:23 (seventeen years ago)

Relax, Molly. Just let your bun down and take off those glasses.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 9 July 2007 17:26 (seventeen years ago)

I need to go home to my cats and my knitting.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 9 July 2007 17:28 (seventeen years ago)

Make some chamomile tea while you're at it.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 9 July 2007 17:31 (seventeen years ago)

I went to school with one of the girls in that article.

― tokyo rosemary, Monday, 9 July 2007 17:31 (seventeen years ago)

Aw, VP, if I had known you were at the ALA conference, I would have put you in touch with my friend Axis Sally, who went. And worked at the same branch of Olsson's as you at one point. But not the same time.

― tokyo rosemary, Monday, 9 July 2007 17:33 (seventeen years ago)

Hello all, just wanted to introduce myself to the library thread, which I meant to do around the time ALA took place. I've been posting on a few other threads here and there for the past month or so. I work as a library assistant in a specialized collection for ethics/bioethics at Georgetown University. I'm planning on doing an MLS in a year or two, and would love to work in a music library. It was a nice surprise to see the title of this thread come up in the New Answers page during my first few visits to ILX. I'm looking forward to future posts!

Btw, my co-workers, whose ages average around 60 -- most of them have been at this collection since its beginning, all passed around the NYT articles with chuckles.

― Mark Clemente, Monday, 9 July 2007 18:12 (seventeen years ago)

I need a drink.

Hi Mark!

ALA Midwinter - a giant ILX booze-up should be planned. Where is it this winter? I am too lazy to look it up.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 9 July 2007 18:14 (seventeen years ago)

Do you have any ideas on where you want to go for library school? If you fancy Buffalo, you can probably get a free ride, as their music MLS program is really small (but good!), and give out fellowships like nobody's bidness. (this may or may not still be true, if in fact it ever was - bear with me. i'm stressed).

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 9 July 2007 18:15 (seventeen years ago)

Welcome Mark! Take the plunge as you do. :-)

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 9 July 2007 18:17 (seventeen years ago)

I'm not totally sure yet -- for geographic reasons I'm considering Simmons College because my girlfriend is currently in grad school at Smith College, and we were thinking about sticking around in Massachusetts when she's done. I've also looked a little bit into Pratt's program as well as UNC-Chapel Hill's. Not sure totally what is the best route, though, regarding the master's in music that seems to be strongly recommended/required for music librarian positions -- whether to do the degrees simultaneously as in a joint program or do the MLS first, get a job, then do the second master's. Any advice on programs or approaches to degrees would definitely be appreciated!

thanks, Ned!

― Mark Clemente, Monday, 9 July 2007 18:26 (seventeen years ago)

Hey Mark,

I live in the DC area and just finished up at Catholic. I'd be happy to tell you about it--feel free to e-mail me. I don't know anything specifically about music librarianship, except that at my school they only had one class for it I think--which kept getting pushed back. Of the schools you mentioned, I've met people at Simmons and it seems like a good program. Chapel Hill seems like it might be a bit more insular. As for Pratt, I haven't met people from there, but I've heard that it makes more sense to do Queens or St. Johns, money-wise.

Meanwhile, they've put me back at the children's desk for the night. Kids are reading "Madison Finn," "Super Diaper Babies," and "Transformers."

― Virginia Plain, Monday, 9 July 2007 23:19 (seventeen years ago)

I went to school with one of the girls in that article.

-- tokyo rosemary, Monday, July 9, 2007 5:31 PM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Link

yes, you did. i still see her at daddy's pretty regularly (i think i was actually in the bar watching baseball the sunday they got their picture taken in the yard).

― hstencil, Monday, 9 July 2007 23:40 (seventeen years ago)

Mark, I know it's pretty tough to get a music librarian job w/o a Music and MLS degree. The Music/MLS programs at UB and Indiana require you to get both at once, if you don't have an MA in Music already. My friend tried to get music cataloging jobs w/o a music degree and had no luck whatsoever.

we were thinking about sticking around in Massachusetts when she's done.

Areas with library schools tend to be saturated with unemployed librarians, fightin' for local jobs. A current coworker of mine went to Simmons, and had to move to Nashville to get a job. My former boss went there too, and ended up in Buffalo, even though they both really wanted to stay in the area. I hope this doesn't sound like I'm being a buzzkill! I just wanted to give you a heads up.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 14:57 (seventeen years ago)

Virginia, Molly, thanks for the information -- Molly, no worries about buzzkill! This is helpful, as most of the librarians I work with have been at this specialized collection for a while and aren't as connected with the current job market or even that familiar with music librarianship.

