Well it's been almost two years since my last post. I was substituting at two library systems so I haven't disappeared, but I was also not really doing "librarian" stuff. Life changed, I had a great job helping a couple of musicians manage their catalog, careers, social media etc. that turned into a community manager job at a start up. Well, that job wasn't for me, and if I try to explain why I end up going in so many directions that can't be singled out, but I didn't see it leading to "progressively responsible work managing electronic resources" and I needed to get my focus back.
Even that focus has been temporarily derailed, as I've been assigned to the Children's desk for the summer. Which is part of the reason I ended up back on the blog, I need space to figure out where I fit in. There are a few computers for kids here, so I do a lot of observing how kids interact with the web, but especially as summer approaches it's more about games than homework.
Another note, began learning conversational Spanish. Hopefully will make some progress, my personal goal is to be able to understand and read a few kids books aloud by the end of the summer.
So I hope to do more blogging this summer. I'm slightly embarrassed to still be using Blogger (it's easy) so I'll probably switch to a new platform when I do my social media overhaul. I changed my name so I could get the URL so things will probably end up at courtneyklossner.com
Until then, thanks for checking me out.
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
Thursday, May 17, 2012
BPA Is Found in Paper Receipts
If your library has a policy that the self-service checkouts have to print a receipt for each patron, here is another reason to reevaluate that policy or feature or however it works.
Check Your Receipt: It May Be Tainted
"BPA is an endocrine disrupter, mimicking the body’s hormones. Studies on animals have suggested that it can have harmful effects on the reproductive, developmental and other systems, causing neurological problems, for example, or stimulating obesity."
and to the Facebook commenter saying the natural food store where she worked only uses BPA-free paper:
"Although chemical concentrations were higher in South Korea and Vietnam than in the United States, 100 percent of the receipts collected in the United States contained BPA — even some marketed as “BPA-free.”"
It's bad enough the paper spits out without giving the patron a choice, once upon a time at a library system in another state I was told there was a legal requirement to print a receipt for patrons who were not asked by a human (as opposed to a computer) if they wanted one or not.
Monday, May 14, 2012
One Desk Model, Digital Versus Physical Staff and Patron Search Needs
I was floored when I went in for an interview recently when they asked me what I thought about the "one desk model". I'd never gotten that question in a library interview before.
I realize I spent years as an associate before I became a librarian, and worked in circulation after I became an associate, I know there are plenty of people like me out there who are perfectly capable of handling the job. Managing the transition though, how to go from being a librarian to sharing duties with paraprofessionals...that's difficult. I was thrown into it once, and I had very rusty circulation skills and the circulation staff had no reference training, and I'd describe it as a disaster. The librarians did not have in-depth training on managing patron records because we'd been sending all the questions to circ, and circ had no concept of what a reference interview was or why it was important. No one has talked about if this means having one person on the floor answering all questions, if it means having librarians and circulation staff working together at one place in the library, or if librarians just handle more circ tasks at their desk (ie checking books out for someone if they bring them to the desk) and circ handles more basic reference questions instead of sending them to the librarians. I don't think I've seen a hard and fast example of what people mean when they say "one-desk". I've seen it implemented several ways.
When I think about how the library could restructure to better serve patrons, I've come to a conclusion (for 2012 at least).
We need staff for physical items and we need staff for digital items, and maybe those people should be separate jobs.
Digital staff would help patrons manage their own library accounts, help patrons use the online catalog, help patrons use the internet computers, order digital items, manage the website, blogs and social media accounts, help patrons with e-books etc.
Physical staff would help people find physical items in the library, do research in the reference collection, shelve, catalog, repair items, order physical items, run story times/book clubs, check books in and out etc.
I think this would make people much happier than a generic "one desk" solution. At the core of this issue is the patron, and patrons seem to be interested in either physical or digital resources, but rarely want to hear about both. There are librarians and paraprofessionals who are doing an excellent job working both sides of this skill set now, but I think patrons would understand "the computer person" and "the stuff person" better than "that desk person might be someone who is an expert in managing library records or might be someone who is a research expert".
Think about patrons who come in looking for Consumer Reports...aren't some happy to hear "you can access it at home, here's how" and others who say "no, I'd rather use the magazines"?
