Open Access, and the Story of Why Are We Paying to Access Important Information
Posted February 27, 2013 by Carolyn Lucas
Open access is a topic I have been thinking about a lot lately. And not just the stories of glamorized and easily implementable “open access” that the media picks up and drops two weeks later – open access as a way that information is communicated. Anyone who has talked to me for more than five minutes knows that I am passionate about the way information is communicated, received, and re-communicated elsewhere – which serves as the basis of open access. The White House recently addressed the issue of open access in a memo, which stated that the findings and papers that come about as a result of publicly funded research will be made publicly available. While this is a huge step in the field, I can’t help but think that we are years behind. How many critical results of research have come and gone without garnering public attention, simply because the public cannot afford the astronomical prices to scientific journals? This is information that most people are unfamiliar with – mostly because the information is…
My Library School Library
Posted February 25, 2013 by Sarah Barton
I’ve written about a handful of different libraries in this blog, but I daresay I have neglected one that has been integral to my time at GSLIS: the Beatley Library at Simmons. During my first semester I was neither working nor interning, so I had a lot of downtime outside of class. To combat any and all inclinations to sit around doing nothing, I would go to a desk on the second floor of the library after my morning classes and before my afternoon class to get as much work done as possible. I find that the library is kind of like the gym – sometimes I don’t necessarily want to go, but I am fairly productive once I’m there. This and last semester, my increased extracurricular activities have reduced the amount of time I spend at Beatley. These days, I am usually only there for two-ish hours on Wednesdays, and I tend to splurge for the comfy chairs on the first floor instead of the studious desks on the second. Beatley is by no means huge,…
Ready for Outdoor Reading
Posted February 24, 2013 by lazylibrarian
It is snowing. AGAIN. I admit I am getting a little stir crazy. So far this weekend I’ve done homework in my bed, at my desk, in the tech lab, at my boyfriend’s house, at Pete’s Coffee (where I was continually interrupted by an adorable five year old next to me) and now I’m back in my room again. But come spring, oh come spring….i love to read outdoors in Boston! I’m the kind of person who if it’s too quiet I can’t focus. I think it has something to do with growing up with four younger siblings and a dog. So I love reading outside in the city there where there is just the right amount of noise, not enough to be overpowering but enough that I can’t zone in on one conversation and get too distracted. So in anticipation of that, my next two posts will display my top ten favorite spots to read outside in Boston. All pictures are mine because I’m also that chick that snaps a cellphone shot every five…
Infographics make me smarter
Posted February 23, 2013 by Maggie Davidov
What are infographics and why are they awesome? This customermagnestism.com post is an infographic, you guessed it, about infographics! Wild, I know. Essentially the infographic distills all relevant statistics and facts about a topic into one pretty picture that relaxes the mind. Margaret Rouse says it best when she defines infographics: “Infographics (information graphics) is the display of information in such a way that it can be easily understood at a glance.” You’ve probably come across a bunch of infographics in your information consumption lifetime. I did, but didn’t really know why I was more likely to process the information from an infographic than from say a 30-page journal article my professor wanted me to read for next Thursday. Both are valid forms of conveying information. I just think that after reading 400 pages for classes this week I’m way more likely to read an infographic post sent to me by a colleague than a New York Times article about the exact same topic. Think about it then next time you get a fascinating article sent…
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…