Fun Experience at Midwinter

Dear Diary,

You have to click on the link and watch this funny clip March of the Librarians.

It is inspired by March of the Penguins and shows my Robot friend that I kept telling people about but no-one believed me. In this clip he is shaking someone's hand. It is during the Vendor shots of LexisNexis and ProQuest.

This was a Robot that is what I believe was Artificially Intelligent. Either that or there was a man behind a curtain that I could not spot. The vendor was Emery Pratt.

Way to go RefWorkers!

Dear Diary,

Great News! First I received another complimentary email from a position I applied to. The email said that I have an outstanding resume. WOW! I've been smiling all day long. It is so wonderful when people realize how hard you work.

And speaking of working hard, our statistics show that before our big Roll out there, our library had 31 RefWorks users. After the Roll out, a whopping 465 (increased by 165 in the last week) that is HUGE! It also serves as encouragement when we have classes. Knowing that people are really learning about one of our latest acquisitions is very rewarding.

Way to go RefWorkers!

Dear Diary,
A friend sent me this interesting NY Times article:

Baghdad Day to Day: Librarian’s Journal

By PATRICIA COHEN

Saad Eskander, the director of Iraq’s National Library and Archive in Baghdad, finally had some time to catch up on his diary after a couple of very busy weeks. As he wrote in his latest entry, he was having trouble repairing the Internet system; the Restoration Laboratory “was hit by 5 bullets”; and “another librarian, who works at the Periodical Department, received a death threat. He has to leave his house and look for another one, as soon as he can; otherwise, he will be murdered.”

For a month now, Dr. Eskander’s intermittent diary entries have been appearing on the Web site of the British Library (bl.uk/iraqdiary.html), and they detail the daily hurdles of keeping Iraq’s central library open, preserving the surviving archives and books and, oh yes, staying alive.

“We thought it would be a good opportunity to highlight the conditions Dr. Eskander and his staff are really facing and that they are risking their lives to provide this service,” said Catriona Finlayson, a spokeswoman for the British Library.

Written in a flat, unemotional style, the entries relate the bombings, blockades, shootings, threats, shortages and petty frustrations that make up everyday life for the cadre of civil servants working at Iraq’s main cultural and literary storehouse. A complaint that heating fuel prices are 40 times higher than in the fall is followed by a report on the assassination of one of the library’s bright young Web designers and the need to ask the government to keep the electricity on.

Dr. Eskander said that a friend who works at the National Archives in Britain suggested he write a diary for an archivists’ Web site. “I was hesitant,” he wrote in an e-mail exchange yesterday. “I feared that people would not believe what I would say about our daily life and the state of total chaos and destruction prevailing in Baghdad.”

Finally, he agreed, because “I was in debt to my librarians and archivists, who have been working very hard and making all sorts of sacrifices to serve the cultural needs of the educated class of the country.”

The British Library started publishing his journal on Dec. 30, the day of Saddam Hussein’s execution. It includes material beginning in mid-November, right before Dr. Eskander decided to close his library for three weeks after a frightening series of bombings, shootings and death threats. The mostly unedited entries retain their typos, missing words and mistakes in English, contributing to a sense of immediacy and intimacy.

Tuesday, Jan. 23, began well enough, Dr. Eskander wrote: “The staff received their monthly salaries after two days delay.” But by 11:30 a.m., “One window was smashed as a result of the explosions. I was informed on the same day that two of our technicians were kidnapped by unknown armed men.” Both were later released unharmed, but then Dr. Eskander learned that “Mr. C, the head of the Restoration Laboratory, received a death threat. He and his family left their house.” After visiting the laboratory, Dr. Eskander wrote: “One of the restorers told me that her brother was murdered ten days a go for sectarian reasons. Another restorer told me that he cousin, who lived in Mosul, in northern Iraq, was also murdered for sectarian reasons. I did not know about these two incidents. I discovered that a number of my staff do not inform the administration about their ordeals for fear of reprisals.”

In mid-January, he published a chart on the impact of sectarian violence on his staff for just the month of December. It included 4 assassinations of employees and 2 kidnappings, 66 murders of staff members’ relatives, 58 death threats and 51 displacements.

The newest entries, posted on Thursday, take readers through Wednesday, Jan. 31. Dr. Eskander writes that the week started off quietly: Most of the staff couldn’t get to work because of blockades and military checkpoints. “On Wednesday, 31 Jan., a huge explosion shock our building. I hurriedly went to the second floor and saw a thick black smockrising from a car in al-Bab al-Mudham round-about (200 meters away from the NLA). I asked the security to prevent all members of staff from going outside the building, fearing that there might be another car-bomb.”

Working to replace rare books and documents that have been destroyed, Dr. Eskander has been in touch with the British Library ever since the Iraq Library and Archive was burned and looted in 2003 when Mr. Hussein’s regime fell. The British Library is trying to send another shipment of microfilm and books, Ms. Finlayson said, although, she added: “Our contact is quite sporadic — it’s difficult to get material there. It’s hard for him to keep in touch.”

The response to the diary has been very moving, said Andy Stephens, secretary to the British Library Board. “To me, why it’s so powerful is these are people doing exactly the same job we are here, and we can relate to them.” He said there has been some interest in dramatizing the excerpts on the radio.

Two weeks ago the library gave people an opportunity to send in comments. Most offered support and prayers, and expressed frustration about being unable to help. “I just want to say how important I think it is both that the BL supports its colleagues in crisis in the ways it is doing,” Andrew King of Canterbury Christ Church University wrote in an e-mail message to the British Library, “and that the Web site allows BL users like me to reflect on the consequences of war for an educated elite who in other, less troubled, countries might not think it possible that they might be subject to terror such as Saad Eskander is going through.”

In the e-mail exchange, Dr. Eskander wrote: “I used to be very optimistic. But, the security situation is getting worse daily.”

Although all available resources have been directed to keeping the collections safe, “terrorists attacks, especially mortars shelling represent a considerable threat,” he wrote. “It is extremely difficult for my staff, including me, to work in a normal way. Many roads and bridges are often blocked. Hundreds of checkpoints are responsible for the daily heavy traffic. There is always the possibility of daily car-bomb attacks, assassinations, kidnapping and so on. Sometimes our drivers refuse to go to dangerous districts. All these ‘tiny things’ affect our works on daily basis.”

