I have been a busy beaver over here trying to get ready to teach my LTN 101 course. It starts on Monday and I am almost ready. I had no idea how many hours went to the technology side of working with an online class. I really have to give my Masters program teachers credit. Everything from our end as students seemed so smooth. I only hope I can get all the assessments, quizzes and discussion postings to leak out at the correct time!
On another note. The students are back in the library with the Fall semester under way. I am glad to see it is business as usual (so far) even with all the severe budget cuts. We (the university) of course are not business as usual, but I am glad that the students can at least still get in to some classes and start the process of getting adjusted to the semester. It already seems like there are less students on campus, which is unfortunate, they are the best part of my job.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Bead Library, Glendale, AZ
I was recently in Arizona and went to Glendale for the day with family. We stopped to look at the Bead Museum. It was incredible, the range of beads and history behind them were awesome. I loved walking through the different styles and there was just too much to look at, I know I missed a ton because there was so much.
There was also a library within the museum. On the door I noticed that you could ask permission to enter the library at the front desk. I peeked in through the window and looked inside. It was a small room with a center table and an adjoining room which I couldn’t see in to. I gained access to the library because a volunteer was present and was greeted by a very friendly young woman, who offered to help in whatever way I needed. I signed in and began to look around. I noticed two things, which are regular observations of collection, and I think they are real pitfalls of libraries as a whole; they both have to do with library service.
The first is the human error involved in shelving and maintaining collections. The first book I pulled off was an overview of different types of beads. When I went to put it back, it was unbelievably out of order (it was an LC classification system, so it should have been extremely easy to keep correct with so few visitors- I am so Dewey challenged). The second service pitfall of libraries is the lack of access to in-person collections. A lot of libraries are getting much better with their electronic collections access and allowing patrons the ability to troubleshoot when the library is closed (through guides, automatic password resets, etc.). The library was open but appointments were preferred. If you were already there, than you could ask to be let in (if a volunteer was present). I think it is important to make clear signs and advertise the services when available, or ask for a grant to staff the library, or market the library for volunteers. There are so many people who would love to volunteer or work in a library! It is crucial to allow access to these collections, otherwise they are pointless. Who cares how many books and resources there are if only a few people can access them. These are just two observations I think we need to continuously strive to improve.
What services would you like to be changed in your library, or what negative trends do you see, that we can fix?
There was also a library within the museum. On the door I noticed that you could ask permission to enter the library at the front desk. I peeked in through the window and looked inside. It was a small room with a center table and an adjoining room which I couldn’t see in to. I gained access to the library because a volunteer was present and was greeted by a very friendly young woman, who offered to help in whatever way I needed. I signed in and began to look around. I noticed two things, which are regular observations of collection, and I think they are real pitfalls of libraries as a whole; they both have to do with library service.
The first is the human error involved in shelving and maintaining collections. The first book I pulled off was an overview of different types of beads. When I went to put it back, it was unbelievably out of order (it was an LC classification system, so it should have been extremely easy to keep correct with so few visitors- I am so Dewey challenged). The second service pitfall of libraries is the lack of access to in-person collections. A lot of libraries are getting much better with their electronic collections access and allowing patrons the ability to troubleshoot when the library is closed (through guides, automatic password resets, etc.). The library was open but appointments were preferred. If you were already there, than you could ask to be let in (if a volunteer was present). I think it is important to make clear signs and advertise the services when available, or ask for a grant to staff the library, or market the library for volunteers. There are so many people who would love to volunteer or work in a library! It is crucial to allow access to these collections, otherwise they are pointless. Who cares how many books and resources there are if only a few people can access them. These are just two observations I think we need to continuously strive to improve.
What services would you like to be changed in your library, or what negative trends do you see, that we can fix?
Monday, August 10, 2009
Guest Post: Screenwriting Library Thoughts
Here is the highly sought after guest post by an avid library goer and aspiring screen writer:
I wish that everyone who has a passion in life had access to a library devoted to their subject of interest. For me that passion is writing, particularly screenplays, and that library exists in Beverly Hills, California. It is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Academy Foundation library, known otherwise as the Margaret Herrick Library. The library was named after a former Academy librarian. How many librarians out there aspire to have a library named after them?
