While some of the publications mentioned pertain more to those living on the other side of the pond, the idea of advocacy is universal. I heard on the news the other day that in America lobbyists are the most influential members of the US government. They are not elected, but rather paid to advocate for certain interests. This, of course, is the difference. It is their full-time job, while advocacy for us is tacked onto an already too-full day.
Although I am a freelancer, outside of a few informal newsletters, I have made a semi-conscious decision not to write for library publications. At times I am tempted, but there are only so many hours in a day and for me at least, it is important to have a break. So I write about my fitness passions: trail running and snowshoe racing. At the tag line of my articles, I include my library email and it always amazes me how many folks contact me through this hint. When relevant, I quote from authors who coincidently "are available in our local public library." Once a year I do a sports roundup of books and DVDs of interest to runners. Best yet, is when I run or organize or volunteer at a local race and I hear kids shout, "There's the Library Lady!" I believe this makes me more approachable and ultimately,of greater local value than walking the straight and narrow.
laura clark
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
CPD23: Thing 15
Over the years I have attended NYLA (NY State Library Association) and PLA (Public Library Assoc) conferences as well as smaller, systems-wide gatherings. I have also spent one full day at the ALA (American Library Association) expo. From the latter experience, I know that I unequivocably do better at smaller events for the same reason I have narrowed my shopping preferences to thrft shops, Target and JC Pennys--I like the style, I know what size fits (not always a given in our supersized world where, although the same weight, I am no magically a size 6 and no longer a 10). Either it's there or it's not and no point fretting over multiple choices.
At NYLA and at smaller systems events I have give brief talks on our summertime Book Buddy program and on various craft ideas. Some time I would also like to take a barnyard approach and discuss our Animals in the Library programs. Besides the fairly common reading dogs, we have llamas, we have webcammed our hatching chicks, we host an elaborate reindeer/author program and have even made room for the occasionaly Iditrod musher and seeing eye pony. Animals are an international magnet that guarantees a farmyard full of folks who otherwise might not even consider a library visit.
My husband and I organize road, trail and snowshoe races. One year I did organize a 5K for NYLA and it was a bit of a flop as far as attendance went--but next spring my director and I are thinking of producing the Read/Run 5k--a successful event that was dropped by the Literacy Volunteers due to cutbacks. We would gear it around our popular Summer Reading Program, with the goal of getting every kid walking or running in the Summer Reading Library Tshirt. Sounds like a good idea anyway, now that it is far enough in the future that I don't have to worry about it yet!
laura clark
At NYLA and at smaller systems events I have give brief talks on our summertime Book Buddy program and on various craft ideas. Some time I would also like to take a barnyard approach and discuss our Animals in the Library programs. Besides the fairly common reading dogs, we have llamas, we have webcammed our hatching chicks, we host an elaborate reindeer/author program and have even made room for the occasionaly Iditrod musher and seeing eye pony. Animals are an international magnet that guarantees a farmyard full of folks who otherwise might not even consider a library visit.
My husband and I organize road, trail and snowshoe races. One year I did organize a 5K for NYLA and it was a bit of a flop as far as attendance went--but next spring my director and I are thinking of producing the Read/Run 5k--a successful event that was dropped by the Literacy Volunteers due to cutbacks. We would gear it around our popular Summer Reading Program, with the goal of getting every kid walking or running in the Summer Reading Library Tshirt. Sounds like a good idea anyway, now that it is far enough in the future that I don't have to worry about it yet!
laura clark
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
CPD 23: THING 14
WOW! I wish I had had one of these reference management systems when I was going to grad school. But in my time, the Selectric typewriter, which would erase mistakes and even recall a few lines of text,was as far as we went. Imagine what I could have done with the countless hours I spent agonizing over bibliographic form! But then too, less was expected because access to resources was more limited.
When I experimented with Zotero, I was reminded of a virtual file cabinet system, all ready to rearrange. Then I ruefully thought of my free lance paper filesin my home office, where all my writing is tucked neatly into folders, but with no cross referencing. Should I reconvert everything or just have a before and after system?
Mendeley sounded like extreme overkill for my situation plus I really don't need to or want to share extensively with others. It's not like I am doing scientific research. And speaking of research, is so much sharing dangerous? How much do you really want others to know about your work with the carrot of the Nobel Prize hanging above your computer?
Moving right along...I liked the idea that with CiteULike you could upload your pdfs and access them from any computer. I have sometimes emailed myself in-process documents so I will be able to open them on a different computer. THat works fine, but only if you remember to email the pdfs!
