Scholarly books, with a collection of essays or articles that do not contain an index of any kind really, really irritate me.
I am 'detail-oriented' to a degree at which I was unaware until now.
The 'Did you mean...?' search result in a library catalogue is mourned when one is without it; this clearly illustrates my own personal googlefication and/or googledoctrination.
When a database has really good subject searching and/or an excellent thesaurus function, it honestly makes me pretty happy, because in the end, it will make everyone's life just a little bit easier.
**
Yesterday, at a seminar, I learned that dealing with anger and conflict in clients is really just a matter of tone, body language and vocabulary.
We also chatted about the difference between sympathy and empathy, which is interesting since I was just having the same discussion in my non-work life the other day.
It's important yo know your anger triggers, one of mine in particular is lack of respect for my position or me, because of my apparent youth, also calling me names = not cool; I'm also not a fan of chaotic disorder, and people who are closed off and unwilling to to hear anyone else's opinion or side of things.
**
To read: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey
**
I have resigned myself to the fact that I will be moving in Nov, since A) Today is Oct 1st and B) I want a half decent place. And so the search continues.
**
I have, approx 15 sessions to teach this month, powerpoint is about to become a very close friend.
~ Michelle
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Passing thoughts about the library
Library Notes:
* RefWorks can be really clunky. It is not the most glamorous interface and not especially intuitive. Write N' Cite also sometimes feels like more work than manually typing out citations.
* Book covers are lovely and it's a shame we can't preserve them at the academic library, along with the book.
* Library lingo always needs translation.
* Students are kinda afraid of the library.
* Comparative Literature does not get its fair share of love in the academy; Academe’s stepchild (University Affairs).
* Libraries will never be paperless.
~ Michelle
* RefWorks can be really clunky. It is not the most glamorous interface and not especially intuitive. Write N' Cite also sometimes feels like more work than manually typing out citations.
* Book covers are lovely and it's a shame we can't preserve them at the academic library, along with the book.
* Library lingo always needs translation.
* Students are kinda afraid of the library.
* Comparative Literature does not get its fair share of love in the academy; Academe’s stepchild (University Affairs).
* Libraries will never be paperless.
~ Michelle
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
New librarian checks in
Whew, it's been quite the week, I've been working away.
Instruction
I had my first teaching experience on Tuesday, I did an instructional session about the library, the catalogue and our databases, for 1st year English students.
It was a bit nerve wracking but I made it through just fine, some of them looked a little tired and/or bored but I had to remind myself that not Everyone gets jazzed about keyword searching and it was 4pm. :P
The prof had positive feedback for me and I think there were definitely quite a few students who were going to follow up with what I had taught them.
My powerpoint went off without a hitch, the projector worked and my live searching was quick and painless (I had nightmares of slow or non-functioning internet, even though I of course, had back-ups).
I've got lots of requests for more sessions from other profs in all my subjects, with one class asking for 12 sessions. I'll be keeping busy and I think it will be easier to put together presentations now that I can adapt the one I've already made.
Collection Development
I've been ordering books! I've already ordered on three special/Rush requests, I am looking at a limited edition print of a well-known Canadian author tomorrow and I ordered books to complete our collection of Giller Prize short listed books for the last 4 years.
It's a strange feeling being able to order with my 'discretion', this responsibility thing can be kinda fun from time to time.
Reference
I haven't been on the desk much, I am shadowing right now, and once I do get out there, in a month or so, it will be quite different, simply because Carleton has one library with Every discipline, where Mac had 4. There are also a few subject areas I've never dealt with before, like Architecture and Industrial Design.
Things I'm learning:
I sit funny at my desk and my back kinda hurts.
Collection Development is a lot about instinct.
Kids today, they want everything to be searchable, with tags and possibly tag clouds.
Librarying, means a lot of paper work and emailing.
Buses are always the same, in every university town.
No one knows what to call the librarian "um...miss librarian...um."
*
The housing hunt is still ongoing, will update when there is more to tell.
~ Michelle
Instruction
I had my first teaching experience on Tuesday, I did an instructional session about the library, the catalogue and our databases, for 1st year English students.
It was a bit nerve wracking but I made it through just fine, some of them looked a little tired and/or bored but I had to remind myself that not Everyone gets jazzed about keyword searching and it was 4pm. :P
The prof had positive feedback for me and I think there were definitely quite a few students who were going to follow up with what I had taught them.
My powerpoint went off without a hitch, the projector worked and my live searching was quick and painless (I had nightmares of slow or non-functioning internet, even though I of course, had back-ups).
I've got lots of requests for more sessions from other profs in all my subjects, with one class asking for 12 sessions. I'll be keeping busy and I think it will be easier to put together presentations now that I can adapt the one I've already made.
Collection Development
I've been ordering books! I've already ordered on three special/Rush requests, I am looking at a limited edition print of a well-known Canadian author tomorrow and I ordered books to complete our collection of Giller Prize short listed books for the last 4 years.
It's a strange feeling being able to order with my 'discretion', this responsibility thing can be kinda fun from time to time.
Reference
I haven't been on the desk much, I am shadowing right now, and once I do get out there, in a month or so, it will be quite different, simply because Carleton has one library with Every discipline, where Mac had 4. There are also a few subject areas I've never dealt with before, like Architecture and Industrial Design.
Things I'm learning:
I sit funny at my desk and my back kinda hurts.
Collection Development is a lot about instinct.
Kids today, they want everything to be searchable, with tags and possibly tag clouds.
Librarying, means a lot of paper work and emailing.