I went to Southern California on personal business, and took a detour to go the library to review some screenplays. The library's focus encompasses the motion picture industry. As stated in the library’s brochure, the library is used by approximately 14,000 persons a year and houses a collection that includes books, periodicals, scripts, and photographic materials as well as a special collections and files that document the history of Hollywood and the contributions of many well known individuals. The users of the library typically are researchers, students, educators and those associated with the entertainment industry.
Because the collections are irreplaceable, the security at the library is very high. I was greeted by a security guard at the main entrance and required to show a picture ID and complete an application form for a one-day library pass. With these documents in hand, I was then allowed to go upstairs to the library sans any backpack or notebooks having pockets. As I entered the library, I was visually pleased by its adequate supply of library tables and rows of books as well as a smiling librarian. She took my picture ID and application, and gave me a one day library pass.
I then wandered over to what I thought was a reference desk (I'm not sure - I must admit I'm an amateur when it comes to the technical terms of a library). I wanted to review three screenplays from the library’s core collection. As the librarian pulled the screenplays, I momentarily sat myself at one of the tables set aside for review of items from the library's special collection. Had I wanted materials from the special collection, I would have had to call and make an appointment. I then would be directed to sit at one of the reserve tables, which were within laser eyeball view of three librarians. Once they called my name and I received my material, I was able to wander to the other side of the library where I found approximately five long library tables. I saw as many as six different people working at the library (maybe some volunteers), and about 15 patrons of the library (hey, I'm catching on to these terms).
The screenplays I reviewed were unique in that they were all winners of the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenplay competition put on by the Academy. In my opinion, the Nicholl competition is the gold bar standard for all screenplay competitions. All fellowship winners (as many as five screenplays every year) have their screenplays bound and added to the collection. As an entrant to this contest for the last four years, I wanted to review some prior winners to see if I had the "look and feel" of the successful screenplays. The time I spent reviewing the screenplays was invaluable. I had an opportunity to see how flawless and engaging the winning screenplays were. At the same time, I also got a confirmation that my style and format was similar. So, now all I have to do is raise the bar on the final product.
I turned in my one day library pass in order to get my picture ID back. The librarian asked to look through my pad of paper and flipped through every page ensuring nothing belonging to the library was leaving with me. This is a library I will visit again. I can only hope that one day I will be able to visit the library and ask to see a bound screenplay in their core collection with my name on the title page. I guess it's time to start working on my next screenplay.
I wish that everyone who has a passion in life had access to a library devoted to their subject of interest. For me that passion is writing, particularly screenplays, and that library exists in Beverly Hills, California. It is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Academy Foundation library, known otherwise as the Margaret Herrick Library. The library was named after a former Academy librarian. How many librarians out there aspire to have a library named after them?
I went to Southern California on personal business, and took a detour to go the library to review some screenplays. The library's focus encompasses the motion picture industry. As stated in the library’s brochure, the library is used by approximately 14,000 persons a year and houses a collection that includes books, periodicals, scripts, and photographic materials as well as a special collections and files that document the history of Hollywood and the contributions of many well known individuals. The users of the library typically are researchers, students, educators and those associated with the entertainment industry.
Because the collections are irreplaceable, the security at the library is very high. I was greeted by a security guard at the main entrance and required to show a picture ID and complete an application form for a one-day library pass. With these documents in hand, I was then allowed to go upstairs to the library sans any backpack or notebooks having pockets. As I entered the library, I was visually pleased by its adequate supply of library tables and rows of books as well as a smiling librarian. She took my picture ID and application, and gave me a one day library pass.