As far as sticking around in Mass., it wouldn't necessarily be after my degree that we'd stick around, but rather after my girlfriend's degree that I join her up there to start at Simmons, say. Afterwards, it's where the jobs are, but then the usual challenge comes of trying to live close to families, and my gf's family is northeast-based.

Also, as far as the MA in Music goes, I don't have any formal training or coursework done in music -- only a lifetime of informal, but intensly devoted music appreciation (like many of us) which may not count for much in grad school applications -- and I was wondering how willing MA programs are in accepting students like me. I am planning, however, to take a few a courses in music while I'm working here at Georgetown, so that might help a little.

thanks again!

― Mark Clemente, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 15:24 (seventeen years ago)

Right on! No problem! When I started my MLS, I worked at the Music library at UB. I had played a multitude of instruments, and even rocked it with the old men at my university's jazz group, but never got a degree, music-wise. So, when I was working at the Music library, doing ready reference-type stuff, the head of the Music Library approached me and asked me if I was interested in music librarianship, knowing full well that I had a bachelor's in French and Spanish. So, I think while programs may say they want a BA in music, they may not be as strict as they sound on paper. So, hurray! Also, I know there's a bid debate going on with music cataloging, and how they need knowledgeable staff that won't just throw on crappy subject headings. My friend, GothPaul, actually did a presentation on this, and was so appalled that a Joy Division catalog record could have "Adult Contemporary" as a subject heading.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:04 (seventeen years ago)

That's certainly good to know! On a similar note, I was speaking to the friendly woman at the Music Library Association table at ALA, who told me that a strong familiarity with popular music is becoming a much more valuable quality now that music libraries are opening up more to non-classical stuff.

― Mark Clemente, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:14 (seventeen years ago)

While not really important, it's good to know that the MLA has conferences in some pretty great locations (SEE ALSO: Memphis and Vancouver).

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 16:03 (seventeen years ago)

Get ready for "Exiles' writings, Peruvian" to hit your LCSH distribution lists soon!

This is my biggest excitement all day. ;_;

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:34 (seventeen years ago)

Dudes:

ALA fees - does your employer pay for them or do you have to pay for it out of pocket? Also, what's the deal with them being so high? It's not like they're a union or anything.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 27 July 2007 16:20 (seventeen years ago)

I should take this thread revival to note a nice bit of professional achievement -- I am in the latest issue of The Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserve:

http://jildd.haworthpress.com/

You won't be able to access the contents online unless you're going through an academic server that subscribes to the journal but the info is:

"Implementing Electronic Reserves: New Opportunities at the University of California, Irvine Libraries"
Volume 17, nos. 1-2, 2007
ISSN: 1072-303X Electronic - ISSN: 1540-3572

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 27 July 2007 16:25 (seventeen years ago)

Congrats, Ned! That's awesome!

Unfortunately, we don't subscribe. Bummer!

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 27 July 2007 16:28 (seventeen years ago)

WELL JEEZ ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 27 July 2007 16:29 (seventeen years ago)

Today's LCSH highlight:

150 Surgery, Plastic, in art

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 3 August 2007 19:13 (seventeen years ago)

OMG there's an ILL journal!

― Mr. Que, Friday, 3 August 2007 19:14 (seventeen years ago)

Yea that's pretty awesome to find out -- especially since ILL is one of my main responsibilities at my library

― Mark Clemente, Friday, 3 August 2007 19:35 (seventeen years ago)

I've been interviewing like crazy. Does anyone have any inside info on the relative merits of working at Queens Library versus Brooklyn Library?

― Virginia Plain, Saturday, 4 August 2007 17:20 (seventeen years ago)

Sometimes, I have a burning desire to throw books against the wall, scream, and then write nasty letters to other library's cataloging departments, asking them why they do such a piss-poor job.

I need a drink.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 13 August 2007 21:50 (seventeen years ago)

VP, I do know Queens Library is unionized! That's some hot shit right there!

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 13 August 2007 21:51 (seventeen years ago)

I need a drink.

Don't we all.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 13 August 2007 22:46 (seventeen years ago)

Well my decision just got a little easier; Brooklyn turned me down. No word from Queens yet. I think that most of the NYC libraries are union, though I haven't really investigated it.

― Virginia Plain, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 00:42 (seventeen years ago)

Good luck, Virginia!

I need a drink.

Don't we all.

Yes, obv.

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 00:46 (seventeen years ago)

Hi I am new, my name is Michael Paradis. I went to the main branch of the San Francisco library to activate my account today, and the man who rang me up had a Northern Soul and Fela Kuti pin. I said "Hey man, nice Northern Soul pin, I know about soul nights at the Elbow Room, but where else in this city does that?" and he said that he DJed at the Elbow Room. I am now on a guest list.

