Happy Litha, Buried in Work & Fun Trips

Cliff June 20th, 2008

First, I hope everyone has a blessed Litha today!  With Sunna at the height of her power, I’m definitely feeling full of energy and excitement (and words…which my coworkers have been subjected to today).

The big news for the Summer is that I’m teaching an 8-week graduate class in research methods for the Department of Curriculum, Leadership and Technology.  This is the second time that I’ve taught this course, and despite the heavy workload, I enjoy it more each time I teach it.

Most exciting for me is seeing students truly grasp the concepts presented in their readings, and then watching them turn around and teach those concepts to each other!  I also love teaching graduate students how to research because their theses and dissertations are just around the corner (which definitely helps with their buy-in to the course)!

This week I’ll be traveling to New Orleans, Kennesaw and Atlanta (all for fun, for a change).  I know I’ll be exhausted by the end of it, but I figure I can sleep when I’m dead.  I’ll do my best to take pictures!

In the mean time, however, teaching this course does not leave much time for blogging, so many of the exciting things I’m seeing in LibraryLand will have to be covered by the other bibliobloggers.  I’m sure everyone will get by without my opinion for the next couple of months!

Moleskine song

Cliff June 12th, 2008

There’s one object in my life that I have a hard time without–my moleskine journal. Folks who have seen my productivity presentations have seen me flaunt it’s organizational goodness in front of a crowd. So imagine my delight when I stumbled upon this song! Wait for it…

4th CWED: Karma & Responsibility presentation

Cliff June 10th, 2008

Saturday I was picked up from the airport by friends and we went to see Margaret Cho at the Tabernacle; as always she had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. We then went out dancing, and finally got to sleep at about 2:30am (a great way to round off a day of international flights!). After a few hours of sleep, we woke up early and drove back to Valdosta so that I could speak to the 4ª Conferência de Wicca & Espiritualidade da Deusa.  I gave a speech on Karma and Responsibility via Live Messenger.  Rose and Lulu did a great job of translating for me, and Claudiney (as always) was excellent at coordinating the presentation.  Although I was unable to see the audience, they were able to see me, and luckily some of my jokes successfully translated.  There were great questions after the presentation, and I hope that one day I will get to meet all these great Pagans in person!

ACURIL2008 lessons learned

Cliff June 10th, 2008

Rather than boring everyone to death with a play-by-play of the conference, here are the things that I learned from my trip.  Videos are here, photos are here.  Check out the ACURIL website, the conference page and the conference blog.  I really enjoyed ACURIL; if you get the chance, go!

Things I learned about librarianship:

  • Librarians are the same everywhere. We all face the same problems, and all have our own quirks. And we generally like meeting other librarians.
  • US libraries/librarians and ALA are pretty much like a clique on a very large playground. They ignore (and are pretty much ignored) by the rest of the kids on the playground, who are all hanging out with each other. The only ones losing out are the US; no one is looking to us for inspiration. It is I who have been inspired.
  • A master’s degree isn’t necessary to be a librarian.  Librarianship is a skill that is learned through practice, regardless of the degree in your hands.

Things I learned about Jamaica/the Carribbean:

  • Everything starts about 15-20 minutes late…”Jamaica time.”  I felt right at home.
  • Walk on the left.  Since people drive on the left, they walk on the left.  If you walk on the right, you stop traffic.  I finally got this down by the end of the week.
  • Lots of camera, few laptops.  I realized very quickly that I was among librarians when there were more people recording the cultural events with their cameras than there were folks just watching; after all, we’re in the business of preserving history & culture!  Hey folks who took pictures, share them on the ACURIL2008 Flickr group!
  • People are cold and unfriendly at first, but they’re quick to warm up once they realize you’re not a self-inflated tourist or American jerk.
  • It’s “yeah, man” not “yeah, mon”
  • It’s “persons” not “people”
  • Don’t believe everything you read.  The poverty, crime, etc. won’t eclipse the amazing people you’ll meet.  Positive news stories don’t sell papers.

