Category
Observations
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Library School, Observations
I got a degree so I could fix the printer?
Yeah, it’s that old topic again. You know, the “should you ever bother with the MLIS?” problem. Only slightly different. In this version it’s the “I got the MLIS so I shouldn’t be expected to do that” argument. Andy Woodworth sort of stepped in it with his post The Masters Degree Misperception. He writes: It [...]
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Observations
Potty training yourself at work.
08.12.10 | Permalink | 2 CommentsI read a lot of HR blogs. They’re usually pretty interesting and offer a valuable insights about organizational dynamics and how business operate. Today I came across this post from Punk Rock HR entitled, “Hold Your Pee“. Catchy title, eh? We all have those moments where we speak out of turn, cross some boundaries, offend [...]
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Observations
Stuck in the middle, or how I try to play both sides
This is related to my previous post, where somebody threw a fellow librarian under the bus, to use a transportation metaphor. I was horrified. How dare they complain about one of my colleagues like that in a meeting! But I don’t work with them directly and I don’t know their situation. That aside, it’s endemic [...]
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Observations
Throwing People Under A Bus – How to?
07.27.10 | Permalink | 5 CommentsGreetings from lovely Kansas City, MO! I’m here right now for the AASHTO RAC annual meeting. It’s hot, but not as stick as New Orleans was for SLA. I suppose that’s not saying much, but it’s appreciated. I’m at this meeting to present about my vision for Open Transportation Research. I’m also here to preach [...]
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Observations, SLA
Collaboration and Teamwork – practice makes perfect.
07.14.10 | Permalink | 2 CommentsEspaña campeona del mundo, originally uploaded by www.valenciaclubdefutbol.blogia.com. So the 2010 World Cup ended this past Sunday and I’m going through withdrawals. (I am a bit fanatical about football/soccer. I’m card carrying member of Wednesdayite, that’s seriously a burden of love.) So pardon me, if I use a picture of La Furia Roja to illustrate [...]
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Observations
IEEE Xplore and the Google Box: What’s in the function machine?
I’m a huge fan of Google Scholar. It’s a fantastic tool for finding papers when you have the citation. Much faster than using using the OPAC or some other databases when you know exactly what you’re looking for. The problem is that Google is very opaque with how it works. I liken it to a [...]
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Observations
Turf Wars: Stepping on toes in Libraryland
I always like to joke about the number of committees I sit on. Librarians love to complain about the number of meetings we attend, and of course meetings are just the time consuming playthings of committees. (I suppose teleconferences/webinars are the time consuming playthings of groups that meet at a distance.) Maybe this is old [...]
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Observations
The tension between “memory” and “complacency”
06.22.10 | Permalink | 4 CommentsDisclosure: I will own up to my deep seeded worries (perhaps paranoia) that libraries are in a vulnerable situation and we need to assert ourselves back in relevancy, particularly for special libraries. It’s not so much justification, but more of a reminder of our value and aligning (yes, that word) our message with that of [...]
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Observations
Facebook’s going crazy, and I’m not talking about privacy (really)
05.12.10 | Permalink | 2 CommentsIt seems a little goofy that in a week where people are deleting their Facebook accounts due to Facebook’s stance on privacy and going rogue. Criticizing Facebook is nothing new, I mean check out the Wikiepedia page. The rumored “Places” feature coming to Facebook is already freaking people out. So people are deleting their accounts [...]
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Observations
DIY Mentorships
Last month I blogged that I’m accepting applications for a mentor. (Applications are still open, by the way…) Well, this week one of my mentors/role models/heroes, Sarah Glassmeyer, blogged about Libpunk Mentorship. It’s great advice to any wayward librarian (or professional whatever) looking for direction. Her five main points are: Own Your Shit It’s OK [...]