Even Better Sign

Dear Diary,

I got a call requesting Letters of Reference pursuant to my phone interview yesterday. That is step 2 of 3 in this particular library's interview process. The 3rd step is a campus visit for an interview.
So far so good.

I met with my Chemistry supervisor to correct some historical facts for my article that will be published either next month or the following month. Good thing he proofed it prior to publication. The main goal is to make sure to present my Active Learning Games in a positive light without casting any unpropitious insinuations.

I did Usability testing in the lobby today to ascertain how users would "Contact Us" to report a problem or make a suggestion. We have spent a great deal of time and energy making the Contact forms easier to use. Now we are trying to position them where users would look for them. Surprisingly, most equate "Contact Us" with "Ask a Librarian." Very interesting.

Flood in the Library

Dear Diary,

WSBT) The extreme cold has been causing problems for people inside as well as outside. At Notre Dame's Hesburgh Library, a pipe burst Monday -- creating a big mess.

It all started at about 9:00am when a pipe on the third floor burst, sending water through the ceilings of the floors below. The second floor had the most damage, library staff worked through the afternoon to dry off the books and mop up the water.

The library reopened at about 3:30pm, except for the second floor where water is still dripping through the ceiling. University officials say they won't reopen it until they're sure the dripping has stopped.

There's no monetary estimate of damage yet. Library officials say they will look at what happened and make sure it doesn't happen again.

Good Sign : )

Dear Diary,

I sent out my first handful of resumes yesterday and today I got a very encouraging call for a phone interview. I was flattered and it helped ease some of the angst of the unknown. It helped that he said they had already begun phone interviews but when my application arrive all five members on the search committee decided to squeeze me into the interview schedule. YAY!

And last night I got a similar reply from a library I applied to. They said if I can get my letters of reference to them by Thursday they would consider my application even though the deadline had passed a few weeks ago. Phew! So all in all I'd say I'm off to a good start.

15 Minute Drop-in Sessions

Dear Diary,

Today I finalized my schedule for my 15 minute Drop-in Sessions for Notre Dame's Online Catalog, Online Journal Articles, WorldCat and of course RefWorks! These will contribute to my 25% Library Instruction responsibilities.

My manager for Instruction, said that I am fast and find great graphics like this one I used for my flier.

Aww Shucks!

154 Days and Counting

Dear Diary,

Yay! Today was another great day. I was able to work out a reimbursement plan that effectively coordinated the travel funds provided from the University in addition to the $1,000 I get from ALA for the Emerging Leaders program. Phew! That was no small feat. But everyone was incredibly helpful and patient as I repeatedly filled out the expense forms incorrectly. But that is done so I'm all set for the next ALA Annual Conference in June.
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I cannot believe I only have a mere 154 days left in my Contract! I can't imagine not being here.
*
But I see my latest review has been published:

Title: Cuban Heritage Collection
Author(s): Felicia Smith
Journal: Reference Reviews Year: 2007 Vol : 21 Issue: 1
ISSN 0950-4125
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We received encouragement to begin applying for other jobs since our time is coming to a close and there is not currently any positions at our library to apply for.

Today's the BIG DAY!

Dear Diary

The Refworks reference management service was officially launched last week as a joint OIT/Libraries service. As you may have noticed, today is a full-day concourse demo of RefWorks, especially targeted to students.

The RefWorks Commercial is playing on a projection screen in the concourse, but is also a click away from the library homepage in the spotlight area.
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It is also available on YouTube
Click on the word YouTube to access
the RefWorks Citation Cop video.
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My mentor called and asked me "Have you NO SHAME?"
If I had a dime for every time someone has asked me that....Ha! Ha!

Sleepless in Seattle

Dear Diary,

I have the worse hotel in the city. Chalk it up to last minute reservations. I mean no clock, no radio, no cable, only 4 basic television channels and 2 of those are all static, no controllable heat (only a radiator) and no room service, etc...I have the pleasure of listening to car alarms going off all night and it is just all too much!

But my Emerging Leaders program was even more eventful. Someone suggested we walk instead of taking the shuttle and so I did....only 10 minutes...no problem! But they failed to mention it was all uphill! Oh Dear God! Soon after arriving there, we were treated to a fire scare. Complete with 3 fire trucks and so it has been an eventful trip to say the least.

The morning program was interesting but at lunch my group decided it would be a better use of our time to skip the afternoon wrap-up discussion with the other 95 Emerging Leaders and instead attend our Division Meeting and ask for guidance on our project. That was indeed the best use of our time. We bonded over lunch and on the walk to and from the Division Meeting. We were able to meet our sponsors and get very clear directions. We returned to the Emerging Leaders reception and mingled with the rest of the group.

I saw one of my managers and we went for a snack and then I got some goodies at the exhibit hall and returned to my room and tried to sleep.

Emerging Leaders

Dear Diary,

We have a Wiki to replace the Blog.
This was taken during our program, after the Fire! Ha!

Can you find me?
It is not as difficult as "Where's Waldo?"

3rd Times a Charm

Dear Diary,

It is the last day at work before we leave for the conference and we had a last minute re-shoot.
I was scrambling to re re-arrange my day that was already packed with things to do before I go and meetings I'd crammed in. But I made it work and got the re-shoot done. Now we are getting feedback from students. Hopefully the filming is done. Who knew acting was so draining! Ha!

Latest Publication

Dear Diary,

I am excited to see my latest article has been published in the IFRT Report. The Report also discusses my selection for the Emerging Leaders program which I will attend this Friday in Seattle! I am super excited: For your viewing pleasure, click on the IFRT hyper link.

Also it was announced that ALA has an account in Second Life featuring Midwinter information. It is on the info island in cybrary city. I'm going to have to check it out. I have not been visited my Second Life in a while. I told my manager today that this is the funnest job I've ever had. Who said Libraries aren't cool?

Take 2

Dear Diary,

We re-shot the RefWorks commercial. A co-worker correctly said that the reason we call this project Refworks is because it is a lot of WORK! Oh well, I think the fact that we play up the parody angle more is better. Our first test audience had some difficulty with our 2 competing themes. So hopefully it is almost done. We are preparing for the big roll out day and I have a lot of planning to do. Who knew there would be so much involved.