Things I learned about traveling:

  • It’ll take some time to adjust to the accent.  Be prepared to ask people to repeat themselves.
  • You don’t *really* need all that stuff that you pack.
  • Doing travel laundry is ok for manmade fabrics, but it’ll make cotton stiff.
  • Time your meals and showers–there’s always a rush on both at certain times.
  • Check the iron before you iron your clothes.  Rust can be quite a surprise on a new white shirt.

Things I learned about myself:

  • A vacation alone isn’t really a vacation.  Experiences are meant to be shared.
  • My idea of a great holiday is sitting around watching cartoons and napping (i.e. letting my brain rest).  Not sitting in the sun.  There’s no need to feel guilty for not wanting to hang out on the beach.
  • I value the people in my life, and really do miss those I love, no matter how independent I believe myself to be.

ACURIL2008: Stephen Abram’s Keynote notes

Cliff June 2nd, 2008

  • Louisville women carrying stories forward after abandonment by making quilts, without libraries.  Community is what carries things forward in the midst of challenges.
  • Now the environment is “Free trumps quality, every time”
  • Working together, but feeling stretched.  How do we get our users educated?
  • We need to be inspired about libraries–sometimes we forget what it is that we’re doing.  We’re creating the information & knowledge economy.
  • We can let Google and Yahoo do this job, or we can do it.  Companies are altering results for profit.
  • We need to be aware of our own power and impact.  When we look back on our careers, what will we say?  Will we have an impact on creating an equitable information universe, or will we “give in” and slap a Google search box up on our pages?
  • Professionals commit.
  • Now, more than %51 is not in English.  “It’s not just catalog cards, it’s access to a culture that’s diverse.”
  • When we must come together and be inspired.
  • Our next great challenge is to put content into workflow.  That’s why we make databases accessible from home.  Now we need to put ourselves in that workflow.
  • (If you’re ever sick, DON’T SEARCH MEDLINE.  It’ll scare the bejeezus out of you!)
  • You can start small, but dream big.
  • Libraries help democracies persist.
  • What sort of informations skills will our users need when every book is full-text searchable?
  • Say Yes every chance you get!  Be part of the change you want to see.
  • We are a social profession–the point between the user and the information they need.
  • It’s not about contact or content — it’s about both together.
  • Semantic Web, the Cloud, No choice search engines, GIS oriented search and ads, infinite fulltext books, streaming media and spoken word search, personalization 3.0, microblogging, device proliferation.
  • Students use Google & Wikipedia.  We use Google & Wikipedia.  How dare we say that when we use it, it’s better?!?
  • Library culture of poverty, victimization, risk aversion and passive resistance.
  • How do we make open information a global reality?
  • The best thing about libraries is how subversive we are!
  • We need to put things where the users are.
  • Name tags:  Why are so many librarians freaking anonymous?

Out of battery!  Quick!  Upload plz!

Problems with “Don’t apply if you’re not qualified”

Cliff May 31st, 2008

Thanks to everyone for their advice on my previous post on job search advice!  Several folks had issues with my statement: “Don’t apply for a job you’re not qualified for”, and looking back I can see why, with such a broad-sweeping statement.  Many librarians are quick to discount themselves from jobs because of a lack of experience, but as Peter, Karen and others pointed out, you might be surprised (both pleasantly and unpleasantly) with the results of a job interview, so go ahead and apply.

Another problem that I thought of for the “Don’t apply for a job you’re not qualified for” is career/area changes.  Although I’m trained as a Reference librarian, I’m too fascinated with all areas of librarianship to do just one thing for my whole life.  I anticipate that eventually I’ll move away from Reference and try my hand at something else- -but to do that I’ll need to apply for a job I’m not “qualified” for, having no real experience in those areas.  However, I’ll also try to gain as much education (and experience if possible) before I apply to further strengthen my application.  Anyone want to take on a reference librarian for an extra, online internship?!?