I also met a girl from Akron, Ohio outside the Embarcadero BART. When she told me that, I said "Like Devo!" and she told me they all attended her high school, but refuse to allow their names to be put on its wall of fame. She came out west to be a massage therapist. It was a good day.

If that librarian-DJ-Northern enthusiast is also an ILXor, hay dude. If not, hay ILXor community. How are you?

― MParadis, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 01:18 (seventeen years ago)

HI DERE. New to the board in general or have you lurked for a bit?

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 01:22 (seventeen years ago)

lurked for some time, yes.

― MParadis, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 01:39 (seventeen years ago)

I want to go to SF and work with the Northern Soul-loving staff. I've put in an application but there has been no response, save for a letter recommending I serve as a floater for South San Fran.

Um, Queens just offered me a job. Just a little catch: I won't know what branch I'm assigned to until I show up and go to an orientation. NYC, why you make it so hard to be a librarian?

― Virginia Plain, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 15:26 (seventeen years ago)

I want to go to SF and work with the Northern Soul-loving staff.

ME TOO.

My friend applied there, and it took them AGES to respond. However, when they did, they were asking her to take the civil service exam, so it must have been a good thing.

VP, congrats! What is the job title? (this could clue you in as to if you're at the main library or not) The branch withdrawal thing is a little sketchy, though. Maybe they just don't know where they'll put you yet, which is fine, but maybe a little disconcerting?

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 15:30 (seventeen years ago)

I work with someone who is a jump blues enthusiast, and I'm trying to make our govdocs librarian a rocksteady convert.

Also, Nashville needs a good soul club. We've got nothin'.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 15:34 (seventeen years ago)

The job title is LIBRARIAN. Ha ha. They said if I wanted I could be a J (I guess that meant juvenile). I think it's defintely at a branch. She said they don't know until the moment where they have a most needed vacancy--that's why they do it that way. She said if I moved to Qns, they would defintely take into consideration where I lived and try to give me something relatively convenient. But she did say something about a train to a bus being an acceptable commute.

― Virginia Plain, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 15:38 (seventeen years ago)

Oy vey. Well, it's a job, and it could be great! But, if you're not feelin' it, it may be worth haggling with them a bit saying, "Train to bus commute is not acceptable for me."

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 15:45 (seventeen years ago)

I'm applying like crazy for Assistant jobs in Chicago (I've got six years experience in Monographs Acquisitions at the biggest library in Missouri!)
and having a hell of a time with it. I had a great interview almost SIX weeks ago at a really cool engineering college library, still crossing my fingers on that one. I applied for a few positions this week that seem promising. I have had to get better with the whole application/selling yourself process.

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 16:51 (seventeen years ago)

Sent around today at work:

Top Ten Facebook Apps for Librarians

http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/2007/top-ten-facebook-apps-for-librarians-part-one/

Government Grant to Preserve Virtual Worlds
The Library of Congress announced last week that it had awarded a two-year $590,000 grant to several institutions to help preserve online games and virtual worlds... (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, our presenters' campus, is heavily involved in the project.)
http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.php?id=2289

---

I ponder, duly.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 18:12 (seventeen years ago)

Trip Maker, good luck! Fingers crossed! It's a sad fact that libraries take stupidly long periods of time to get back to you. I still don't understand this.

Are you looking for jobs just in Chicago, or elsewhere?

Top Ten Facebook Apps for Librarians

#1 Scrabulous, if you ask me. I was helping my boss with some words the other day.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 18:16 (seventeen years ago)

I'm only looking in Chicago right now. Family and friends are all up there.
In a certain sense, it was inevitable I'd move there. It never seemed like a good idea until, suddenly, it was. Strange how that works.

― Trip Maker, Thursday, 16 August 2007 13:10 (seventeen years ago)

one month passes...

I just had to explain to my boss what the phrase "I PWN NOOBS" meant.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 16:18 (seventeen years ago)

I went to the dealer where I purchased my car to see if they would like it back (they offered me around $5,000 below its value). Car salesman #1 said, "But you look to young to be a librarian. I thought all librarians were like 60." I said, "hm, well certain people are retiring . . . so that opens up jobs . . . " (just trying to keep the conversation going) . . . and he said, "But I thought that when people retired they would just go to nursing homes to get more librarians there." lol?

― Virginia Plain, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 23:55 (seventeen years ago)

I just had to explain to my boss what the phrase "I PWN NOOBS" meant.

Short for "I OWN BOOBS," obv.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 23:58 (seventeen years ago)

Molly - lol, I would have liked to overhear THAT conversation.