This isn't a definite opinion...I'm working on the edges here, but "one desk" seems to put all patrons into the same box of search behaviors with a total disregard for staff expertise. We need to look at systems that serve both the patrons and the re-organization of the library.
I realize I spent years as an associate before I became a librarian, and worked in circulation after I became an associate, I know there are plenty of people like me out there who are perfectly capable of handling the job. Managing the transition though, how to go from being a librarian to sharing duties with paraprofessionals...that's difficult. I was thrown into it once, and I had very rusty circulation skills and the circulation staff had no reference training, and I'd describe it as a disaster. The librarians did not have in-depth training on managing patron records because we'd been sending all the questions to circ, and circ had no concept of what a reference interview was or why it was important. No one has talked about if this means having one person on the floor answering all questions, if it means having librarians and circulation staff working together at one place in the library, or if librarians just handle more circ tasks at their desk (ie checking books out for someone if they bring them to the desk) and circ handles more basic reference questions instead of sending them to the librarians. I don't think I've seen a hard and fast example of what people mean when they say "one-desk". I've seen it implemented several ways.
When I think about how the library could restructure to better serve patrons, I've come to a conclusion (for 2012 at least).
We need staff for physical items and we need staff for digital items, and maybe those people should be separate jobs.
Digital staff would help patrons manage their own library accounts, help patrons use the online catalog, help patrons use the internet computers, order digital items, manage the website, blogs and social media accounts, help patrons with e-books etc.
Physical staff would help people find physical items in the library, do research in the reference collection, shelve, catalog, repair items, order physical items, run story times/book clubs, check books in and out etc.
I think this would make people much happier than a generic "one desk" solution. At the core of this issue is the patron, and patrons seem to be interested in either physical or digital resources, but rarely want to hear about both. There are librarians and paraprofessionals who are doing an excellent job working both sides of this skill set now, but I think patrons would understand "the computer person" and "the stuff person" better than "that desk person might be someone who is an expert in managing library records or might be someone who is a research expert".
Think about patrons who come in looking for Consumer Reports...aren't some happy to hear "you can access it at home, here's how" and others who say "no, I'd rather use the magazines"?
This isn't a definite opinion...I'm working on the edges here, but "one desk" seems to put all patrons into the same box of search behaviors with a total disregard for staff expertise. We need to look at systems that serve both the patrons and the re-organization of the library.
Monday, August 15, 2011
101 Low Budget No Budget Teen Activities
I'm working on a book! Right now I'm calling it 101 Low Budget No Budget Teen Activities, but 101 Safe, Cheap and Sane Teen Programs is another idea. 101 arts and crafts, games and programs for teens that you can do with barely a budget. You'll raid the children's arts and crafts closet, learn how to score free supplies online, turn community events into goldmines of leftover materials, up and most importantly, be ready for all the drama and danger of running programs.
Of course teen programs are drama and danger! How many cool things can you make without scissors, needles or hot glue guns? Well, we're about to find out, as I'll present alternatives for as many projects as possible.
While I'm making a list of programs and instructions, I'd love to have some "testers" to give me feedback on the projects. If you're interested, please contact me at librariancourtneybennett at gmail and let me know if you want a project involving
1. Office Supplies (and library supplies!)
2. Fabric (and suggestions on where to get free fabrics!)
3. Recycled Projects
4. Children's Craft Closet (felt, construction paper, glitter, safety scissors etc.)
Also tell me about your local safety level- are your teens allowed to cut with adult scissors, use hot glue guns, sew with needles, use a stapler etc.
I'm willing to send multiple projects IF you provide me with feedback on the ones I send.
Of course teen programs are drama and danger! How many cool things can you make without scissors, needles or hot glue guns? Well, we're about to find out, as I'll present alternatives for as many projects as possible.
While I'm making a list of programs and instructions, I'd love to have some "testers" to give me feedback on the projects. If you're interested, please contact me at librariancourtneybennett at gmail and let me know if you want a project involving
1. Office Supplies (and library supplies!)
2. Fabric (and suggestions on where to get free fabrics!)
3. Recycled Projects
4. Children's Craft Closet (felt, construction paper, glitter, safety scissors etc.)
Also tell me about your local safety level- are your teens allowed to cut with adult scissors, use hot glue guns, sew with needles, use a stapler etc.