My blog project is coming along. I am working on Automated Usability Tests to present my findings. I leave for my Emerging Leaders program and ALA Mid-winter next week. So I have to be done with all of my Refworks tasks by then because when I return from the conference, our roll out is the next day.

It's Official...I'm a Star!

Dear Diary,

I made my very first movie this morning. We shot our RefWorks commercial. Yipee! Now I can say we are halfway through. It is in editing. I think this may have been the funniest filming session ever. The camera man fell off of the dolly we were trying to create the illusion of moving. There were some who did not study their lines or run their lines as we say in the business....like I had done so we had a few re-takes. It should be noted that the entire commercial had maybe 8 (1-line) scripts. So there was no real need to study the lines. We muddled through and one cast member suggested we keep the out takes and send them to America's Funniest Home Videos or use them in our DVD set as Special Features.

Naturally, I came down the Flu yesterday and had to get up early and be in character... as they say, "The show must go on!" I still think the actor who played the Citation Cop could have played all the characters. We are all quite silly but he is really silly!

My nephew is still on winter break so he had the pleasure of attending the 8 am filming. He is actually an extra in the commercial which he is very excited about. He is convinced that this is a "TYPICAL DAY in the LIFE of a LIBRARIAN! "

I am now able to concentrate some more of my energy on my next pet project, my Blog! No not this Blog, my Blog for "New" Electronic Resources.

Cool Blue!

Dear Diary,

OK...OK...I know I said I would not work over the Holiday but what can I say -- I love my job and so this is fun and technically not work, per se. Anyway, I found this really cool flexible keyboard and I had not seen one before so this can help me with my project so I had to post it so I would not forget ...you know...when I go back to work ;0)

Phew! Performance Evalutation Done!

Dear Diary,

I just finished my evaluation. I get myself worked up before these every year. But I got an incredibly positive review, which I expected but still I get so anxious. But I am doing a Bang-Up job, "YAY!"

I emailed all of my rotation managers and thanked them for their wonderfully positive feedback. I added a special note of thanks to Dwight, for omitting his oft repeated comments "She is a great worker...but ...CRIES A LOT!" Ha! Ha! He still refuses to accept my claims that I am a delicate flower.

I have gotten my posters and badges from Kinkos. I told them, "We don't need no stinking Badges!" but oh well. Now I am jumping into my Blog project.

This RefWorks project is just so fun. It is a lot easier to order posters when the conversation goes:

Caller: "Hi again, it's ME."
Kinkos Rep: "Felicia?"

Caller: "Yes. You guys did such a wonderful job on our last 2 orders...guess
what?"
Kinkos Rep: "You want 10 more?"

Caller: " Yes."
Kinkos Rep: "You got it."

Ha! Ha!

Tomorrow is our last work day before Christmas break. I will try to stay out of the office unlike over Thanksgiving Break.

1 Down ...1 to Go

Dear Diary,

Today I taught one of my two Smart Board classes. It was really fun. I had to keep the energy level up since it was after lunch so I added Music to some tasks and got a lot of willing volunteers. It was a lot of fun and the participants seemed very impressed by the capabilities of the Smart Board. Some did not know you could use Microsoft Office applications with it. And those who have used Power Point with it before still learned a lot.

They were all very impressed by the Recorder and Video Player. Another crowd pleaser was my beloved Spotlight and Creative Pen options. Yippee.

Simultaneously I am working with the team on the script and storyboard. We have finalized the script so now mainly focused on the "Non-copyrighted, roylaty-free" sounds and effects and props and locations. I will be starring in the commercial, ugh...umm...OKAY??? And I will be filmed atop a flatbed dolly being wheeled down the hall....It promises to be quite insane.

I declare, when I was in Library School, I had absolutely no idea I'd ever be doing any of this stuff. This is the Best-EST and Fun-EST (new word) Residency in the world!

Someone asked if I enjoy having so much holiday time off. I said "Most definitely!" Especially because my former boss was convinced that it was vital to human existence that we stay open regular hours on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

Oh yes, and the bonuses at Notre Dame didn't hurt either!!

I swear I am having way too much fun to be getting paid for this stuff! Shhh! That is our little secret.

Lunch with Father Hesburgh

Dear Diary,

Today I sat at our
Christmas Lunch table
with our Library Director
and THE Father Hesburgh.
Click on his name for his Biography.

Wow!! What an honor!!

Also I learned about this very useful Drupal site. I am still working on creating an ERSA news Blog.

The only way I could love NOTRE DAME more was if it were relocated to South Beach or Miami!

I Have Possibly the Most Exciting Job in the World!

Dear Diary,

I am writing my first official commercial script complete with storyboard. This is an incredibly new experience and it is amazingly interesting. I am learning so much, so fast, from so many resourceful people. In Library School, I never in my wildest dreams envisioned being able to do the type of work I have done at Notre Dame.

I found the attached great image on the Library's website and it perfectly captures the essence of storyboarding. You have to list each detail, including the setting, the timing of each, etc....Good thing I am a highly visual person so I already visualized each scene prior to writing the script.

I love my JOB!

Twice in 1 Week!! I'ma Play the Lotto ...Not!

Dear Diary,


This is my Lucky Week. I won tickets to the Army vs. Notre Dame game. Yippee!! It is very exciting for a couple of reasons:
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(1) I've never watched an ND game in the stadium.
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(2) It is the last HOME GAME and so the last time the library will give away tickets. Phew!

GO IRISH!!

The game was awesome!! Especially when the Army Parachutists came flying into the stadium. Talk about an entrance. Too bad they lost.

You May Already Be A Winner!!!

Dear Diary,

Weird day to say the least. My co-resident Leslie sent me a Congrats email for being selected for the Emerging Leaders Program at ALA's Midwinter meeting. I waited and waited and checked the mail and my email and my voicemail...but ugh...umm...no notification? So while I was excited that she congratulated me....I ugh..umm...had not...still have not been officially notified by anyone at the E.L. Program?

I emailed them asking for confirmation, after Leslie sent me the Press Release as well as the list of those selected.

So my A.D. said that I have notification...on that PDF list...so they emailed the faculty and so I guess I am glad to have been selected...although....I sure would appreciate some type of official notification.