Buses are always the same, in every university town.
No one knows what to call the librarian "um...miss librarian...um."
*
The housing hunt is still ongoing, will update when there is more to tell.
~ Michelle
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Day Two
Hi again,
I've been working as a capital L Librarian for two full days now, which gives me enough material for a blog post.
I have a cube, I've never had one before, I have 3 and 1/2 sorta walls!
I will also have business cards And a big timey name plate for the front of my cube!
My computer and phone are all set up, although no one has called me yet and I spent a little time personalizing the computer today.
I've been learning a lot, tons of info coming at me about procedures, the building, the staff and today, collection development.
I learned about approval plans (which means, basically, that books are purchased automatically for each subject area and sent to the library, the other side of that are slips, which come for potential books in each subject area, which each librarian reviews and decides to purchase for the library or not).
So, sometime soon, I'll be spending some library money.
I also have my first instruction session on Tuesday, which will involve teaching the library resources to 1st year students from one of my subjects...I'm a bit nervous, but it will be very introductory, which is nice.
I'll have to decide on a really good 'librarian outfit' for that day.
*
Ottawa is cold, already!
Sweaters!
*
The buses in Ottawa are almost exactly the same as the buses in Hamilton, full of students, standing room only...more about that in the future.
*
I have discovered the secret of Carleton, not only do they have an intricate tunnel system, which will be very handy in the winter months, but it is the kingdom of the neverending staircases.
I will be fit as a fiddle in only a couple months!
*
Food variety seems pretty good on campus, I've sourced out the best spots for tea already.
*
I'm still looking for a place, but may have some potentials, I'll keep you updated.
*
Big difference between Mac and Carleton, all the disciplines are in one place at Carleton, and there are quite a few departments/specialties that we did not have at Mac, so there will be a learning curve there in terms of the desk.
*
Today I also learned about SmartLibraries, which is a partnership in the Ottawa area of libraries and museums sharing their resources, basically, if you are a patron in good standing, at say, OPL, you can get a card to borrow at Ottawa U, or Carleton and can view the collections at places like the Museum of Civilization.
This is a great consortia project.
More about it on their website: SmartLibraries
*
That's all for now, thanks for reading!
~ Michelle
I've been working as a capital L Librarian for two full days now, which gives me enough material for a blog post.
I have a cube, I've never had one before, I have 3 and 1/2 sorta walls!
I will also have business cards And a big timey name plate for the front of my cube!
My computer and phone are all set up, although no one has called me yet and I spent a little time personalizing the computer today.
I've been learning a lot, tons of info coming at me about procedures, the building, the staff and today, collection development.
I learned about approval plans (which means, basically, that books are purchased automatically for each subject area and sent to the library, the other side of that are slips, which come for potential books in each subject area, which each librarian reviews and decides to purchase for the library or not).
So, sometime soon, I'll be spending some library money.
I also have my first instruction session on Tuesday, which will involve teaching the library resources to 1st year students from one of my subjects...I'm a bit nervous, but it will be very introductory, which is nice.
I'll have to decide on a really good 'librarian outfit' for that day.
*
Ottawa is cold, already!
Sweaters!
*
The buses in Ottawa are almost exactly the same as the buses in Hamilton, full of students, standing room only...more about that in the future.
*
I have discovered the secret of Carleton, not only do they have an intricate tunnel system, which will be very handy in the winter months, but it is the kingdom of the neverending staircases.
I will be fit as a fiddle in only a couple months!
*
Food variety seems pretty good on campus, I've sourced out the best spots for tea already.
*
I'm still looking for a place, but may have some potentials, I'll keep you updated.
*
Big difference between Mac and Carleton, all the disciplines are in one place at Carleton, and there are quite a few departments/specialties that we did not have at Mac, so there will be a learning curve there in terms of the desk.
*
Today I also learned about SmartLibraries, which is a partnership in the Ottawa area of libraries and museums sharing their resources, basically, if you are a patron in good standing, at say, OPL, you can get a card to borrow at Ottawa U, or Carleton and can view the collections at places like the Museum of Civilization.
This is a great consortia project.
More about it on their website: SmartLibraries
*
That's all for now, thanks for reading!
~ Michelle
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Housing Update
Alright, that might be a misnomer, as there is still currently no housing.
The new plan:
Stay with my very kind and generous friend who lives in O-town, while I start work and continue to look for housing.
I start next Tuesday, September 9th. I'm hoping I'll be able to find something before the month is out and until then, it is bunking in a lovely guest room, with my clothes, hairbrush and computer. :)
This means I won't have updated contact info for a while yet, but I am still always available online. I'll keep this blog updated as much as possible through my search, oh and that new job of mine.
*
Currently, I am figuring out what to pack..
Work Clothes - yes
Complex tea set-up and accoutrement - no
I'm also doing my 'so long for now' visits...as I am not going forever, or even leaving the province.
*
Until next time.
~ Michelle
The new plan:
Stay with my very kind and generous friend who lives in O-town, while I start work and continue to look for housing.
I start next Tuesday, September 9th. I'm hoping I'll be able to find something before the month is out and until then, it is bunking in a lovely guest room, with my clothes, hairbrush and computer. :)
This means I won't have updated contact info for a while yet, but I am still always available online. I'll keep this blog updated as much as possible through my search, oh and that new job of mine.
*
Currently, I am figuring out what to pack..
Work Clothes - yes
Complex tea set-up and accoutrement - no
I'm also doing my 'so long for now' visits...as I am not going forever, or even leaving the province.
*
Until next time.
~ Michelle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