I'm willing to send multiple projects IF you provide me with feedback on the ones I send.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
A Donation to the Friends
What do you do with the random money you find laying around the library? I'm sure some people think they are paying their fines by leaving dollar bills in their books, but they might as well be expensive bookmarks.
Although I keep eyeing these
The easy way to deal with this? Just throw it in the donation box. The realistic way? Go to your people in charge and make a written policy that unclaimed cash will the donated to the library (or friends of the library, or staff room snack fund) There is no reason to leave cash laying around for sticky fingers or hoping patrons will come back to retrieve it. Of course, if you can figure out where the money came from by looking up the last patron, you should call, but offering to turn it into a donation might make the patron happier than thinking it's going to the grubby hands of some overpaid union employee (ha!).
Although I keep eyeing these
The easy way to deal with this? Just throw it in the donation box. The realistic way? Go to your people in charge and make a written policy that unclaimed cash will the donated to the library (or friends of the library, or staff room snack fund) There is no reason to leave cash laying around for sticky fingers or hoping patrons will come back to retrieve it. Of course, if you can figure out where the money came from by looking up the last patron, you should call, but offering to turn it into a donation might make the patron happier than thinking it's going to the grubby hands of some overpaid union employee (ha!).
Monday, May 09, 2011
Nosy Kid
The nosy little girl is back. She saw a list of companies I want to work for and picked up "TechSoup" for some reason.
"I know TechSoup, they make soup!" She said.
"Yes, they make good soup." I said. She's the talkative one, it's best not to engage her.
"My friend's mom works there!" She said. "My friend's mom is the MANAGER."
"Well in that case, can she get me a job there?"
"I know TechSoup, they make soup!" She said.
"Yes, they make good soup." I said. She's the talkative one, it's best not to engage her.
"My friend's mom works there!" She said. "My friend's mom is the MANAGER."
"Well in that case, can she get me a job there?"
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
nice suggestion
but I'm not going to make any effort to tell anyone that you think the spines on the dvds should be read horizontally, with the items stacked flat, rather than vertically like books. Even if people agreed with you and made that a priority, I can promise the library will no longer have DVDs by the time it becomes feasible.
Monday, May 02, 2011
Animals Don't Wear Pants
I had a very talkative young patron today. I tried to enlist her help drawing books for a display today. It's a kid's display, so it doesn't have to be "good" (ah, yes, I am not a through and through children's librarian). She drew a stick figure of Mama Bear from the Berenstain Bears and asked if she had to draw clothes on her.
All I could say is "not if it's an animal".
The real lesson here is, if you have unruly kids and teens, enlisting them to help make displays is my favorite diversion tactic. We made epic "murals" in Brooklyn using butcher paper on rolls, and it would take weeks to color in a nice 2x7 panel. To keep kids and teens from overcrowding, try to think of mural ideas in "pieces" such as "favorite books to read with mom" or "Alice in Wonderland". If you're a control freak like me, having them decorate elements of the mural such as "sneakers", "Easter eggs" or "letters" can keep your design somewhat in check while relieving you of doing all the work.
All I could say is "not if it's an animal".
The real lesson here is, if you have unruly kids and teens, enlisting them to help make displays is my favorite diversion tactic. We made epic "murals" in Brooklyn using butcher paper on rolls, and it would take weeks to color in a nice 2x7 panel. To keep kids and teens from overcrowding, try to think of mural ideas in "pieces" such as "favorite books to read with mom" or "Alice in Wonderland". If you're a control freak like me, having them decorate elements of the mural such as "sneakers", "Easter eggs" or "letters" can keep your design somewhat in check while relieving you of doing all the work.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Careers for Sports Fans
Would you weed a 20 year old career book called Careers for Sports Fans?
I'm watching a girl about 8 years old looking at It's Not the Stork. Wide-eyed. Oh boy. I just helped her mom find a classic series about horses. Oh boy.
I'm watching a girl about 8 years old looking at It's Not the Stork. Wide-eyed. Oh boy. I just helped her mom find a classic series about horses. Oh boy.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Candy Stripper
Giggle before it's fixed, but the fifteen year old Christian heroine in God Is In the Pancakes is a "candy striper", not a "candy stripper".
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Well, well, well
I know we're not using the same software as Amazon or Google, but must the library keyword search suggestions be that unhelpful? The most random queries kick back even randomer "did you mean" suggestions
"baby names" brings back "did you mean ebay name's?"
