1 Week to Go

Dear Diary,

I have been covering both sections since my manager is out celebrating the birth of his newest child. Next week is my final week of class. I have thoroughly enjoyed my second rotation with the Chemistry Library.

I encountered different complexities with the second rotation. This may be attributed to the fact that during the first rotation, I was physically located in a separate branch library. Whereas I am physically in the main library but my duties are in a branch library. For example, we had to figure out which department gives me a Copy Card and/or which photocopier (and paper) should I use...Budgets you understand.

But we figured it out and I am preparing to transition to my 3rd rotation with Collection Development that begins next week. I have meetings to tour the Approval Plan room.

In the last 3 conversations I've had with one of the Residency's overall managers, it has been stated that:

"While I have published 3 articles since I arrived here 10 months ago...

it is not SCHOLARLY."

I take great umbrage with that statement.

Mainly because as I explained to the manager, "I have been in two rigorous rotations since arriving...Law & Chemistry!" In addition, I further explained that I would need time buit into my schedule to commit to research. But as I think about it....my co-workers in the Law Library explained that Bibliographies are considered scholarly, which was why I wrote that 25 page Bibliographic Essay which I researched on my weekends and evenings. I recalled asking about "Scholarly publishing" during my interview and the same manager explained that my role would mainly be to assist T&R (teaching and research) faculty with their research as opposed to me conducting my own.

I did really appreciate it when another one of the overall Residency managers countered that "Well technically a lot of our permanent librarians have not published!" That made me feel better.

My "Capturing Literacy Globally" Speech

Dear Diary,

The title of the entry should be
"Sierra MIST-ake"

Today Leslie (my co-resident) and I were 2 of 4 panelist presenting at the Annual Indiana Library Federation Conference http://www.ilfonline.org/conf/AnnualConference/annconf2006.htm.

I have to say I cuold not have been prouder of our presentations. We worked extremely well together under very difficult circumstances. I love technology except when the projector malfunctions during a major speech. But naturally, we had printed out our slides as handouts so the audience could follow along. We definitely rose to the challenge of presenting at 3:30 (after lunch) on the 2nd day of the conference. So we brought intense energy (although we were admittedly weary after the 4 hour drive there immediately prior to presenting).

I discussed my concept "Spiritual Literacy." I discussed Cultural Literacy and includes a project at Yale that has Blogs discussing the war, from US Soldiers and Iraqi Citizens perspectives.

I discussed Digital Literacy, specifically Snopes.com and Steganography. They laughed when I said that Steganography is not the study of a Stegosaurus (Steg-owe-saw*russ). They agreed that they are annoyed by Hoax emails and were interested in Snopes.com to combat those urban legends.

I connected the Steganography and Snopes.com using the American POW Jeremiah Denton story. http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/denton.asp "As you may know, Admiral Denton was a Navy pilot in Vietnam who was shot down and spent 8 years in a Vietnamese prison. In 1966 while in prison, he was interviewed by North Vietnamese television in Hanoi after torture to get him to "respond properly." During this interview, he blinked his eyes in Morse code to spell out the word "TORTURE." Four of his 8 years in prison were spent in solitary confinement. He later wrote the book "When Hell was in Session" chronicling his experience in Vietnam. "

But what I thought was the funniest faux pa (experience) of the day, bar none, was what I did just 5 minutes after delivering this enlightening speech on LITERACY.

Leslie bought sodas for our long ride back to South Bend. She handed me the bag and said "I bought you a Sierra Mist."

Now, just between you and I,
I like my sodas the same way I like my
men & romantic relationships
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DARK & UNHEALTHY.
But I digress.

Anyway, I had never had a Sierra Mist, but I knew they came in a green bottle. So I grabbed one of two green bottles and drank half of it. I gotta say it tasted like hot sea lion urine, or at least what you would imagine that would taste like! I did not want to be rude, she was kind enough to buy me a 20 oz drink....but I just couldn't swallow any more. I even tried pretending I was on Fear Factor and if I drank this I'd get $50,000....NOT!!! So I finally explain to her how much I appreciate the thought but I can't drink this...and as I go to place it in the cup holder FINALLY, I read the label...DIET 7-UP."

We burst into laughter...here I am basking in my present accomplishments and engaging in shameless self-aggrandizement....while simultaneously suffering NEEDLESSLY simply because I the great speaker on LITERACY...failed to read the dang bottle label. Well I never!
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For more information on Steganography
http://www.jjtc.com/Steganography/

8th Annual International Information Hiding Conference is in Virginia in July
http://ih2006.jjtc.com/

http://www.infosyssec.org/infosyssec/security/stendig1.htm

La Gente Unida No Puede Ser Derrotada

"The people united can not be defeated"

I attended the Immigration Rally yesterday and while my spanish is not as good as it used to be, I understood a lot of the Spanish-only speeches. Some were translated, but it was an amazing experience. I've never attended a rally nor a march.