***Oh well. ****YAY ME! ***I guess?

WPIT

Dear Diary,

I conducted an online survey by the Reference Desk for an hour his afternoon. We gave away Big Chocolate bars for volunteers who answered a WPIT Committee, 6 question survey on Zoomerang.

Also my co-worker and I completed the UL@ND about our Focus Group and I continued working on four articles. It is truly difficult getting feedback on my articles. But I clearly see how it is developing into a much better writing. The funny part is, having an independent opinion shows how easy it is to omit necessary information simply because I know it, and it is all in my head.

So I am learning a whole lot and am truly humbled!

Self-Evaluation by a Narcissist

Dear Diary,

I have completed my self-evals for both the overall residency program and my immediate supervisor. Phew! I have done quite a bit in this residency which was my plan. Today alone, I conducted my first ever Focus Group. It went offf without a hitch. Yay!! Big thanks to my fanatastic ERSA-Minor Committee. It was a lot more work than anticipated so the extra help was invaluable.

I had a hard time at first recalling all I'd accomplished. But then I remembered that I am my #1 Fan so I just wrote a lot of:

I am the Greatest!

I am the Smartest!

I am the Best-est!

I am so Wonderful!

I am Fabulous!

I am a hard-worker!

I am reliable!

I am creative!

I am enthusiastic!

I am Terrific!

Basically, like on the skit from SNL...

"I am good enough...

I am smart enough and

doggone it...

People like me!"

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* Oh yes...and we can't forget, most of all

"I am MODEST!" ;)

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T.T.F.N.

Not Going Anywhere!

Dear Diary,

YIPPEEE!!!!!!

I am bursting! Laura told me today I could stay in my current rotation throughout the remainder of my Residency!! I absolutely adore the departments I am currently working in. The Electronic Resources department is the absolute perfect fit and is definitely something I am passionate about.

The split with the Instruction is similarly pleasing. I guess that means the Pirate will return. It is exhausting but completely worthwhile. I was not hopeful because I was invited to repeat my Chemistry Rotation but that was not allowed. Phew!! I am so happy!

I received a print copy of my 1st Review. 6+ more to go. I ordered my 12 Crazy Rainbow Striped Top Hats and 1,100 Mini-Roll Life-Savers for my RefWorks is a Life-Saver Marketing Campaign.

I am just bursting! I have to prepare for my Focus Group tomorrow. I have so much to do, including but not limited to:

1) Facilitate Focus Group

2) Conduct Environmental Scan of Peer Websites - WPIT Committee

3) Prepare Lesson Plan for SmartBoard Tips & Tricks Class

4) Communicate IDR Final Report & Proposals to Staff

5) Continue with RefWorks marketing (I wrote a script for a possible commercial) and

6) Continue usability tests for Internet Explorer 7

Next Generation of Librarians

Dear Diary,

Meet Ms. Dewey

www.msdewey.com

Call it the anti-Google: the background's a futuristic cityscape, the site's all in Flash, and it's hosted by an animated, wisecracking character named Ms. Dewey.

Ms. Dewey is pre-loaded with clever and often cheeky responses to search queries --ask for her phone number, for instance, and see what happens. Ms. Dewey pulls her results from Windows Live Search, and seems like a big fan of Microsoft's hit video game Halo --not surprising, since she's an employee of Microsoft.

The site, put together by San Francisco-based design shop Evolution Bureau, is part of a Microsoft ad campaign, according to the company, although Microsoft is not currently mentioned anywhere on the site.

Ms. Dewey is reminiscent of previously popular viral ad sites like Burger King's Subservient Chicken, but considerably slicker, and actress Janina Gavankar is a lot more appealing than a guy in a chicken suit. http://blogs.forbes.com/digitaldownload/2006/10/meet_ms_dewey.html

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(We have found a few other shall we say "Ahem...interesting responses" using keywords that will not be posted on this blog) But one cool keyword phrase was "video games" she starts playing one. When I first pulled it up she was jamming to her iPod. Too funny!

Breaking & Entering

Dear Diary,

I am by no means a MORNING PERSON!!! So when I made a concentrated effort to get to work early only to discover the automatic doors were locked; I was a bit miffed. Some other ladies explained they don't open until 7:30? Ugh...ummm...that is over a half hour from now. So I paced back and forth and recalled how when I worked in the Law Library, students and faculty, with an I.D. could get in 24 hours a day. And the same with all of my other library jobs; I could get in anytime day or night with the key and/or alarm code.

Since I am not a morning person, my brain was sleep trying to get 5 more minutes of rest so it was not helping. I paced back and forth and considered returning home. Thought about going over to the Law Library, then remembered a special skill I possess of breaking and entering. I grew up in "Da Hood" it was a survival technique. That is my story and I am sticking to it. So Viola! Once in my office I did leave messages for my managers asking if there is an accepted manner to gain entry after hours to our office.

It would be rather embarrassing to get fired for Breaking into your Job!
I love this place what can I say?

Verbots, Chatbot & African Library Automations

Dear Diary,

Busy busy day. I have learned a lot today and shared a lot of information as well. Most interesting thing I learned today was about Chatbots. This is a 35 minute podcast about a german chatbot service by Anne Christensen discussed at an ACCESS conference. This chatbot is named Stella and has gotten marriage proposals, been asked to remove her clothes to which she asks if the user is a medical student and if they would like to be directed to medical sites? Ha! http://www.access2006.uottawa.ca/?page_id=10
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The above has had been greatly helpful as a MARKETING TOOL even though it was originally planned to help with Information Literacy.
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I had written about Verbots in 2000. So I shared that information with my co-workers. Verbots in the Library" presented by David Bennett of Robert Morris College Library, Pittsburgh. A "verbot" is a verbal robot, and, in this case, the verbot is a computer animation with speech synthesis that understands natural language queries.

Bennett talked Virtual Personalities Inc. into giving his library a free copy of their verbot software, including the character Sylvie, a sassy young woman with attitude. Bennett set her up on a PC with dual monitors near the reference area to answer directional questions.

Because Sylvie can open Windows-based programs, she goes beyond giving verbal replies to queries; she can respond to a policy question by opening a Word document or to a request for a Pittsburgh map by opening a Web page from MapQuest. Bennett showed how easy it is to script questions and answers into Sylvie's database and how to change her facial expressions.