I then wandered over to what I thought was a reference desk (I'm not sure - I must admit I'm an amateur when it comes to the technical terms of a library). I wanted to review three screenplays from the library’s core collection. As the librarian pulled the screenplays, I momentarily sat myself at one of the tables set aside for review of items from the library's special collection. Had I wanted materials from the special collection, I would have had to call and make an appointment. I then would be directed to sit at one of the reserve tables, which were within laser eyeball view of three librarians. Once they called my name and I received my material, I was able to wander to the other side of the library where I found approximately five long library tables. I saw as many as six different people working at the library (maybe some volunteers), and about 15 patrons of the library (hey, I'm catching on to these terms).
The screenplays I reviewed were unique in that they were all winners of the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenplay competition put on by the Academy. In my opinion, the Nicholl competition is the gold bar standard for all screenplay competitions. All fellowship winners (as many as five screenplays every year) have their screenplays bound and added to the collection. As an entrant to this contest for the last four years, I wanted to review some prior winners to see if I had the "look and feel" of the successful screenplays. The time I spent reviewing the screenplays was invaluable. I had an opportunity to see how flawless and engaging the winning screenplays were. At the same time, I also got a confirmation that my style and format was similar. So, now all I have to do is raise the bar on the final product.
I turned in my one day library pass in order to get my picture ID back. The librarian asked to look through my pad of paper and flipped through every page ensuring nothing belonging to the library was leaving with me. This is a library I will visit again. I can only hope that one day I will be able to visit the library and ask to see a bound screenplay in their core collection with my name on the title page. I guess it's time to start working on my next screenplay.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Guest Blogger
I am always fascinated by other types of libraries since I have only worked in a law library and an academic library. This weekend there will be a guest blogger discussing a screenwriting library in CA and I will be on shortly after to discuss a bead library from my trip to the bead museum in AZ. Watch for it!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Why isn't it on your website?
I was staffing QuestionPoint today. It is our chat cooperative my library is a member of. I really enjoy providing chat reference and I think it pulls on different skills than the traditional in-person reference interactions. It is also more difficult to find out the actual piece of information the patron needs. I was working with a student today at a distant junior college. The student had basic questions about loan periods for books, movies, journals and holds. I scoured the website and couldn't find it ANYWHERE! I mean really, anywhere. I thought, either I am loosing my touch, or it is a badly designed website. I finally decided that I had looked too long (I had already updated the student to let them know I was still searching- but with online reference the need for speed is felt more greatly) and I called the junior college library. I asked for all the information, and was given that and more. I also asked if the info. was on the website. No! They did not have the information on their website, they "hadn't put that information up yet."
I can't believe that. So often libraries put up information about special programs, instruction, special facilities, technology, info on the librarians and nice pictures of students. How can the most basic of information be left off? It is crucial to the students to know about borrowing privileges, it is the foundation of every library: their service and their collections. Why do libraries make it difficult??
I can't believe that. So often libraries put up information about special programs, instruction, special facilities, technology, info on the librarians and nice pictures of students. How can the most basic of information be left off? It is crucial to the students to know about borrowing privileges, it is the foundation of every library: their service and their collections. Why do libraries make it difficult??
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Recent Good Reads
I always love reading books that have a local feel. Or remind me of places and cities I have lived in. I just finished Lethal Vintage. It is a murder mystery set in the Napa Valley which is right near where I live. I love mysteries (both video and books) and highly recommend this book. It was the kind of mystery that makes you cringe with suspense. I also just finished Memory Keepers Daughter and Wistful Drinking (written by Carrie Fisher-what a fascinating life, after being a teen babe). Anyways, Wistful Drinking was quit funny and Memory Keepers Daughter was extremely extremely sad, but very riveting. I am recommending all three.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Great Library Games
Does this ever happen to you? You think you have this great idea and then you work up a little mock-up of the idea or a quick text layout of something- anything and then you forget completely about and the idea and it gets filed in your "ideas" folder in which you stumble upon much later (and then ofcourse think it is fabulous again!).
I was e-mailed about this site: The University of Sydney iResearch Games
I played the games, which were excellent and thought it was the greatest thing (then I found a poster I had made today from a year ago about the same resources)...oh well.
Here are some screen shots. I highly recommend checking out the site for ideas, they did a great job.