The people were welcoming. Although at first it was awkward since I was alone and not sure if my presence was appreciated or if this was "Not my struggle" and I was viewed as an outsider. That was until an African-American pastor gave a speech and also a Catholic priest both reinforcing the support of other communities. I spotted an Asian woman and then a few Notre Dame students.

Eventually I started talking to a few participants as a result of the 2 counter-protesters yelling "Go back to Mexico." Then it became relevant to me. Then I was able to relate to my latino brothers and sisters. My people, too, have been told to "Go Back!" So naturally we began discussing the origin of this nation.

Also, the people I was standing near, commented on how dedicated these 2 people must be to yell things at a crowd numbering in the thousands.

I enjoyed the 3 hours spent in support of this issue. I've been here a year now and had not seen so many latinos, so I was stunned at the amoutn that turned out, roughly 5,000. I met a nice girl who allowed me to take a photo of her dog wearing a sign, "I am from Mexico, too." That is the image above.

This is a news article discussing the rally with a video link:
http://www.wndu.com/news/042006/news_49173.php

Thousands march for immigration reform

South Bend, IN - Over the past few weeks, we've seen long lines of immigration protest marches and rallies all over the country.

Saturday, about 2000 people marched in Goshen, but Monday's march in South Bend was more than twice the size.

Organizers and police were surprised by the turnout, which amounted to between 4000 and 5000 people.

The pre-march rally in front of the Morris Performing Arts Center was huge. In fact, South Bend Police say it was one of the largest crowds ever seen in the area other than a Notre Dame home game.

The crowd was there seeking immigration laws that don't label undocumented workers as criminals.

Ricardo Nevarez of Mishawaka said at the rally, "I already have my papers. I'm legal here, but I still supporting my friends. There are a lot of people that need them for work and to have our families together."

Veronica Beltran’s father came here illegally, and she wants to help others. She said, "As long as we get united and we get everyone's support, yes it will. It will make a big difference. They will see that there are a lot of people out there. They're going to need us. We need them and they need us."

Against the majority
However, not everyone felt the same, as some professed, “I support all immigrants. I do not support illegal immigrants. I do not support illegal immigrants."

Toni Castillo of Niles said, "They do this to our government because they think they have rights here. They don't have any rights."

In general, however, the march consisted of people hoping for change, allowing immigrants to become citizens.Bishop John D'Arcy said, “Let us treat those who are undocumented as God's creatures and find a place for them, respecting always our laws, but making them part of our family, welcome at our table. We can do it legally and properly.”

Local Latino leaders expect the Latino community to continue to turn out in greater numbers on this issue, especially with Cinco de Mayo festivities in early May.

With seven different immigration bills between the House and Senate, and a compromise bill stalled, most civic leaders don't expect immigration reform to happen this year.

Te Nosce...latin for "Know Thyself"

Dear Diary,
Because sometimes you just need to be reminded:


Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise

Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise

Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise
I rise
I rise!

© Maya Angelou, 1978



PHENOMENAL WOMAN
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a model's fashion size
But when I start to tell them
They think I'm telling lies.

I say
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips
The stride of my steps
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please
And to a man
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees
Then they swarm around me
A hive of honey bees.
I say
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth
The swing of my waist
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say It's in the arch of my back
The sun of my smile
The ride of my breasts
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say It's in the click of my heels
The bend of my hair
The palm of my hand
The need for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.
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Image from http://www.itsablackthang.com/images/Art-Religious/spiritual-awakening-by-lester.jpg

The Book Project - African Children's Libraries

Dear Diary,

I found this "Global Literacy Project site http://www.glpinc.org/
which is an opportunity for Librarians to contribute to.

Jan. 2-15, 2006
GLP "Global Learning Expedition" volunteers created AIDS orphanage library in South Africa.

Global Literacy Project Initiates Long Term Project in India Supporting the Delta School of Nursing.

GLP Helps Create New Library at Mason Hall Government School on the Island of Tobago (Caribbean).

There are many success stories on this site:

"African Children's Libraries has made progress over this past year and is ready to ship its first cargo container of books to Liberia! We will be able to assist in setting up 8 children's libraries mostly in rural Liberia.

We are asking for your support in the following ways:
Monetary & Volunteering
Grant writing beginning in September or leads for appropriate grant sources
Other fund raising

Suggestions for board members especially a lawyer or accountant

By shipping approximately 300 boxes of library books we pay less than the combined shipping costs of the last four years. So $50 will cover the cost of 5 boxes, rather than $50 covering the shipping of one box last year. $300 ships a pallet of 30 boxes.

There are also textbooks in this container which will be distributed by the YMCA in Monrovia where Lyn Gray is a consultant and L.E.A.P., the Liberian educators non-profit supported by Friends of Liberia.

All donations are tax deductible. Thank you again for your support and contributions.


This reminds me of ALA's Sister Library Program:
http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/othergroups/sisterlibraries/sisterlibraries.htm