When asked what impact Sylvie has had on his library, Bennett said that no workflow study had been done, but the staff had had a lot of fun scripting Sylvie and the library's image on campus had been enhanced. Click this link for more information.

For more current information on Verbots,
see here: http://www.verbots.com/products.php
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Also, I shared information on a Tanzanian library automation project.
African Countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, and Tanzania

The Mortenson Center for International Library Programs at the University of Illinois Library at Urbana- Champaign has received a three-year, $499,900 grant from the Carnegie Corporation. Seven African grantee university institutions have been chosen to receive funds and assistance with incorporating fully automated online catalog and computer- based library management system through trainings and set- up of technical support and communication systems: http://www.library.uiuc.edu/mortenson/Documents/Carnegie_Press.htm

One Potato ...Two Potato...

Dear Diary,

I volunteered to test all of the electronic resources using the Internet Explorer 7 Browser. In theory, it seemed like a wonderful idea. I explained that it would be a great learning experience for me to ensure that I get experience with the collection and become more familiar with the available resources.

I would like to stress the "in theory" portion in the above entry.
I checked 50 today. I am starting with the e-journals. I have scheduled a meeting with people in my department to discuss how to go about testing the databases. God help me. I must be insane because outher than my eyes getting crossed...I am actually learning a lot and identifying useful resources.

Luckily, the team has agreed that I can just check groups by providers since the same providers will have the same problems regardless of the journal/database. Phew!

Blogs, Blogs and More Blogs

Dear Diary,

Been cheating on you with other blogs. I am creating a blog for my department and there is a lot more involved in making sure all the users' needs are met and the level of professionalism is guarded and the templates can be customized, etc....

So basically after blogging all day long, I have not been blogging for fun. But these are some of the ones I have narrowed the choices down to:

From Wordpress
On the above website, I like the 2 examples:
Like the TOP images here and
3D effect here.
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The team loves the layout here.
But it is a webpage, and we are more interested in the ease of updating offered by blogs.
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*
Separately, I have been working on Marketing Ideas for RefWorks. I plan to combine a few concepts the team likes:

We like the puzzle piece ideathat RefWorks uses but they don't allow us to edit the posters:


So instead I want to create my own poster using my theme "Refworks to the Rescue" keeping with our lifesaver theme. So I thought it would cool to use the puzzle pieces concept but have the image be a Life Saver. I found this really cute puzzle piece image on the Web Group's site. We want to do something like this.
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In a separate Blogosphere I found this link that discusses Cost Benefit Analysis of Institutional Repositories. I passed it along to our IDR team, since they are drafting the final report replete with a "Chinese Menu of Choices A, B & C."
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Also, I am working on my focus group. Since I am Chair of the ERSA-Minor Committee, I have been learning a lot about how complex planning is. I have these grand ideas that are labor-intensive. For example we wanted to offer $20 gift certificates for the Bookstore. Well, who knew I'd have to report the names and S.S.N.s of all recipients and then they'd have to pay taxes on them. Good Grief. One alternative is the buy sweatshirts, hats or T-shirts that can be exchanged at the Bookstore, but then that requires deciding on colors and sizes and then they may need to exchange it which is more like a dis-incentive if you ask me. Ugh!!

So now I am trying to figure out the payment methods and delivery options. Again, that seems like it would be a simple task, but if we use a restaurant that is not part of a national chain, I need to complete a Food Permit request that will need to be aapproved by Risk Management to ensure that restaurant has not had any health incidents, etc...I reserved the room, that was about the only simple task so far. Oh well, I am gaining lots of experience. This has been an incredible learning exercise. And it helps to know that a lot of faculty I ask for assistance have not dealt with these issues so it is encouraging to know I can now serve as a resource for someone considering a similar venture in the future.
*
*
In addition, I have to prepare for my annual review. I had to print a copy of my 5 articles I have published since I began here. And I added copies of emails pertaining to future publication dates for 7 more.

It's a Plane...It's a Bird...It's Priests on Trikes!

Dear Diary,

I absolutely love this place and not just because of the impressive season of our Football team, but our priests are pretty impressive.

This article was on the news:

Priests Peddle For Cancer Research

A new twist in the fight against Cancer as people gather for an unusual competition on the campus of Notre Dame.

Those taking part, priests, who put their pride aside to raise money for Relay For Life.

Complete with their own pace car and checkered flag at the finish line, a handful of Notre Dame priests put their peddle power to the test Monday on tricycles.

Fr. Jerry Neyrey says, "I expect to come in last."Neyrey is one of the racers raising money for Relay For Life.

Neyrey says, "I'm a cancer survivor, so I have extra interest in raising money for fighting cancer."

This creative fund raiser called "Priests on Wheels" was quite funny for those in the crowd.

Sister Ann Joggin got quite a kick watching these "holy rollers" cut across campus on three wheels.

Sister Joggin says, "Some of these were my teachers when I studied in Boston that now teach here and some are my colleagues. They're willing to make fools of themselves for a good cause and have fun doing it."

Fr. Dan Parrish, C.S.C. says, "I guess it's rather odd."Parrish, the priest with the fastest feet, says this race will help them connect with students on campus.

Fr. Parrish, C.S.C. says, "They see us around in other things, on the altar in the Basilica, see us presiding mass, and then come and see us on a tricycle, a little disconnect there but it's good. It's for a good cause."

Thomas Mueller, a Notre Dame student says, "It's great entertainment. These are all guys that we see around campus and teaching classes and everything. It's nice to see them outside the classroom."

The woman behind this friendly tricycle competition among fathers, Deb Patterson, is a throat Cancer survivor. The manager of the campus coffeehouse is happy everyone had so much fun while raising much needed money for Cancer research at the same time.

Deb Patterson says, "These priests are the greatest."Patterson says she will continue raising money for Relay For Life the next couple months. But by far, this was her most unique and talked about fund raiser.http://www.fox28.com/News/index.php?ID=5835

1st of Many

Dear Diary,

Reference Reviews
Volume 20 Number 7
2006 pp. 21-22

I got my first review published. Yippee!