As a Children's Librarian, I really wouldn't have need for any of these tools in the course of my workday, but they would definitely be helpful if I were writing an extensive article for publication.
laura
When I experimented with Zotero, I was reminded of a virtual file cabinet system, all ready to rearrange. Then I ruefully thought of my free lance paper filesin my home office, where all my writing is tucked neatly into folders, but with no cross referencing. Should I reconvert everything or just have a before and after system?
Mendeley sounded like extreme overkill for my situation plus I really don't need to or want to share extensively with others. It's not like I am doing scientific research. And speaking of research, is so much sharing dangerous? How much do you really want others to know about your work with the carrot of the Nobel Prize hanging above your computer?
Moving right along...I liked the idea that with CiteULike you could upload your pdfs and access them from any computer. I have sometimes emailed myself in-process documents so I will be able to open them on a different computer. THat works fine, but only if you remember to email the pdfs!
As a Children's Librarian, I really wouldn't have need for any of these tools in the course of my workday, but they would definitely be helpful if I were writing an extensive article for publication.
laura
Monday, August 22, 2011
CPD23 THING 13
Thing 13 definitely was anything but unlucky for me. I had a rush document to complete and my colleague at work who is also enrolled in CPD23 is home sick. She had just set up her Google.Doc account so I killed two birds with one stone (not her--this assignment and the work job) by google.docing her my ms word draft. YES!!! I found google.doc incredibly easy to use and anticipate similar work applications.
My daughter is a full time free lance writer, while I limit myself to a few publications. Frewuently, we share our work and next time I will try the google.doc approach.
I did talk to another librarian here who uses google.doc to connect with other members for the community-wide Saratoga Reads! Program. She mentioned that they have switched to Dopbox since some members had difficulty receiving google.docs. Since we are not allowed to personally install new features on work computers, I guess I will wait and monitor my success rate.
Til 14 strikes!
laura
My daughter is a full time free lance writer, while I limit myself to a few publications. Frewuently, we share our work and next time I will try the google.doc approach.
I did talk to another librarian here who uses google.doc to connect with other members for the community-wide Saratoga Reads! Program. She mentioned that they have switched to Dopbox since some members had difficulty receiving google.docs. Since we are not allowed to personally install new features on work computers, I guess I will wait and monitor my success rate.
Til 14 strikes!
laura
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
CPD23: THING 12 Social Networking
Social Networking is not my strong point. Or rather, I take it on my own terms, mostly relying on email contacts. Lack of time is one factor, but also to me email seems more like heading into a specialized store instead of a seven layer department store.
I imagine a big appeal of social networking is in its sychronicity, the idea that you can discover long-lost friends or discover similar interests with people from all over the country. Because I do some free lance writing on the side, I also experience this synchronicity through email in the course of my writing assignments--something that I may not otherwise experience if I did not have this outlet.
As part of this course, a few weeks ago I joined Linked In. In an effort to actually use it I went back today--a few weeks after joining--and scanned the list of folks knocking on my door. I added some local librarians and a few magazine editor contacts and will see what happens. I am actually looking forward to a more focused approach to supplement random emails.
However, along with local folks on the list who I do not really know, there was my daughter's old college roommate. They had never kept in touch
So how did she find me? I'm guessing she didn't and LinkedIn somehow did which is even scarier. She and my daughter had a falling out and my daughter isn't even on LinkedIN. Makes me want to rethink.
Advantages to social networking rather than person-to-person contact? Obviously it is more informal and if things don't go anywhwere it is no big deal. And more spontaneous, with the possibility of meeting folks from all over the world. Also more directed--rather than wasting time on chitchat you can get right to the point and post your concern.
So far with CPD23 I have enjoyed reading all the various posts but have not contacted anyone directly. Perhaps LinkedIN will change things. What I do intend to do as a result of this class is create another blog to post some of my writings with the goal of perhaps publishing someday. I figure I could advertise the blog on the author notes at the bottom of my magazine articles--now all I need is the time!
I believe social networking does foster a wider sense of community based on interests rather than location. Plus you can have specific friends who are interested in the same things you are. I still don't understand, though, how folks have time for all their friends!
I imagine a big appeal of social networking is in its sychronicity, the idea that you can discover long-lost friends or discover similar interests with people from all over the country. Because I do some free lance writing on the side, I also experience this synchronicity through email in the course of my writing assignments--something that I may not otherwise experience if I did not have this outlet.
