Transferable Skills
Posted February 22, 2013 by Emily Boyd
Last week my reference professor asked how many of us had ever worked in a restaurant. At least two thirds of the class raised their hand. The point he was making, quite successfully I might add, was that we already have skills from past work experiences that will help us succeed in this field. Excluding a few hours volunteering for my hometown high school library, I have no firsthand experience in this field. That said, my résumé boasts a long list of service based positions. I have worked as a ranger for the National Park Service, as a customer service representative over the phone, as a server in a local restaurant, and currently as a hostess, and I’ve realized it’s all the same. Whether you describe your clientele as patrons, guests, customers, clients, or visitors, it really is all the same. Being kind and helpful is just as important as understanding the needs of a patron regardless of context. My reference class has devoted a lot of time to practicing the proper way to conduct…
The Digital Divide Meets Everytown, USA
Posted February 20, 2013 by Julie Steenson
Over and over again, you have heard (or read) about my small town in New Hampshire. We are the proverbial small New England town, complete with General Store and a gazebo on the Town Common. We have strong agricultural roots, but we are not a hick town. 97% of our population has education beyond the high school level, with almost 42% having a bachelor’s degree or higher (http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml). While many in town still don’t have high-speed internet access, we have a lot of patrons who come in to use our Wi-Fi. I really don’t view the Digital Divide as just an access issue, but one of how to benefit from technology and internet access. Whenever I read about the Digital Divide, I tend to think of it in terms of big cities with wide socioeconomic and educational gaps. Yes, there is a digital disparity with our older population, but they are quick and eager learners. To be honest, the Digital Divide hasn’t seemed that relevant to my present situation, until recently. Enter Roxanne…okay, that is…
Dr. Disorganization or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb that’s Apparently Gone Off in My Apartment
Posted February 19, 2013 by Carolyn Lucas
This winter, Boston has gotten snow – a lot of snow. Like, an inordinate amount of snow. And I am from Wisconsin. What a smart move, to the one place on earth that apparently gets more snow than my hometown. With that being said, I have spent a lot of time at home lately – because winter makes me feel cozy and antisocial; because I’ve been snowed in; because I’ve been doing all of my work at home, take your pick. But as I walked through my apartment most recently, taking a break from Describing and Arranging a hypothetical archival collection for a class, I stopped in front of my personal bookshelf. I found myself wondering how exactly I had managed to arrange all of my personal belongings so that I can find them. If someone came into my house and wanted to find, say, my old wedding planner – would I be able to locate it? Would I be able to tell someone else how to locate it? Where had I put it, and…
Library Lesson Learned III
Posted February 18, 2013 by Sarah Barton
Just before the library closed on Tuesday, a boy came to the desk to ask if we had any books about dogs. He wanted non-fiction, so I brought him over to the 636.7-ish area of the children’s section and we found a few books of interest. He told me that his parents said he could get a pet, so he wanted information about dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, and horses (although he assured me he would not be getting a horse). He chose a few titles and snuck out just before closing time. I work at a small branch library, and frankly, the 636.7-ish area is nothing to write home about. The selection is limited, and much of what is available is dated. As part of the Minuteman Library Network, we can request items from any of the 42 member libraries; however, in Tuesday’s scenario the boy wanted the books right then and there, so he was limited to what we had on the shelf. In the end, he got his information, although it was not…
Ten Book Related Articles for (Another) Snow Day!