Virginia - uh... your car dealer sounds out of touch with, you know, REALITY. That can be funny, except for the part where he offered you so little money for your car.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 27 September 2007 00:01 (seventeen years ago)

Ned, stop talking about your boobs on ILE.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 27 September 2007 00:01 (seventeen years ago)

FB's cleavage is far the more superior.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 September 2007 00:20 (seventeen years ago)

Hi everyone --

I'm new around these parts, but was intrigued by the bit of conversation happening a few days ago re: Queens Library.

Virginia -- did you end up accepting their offer? If so, how goes it out there? I'm up for a librarian position myself, but have heard mixed things about the system. Any feedback at all would be appreciated.

Thanks.

― StaceyW, Thursday, 27 September 2007 16:42 (seventeen years ago)

Welcome! Freshly minted librarian or just out on the search again?

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 September 2007 16:43 (seventeen years ago)

Semi-freshly minted. I got my MLIS in December 2005, but had to put the career transition on hold until my now-husband received his visa (he's British), arrived in the US, and got his work permit, which took until February of this year. Then I took some much-needed personal time off...and now I'm on the hunt.

Job hunting is HORRIBLE. I've never gone through this before in my working life and it's terribly frustrating. Some days, it makes me want to go back into public relations (and that's saying something!).

Any job search tips are also greatly appreciated!

― StaceyW, Thursday, 27 September 2007 17:01 (seventeen years ago)

Hi Stacey,

I did accept the offer, but I don't start until the end of October, so I don't know much about the system yet. Where do you live now? Where I live (Northern VA/DC) librarian jobs are few and far between. My job search netted me the following offers: NYPL and QL. I had an interview with Brooklyn, telephone and then in person, and then received a rejection letter. Besides my current part-time job, the only other offer I received was for another part-time job in a nearby library system here. I went to ALA over the summer and went to their placement service and interviewed with a ton of public library systems . . . I scored well with Philadelphia, but never heard back from them, scored good with San Francisco but never got a follow up interview (despite them sending me a letter every month asking me to apply again for the one job they have open in the system), scored middling with L.A. I also talked to B'more and DC but there was no follow-up. I got a call from Oakland asking me to send them a copy of my diploma.

It seems that the NYC systems are hiring right now, more aggressively than any other system, in my experience. You may want to take the option of working your way into a system you'd like to work by working a part-time job, and then you would likely be able to get a full-time position in the future. After 6 mos a full-time position finally opened up at the library system I work at, just as I was accepting this other job. Who knows if I would have gotten that position though. It worked out for me because I didn't want to stay in this area, and did want to go to NYC. I wasn't really that agressive in my job search, besides going to ALA. I didn't apply to anything other than publics. I would recommened attending Philadelphia midwinter and making use of the placement services, if you are still looking at that time and are interested in public libraries. There's so many systems there that you can interview with a lot more places than you would be able to in the same time otherwise. And it's also pretty good interview practice. They also have a resume review service and interviewing workshops.

Good luck! Feel free to write me through this user name if you would like to discuss anything.

― Virginia Plain, Thursday, 27 September 2007 20:56 (seventeen years ago)

Thanks, Virginia. I'm already in the NYC area and need to stay put due to my husband's job, so I don't have the geographic flexibility (yet) to look too far beyond the City.

One question for you: When you accepted the offer, did they tell you that you'll start at the end of October, or did you negotiate that start date? I'd like to start sooner than later, but I also have a major family event coming up around Thanksgiving that is going to require my being in the Midwest for 12 days (ugh -- I know...bad timing). I'm hoping this won't be a dealbreaker if they do make an offer.

I really do want to go to Midwinter. I went to Annual this summer, but missed all the good stuff as I couldn't get there until the second to last day.

― StaceyW, Friday, 28 September 2007 00:10 (seventeen years ago)

Oh, and one more question: What made you pick QL over NYPL? Just curious.

― StaceyW, Friday, 28 September 2007 00:11 (seventeen years ago)

NY offered me a job in the Bronx, and it was my first offer, about one week after I started applying. I wasn't really ready to take a job that I wasn't completely jazzed about. QNS gave me a bunch of possible start dates and I chose the latest one because I knew I'd need time to get ready. I think they are able to be flexible. NY said for me to get back in touch when I was ready to move, but that most of their offerings were in the Bronx. For me, I have friends in QNS and I felt like I could live cheper in QNS than in, say, Spanish Harlem, or locations convenient to the Bronx. (My location was on the 6.) But I think it was mostly timing. The QNS offer came at a time when I had a better sense of my options, and when I was really ready to move. QNS also has really good PR--not sure how much of it is just PR, but it seemed like a good system to me. NY seemed like a great system as well, but maybe a bit more staid. I could be completely wrong. The hardest thing about the NY systems, it seems, is that it's sort of a Russian Roulette where you will end up.

― Virginia Plain, Friday, 28 September 2007 00:58 (seventeen years ago)

Interesting. This is all good to hear -- thanks.