As part of this course, a few weeks ago I joined Linked In. In an effort to actually use it I went back today--a few weeks after joining--and scanned the list of folks knocking on my door. I added some local librarians and a few magazine editor contacts and will see what happens. I am actually looking forward to a more focused approach to supplement random emails.
However, along with local folks on the list who I do not really know, there was my daughter's old college roommate. They had never kept in touch
So how did she find me? I'm guessing she didn't and LinkedIn somehow did which is even scarier. She and my daughter had a falling out and my daughter isn't even on LinkedIN. Makes me want to rethink.
Advantages to social networking rather than person-to-person contact? Obviously it is more informal and if things don't go anywhwere it is no big deal. And more spontaneous, with the possibility of meeting folks from all over the world. Also more directed--rather than wasting time on chitchat you can get right to the point and post your concern.
So far with CPD23 I have enjoyed reading all the various posts but have not contacted anyone directly. Perhaps LinkedIN will change things. What I do intend to do as a result of this class is create another blog to post some of my writings with the goal of perhaps publishing someday. I figure I could advertise the blog on the author notes at the bottom of my magazine articles--now all I need is the time!
I believe social networking does foster a wider sense of community based on interests rather than location. Plus you can have specific friends who are interested in the same things you are. I still don't understand, though, how folks have time for all their friends!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
CPD23: THING 11
My weak spot is technology. When I graduated from library school, filmstrips and hand-cranked purple inked mimeo machines were all the rage. Twenty years later, our island (Kwajalein, Marshall Islands) had one public access science lab computer that folks could use to email relatives on the mainland. I did not get any consistent hands-on computer experience (I am not counting PacMan) until moved to NY.
It is amazing to me how much technology has exploded since then. Leaving me somewhat behind. Hence, this course. While I have enough to do without constantly monitoring twitter, facebook, wordpress, etc. I still need to know how this stuff works. Or at least download images from my camera.
So I have asked my unofficial mentor, Pat Raftery, to become my official mentor. We both work together Thursday nights and for the past few months have held "Tech Thursday" sessions for my benefit. We are taking this course together and reserve that time to work on our projects.
laura
It is amazing to me how much technology has exploded since then. Leaving me somewhat behind. Hence, this course. While I have enough to do without constantly monitoring twitter, facebook, wordpress, etc. I still need to know how this stuff works. Or at least download images from my camera.
So I have asked my unofficial mentor, Pat Raftery, to become my official mentor. We both work together Thursday nights and for the past few months have held "Tech Thursday" sessions for my benefit. We are taking this course together and reserve that time to work on our projects.
laura
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
CPD23: THING 10
I currently am a Children's Librarian at Saratoga Springs Public Library in upstate New York. As a child, I had always been attracted towards the teaching profession, in a large part because it was familiar to me. This was way back when it was the rare elementary school that had a library. When I achieved high school status, I was excited to discover the library and immediately attached myself to the librarian. Partly in self-defense, I imagine, she helped me secure an after school job as a shelver in our local public library.
I was impressed to learn of all the schooling and interning British librarians in-training undergo. Here, all I needed was and undergrad degree and then an MLS. We were just turned loose, to sink or swim with no practical training in how to actually run a library. Rather scary.
Fortunately, the only position available on the military base in Heidelberg, Germany where my husband was stationed was that of school library clerk, where the librarian became my mentor. I shudder to think what would have happened to me without her!
I have held a range of positions, from elementary school librarian in Heidelberg and Weisbaden, to adjunct teacher of Library Science for City Colleges of Chicago, to public librarian in the Marshall Islands.
I am NOT looking forward to moving around anymore and since Saratoga is a large library with plenty of resources, there really is no need. I consider myself fortunate to have found a job I love.
I was impressed to learn of all the schooling and interning British librarians in-training undergo. Here, all I needed was and undergrad degree and then an MLS. We were just turned loose, to sink or swim with no practical training in how to actually run a library. Rather scary.
Fortunately, the only position available on the military base in Heidelberg, Germany where my husband was stationed was that of school library clerk, where the librarian became my mentor. I shudder to think what would have happened to me without her!
I have held a range of positions, from elementary school librarian in Heidelberg and Weisbaden, to adjunct teacher of Library Science for City Colleges of Chicago, to public librarian in the Marshall Islands.
I am NOT looking forward to moving around anymore and since Saratoga is a large library with plenty of resources, there really is no need. I consider myself fortunate to have found a job I love.
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