Alas, I will stick with my original point in one respect:  I will probably not apply for a job as a library director, head of automated services, university president or astronaut without a little more experience.  Especially that astronaut job, tempting as it is.

Thanks for the great conversation, everyone- -keep it going!

Interviewed for the TechSource Blog!

Cliff May 30th, 2008

Michael Stephens interviewed me for the TechSource Blog–what an honor! We chatted about Facebook, libraries, and catalogs as social networks–check it out! “Thank you”s go out to Michael for the interview, and Cindi for snapping such a great shot of me.

CommonCraft: Social Media in Plain English

Cliff May 30th, 2008

The folks over at CommonCraft have done it again!  Check out Social Media in Plain English; what a great way to explain it!


Social Media in Plain English from leelefever on Vimeo.

Advice for librarian job applicants

Cliff May 21st, 2008

Job hunting is something every librarian does more than once.  I’ve served on a fair number of search committees in my relatively short time as a librarian. Here are some pointers I’ve put together for a friend who’s getting ready to apply for jobs as she graduates from library school.

Application:

  • Coursework doesn’t count for much — I’m glad you took a class on X, but that doesn’t count as experience in my book.  It’s important that you learn the theory behind all aspects of librarianship, since those theories inform what we do.  However, theory and practice are not the same thing.
  • Internships count — Being a librarian is like being an archaeologist–they’re both practicing professions. You can study theory from dusk till dawn, but until you actually dig up bones (or help a crying freshmen find a full-text article at the last minute), you won’t know what it’s like to “do” librarianship. Get as many internships as you can, and make the most of them while you’ve got ‘em.
  • Don’t apply for a job you won’t accept – Some folks suggest applying for everything because it gives you “practice” and you “never know.” The reality is that it’s more paperwork and hassle for the folks on the search committee. Ask yourself if you would accept an offer for the position before you apply.
  • Fill out the stupid form — Many institutions require you to fill out a Human Resources form of some sort when you apply.  When they say “applications without the form will be marked incomplete and discarded,” they mean it.  Fill it out completely, and if you need to sign the form, sign it.  Not doing so shows me you aren’t really interested in the job.
  • Don’t apply for a job you’re not qualified for — Again, you’ll be adding more paper to stack that’s already too big.  If you don’t have strong qualifications or missed out on getting a relevant internship, apply for an entry-level position (and yes, they are out there!).
  • Write for your audience — A good rule of thumb for anything written down.  You’re not writing for a generic audience, you’re writing for a group of tired, overworked librarians who got suckered into serving on yet another committee.  Wow me.  Get me excited.  Don’t be smarmy or flattering, be genuine. Make me want to meet you.
  • Your cover letter is your voice — This is the most important part of your application packet, because it is your chance to address the search committee.  Tell me why you are interested in this position.  Tell me why you are qualified for this position. Tell me what you’ve done, and how it related to this position.  If you give me a generic letter about your generic qualifications, you’ll get a generic response–not interested.
  • If you can, explain why you’re leaving your current job — This is something that every search committee wants to know so if you can explain it up front, it will save everyone time.  Of course, don’t bash a previous (or current!) place of employment–that shows me that I might be the one you’re bashing in the future.
  • Proofread, proofread, proofread — If there is a single spelling, spacing or grammatical error anywhere in your packet, you drop off my list.  I don’t want to have to work with you on a committee, and spend my time fixing your errors.
  • Don’t overload me — If your cover letter extends beyond a page and a half, I’ll likely stop reading (unless you’re a really great writer!).  C.V.s should be longer, but the same rule applies.  I don’t need to know about that 1/2 hour seminar you attended 12 years ago, especially if it doesn’t have anything to do with the job you’re applying for.
  • Ask your references if you can list them — Imaging the awkward silence you’ve created when your reference gets a phone call they aren’t expecting from someone they don’t know.  You can bet that any glowing reference they might have given will be a little less shiny.  It also shows me that you’re not professional or considerate (and therefore not someone I want to work with).