― StaceyW, Friday, 28 September 2007 01:45 (seventeen years ago)

ALA Midwinter. Who's in?

(My boss just informed me hotel room reservations open up today)

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 1 October 2007 13:26 (seventeen years ago)

That room reservation page is ridiculous.

On the plus side, I have a room (yet no roommate). I could live it up solitary-like and LUXURY STYLE at the Holiday Inn.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 1 October 2007 14:42 (seventeen years ago)

three weeks pass...

i am working in a special collections archive processing facility right now...and i have a FAN GOING because it is really, really warm down here. WAHT

― impudent harlot, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 20:31 (seventeen years ago)

I am also working in a special collections archive processing facility right now! or I don't think the processing goes on in this particular room actually. Anyway, it is chilly in here, as it always is and always should be.

― askance johnson, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 20:35 (seventeen years ago)

Didn't get hired in Chicago. So be it. Gonna get my MLS here at MU, I think. The Silver lining: Dating the new special collections librarian!
High five!

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 20:39 (seventeen years ago)

YEAH BRO

― impudent harlot, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 20:44 (seventeen years ago)

"fixing it tomorrow" sez nice librarian lady across from me

― impudent harlot, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 20:45 (seventeen years ago)

I started my job in Queens. Only the second day but the community seems too good to be believed. I'm sure I'll be back to complain once the warm glow wears off.

― Virginia Plain, Thursday, 25 October 2007 02:51 (seventeen years ago)

Congratulations and hope you settle in well!

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 25 October 2007 02:56 (seventeen years ago)

Thanks--it's very disconcerting. Everyone is so freakishly nice here, I feel like I'm working at a library in Mr. Roger's neighborhood.

― Virginia Plain, Friday, 26 October 2007 18:48 (seventeen years ago)

Yeah, Ms. Plain! Congrats!

Who's going to Midwinter? Did I already ask this? My head hurts.

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 26 October 2007 18:57 (seventeen years ago)

yay Mary! Glad to hear it is so far, so good. Where are you living (i.e. do you have a hellish commute?)

― quincie, Friday, 26 October 2007 19:12 (seventeen years ago)

xpost Sounds awesome - congratulations!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 26 October 2007 19:15 (seventeen years ago)

Ladies and gentleman, I give you:

CATALOGING HUMOR

oy vey.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 20:16 (seventeen years ago)

I am applying for MLIS programs in Chicago for next year.

― n/a, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 20:18 (seventeen years ago)

oh! fantastic! do you know what type of librarianship you want to get into?

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 20:20 (seventeen years ago)

also, i hate the world "librarianship." i feel sad for using it so freely.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 20:20 (seventeen years ago)

Well, you didn't ask me, but I'm going to answer, anyway.
I want to be a recorded sound librarian and curate a collection of popular music at a community library. The Daniel Boone Regional Library here in Columbia MO is a great example of the kind of thing I'd like to do. It's unfortunate that recorded sound librarians are often expected to be trained in formal music studies (they have to be able to read music).

I think that there is a real need for popular recorded sound librarians.
I also think that communities are hungry for circulating popular recorded sound collections. Keeping them intact is another thing, I guess.

― Trip Maker, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 20:54 (seventeen years ago)

More librarian victims! Um, I mean curators.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 20:56 (seventeen years ago)

Music librarianship (gah!) is really interesting, and there's definitely a need for people who know what they're doing. It annoys me to no end that they have all these requirements for have a Master's in Music ON TOP of an MLS for some positions. Music cataloging is in dire need of people who are familiar with various genres of music. My friend GothPaul actually did a presentation on this in library school, showing his outrage about a Joy Division cataloging record having a subject heading of "Adult contemporary" or some shit.

Are you working at that library now?

A job opened up here at the Country Music Hall of Fame and I stupidly didn't apply for it.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:00 (seventeen years ago)

No, I work at the University of Missouri Library system. In Acquisitions.
I have to retake my GRE and reapply for the MLS program. Which sucks.
I've already taken 3 classes and gotten A's in all three. But my undergrad GPA is low. Got a BA in Anthropology right here at MU (which didn't seem to net me any consideration, either).

― Trip Maker, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:06 (seventeen years ago)

i am starting the application process for grad school now (in film/media preservation)

uroch accepts something like fifteen people each year, seven of whom go into the specific part of the program i want. erp

― impudent harlot, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:07 (seventeen years ago)

Oh, man. Bummer about the GREs. My school didn't require them.

I had a friend on academic probation due to undergrad GPA being low. It was no big deal after the first semester, because, well, library school isn't too terribly hard.

Awesome. Having ANY library experience is such a huge foot in the door for landing a librarian position.

xpost - is that tied into the Eastman House? My friend did an internship there.

fingers crossed!

