Libraries Extinct in 2019...

Well no, libraries will probably not become extinct like the poor dinosaur (actually I don't think they are really extinct either, have you ever seen an ostrich) anyway, I digress...

Here is a blog entry talking about how libraries will need to adapt...will libraries become extinct? and a cool little extinction timeline that shows the libraries will be defunct by 2019.

One class 2 locations

After hearing the moderator's comments after Prof. Lankes Keynote address our Prof. sounds like a rebel force in the Library Land. Apparently not every librarian is as passionate about librarianship as he is.

After the Keynote I feel pretty energized about coming back to school and feel like Librarians have nothing to fear...Right?  It sounded like another speaker during the conference had a speech titled "Library's are screwed" or something like that.  I would have liked to hear what he had to say.  

So, in class tonight I learned a few things, a little about collection building, a little about the e-book revolution and also that Prof Lankes watches GLEE! How awesome is that!

Duct Tape, Acne and Beaded Curtains...

Those are just a few of the AWESOME topics that Sue Kowalski touched upon in her talk to our 511 class last night!  I am not exaggerating when I say I think I love this librarian!!! She was inspiring and energetic and witty!  I worked for a short stint at a Syracuse City high school as a Liaison to Syracuse University through a grant program...I actually cringed every-time I had to take my students to the library.  The librarian wasn't the problem but her support staff treated the students who came in like convicts.  "Why are you here?"  "What are doing?"  "Be quiet!!!"   What made it worse that the school I was assigned to was my Alma Mater. Things had sure changed since I had been a student (well not the furniture or decor, but definitely the "vibe" of the library)  So I related to her when she recounted her bad experience with the Syracuse City School librarian.

Her talk also brought me back to my elementary school days.  My first recollection of my school library was the librarian reading Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. I loved going to the library and checking out books...I also helped  the librarian every year with the RIF (Reading is Fundamental) sales.  Those memories are fond ones...that I remember not because of the physical space of the library but of the warm hearted librarian.  Although I am leaning into going into Academic Libraries, I hope I can be as energetic, caring and innovative as Sue is and as was my elementary school librarian.

Librarians in the public eye and those in the back rooms...

In our 3rd class Prof. Lankes spoke about how in the past some librarians have been the one up front, answering the questions from their members, checking out the materials, etc.  And then there were the librarians in the back who acquired the books and did some of the "behind the scenes" stuff.  I was happy to hear that the line between the front line librarian and the one behind the curtain has become blurred.  As a counselor my favorite part of the job is helping a client or student work on their problems, offer possible solutions and scenarios and seeing them overcome or "solve" that problem.  But on the other hand, I also like to do research are studies.  It sounds like a job of a librarian is much of the same, and that makes me even more convinced I am making the right choice in pursuing this degree.

The Dewey Decimal Spiral Staircase (But can't I just take the elevator?)

So when Professor Lankes told us about the Seattle Library and described how the spiral staircase goes through the floors in the order of the Dewey Decimal System I knew I just had to see it!  Seeing as I can't fly out to Seattle anytime soon I found it here.

Here is the link to the entire article, where you can also take a virtual tour...Seattle Library

And a quote about the stairs by one of its members

"I will preface my comments with a disclaimer: I love the new library, and I'm honored by its presence in our city. However, there is one major problem — the lack of accessible staircases. Going up, you can reach every floor via stairway and/or escalator. However, to get from the sixth floor down to the fifth you must take an elevator (the emergency staircases don't count, as they are for emergencies only). This has already become a problem by day two, as the sixth floor librarians were encouraging those of us who were confused and irritated (and there were many) to submit written complaints. The old library may have been run-down and ugly, but at least I could reach any stack on any floor and walk back down the sames stairs to an exit."
— Bill Nordwall, Seattle

No Social Media for a Week?

Social media blackout, A Dim Idea.
Cool blog entry...Which, interestingly enough, I would not have found if I didn't "Friend" Syracuse University on Facebook.

Curious George...Was he only curious because he wanted a banana?

As my background is in the Social Sciences, when Prof. Lankes started discussing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation I became excited.  Not that I wasn't excited before, mind you!

To me my motivation for learning has always been intrinsic.  I have always been a curious person.  I never needed my parents to give me money for every "A" I earned on my report card.  I would feel disappointed or satisfied by the grade I earned not by the reward I received.  Although I might be in the minority according to this recent article...Pay-grade

Now, there are two schools of thought on this (I am being very simplistic, there are many schools of thought on this) but in the broad sense, Why was I always a curious child...Was it Nature or Nurture? Did my environment shape who I was or did my genes?  Well, obviously if I knew the answer I wouldn't be writing this blog entry, I would be dusting my Nobel Prize and sitting on my pile of money.  But I digress; anyway this got me thinking.

How, as a librarian, could I make my clientele more intrinsically motivated to use the library?  Then I thought...does it even matter what the motivation for using the library is...as long as people are coming?  Is it just enough to get "butts in the seats?"

Shameless Plug!

Vote for Me~!

http://www.93q.com/Article.asp?id=1926457

First Class-Oh no the dreaded "Tell me a little about yourself..."

Actually I liked that Professor Lankes gave us the Headline Option.  Problem with me is I froze up and couldn't think of a witty headline.  I am a preparer, so of course I needed much more time than 10 minutes.  But I loved hearing how everyone came from very diverse backgrounds, made me feel much better that I had no library work experience to speak of. 

I also was pleasantly surprised. The instructor was engaging (not a stereotypical stuffy librarian in a bun and glasses!)  Most importantly he emphasized the importance of the Librarian and not the Library.  Also, that a love for books is not the only prerequisite for becoming a librarian, but the role of the Librarian is to "Improve Society Through Facilitating Knowledge Creation in their Communities" or ISTFKCC as I like to call it!

I also am a trivia buff and my goal is to someday be on Jeopardy, so I will remember the little nugget of information about the Muses, and how the shrines to them were forerunners of today's modern museums.
Some more info to those of you interested...(yes, it's in wikipedia, don't shoot me!)

Muses to Modern Museums

Also interesting to me was that Prof. Lankes mentioned the CEO of Google thought that when children reach a certain age they ought to be able to change their names so to hide their youthful indiscretions online.  I had just read a blog the day before talking about this very thing.

A future of disposable names

Makes me happy that when I was in HS I took a typing class and didn't have Facebook.  Oh the horror of having to block my mother!

First it's all about "Me, Me Me"

I didn't know what to expect for my first Library Science class.  I know no one in the program or anyone who has pursued the program. So I couldn't speak to anyone ahead of time to get a feel for how the course would look, run, feel etc...

I had not been on the "other side" of a classroom in many years.  I graduated with my MS degree in Counseling in 2004 and since then I have been working in higher ed. mostly in academic counseling positions but also teaching 1st Year Transition courses, or what used to be called "Freshman Seminar"

I became a Counselor because I love to help people, and although I joked in class I was sick of hearing peoples problems, I was being facetious.  The very reason I chose to pursue a second career is the very fact that I want to continue to help students, in my case college aged students, improve their lives and reach their academic potential. 

OK, now that I have bored you to tears, on to my class reaction!