"all saints" brings back "did you mean all antes"
but if I accidentally type in
"Guorious George"
it can't suggest I want "Curious George".
and
the random results are hyperlinks that often bring you to "No Entries Found" or a foreign language book
la la la la la
I mean, can we somehow ride on Google and send this info to their search if it fails to retrieve any information in the library catalog?
In other highlights, I just sent away a pre-teen who was racking up fines on his mommy's card, and the third grade American Catholic project is the CUTEST PROJECT EVER. Except I don't have MY radical Catholic reference book here to help them. I'm totally some in tomorrow.
"baby names" brings back "did you mean ebay name's?"
"all saints" brings back "did you mean all antes"
but if I accidentally type in
"Guorious George"
it can't suggest I want "Curious George".
and
the random results are hyperlinks that often bring you to "No Entries Found" or a foreign language book
la la la la la
I mean, can we somehow ride on Google and send this info to their search if it fails to retrieve any information in the library catalog?
In other highlights, I just sent away a pre-teen who was racking up fines on his mommy's card, and the third grade American Catholic project is the CUTEST PROJECT EVER. Except I don't have MY radical Catholic reference book here to help them. I'm totally some in tomorrow.
Monday, January 03, 2011
New Years Resolutions In the Library
1. To dress more professionally
2. To not empathize unnecessarily with patrons who are confused by the library, for instance, they do not need to know how much I agree the print release station is confusing.
3. To read some genre fiction
4. To go out of my way to make great displays, including putting great books on display
5. To be quieter
2. To not empathize unnecessarily with patrons who are confused by the library, for instance, they do not need to know how much I agree the print release station is confusing.
3. To read some genre fiction
4. To go out of my way to make great displays, including putting great books on display
5. To be quieter
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The civility of a library to it's employees can be measured by one standard: is the library willing to offer replacement blades for the staff tape dispensers. I was extremely happy to find a rubber banded stack of replacement blades at my current place of employment. My former place of employment would only allow staff to order office supplies from a very short list, claimed they never heard of replacement blades for tape dispensers and always turned down requests for anything sharp like new scissors.
Once upon a time I worked at a library that hired a scissor sharpener to come in for a week every few years. You could put your dull scissors in an envelope and have them returned lethally sharp a week later. They had replacement blades too, so I could mend books for hours without the annoyance of trying to drag a piece of tape back and forth over a dull bent blade to get it to cut.
I feel like this is a sadness reserved for public employees. We need 2" tape to do our job. Since the tape dispenser won't cut it, we gunk up scissors. If we're lucky there is Goo Gone and we can waste our time cleaning scissors because we don't have the proper tape dispenser. With neither tape dispensers or Goo Gone, I've got to shut up and stop trying to help.
On the other hand, with the tape dispenser problem solved, I'm still going to be frustrated that there is a housefly in November that won't leave me alone.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Blog Clean Up
I'm culling my library blog RSS feeds. I'm not going to write for academic library journals nor am I interested in your blah blah blah research you're going to self publish and analyze your sales for the next six months.
So I need suggestions, fun library stuff, book reviews, website reviews, working with urban populations, working with teens, creative outreach, arts and crafts, computer training etc.
What should I read?
So I need suggestions, fun library stuff, book reviews, website reviews, working with urban populations, working with teens, creative outreach, arts and crafts, computer training etc.
What should I read?
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Kick Start (er....)
hiiiiiiiiii
I tried watching some of Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars on the Disney Channel the other night but just couldn't do it. I was too stuck on making sure she was wearing the right shoes (the Uggs in one scene almost made me cry, but she did switch to Chuck Taylors later). How could they do this? How dated must Ms. Harriet seem to today's kids?
As for dee library. Wells. Yah. I work at a library. It is full of interesting people. I went on vacation and met more interesting people. I'm looking forward to MOVING TO CALIFORNIA and meeting more interesting people. The catch is:
*I am a really good public librarian
*I have worked in public libraries for twelve years and have gotten a degree I wanted to take me out of public services and into tech services
*I still love writing, event planning, technology, new media, the music industry, intellectual property law and copyright law
Now loop this all together. Force me to apply for some cool jobs. Tell me where they're at, in the SF Bay Area of course.