Phone Interviews:

  • Give a land line number — No one wants to have to ask a job applicant “can you hear me now?”
  • Dedicate the time — If I’m asking you about your experience with collection development, I don’t want to hear your child/neighbor/coworker/waitress/flight attendant in the background. And you should NOT be driving.  This is not the time to show off your multitasking skills.
  • It’s OK to be a little nervous — After the first few minutes, it’ll go away.  Practice beforehand over the phone with a friend.
  • Don’t ramble — Remember your audience is tired, overworked librarians.  Don’t put them to sleep with irrelevant anecdotes.  Make sure you’re answering the question that was asked.
  • Be careful of pauses — If you pause too long, it looks like you’re trying to create a bullshit answer.  If you don’t pause at all, it looks like you’re cocky or thoughtless.
  • Send a thank-you card — It’s not sucking up, it’s showing you’re grateful.  Everyone appreciates a little gratitude.

In-Person Interviews:

  • Be professional — Be on-time, well dressed, polite, etc.  Librarianship is a profession–act like a pro.
  • Let me know who you are — In a search, we can’t ask anything about your personal life that doesn’t relate to the job–unless you volunteer it.  So if you like cats, knitting, mystery novels, or biking, please volunteer that information.  It makes you look a little more human, and who knows?  We may have the same hobbies! However…
  • It’s ok to keep personal stuff personal — If you’re not sure you want to mention your spirituality, political views, or cosmological philosophies in conversation, then don’t. If you don’t want it questioned or discussed further, don’t bring it up.
  • Interview me — Remember, this is a two-way street.  Ask thoughtful questions that show me that you’re really thinking about joining our team.  Just as much as we’re interviewing you, this is a chance for you to interview us.  Hopefully, you’re looking for a good match for your career goals and skills, and not just a paycheck.
  • Be kind — Librarians, as a rule, are bonkers.  That’s what makes us able to do our jobs so well.  So if there are one or two cooky folks in the group you talk to, just smile and nod.  But at the same time, imagine working with them every day.  If my level of neurotic organization would drive you insane, chances are you don’t need to work with me.

I’d be interested to hear of any other advice you have for recent LIS graduates, or folks who are getting ready to hit the pavement yet again.  Leave a comment!

Elsevier’s solution!

Cliff May 15th, 2008

Well, after first having my email client send the message to my junkmail (?!?), I got Elsevier’s response and solution:

Hi Cliff:

Someone on my team brought your email to my attention. I want to first
apologize for the confusion over access to this title. American Journal
of Obstetrics & Gynecology is a title which is unique for Elsevier in
that we provide the full-text only online, while the print edition
refers readers to the online version to read the full-text.

This has caused some confusion as the online version, as one of the
online support representatives advised, is accessible by username and
password only. I understand this is not ideal for institutions and most
institutional customers would prefer access via IP range.

While we are working on a solution to this problem, we’re not quite
ready to publicly launch the final version of the American Journal of
Obstetrics & Gynecology website which will be IP range enabled. That
said, as your users urgently need access, I would like to make available
to you and your users access to the new site ahead of the public.

If you let me know the IP range that you would like enabled, I will have
one of my colleagues set up access and contact you with the details.

I hope you find this an acceptable solution and I look forward to
hearing from you.

Regards,

And my response:

I’ll take the IP access to AJOG (it’s the least I can do after complaining publicly). Our range is: [snip]

Let me know when it’s up and I’ll test it to make sure it’s working. I look forward to the day when all libraries’ users can have that kind of easy access. But for now, thank you for your patience and hard work on this!

For a moment I thought of politely declining IP access as an act of solidarity with those folks/institutions who don’t have it, but that would be hurting my users and helping no one. So there you go. Score one for my library’s users. They probably will never know that this went on and couldn’t care less–but hey, us librarians are just supposed to make resources easy to use, right?

And yes, I’d like to thank Elsevier for doing this. They’re making an exception to help my users, and they’re also working on a more wide-spread solution. Hopefully all of us (vendors, users, and librarians) will continue to find and fix problems to make our users’ experiences easier.

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