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:10 (seventeen years ago)

yeah, it's the selznick school @ eastman house @ uroch, or something along those lines (and i have to apply thru their english dept for some reason)

― impudent harlot, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:13 (seventeen years ago)

GRE is BULLSHIT. And it's my fucking MATH score that kept me out.

― Trip Maker, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:13 (seventeen years ago)

fantastic! are you in rochester now?

GRE is total crap. I was thinking about going for another master's here at my place of employment. Yeah, no thanks. I think I'm done. I'm auditing a class now, and I can't be bothered to do any of the assignments (not that I have to). I think studying for the math section would just kill me, or bore me to tears.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:17 (seventeen years ago)

urgh, i'm taking them on the 10th. buggin' a little

xpost nope, "downstate" (nyc)

― impudent harlot, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:17 (seventeen years ago)

GRE math seems easier than SAT math, is the thing (if it were actually college-level math they were testing you on, no one would pass the GREs)

― impudent harlot, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:18 (seventeen years ago)

Yeah, I didn't do remarkably well on the SAT math section either. Math and I are not friends.

I feel like I should work on my second master's, as this dept. was just rated numero uno in the country, but, like, it's expensive, and b/c i work here, I couldn't TA, and the employee discount is still MIGHTY COSTLY for a librarian's salary.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:21 (seventeen years ago)

also, library school burned me out, i think. i just don't think i could do it again, for 5 years, and work 40 hours a week.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:28 (seventeen years ago)

This is a big reason why I'll never get my MLS. "Go back to grad school? Are you crazy?"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:29 (seventeen years ago)

AMEN.

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 21:29 (seventeen years ago)

Thanks Q. Sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to the DC folks, my last couple of weeks were really rushed. My commute is a bit arduous, but I have the option of moving closer in 5 mos. when my sublet ends, but I also really like this neighborhood, so I'll wait and see what happens, I guess.

N/A: stop now before making a big mistake, I mean, yay!

― Virginia Plain, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 23:05 (seventeen years ago)

ha?

Don't really know what specific area of librarianism I'm interested in, I figure that's what school is for.

― n/a, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 00:52 (seventeen years ago)

Oh dear. I'd *really* suggest narrowing things down to at least a couple of specific areas of interest first.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 00:54 (seventeen years ago)

I wouldn't necessarily. I thought I wanted to do academic, and now I am a children's l. Lots of people change their minds.

― Virginia Plain, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 02:10 (seventeen years ago)

I do need to do more research but I wouldn't be starting until this time next year so right now I'm focusing on getting all the application stuff ready.

― n/a, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 02:13 (seventeen years ago)

Hmm, fair enough Mary; might just simply be the way we look at things! Friend Stripey struck a middle ground; she indicated in her experience starting this year that she was already well into figuring out which subject-specific listservs and associations and etc. she should be involved with, and this was about halfway through the first quarter. In her words, especially given the job market, she knew she had to focus very early. Could be the nature of the program too, I'm not sure.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 02:17 (seventeen years ago)

Just make sure to pronounce it LiBRARY and not LIBARY, like everyone here in Qns.

― Virginia Plain, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 03:14 (seventeen years ago)

Liberry.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 03:15 (seventeen years ago)

Ned, Library school is EASY.

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 16:01 (seventeen years ago)

But, the general headache of getting into a program is murder.

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 16:01 (seventeen years ago)

So, yeah, guess I understand your trepidation.

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 16:01 (seventeen years ago)

Hm? It's not a question of whether it's easy or not, just that after twenty-plus straight years of taking classes from preschool to approaching PhD exams I woke up one morning and essentially told myself "Hell with it." I'm all for continual learning and training and the like but I'll be damned if I do something formal like grad school in any guise again in my life. There are other things of greater interest.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 16:07 (seventeen years ago)

i, on the other hand, cannot wait to go to grad school because i feel pretty useless otherwise

they've finally ot the A/C working down here and now i am freezing :D

― impudent harlot, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 16:10 (seventeen years ago)

ggggggggggot

― impudent harlot, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 16:10 (seventeen years ago)

The list of types of library jobs on the ALA site is pretty unhelpful. It's basically like "public, academic ... uh, school, and ... uh, let's say 'other.'"

― n/a, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 16:17 (seventeen years ago)

When I started, I thought I wanted to be a public librarian. Then, with my background, I thought academic librarianship was for me! Buffalo stupidly wanted to close all its public libraries, which set my pinko heart ablaze, causing me to want to be a public librarian again (but not stay in Buffalo, obv.). I then took an indexing course and decided, "this is for me!".

I'm now a Spanish/Portuguese/French cataloger for an academic library.