I titled this post after a really cool website that is allowing all sorts of people to get funding for their projects. Kickstarter allows you to post your proposal and then seek funding with all starts of rewards for your patrons. My friend Jed recently got money to make a new album for his band My Teenage Stride and I'm getting a copy. Which is awesome because I would buy it anyway, so I just pre-ordered it and there it is.
More rambling then, I noticed the slogan for his MySpace is "I Can't Go On I'll Go On" which was the name of the band in BandSlam. Now, before I saw it I thought it would be the teen rock movie to end all teen rock movies (one problem there, Scott Pilgrim vs the World is coming out this year). I flipped through Bandslam: Will's Guide to Rock and was hecka impressed at the band names he drops (Stars? Neutral Milk Hotel?). Now I'm getting to far away from the library focus and back to obsessing about bands, sorta....but teen pop culture, comics, new media funding etc. is something librarians should be more aware of.
We're doing a library funding campaign again...Support Our Shelves/ Proud to be Shelf-ish. Donate, or tell me what YOU think of the campaign.
I tried watching some of Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars on the Disney Channel the other night but just couldn't do it. I was too stuck on making sure she was wearing the right shoes (the Uggs in one scene almost made me cry, but she did switch to Chuck Taylors later). How could they do this? How dated must Ms. Harriet seem to today's kids?
As for dee library. Wells. Yah. I work at a library. It is full of interesting people. I went on vacation and met more interesting people. I'm looking forward to MOVING TO CALIFORNIA and meeting more interesting people. The catch is:
*I am a really good public librarian
*I have worked in public libraries for twelve years and have gotten a degree I wanted to take me out of public services and into tech services
*I still love writing, event planning, technology, new media, the music industry, intellectual property law and copyright law
Now loop this all together. Force me to apply for some cool jobs. Tell me where they're at, in the SF Bay Area of course.
I titled this post after a really cool website that is allowing all sorts of people to get funding for their projects. Kickstarter allows you to post your proposal and then seek funding with all starts of rewards for your patrons. My friend Jed recently got money to make a new album for his band My Teenage Stride and I'm getting a copy. Which is awesome because I would buy it anyway, so I just pre-ordered it and there it is.
More rambling then, I noticed the slogan for his MySpace is "I Can't Go On I'll Go On" which was the name of the band in BandSlam. Now, before I saw it I thought it would be the teen rock movie to end all teen rock movies (one problem there, Scott Pilgrim vs the World is coming out this year). I flipped through Bandslam: Will's Guide to Rock and was hecka impressed at the band names he drops (Stars? Neutral Milk Hotel?). Now I'm getting to far away from the library focus and back to obsessing about bands, sorta....but teen pop culture, comics, new media funding etc. is something librarians should be more aware of.
We're doing a library funding campaign again...Support Our Shelves/ Proud to be Shelf-ish. Donate, or tell me what YOU think of the campaign.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
How the Referece Survey Should Be Tallied
Yes the LibCamp NYC 2009 unconference was a long time ago. What always strikes me is what I'm still talking about a year later. People are generally too cryptic in their immediate tweets (even though I presented about Twitter) and I don't like to mess up my Twitter account with too much non-personal stuff.
Yes, I'm one of those Twitterers who thinks it should NOT be used for personal branding. In fact, people who believe in marketing themselves sorta fall in the same likeability as evangelists and QVC hosts in my book. I'm very very suspicious of you, because I see your motivation.
However, what I wanted to talk about was an idea that was buzzing in my head since the unconference session "How Should We Handle the Dinosaur Known as the Reference Desk?" The answer by the way, was give more options to university students because they don't like it, but public library patrons freak out and still depend on it so don't rush to take it away.
Someone (stranger in the audience, if you ever stumble across my blog I will give you full credit) brought up their super smart library doesn't just tally the number of reference questions and call it a reference survey, but actually breaks it down by type:
reference
directional
technology
circulation
Wow! Four columns (or boxes, or whatever you use for your reference survey) and you learn SOOOO much. Like how bad your signage is, what time of day you might want to offer computer classes, and if your patrons understand your borrowing policies.
On a whole I'm pretty disgusted with library statistics. I think the way funding is tied into statistics makes us focus on all the wrong things (ie number of books checked out versus having the right books for the right reader) and competition between branches and library systems (instead of focusing on local needs). Taking more complete statistics would also help with correctly staffing the building. Right now I'm in the dark as to what the use of a "one mark for every reference question" is except apparently for funding and to write articles about the rise and fall of reference.