Day 2...Classes Love PirRRRate TeacherRRR

Pirate Teacher Debut

Dear Diary,

Today Pascal and I teamed up and co-taught our first First Year Composition Library Instruction classes and what a gRRRReat class. I got very positive Evaluations. I created my own to determine which things were "engaging" and what was "distracting." I was asked for this type of feedback for my "Pirate-Teacher's Active Learning Exercises" article that will be published in the Journal of Academic Librarianship in March 2007.Needless to say, I got a LOT of attention, especially while taking my students on a tour of the first three floors of the library. After both 75 minute classes which were one after the other, I walked to LaFun to grab a bite and oh my gosh, what an experience! I had gotten a lot of practice with a "quick explanation" about teaching topics such as "Net Piracy" and "Use if Pirated Materials" blah blah blah because I had the good fortune to have our Director walk past the room while we were setting up and naturally she came to ask why I was dressed like a pirate? Anywho...the students I encountered on the God-Quad loved the idea. Some asked if they could "Request my class session" since all First Year Students have to take such a library class. Awww. I was flattered. A few students yelled out jokes for me to answer which I got wrong, such as:

Q: What is a Pirate's favorite animal?
A: aaRRRRRRdvark

Q: What is a Pirate's favorie mode of transportation?
I guess RRRRR V ...wrong!
A: A Ship.

I tell ya the fun never stops when you walk across campus in a Pirate outfit!

Fellow librarians told me about this great Pirate teaching resources: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/teachers.html
My students were aware that today was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

Try, Try, Try, Try Again and Again and Again

Dear Diary,

I have finished my PowerPoint outline for my Pirate Teacher classes next week. I have begun researching marketing ideas for electronic resources. I have revised my JAWS - library horror article for the 4th time. I really like the suggestions this editor gave me. But that means that I had to start from scratch, yet again. I am not giving up on this article. It is now officially the one I have worked the hardest and longest on.

This quote just seemed appropriate:

"You'll never find what you're looking for, until you know what you're looking for,before you go looking for it."~~Philosphy Instructor

Commitments and Publications and Publicity

Dear Diary,

While I love everything about this Residency, the only complication is the uncertainty of having only a 2-year contract. For example, we were asked to present again at the next Indiana Library Federation Conference but it is not taking place until November 2007. But my contract ends August 2007. So I had to decline the offer to present. I just can't honestly commit to present in Indiana when I may be forced to seek employment in another city. That was really hard but I feel that was the only realistic decision.

I offered to assist if I am still a Hoosier, next year. But that is just part of the experience. Gotta take the good with the not so good.

Also, we had a reception at the main library and I ran into a lady I had helped when I worked in the Law Library. She was a server at the reception and came up to thank me again for all the helpful information I gave her. That really made me feel good because she was one of the first legal research questions I received and it took me a long time to find the answers she needed. Phew! But it reminds me of why I became a Librarian.

**BONUS** I got a funny but flattering email from the editor of the Journal of Academic Librarianship. He said he does not know if I am more nuts for writing the Pirate Teacher Active Learning Exercises' article or if he is more nuts for deciding to publish it! Ha! Ha! That also made me feel really good. I worked hard on that article and he said he could clearly see the "considerable content" even with all the humor. THANK YOU!!! Finally! He said it should be published in March.

I was notified that my 4th Reference Review will be published next year, maybe in February. Yippee!!

I re-submitted my Cheminformatics' article for Peer-Review. This is a hard process. I had to submit a "Revision Outline" highlighting all the changes I made to the original. Luckily I had created a rough draft of just such a document before I knew I would need an outline like that. So now it has been accepted again for consideration along with my Revision Outline. We learn as we go, eh?

Speaking of my publications, I have gotten a couple of odd phone calls following the publication of my "Weary Helper" article wherein I compare Librarianship to my stent as a Private Investigator. I have gotten requests from fellow Librarians to work on "cases" for them. And today I got a request from someone to investigate people at Notre Dame or who claim to have been at Notre Dame...I decline all requests for 2 good reasons. 1st, my manager told me when I first arrived that I am contractually prohibited from other employment and 2nd, I have not worked as an Investigator in over 8 years. All of my contacts have switched careers or moved out of the city.

Also, I met with my manager and she reviewed the timeline for my "marketing projects" for electronic resources in general and Refworks, in particular. I am really excited about coming up with marketing ideas and she has agreed to let me begin a committee focused on publicity. We will discuss it in greater details next week. I have already come up with a name for it. Since the The Electronic Resources and Serials Access Department is called "ERSA" I shall call my mini-committee ERSA-Minor...Get it? It is a play on words; the constellation Ursa Minor contains the group of stars commonly called the Little Dipper.

Sisters AND Strength

Dear Diary,

One of the really helpful aspects of this Residency is the camaraderie of the previous and simultaneous other Residents. The former African-American female and my co-Resident and I went to lunch and it was truly empowering. It is comparable to a support group in that we have dealt with the same issues and concerns and we are able to truly understand this experience as others are not able to. I am grateful that I have them to keep me encouraged and to inspire me.
*
I used some of the leadership skills I learned at the Purdue Workshops to solve a problem. Basically, I ABSOLUTELY love my job....utterly disliked my cubicle. But I vowed to not complain about anything, and to only focus on the positive. I am truly blessed to be working at Notre Dame and so everything else must be put in perspective. Well one of my co-workers came to install my new email and asked about the scotch tape covering my keyboard tray. I explained that the wood is ragged and I literally bleed every time I put my hands on the tray to type. I put a scarf over the tray, problem solved.

She asked about the collage of brightly colored papers and Arizona Iced Tea bottles strewn about my cube. I explained that I suffer from S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) *SAD is a mood disorder associated with depression episodes and related to seasonal variations of light. So being confined to the grey cubicle is quite depressing and counter productive to creative process and efficiency.

She asked how long my light was out above my desk, "Who knows?" She asked about a few other shall we say ergonomically-incorrect features of my cube and strongly encouraged me to ask those things be changed.

I decided why stop there. I am not necessarily greedy but I try to think big. So I thought about one role-playing exercise we did at the workshop and decided to apply those tools to requesting an office on the other side of the hall with a Window! I would not have ordinarily had the courage to make such a request. But after framing my request using the guidelines I learned at the workshop, I felt confident in the logic and the requisite power strategy. Yippee!
I am proud to annouce that our Director agreed to my request.