Sometimes I wanna say "fuck it" and become a children's librarian instead. But, I console myself with the thought that I'm the non-socially retarded cataloger ambassador for the library world.

Also, I had a friend who was on track for medical librarianship. She's now a school librarian (gasp! i mean, library media specialist) at a private school in SF.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 16:31 (seventeen years ago)

In short, I don't think it matters, really.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 16:33 (seventeen years ago)

Yeah, and people move around a lot. At my last library, former law librarians were children's librarians, and at my internship former school librarians were academic librarians. You won't really know what you want to do until you try out a few things.

― Virginia Plain, Thursday, 1 November 2007 03:20 (seventeen years ago)

this thread is making me more excited at the prospect of being a librarian.

not much has changed in my plans -- still planning on starting an MLS in fall 09. not totally sure where, however.

― Mark Clemente, Thursday, 1 November 2007 13:55 (seventeen years ago)

There's an insane amount of irrelevancy that goes on in academic libraries, I find.

Yesterday, someone had a freak out moment about something so trivial, I almost started laughing in her face. I maintained my calm and tried to diffuse the situation. Then, at the Halloween party later (OH GOD LIBRARIAN PARTIES ARE SO AWKWARD), I talked to one of the other parties involved, and she was all, "No problem! Thanks."

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:38 (seventeen years ago)

But Mark, don't let my general griping bum you out.

Working in a library can be really great and satisfying, oh, and low-stress.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:40 (seventeen years ago)

This is true. Especially if you don't have to worry about catalog development or indexing. :-D

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:41 (seventeen years ago)

Hah! Yeah, but in the grand scheme of things, IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. Thousands of people are not going to die. It'll get sorted, dudes! Maybe I've been watching the Big Lebowski to much, but I just want everyone to "relax, man."

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:47 (seventeen years ago)

There are people who freak out about stupid stuff at pretty much every job, I've found.

― n/a, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:51 (seventeen years ago)

This freaking out is far more intense and detached from reality, from what I've seen at other jobs.

Don't even get me started on how people spazz about conference authority records. Every bibliographer I've talked to (oh, and I ask, believe you me) says they NEVER search by authorized conference heading. I don't think 98% of the population even know what they are, but it's an integral part of my job.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:55 (seventeen years ago)

and by people spazzing, i mean the catalogers i work with.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:56 (seventeen years ago)

Catalogers are the WORST. Control freaks, all.

― Trip Maker, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:59 (seventeen years ago)

Dude, I'm totally not! That's the weird thing.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:00 (seventeen years ago)

Oh, sorry. I didn't mean you, you're clearly level-headed.

― Trip Maker, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:11 (seventeen years ago)

"OH GOD LIBRARIAN PARTIES ARE SO AWKWARD"

Of course I read that as "LIBERTARIAN PARTIES," and I was inclined to agree.

― Dickerson Pike, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:13 (seventeen years ago)

Authoritarian parties, however, are so great.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:13 (seventeen years ago)

No worries. I have stories, though. Oh god. One including someone I work with who has no TV, and is EXTREMELY PROUD of this, and talks about incessantly. And then she forwards everyone clips from the Keith Olbermann show, or the Daily Show, about how it's SO GREAT, and I'm like, "Dude, I saw this last night. Also, stop cackling at your cubicle. It annoys me."

Ok, maybe that's not so much a cataloging thing, but just weird librarian-ish shit.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:15 (seventeen years ago)

Ned, THE WORST.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:15 (seventeen years ago)

I don't watch TV or clips, I'm better than you both! *hides*

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:32 (seventeen years ago)

It's not that I have anything against the TV-less! I didn't have a TV for a while! Mainly, I just can't stand loud talkers.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:33 (seventeen years ago)

WHAT YOU SAY

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:42 (seventeen years ago)

Here's an awkward Libertarian party, previewed in this week's Nashville Scene:

ROCK FOR RON PAUL Presidential races are often exclusive events. While Giuliani swirls a glass of fine brandy and convinces Republicans to swallow his stances on abortion and gay marriage, Clinton downplays her support for war with Iran between nibbles of frog legs on toast. Only this time, somebody shat in the foie gras. That somebody is Libertarian Congressman Ron Paul. Paul’s advocates want to return to constitutional principles, stop runaway inflation by reforming our monetary system and dismantle the military-industrial complex. They also want to rock. Enter Rock for Ron Paul, a festival-style benefit independently organized by the base of Paul’s Nashville constituency. Three stages will host 22 different acts whose styles run the gamut from idiosyncratic indie-rockers Knapsack Heroes to the meat-and-potatoes pop of Harrison Hudson. Arrive early to catch the metal screeching of Kreaper, which, like Ron Paul’s monetary policy, is difficult to understand. 6 p.m. at Rcktwn —MARSHALL WEBER

― Dickerson Pike, Thursday, 1 November 2007 16:23 (seventeen years ago)

KREAPER?