Posted February 17, 2013 by lazylibrarian
So it’s snowing again here in Boston. It’s probably a good thing, I’m being forced to stay in my room and conquer my conference paper. But for those of you who aren’t contemplating the use of archives in art museums…here are some interesting articles I’ve come across lately relating to books and/or the library field. 1. Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Books and Authors You Had to Read in High School by Kevin Smokler, Book Riot Example: Albert Camus was a very happy person. Well, he fooled me. 2. Radio Show: Books by The Bottom Line This is a BBC radio show about business. This particular episode from last week focused on the book industry. It includes, as guests, the CEO of Curtis Jones, the CEO of Harper Collins and the Chief Content Officer of Kobo. One of the most interesting things that came out of this show was the discussion by Harper Collins CEO Victoria Barnsley that perhaps book stores should start charging for browsing! 3. Can Libraries Survive in an Era of Budget Cutbacks? by…
One more step toward adulthood (AKA inflaming PPS)
Posted February 16, 2013 by Maggie Davidov
I don’t know why I was holding back. Maybe I thought that without an official MLS I wouldn’t be allowed in. Perhaps I was I was afraid that pledging my time, money and inbox space to this organization cemented my career choice more than paying $6,500 a semester ever did. Whatever the reason I have been avoiding the ever watchful, and professional eye of the ALA, a lidless eye, wreathed in flame. Wait, no, that’s the eye of Sauron. I don’t equate the ALA with Mordor. Really, I just fear that being a member of a professional organization is the final step toward adulthood. To a certain extent, I am right. My inbox is overflowing with invites to email lists, print and e-publications, and various webinars about the latest happenings and developments in the field of library science. SCARY, right?! Ok, I’m overreacting. I’ve always had PPS, Peter Pan syndrome, and growing up on any level really inflames my condition. The boy in tights inside of me wants to cut and fly away. Then I…
So Many Books, So Little Time
Posted February 15, 2013 by Emily Boyd
I have always prided myself on being well-read. I imagine most people considering a career in the library profession feel similarly. Starting the GSLIS program at Simmons has led me to question whether I really am the great reader I have always claimed to be. Sometimes it feels like all of my classmates are better readers than me. One of my favorite classes this semester is Young Adult (YA) Literature with Professor Melanie Kimball. I love learning about working with young adults but this course is certainly putting my reading skills to the test. Along with professional development readings targeted towards young adult librarians, we are also required to read two or three YA books per week! So far I have enjoyed the challenge of keeping up with all of the readings but my speed and efficiency are being put to the test. Although I have moments of insecurity because I do not feel as well-read as some of my classmates, one assignment allowed me to gain some perspective by making me spend time reflecting…
The Role of Libraries in Emergencies
Posted February 13, 2013 by Julie Steenson
In my town in NH, we had only 30 inches of snow last weekend. We were very fortunate and didn’t even lose power. We were all surprised by this since we lose power so often, but we are a very self-sufficient community and generally well-prepared for emergencies. Everyone I know in town has a generator including a lot of our patrons. We remained open most of the day on Friday, and we did a very brisk business of DVDs as well as books for the storm in progress, and when we asked patrons what they would do with five movies if the lights went out, “Start up the generator!” was the typical answer. We know that many towns did not fare so well in this storm, and so I started to think about the role of libraries when emergencies happen. We play a much bigger role beyond providing recreational materials for the snowed-in crowd. Information! That is what we do, after all, and many patrons who came in or called during the storm wanted…
The Technological Advance: Moving Forward with Online Programs
Posted February 12, 2013 by Carolyn Lucas
Anyone who has stepped into a library, museum, or archives in the last ten years has seen the field’s foray into technology. But what happens when not only the institutions in the library and information sciences field – but the education that provides the people to eventually staff those institutions – also takes the plunge into embracing technology? Completely online programs for awarding certificates – or even entire degrees – have rocketed to popularity, even with Simmons. Within the past year or so, the GSLIS program alone has installed two certificate programs – one for Digital Stewardship and one for Instructional Technology – and one master’s degree in Archives Management. Through these programs, Simmons has created an entirely online community where students interact with other students and teachers, attend office hours, submit assignments, give presentations, and have discussions. There is even a completely online orientation, which, in the case of the Archives Management Degree, included a coffee hour where Simmons sent Starbucks gift cards internationally and set up a Skype meeting space. Then, a professor…
Weather You Like It Or Not
Posted February 11, 2013 by Sarah Barton
Unless you spent the past 72 hours under a colossal snowdrift (which is quite possible), you probably noticed that snow bombarded Boston on Friday and Saturday. The weather gods vacillate between being a faithful friend and formidable foe to New Englanders, invoking elements ranging from oppressive humidity to debilitating blizzards, a nice summer breeze to bone-chilling winter winds, and beautiful spring days to crisp fall nights. I’d say that when it comes to the weather, New Englanders generally adopt one of two mindsets: 1) Bring it on! 2) Make it stop! Either way, when you sign up for GSLIS, you also sign up for the weather. The conditions are nothing new for some people, while for others they are a total shock to the system. I’ve spent my whole life in New England, yet the weather here never ceases to surprise (and sometimes even amaze) me. I dislike excessively sweating on a summer stroll to the T just as much as bundling up and trudging to the T in the winter, but I tend to…