I now have a seemingly bigger office (technically not) and a window with a view but not just any view....but a view of the GOLDEN DOME!!!

Have I mentioned that I LOVE MY JOB??

Hey I Didn't Say It...Alice Did!

Refworks & Webinar

Dear Diary,

I have had a few meetings on Refworks. I will meet with Jim Cope from OIT next to discuss marketing. I've done the tutorials and learned of the differences between Refworks and Endnote. Basically, Refworks does not have as steep of a learning curve and is more user-friendly and better for Undergraduates. So my job will be to convince people who don't know that they need this...that they need it.

View a silly, 30-second Student Commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MFTvX5PqQ8
*
This has it listed across the top Navigation bar
http://www.welch.jhu.edu/index.cfm

This has a link under Managing Citations
http://www.lib.umich.edu/

This has a box added under the A-Z list
http://www.gwumc.edu/library/eresources/search.cfm?i=5766

This has a link for Reference Resources
http://www.library.arizona.edu/search/reference/citation.html

This link is not working currently but it was one we liked
www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/db/eresources.html

This was a separate webpage but has a nice design and information
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/refworks/
*
I attended a MARCit Webinar today. My first Webinar. It was interesting, I learned a lot. But the setup itself was interesting. My co-worker used our manager's office to present on the Webinar, while my manager and I walked over to the Business Library to watch the presentation...it was truly a unique experience. It was a novel approach though. They said over 19 countries were taking part. It was dark in the room, and after lunch. Ugh...okay. But it was only 45 minutes of presentation.

I had lunch with my co-worker (who presented at the Webinar) and my manager. She told me that she is so glad to have me in her department and she wants me to stay past the usual rotation of six months, if I would like. I told her I would love that! She said "You are just what our department needed and wanted!" I asked her to make me a sign that states that!

We also discussed some issues involving different opinions and I told her that while we all admit to being "contrary-librarians" we have a purpose. I told her "We are 'Contrarians for the Greater Good'" She loved that and so I suggested we get some Team Shirts made. Ha!

In our Reference meeting, we discussed a little known ZoomText feature that reads to patrons, just like a program called JAWS. JAWS For Windows/JFW Screen Readers for People Who are Blind or Vision Impaired http://www.nanopac.com/JAWS.htm.

Today I did a New International Graduate Student Orientation. Only one showed up so there were 4 librarians present, ha!
*
Speaking of students, I saw 2 of our High School Student workers from this summer about town, separately; Saba (my Mentee) and Tarrez. I was pleasantly surprised to see each one.

Podcasting?

Dear Diary,

In our reference meeting we discussed the possibility of my working on a podcasting project involving either Library Instruction or some other function. I told them while I am the uncontested champion on all things electronic, I firmly contend that the purpose must be clear, the medium (podcast) must be a good fit and
if it is an Audio versus Video-podcast...
*
for the love of GOD...
make it engaging, entertaining, interesting, something!
*
But most of all ... MAKE IT CONCISE!!!

One idea mentioned was this:

Alden Library now has a new way for you to learn about the library. Now you can listen to a tour on your mp3 player or iPOD. Simply download the audio file of the tour to your mp3 player or iPOD, and listen as you walk around the library. The tour hits all seven floors of the library and takes about 30 minutes. You can download the entire tour below (about 15 minutes of audio) to take the entire tour all at once, or visit the Podcast Tour Page to download each floor separately. For the podcast, click here http://www.library.ohiou.edu/newsblog/?p=131

Not Always Easy

Dear Diary,

While I appreciate when people congratulate me on having published a lot in a short time, it is not as easy as it seems.

For every article published there is another one waiting. I have just received some harsh yet needed revision suggestions. I am incredibly overly sensitive when it comes to people reviewing my writing. In fact, that is why I quit my job in Public Relations. I just physically could not tolerate red ink on my (what I considered to be) "masterpiece."

So it is really hard to suck it up and make the requested revisions. But in the end, I am more pleased with the final product. Basically I've been forced to add more statistics and studies corroborating my premises which will make it more "scholarly" and thus more likely to pass this rigorous PEER-REVIEW process...Good Grief Man!!!

But I have learned a lot and the comments weren't all bad. A few were quite flattering and complimentary!

Funny how I only focus on those that were though.
Oh well...back to work.

Looking Forward to Being the "Pirate Teacher"

Dear Diary,

I am really looking forward to working with my new departments. I have total creative control over my instruction sessions without limitations and I do not have to stick to conventional methods. Watch Out! Ha!

I met with my manager from Collection Development yesterday at 9 to finalize the changes they suggested to out Evaluation Report. Done!

Next I met with my new team members and manager in the Electronic Resources Department and I am gonna love this group. We are kindred spirits, what they call "Contrarians." It will be so nice to have others who love to be "contrary" to the group. Phew!

Finally I met with my manager in Library Instruction to go over the basics I will need to cover for the first year students. Piece of cake. I just learned how to use the SmartBoard and couldn't be more excited. I can hardly wait to flesh out my Pirate & Searching for Buried Treasure (information) Themed-activities!
*
*
RRRRR ... I love my job!

Hoarders vs. Deleters: What Your Inbox Says About You

Dear Diary,

I got an interesting email titled:
Hoarders vs. Deleters: What your inbox says about you.
By JEFFREY ZASLOW Wall Street Journal 2006-08-10

(AP) - You are your inbox.

Take a clear-eyed look at how you answer or file each email. Notice what you choose to keep or delete. Consider your anxiety when your inbox is jammed with unanswered messages.
The makeup and tidiness of your inbox is a reflection of your habits, your mental health and, yes, even the way Mom and Dad raised you.

"If you keep your inbox full rather than empty, it may mean you keep your life cluttered in other ways," says psychologist Dave Greenfield, who founded the Center for Internet Behavior in West Hartford, Conn.
"Do you cling to the past? Do you have a lot of unfinished business in your life?"
*

Librarian-in-Excellence says, "Not I"

:)

*
On the other hand, if you obsessively clean your inbox every 10 minutes, you may be so quick to move on that you miss opportunities and ignore nuances. Or your compulsion for order may be sapping your energy from other endeavors, such as your family.
*

Librarian-in-Excellence says, "Hmmm..could be?"
:(

*
Email addiction, of course, is now a cultural given. But a less-noticed byproduct of that is the impulse of the inbox. Some of us are obsessed with moving every email to an appropriate folder while killing junk "spam" on arrival and making sure Mom knows that we got her email and still love her. Meanwhile, others among us are e-procrastinators, modern-day Scarlett O'Haras who figure we'll deal with old email tomorrow. We're discovering that the disorder in our inboxes mirrors the disorder in our homes, marriages and checkbooks.