Find that cheese:
Book shoot games:
Practice game on creating citations:
I was e-mailed about this site: The University of Sydney iResearch Games
I played the games, which were excellent and thought it was the greatest thing (then I found a poster I had made today from a year ago about the same resources)...oh well.
Here are some screen shots. I highly recommend checking out the site for ideas, they did a great job.
Find that cheese:
Book shoot games:
Practice game on creating citations:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Prezi for presentations
Have you heard of prezi? I am using it with a colleague to create a presentation for our annual Love Your Library event. We are going to do user testing on our Library Channel (where we keep our tutorials on how to use the library) for our station. You can create a presentation in a much more visual way than powerpoint with prezi. You can place text and images and when you click next the software zooms out of the current slide and into the next slide, which can be flipped, turned side ways, or past another slide. It is sort of like mapping a presentation out in all different angles and then zooming in and out to keep students awake! Our library does an incredible job making everything accessible. Prezi is not accessible so it isn't something we would ever likely use. It has been fun to explore with it and after time fooling around with it, I feel pretty comfortable. There was a very bizarre limbo stage where I noticed that the help guides on the (free) program are extremely limited. Lots of trial and error...
Once our finished presentation is done, I will link to it. What do you use besides powerpoint and prezi for presentations?
Once our finished presentation is done, I will link to it. What do you use besides powerpoint and prezi for presentations?
Monday, June 22, 2009
Hurray!
My grandfather broke his hip in March (wrestling with some vegetation). He had a successful surgery and on his first driving trip, guess where he went!? The public library!! Way to go Pops! Those Scottsdale libraries have it all...
WARNING WARNING!! GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW
WARNING WARNING!!
WARNING WARNING!! GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW
WARNING WARNING!!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Is someone really interested in that?
Do you ever find things in your library collection where you think 1) who bought that? 2) who would write it? and 3)who on earth would read it?
I have that feeling regularly in bookstores and libraries (including mine). I was recently at Walmart and I had a moment of- oh my gosh, people must be sooo lazy to purchase that product. I was in the plastic bag aisle buying sandwich bags and I saw a box with throw-away crock pot liners. You are supposed to put them in the crock-pot, cook your dish like normal, then throw them away with no clean-up! Atleast that was the pitch. I'm sorry, but really? Someone would spend 50 cents to not wash a crock-pot (4 for $2). It started me thinking about all the books I would never read. Here are a few of mine:
Beyond Leaf Raking
Salt: A World History
Facebook for Dummies
Laguna Beach: Life Inside the Bubble
What about you? Are there books you either wouldn't read, or books that are in your collection that you think who bought it, who would write it or who would read it?
I have that feeling regularly in bookstores and libraries (including mine). I was recently at Walmart and I had a moment of- oh my gosh, people must be sooo lazy to purchase that product. I was in the plastic bag aisle buying sandwich bags and I saw a box with throw-away crock pot liners. You are supposed to put them in the crock-pot, cook your dish like normal, then throw them away with no clean-up! Atleast that was the pitch. I'm sorry, but really? Someone would spend 50 cents to not wash a crock-pot (4 for $2). It started me thinking about all the books I would never read. Here are a few of mine:
Beyond Leaf Raking
Salt: A World History
Facebook for Dummies
Laguna Beach: Life Inside the Bubble
What about you? Are there books you either wouldn't read, or books that are in your collection that you think who bought it, who would write it or who would read it?
Monday, June 15, 2009
Still Worried about the Budget
Yes, my thoughts are still on the budget and the California economic situation. We have been getting a lot of e-mails about furloughs and different options for the CSU system. I really hope that if furloughs prevent layoffs then they start furloughs next month so we can start saving jobs immediately. I just keep waiting for the ball to drop...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Worried about the budget
I am so consumed with the California budget. We don't officially know the impact that the budget will yet have on our campus and specifically in the library. I have heard numbers of a CSU budget deficit of 400 to 700 million. The deficit would be the equivalent of shutting down two large campuses in the system. I have no idea what is going to happen and if this means that 40,000 students will be denied admission system wide, or if it means that thousands of staff will be laid off or cuts in pay or furloughs. I keep trying to check the CSU budget central information, but there is no new information.