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 1 November 2007 16:27 (seventeen years ago)

I mean come ON. I expect that to be the secret rivals of Dethklok, not a real band.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 1 November 2007 16:27 (seventeen years ago)

HA HA HA. Rcktwn is a Christian Emo nightclub or something.

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 16:32 (seventeen years ago)

Also, it's called "Rcktwn". ARE LIBERTARIANS AGAINST VOWELS?

― molly mummenschanz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 16:32 (seventeen years ago)

Tomorrow's my first pre-school visit. Wish me luck. I'm leading off with: "Punk Farm."

― Virginia Plain, Friday, 2 November 2007 03:56 (seventeen years ago)

Good luck! I know you'll WOW the kids.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 2 November 2007 04:23 (seventeen years ago)

Why do otherwise intelligent, moderately computer literate people turn into complete fucking morons when they are faced with an online catalog? I know it's not the most user-friendly, and the AquaBrowser bullshit only serves to confuse, but goddam.

― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 10 November 2007 16:14 (seventeen years ago)

No I'm sorry I can't tell you where all books by author x are, without going into each record individually, but I can assure you that we are not hiding them behind the reference desk as you suspect. Try clicking on things that look like links in the catalog records. Maybe they will take you to more information!

― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 10 November 2007 16:21 (seventeen years ago)

Today I helped a guy who looked like Alec Baldwin. My branch keeps on giving.

― Virginia Plain, Sunday, 11 November 2007 01:14 (seventeen years ago)

We've done been found out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6_dcjR2npU

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/librarians/

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 November 2007 15:16 (seventeen years ago)

Oh me!

When I had a terrible office job, and watched th UK version of "The Office" the whole thing just made me sad, and even more depressed about my idiot coworkers. I have a feeling this might be the same. ;_;

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 14 November 2007 15:27 (seventeen years ago)

thanks for withholding my paycheck from me for about two weeks on account of a "budgeting error," b0bst. cuz it's not like i got groceries to buy or bills to pay or anything like that!!! A+++++ GO TEAM

― impudent harlot, Wednesday, 14 November 2007 15:30 (seventeen years ago)

dude, that sucks. have you gotten it yet?

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 14 November 2007 15:37 (seventeen years ago)

Best Onion editorial cartoon ever (at least if you're a librarian)!

http://www.theonion.com/content/cartoon/nov-19-2007

― Neil S, Wednesday, 21 November 2007 11:56 (seventeen years ago)

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Librarians.jpg

― Mr. Que, Wednesday, 21 November 2007 19:42 (seventeen years ago)

The Patriot Act can bite me, says Amazon

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 28 November 2007 19:04 (seventeen years ago)

Sometimes there's progress.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 November 2007 19:05 (seventeen years ago)

So here's a good post, if you ask me.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 4 December 2007 16:10 (seventeen years ago)

one month passes...

ALA midwinter, anyone?

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 4 January 2008 21:25 (seventeen years ago)

Actually, time for a new thread, with that subject line!

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 4 January 2008 21:26 (seventeen years ago)

two months pass...

Hey! If you're bored or something or want to tell me how smart you are and how dumb I am ... Can some of you librarian types read this
http://thestuffihave.com/blog/?cat=1
.. from the bottom up - sorry, it was posted chronologically, so the first post is at the bottom ...

I'm teaching a class on Monday about social networking tools in libraries - I'd love to run it by some librarians first ....

(I know it's very cursory ... I only have an hour ... And Molly will have something to say about user tagging, wont she? ;-))

Thanks!

― dave 2¼, Friday, 7 March 2008 02:23 (seventeen years ago)

(ok -forget the comment about reading from the bottom up - I changed the dates & now it reads from the top ...)

― dave 2¼, Friday, 7 March 2008 02:36 (seventeen years ago)

Looks great! I can just tell you that Queens Library has slightly tweaked the "26 Things" Web 2.0 workshop from the Charlotte, NC library. Staff had the opportunity to participate online. Sadly, the extent of my involvement with "social networking" involves mostly kicking kids of Myspace. (We do have an on-line chat forum at Queens, though, that is a great resource. The children's librarians are fairly active on it.

― Virginia Plain, Friday, 7 March 2008 03:14 (seventeen years ago)

come next fall, i will be a full-time student either here or here :D

― impudent harlot, Friday, 7 March 2008 05:22 (seventeen years ago)

I love you all but the year in this thread is old. ;-)

Rolling 2008 librarian/library assistant thread

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 7 March 2008 05:27 (seventeen years ago)


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