Folks, it's not about the fun of being a reference librarian. Or the frustration. It's about the patrons. Why do so many libraries neglect to take this opportunity to get some useful data?
Yes, I'm one of those Twitterers who thinks it should NOT be used for personal branding. In fact, people who believe in marketing themselves sorta fall in the same likeability as evangelists and QVC hosts in my book. I'm very very suspicious of you, because I see your motivation.
However, what I wanted to talk about was an idea that was buzzing in my head since the unconference session "How Should We Handle the Dinosaur Known as the Reference Desk?" The answer by the way, was give more options to university students because they don't like it, but public library patrons freak out and still depend on it so don't rush to take it away.
Someone (stranger in the audience, if you ever stumble across my blog I will give you full credit) brought up their super smart library doesn't just tally the number of reference questions and call it a reference survey, but actually breaks it down by type:
reference
directional
technology
circulation
Wow! Four columns (or boxes, or whatever you use for your reference survey) and you learn SOOOO much. Like how bad your signage is, what time of day you might want to offer computer classes, and if your patrons understand your borrowing policies.
On a whole I'm pretty disgusted with library statistics. I think the way funding is tied into statistics makes us focus on all the wrong things (ie number of books checked out versus having the right books for the right reader) and competition between branches and library systems (instead of focusing on local needs). Taking more complete statistics would also help with correctly staffing the building. Right now I'm in the dark as to what the use of a "one mark for every reference question" is except apparently for funding and to write articles about the rise and fall of reference.
Folks, it's not about the fun of being a reference librarian. Or the frustration. It's about the patrons. Why do so many libraries neglect to take this opportunity to get some useful data?
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Overdrive for Droid
The Librarian in Black got all excited that the Ovedrive software is available for Droid. In beta, so you have to go into settings and allow it download apps not available in the app marketplace. Well, I played with it for a few minutes and gave up. You still need to instal software onto you computer and THEN transfer your audio book to your Droid. Boo. I wanted to just download audiobooks when I felt like it directly to my phone. Like you can with music! See, it's not that hard of a concept. So la la la, no listening to audiobooks for me until they figure this out. I'm not going back to the old annoying thing trying to put audio books in with my mp3s because even though i know there is a tagging solution, it always just got mixed up when i wanted to listen to things on shuffle.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
For the past few years the theme song around my life has included the line "I'm going to make it through this year if it kills me". Bless you Mr. Darnielle.
So now for New Years Resolutions. The stack of books I got for Christmas that promise I will get through php, mysql, cs3 (lost my connection to get cs4), and study for the lsat as a way out. Basically: I need to get a few flashier things on my resume that I know I am capable of doing. And not just the little letters, I need little projects online that you can poke and play at. Minus the lsat bit, if I become a lawyer (intellectual property and copyright law) I become a lawyer. I'm not rushing into that idea. I have to keep making lists of what I want to do:
fix library websites
fix anybody's website
train new users on computer hardware and software
design training programs for new software
integrate new technologies into older institutions
okay, these are some late night ideas...but I think putting them in writing where I can review my optimism, drawing out the keywords when I write resumes is all what's important. I'm creating documentation here. You'll know exactly how I wrote this program and what it's possible for.
I'd love to lay out more, dates and times and charts and goals and all that good stuff. That would be FUN even if it is a major time suck. But maybe that's why projects need all those visuals, because they work to get the project going.
So here is the project, less library complaining. More library envisioning. In the process of this envisioning, I will be creating several "personas" of who I might be and how I see myself fitting into these roles.
Reminder- you are very good at this. You are a fast learner. You understand what is going on. You have the vocabulary to negotiate between the IT department and other parties. You are needed, especially in places that haven't realized they need you yet.
So now for New Years Resolutions. The stack of books I got for Christmas that promise I will get through php, mysql, cs3 (lost my connection to get cs4), and study for the lsat as a way out. Basically: I need to get a few flashier things on my resume that I know I am capable of doing. And not just the little letters, I need little projects online that you can poke and play at. Minus the lsat bit, if I become a lawyer (intellectual property and copyright law) I become a lawyer. I'm not rushing into that idea. I have to keep making lists of what I want to do:
fix library websites
fix anybody's website
train new users on computer hardware and software
design training programs for new software
integrate new technologies into older institutions
okay, these are some late night ideas...but I think putting them in writing where I can review my optimism, drawing out the keywords when I write resumes is all what's important. I'm creating documentation here. You'll know exactly how I wrote this program and what it's possible for.