Those who are too nice in other areas of their lives may be more likely to struggle with unwieldy inboxes, says Merlin Mann, creator of 43folders.com, a Web site about personal productivity. Polite people (or those who want to be liked) feel obliged to participate in ping-pong correspondences with chatty friends. They haven't the heart to give anyone the no-response brush-off. But Mr. Mann says such ruthlessness is necessary.
*

Librarian-in-Excellence says, "Suckers!"

Ha!

*
In Greensboro, N.C., Internet consultant Wally Bock keeps his inbox down to a manageable few dozen messages. He credits his sense of order to "having disciplined parents who made that a value." Still, he recognizes the downside. Many "Inbox Zero" zealots interrupt their work every time they hear a ping announcing incoming email. "Multitasking is a misnomer," says Mr. Bock. "What you're really doing is switching rapidly between tasks. And every time you switch, you have to start up again. Over the course of a day, you lose a chunk of efficiency."

University of Toronto instructor Christina Cavanagh studied hundreds of office workers for her book "Managing Your Email: Thinking Outside the Inbox." One of her subjects, a finance executive, had 10,000 emails in his inbox. She advised him to simply delete the oldest 9,000. Busy people, drowning in email, may have no choice but to kill old messages and suffer the consequences. (Mr. Mann calls this "euthanasia.")

Because "inboxes are metaphors for our lives," Dr. Greenfield says, there's no cure-all solution to inbox management. We're all too different. But he believes an awareness of our inbox behavior can help us better understand other areas of our lives.

"If you have 1,000 emails in your inbox, it may mean you don't want to miss an opportunity, but there are things you can't pull the trigger on," Dr. Greenfield says.

"If you have only 10 emails in your inbox, you may be pulling the trigger too fast and missing the richness of life."
*

Librarian-in-Excellence says, "Says You!"

*

**Cartoon image from http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/i/inboxes.asp

Gamers in Library

What a Great Concept

Dear Diary,

I am reading the American Libraries journal article titled, "Carvers Bay (SC) Branch Library: Gaming the Way to Literacy"

Description: If you thought gaming in libraries is only for the big-city systems, take a look at this library next to a corn field in rural South Carolina."
Author: Betha GutschePublisher: Date Posted: Aug 1, 2006 Copyright: OCLC 2006

A new library for a new century
Innovation happens in the most surprising places. If asked which US library is pushing the envelope on introducing interactive computer gaming in public libraries, how many would look to the most rural, poor, and isolated corner of a county in South Carolina? And if informed that this corner of the library world has a 30% illiteracy rate, a 15% unemployment rate, a poverty level exceeding 30% with up to 90% of school kids eligible for free or reduced-rate lunches, and a meager 2% rate for library card registration, what odds would you give that it can even keep its doors open?

Where’s the literacy?

Gaming is the key. The library has extended its hours until 7 PM most nights to accommodate the students’ schedules. However, McInvaill intends for the new library to have an impact on the low literacy and high dropout rates, so he’s applying a few rules to the video game lure, linking reading with gaming. In the spirit of the game, kids can aspire to different levels of accomplishment.

The gaming consoles are filled to capacity. The library extended its weekday hours until 8 PM in order to accommodate the teens' school schedules.

Level one: Any individual can use the games for two hours/week

Level two: Extra gaming time is earned by joining the Gaming Club.
Joining requires:
a current library card
good standing (no serious misbehavior)
a commitment to checking out four items/month, two of which must be books

Level three: Once in the Club, points are accumulated to be eligible for additional gaming time, group gaming parties, special prizes (headphones, memory units, gift certificates), or use of the conference room with the 46" TV.
Points are earned by doing at least one of the following:
writing book reports
attending an after-school program
participating in a youth service organization
embracing other positive, self-improvement activities

For the complete article http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=13796

1/4 + 3/4 = 1 Crazed Resident :)

Nobody can do everything

But

Everyone can do something!

- Unknown

http://www.booksforafrica.org/

http://www.booksforafrica.org/newsarchive.html#bwb

New Rotation 1/4 and 3/4 split....

Dear Diary,

Today I attended the weekly Reference Meeting, too early in the morning but I learned some things. We discussed interesting topics such as adding drop down menus from our Ask a Librarian to add subject librarians such as "Ask a Chemistry Librarian" etc...I will spend roughly a QUARTER of my time doing Library Instruction.

We discussed the use of Podcasts at Ohio University for libary tours. It is called "Learning to Speak: Creating a Library Podcast with a Unique voice" and is by Chris Kretz from Dowling College in New York. Dowling College began podcatsting in October 2005 with a monthly radio program entitled Omnibus: http://tinyurl.com/jw37g

The presentation shows how one library approached podcasting to produce a "unique interesting program that would appeal to its various user groups"

I then attended the Electronic Resources meeting. I will spend 3/4 of my time in this department. This should be interesting. I guess the two are manageable, something just is unsettling about being in 2 departments simultaneously. But as always, I'll figure it out and make it happen.

We discussed my working on publicizing our new RefWorks. I suggested we can create a minor stir in anticipation of it using a "Coming Soon" concept since we cannot access it yet: http://www.refworks.com/ RefWorks -- an online research management, writing and collaboration tool -- is designed to help researchers easily gather, manage, store and share all types of information, as well as generate citations and bibliographies. I found an interesting RefWorks Blog: http://www.lib.k-state.edu/services/refworks.html

In my second meeting we discussed the complexities of counting electronic journals. This e-matrix is made more difficult by changing definitions and criteria. Do you include individual tiltes in databases, or free web-based journals that are cataloged? Do you count each title available or accessible from JSTOR and Project Muse?

There is a lot written about this challenging situation. For more information see the
Library and Information Technology Association LITA Blog:
http://litablog.org/2005/10/07/e-matrix-ncsu-library-eresources-management-system/