I am also waiting to find out what this means for our public libraries. Is their funding going to be short if the governor borrows money from the CA cities? In a way, I just sort of want to know how bad it will get so I can brace myself (in a perfect world), and I really will be upset if layoffs start....
Monday, June 8, 2009
Public Library Changes
My public library has changed two things recently which I have been waiting to weigh in on until I got used to both and could assess based on patterns and problems/benefits I encountered.
1) The switch to automated check out stations. When this was first done it meant longer crankier lines of patrons unable to check out their materials and figure out the system. I have to say that I love it. There is one huge glitch though. I few weeks ago, me and the hubby went to check out audio books (the main reason we use the public library) and checked out four items. When Zach went to renew the items a few weeks later they were not on his account. So I looked up the books online in the catalog and all four books said they were "claims returned". So we went in to the library to find out what was going on, and it turns out that the person in front of us never checked out of their account. So even though we scanned Zach's library card, the system still registered all 4 of our books on that patrons account, who then called the library wondering why the heck 4 audio books were on his account. This scenario made me a little paranoid and now I keep checking to make sure my account is cleared every time I go to the library.
What I also don't like about this is the human factor. I think it is one more way to give less service to patrons. If patrons want to self check out, then fine, but the option to have a circ staff there should also be available- after all, a lot of the patrons I get at the circ desk are happy to talk, laugh and share information about the resources they are checking out or just about their day. The more positive human interactions we have in our spaces the better.
2) The switch to making everything you check out due on the same check out date (with a few exceptions like the 7 day new fiction books). This means the books, cds and movies are all due at the same time: 3 weeks away. I found this very surprising and was not pleased by the thought of people having movies for three weeks, because I thought it would dwindle down the constantly small amount of available movies. However, I have found that I love this new switch to having the same due dates. It makes a lot more sense in conjunction with the self check out machines; you just have to get everything listed on your account!
1) The switch to automated check out stations. When this was first done it meant longer crankier lines of patrons unable to check out their materials and figure out the system. I have to say that I love it. There is one huge glitch though. I few weeks ago, me and the hubby went to check out audio books (the main reason we use the public library) and checked out four items. When Zach went to renew the items a few weeks later they were not on his account. So I looked up the books online in the catalog and all four books said they were "claims returned". So we went in to the library to find out what was going on, and it turns out that the person in front of us never checked out of their account. So even though we scanned Zach's library card, the system still registered all 4 of our books on that patrons account, who then called the library wondering why the heck 4 audio books were on his account. This scenario made me a little paranoid and now I keep checking to make sure my account is cleared every time I go to the library.
What I also don't like about this is the human factor. I think it is one more way to give less service to patrons. If patrons want to self check out, then fine, but the option to have a circ staff there should also be available- after all, a lot of the patrons I get at the circ desk are happy to talk, laugh and share information about the resources they are checking out or just about their day. The more positive human interactions we have in our spaces the better.
2) The switch to making everything you check out due on the same check out date (with a few exceptions like the 7 day new fiction books). This means the books, cds and movies are all due at the same time: 3 weeks away. I found this very surprising and was not pleased by the thought of people having movies for three weeks, because I thought it would dwindle down the constantly small amount of available movies. However, I have found that I love this new switch to having the same due dates. It makes a lot more sense in conjunction with the self check out machines; you just have to get everything listed on your account!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
OUCH outreach
I was driving towards the public library the other day and I saw this big sign that said "OUCH". It caught my attention immediately and I kept reading. The full sign said "OUCH $1000 fine for fireworks" (they are illegal in our city). I thought this was an awesome marketing tool created by the city police. It really caught my attention and made me curious (and that really is an ouch).
What could we do? "OOPS, your library books are due" or "Yikes, you already paid for the library services" (Not nearly as good as OUCH).
What could we do? "OOPS, your library books are due" or "Yikes, you already paid for the library services" (Not nearly as good as OUCH).
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