I'd love to lay out more, dates and times and charts and goals and all that good stuff. That would be FUN even if it is a major time suck. But maybe that's why projects need all those visuals, because they work to get the project going.
So here is the project, less library complaining. More library envisioning. In the process of this envisioning, I will be creating several "personas" of who I might be and how I see myself fitting into these roles.
Reminder- you are very good at this. You are a fast learner. You understand what is going on. You have the vocabulary to negotiate between the IT department and other parties. You are needed, especially in places that haven't realized they need you yet.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
You The Online Version
Since I bought the domain name www.agentramona.com I've had a lot of angst. First of all, I didn't want to be limited by the title of librarian and my real name was taken in various other ways. So why end a brand?
Because when I graduated from library school and sent out all my applications, I didn't realize Gmail was adding "sent on behalf of" and I worry my resumes that went into the netherworld looked like they were being sent by some kind of job search agent. But I have it everywhere! Or almost everywhere..Yahoo wouldn't let me have Agent in my name the last time I checked three years ago, but I got it today.
Anyway, so my new dilemma is the website. How serious..how fun..how librarish.. I'm not looking to take over Pitchfork with music content but I'd like to carve a niche for that, and blogging, maybe something other than running these separate blogs.
Or maybe this is why I have six pairs of glasses and wear makeup only when I feel like it. I'm interested in the fact of image but not in developing one, even though it seems that self marketing is so important.
Which brings me to Micael Porter's "You the Online Version" video I so enjoyed this afternoon.
I'd say he's got great ideas here but I have a lot more questions about accepting everyone on social networking services. While I think it's important to keep your name reserved everywhere, I just ditched Friendster and MySpace yesterday. What I should properly do is rejoin and redirect to my website, or at least Facebook until my website offer something more than a horrible bootlet of my band playing in the 90s. I also dumped about 100 people on Facebook who I felt faked caring about me. I didn't want to see so many pictures to parties I wasn't going to. Now that my PMS is over (whoops, hey that wasn't fair! Too much information, but it was two weeks early and the last reason/excuse on my mind for my feelings)...how to I integrate people I network with into my life when I enjoy most social networks as a personal space for family, old friends, goofing off and nothing professional? I want my website to incorporate my personal personal, which is about as pro as this blog, maybe more than those other sites. Enough overthinking, back to work.
Because when I graduated from library school and sent out all my applications, I didn't realize Gmail was adding "sent on behalf of" and I worry my resumes that went into the netherworld looked like they were being sent by some kind of job search agent. But I have it everywhere! Or almost everywhere..Yahoo wouldn't let me have Agent in my name the last time I checked three years ago, but I got it today.
Anyway, so my new dilemma is the website. How serious..how fun..how librarish.. I'm not looking to take over Pitchfork with music content but I'd like to carve a niche for that, and blogging, maybe something other than running these separate blogs.
Or maybe this is why I have six pairs of glasses and wear makeup only when I feel like it. I'm interested in the fact of image but not in developing one, even though it seems that self marketing is so important.
Which brings me to Micael Porter's "You the Online Version" video I so enjoyed this afternoon.
You: The Online Version
View more presentations from Michael Porter.
I'd say he's got great ideas here but I have a lot more questions about accepting everyone on social networking services. While I think it's important to keep your name reserved everywhere, I just ditched Friendster and MySpace yesterday. What I should properly do is rejoin and redirect to my website, or at least Facebook until my website offer something more than a horrible bootlet of my band playing in the 90s. I also dumped about 100 people on Facebook who I felt faked caring about me. I didn't want to see so many pictures to parties I wasn't going to. Now that my PMS is over (whoops, hey that wasn't fair! Too much information, but it was two weeks early and the last reason/excuse on my mind for my feelings)...how to I integrate people I network with into my life when I enjoy most social networks as a personal space for family, old friends, goofing off and nothing professional? I want my website to incorporate my personal personal, which is about as pro as this blog, maybe more than those other sites. Enough overthinking, back to work.
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