A Wandering Eyre

The presenter I am listening to now just uttered the word “fagizzled” when referring to a website that has gone wonky.

–Jane, aloe

Approx. four hours until I see the Big Damn Movie. I can hardly think.

I nice man turned to me when I was getting off the plane and said, “Nice Shirt.”

–Jane, beamed

My comments will be in paranthesis for your reading enjoyment.

Roy Tennant: Googlezon, Episode VI: Return of the Librarians
LITA National Forum 2005

Roy has a great sense of humor and he opens with an earthquake joke because there are huge pointy chandeliers above us. He begins by showing us a film entitled, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It.” It goes through all of the amalgamations of Google which includes some entertaining predictions on where Google is going in the future

“[Librarians] have their eyes on the long haul…”

“It is time for us to get our act together…”

“We must remake librarianship…” This is why this man is so awesome. He sees the big picture and is realistic about where we are going and what we should be doing.

Hilarity: the fire alarm goes off and we get up and start filing out of the room. Right before I reach the exit, *ping* *ping* you can now re-enter the building.” I feel like I am at work.

Roy begins again:

We have to go to where are users are instead of forcing them to always come to us. His example is Open URL in Google Scholar. Google and Yahoo use simple technologies that are open and “laying around waiting for us to use.” (The question is why are we not using them? We have the power and the knowledge. What is wrong with us as a profession? Can we really say that we are out to help users if we do not even use the technologies that will help them most?)

“Stop putting lipstick on pigs” (oh, what a perfect metaphor for so many things we do)

We should stop trying to fix systems that are systemically broken. (AMEN) OMG he said catalogs. (I think I am in love with this man, sorry Mr. Rochester.) Fixing up pigs makes us feel like we are making progress when we are actually going backwards. (Are you reading this library world?)

When we design catalogs we build them for ourselves and want the user to act like librarians when the machine should act like the librarian FOR the user. Roy shows University of Rochester as an example of a user centered library. (I want a streamlined catalog like that. Simply Beautiful.)

“Fix What’s Broken”

MARC records hem us in and the catalog does not usually give users the kind of meaningful information they are looking for and we do not have systems that pull meaningful information from them in ways that the users can understand.

“Strive for Efficiencies”

We must streamline our routines, reducing staff in materials, acquisition, and circulation.

“Foster Agility”

Committees do not get anything done (Did I mention that I love this man?) And small task forces should be doing the actual work. “Learn as we breathe. All the time without even thinking about it” We have to change.

Theme of the day: We must collaborate in new ways and we must change. Example: Talis is trying to make reader reviews from different libraries available to all. (What if it was something more meaningful than reviews?)

The questions and comments were really great. Librarians stand up and talk about their library totally scrapping their catalog to create something that works with algorithms that have multiple relevancies, NC State, talk about the problems of building interfaces for both faculty and students, and how can we justify our expertise in a changing world.

Roy repeatedly talks about how our catalogs are failing our users. He says that “our catalogs today are not much better than card catalogs on wheels.” To which I almost shout Amen but thankfully restrain myself. For once.

One librarian, who I am sure is a very nice man, makes the point that Systems does not drive services, and then goes on to paint reference librarians as the dinosaurs. I wanted to stand up and say, “Hey, some of us are very tech savvy and strain against the old school ways too, you just may never know it!” Roy tells the gentleman who is mistaken about some Reference staff that we, as tech people, have to spread the gospel.

Roy cautions one commenter not to place all the blame with the ILS companies because we are the ones who ask them to spend all of their time tweaking things on a system that does not work.

*******

Roy, keep spreading the word and we will do our parts as well. We must, as Roy emphasized repeatedly, work together as a “Library Alliance” if we mean to survive and change effectively.

–Jane, the Roy love fest is over for now, but this man is going to take my profession places and it makes me happy and excited

This is my fist time to sunny California and so far I am far from disappointed. It is wonderful here. The hotel where all the fun is going down is nice, way better than the digs I can usually afford. As it is, I had to get a little cash from Mr. Rochester for the trip. It’s his job now to support my book habits. I have about 30 minutes to kill until the opening session, the wonderful Roy Tennant wil be speaking.

Do not worry all you sorry people crying into your milk or beer or whatever because you can not be here with me at the LITA Forum. I will give you all the gory details. I promise.

–Jane, geek-o-rama

Trips and conferences are often a time when you can catch up on that article that has been languishing in your TBR (to be read) pile for weeks. For my plane flight to San Jose, I chose to take along Jessamyn’s OPAC Manifesto.

Anyone interested in what our OPACs do and do not do for us should read this well thought out list. I do not think we are asking too much when we ask that our OPACs check our spelling, innately know if we are searching for an author, title, or keyword, or that they would be able to generate customizable RSS feeds.

OPACs and libraries interact in a strange dichotomy of make-do and demand more. Many, I would hazard a most here, librarians are willing to make do with OPACs that fail to utilize existing technologies and are built by companies who seem to be under the impression that they operate in a vacuum. Sadly, the vacuum is created by librarians who do not demand more of the companies to which we pay large amounts of money for a product that fails us.

Then there are the rest of us, the demand mores. These individuals are increasingly frustrated by the limitations of our OPACs. Some of us to not have any power to wield with our arguments and demands, save the strength of our own voices. Others have power to be heard, but are drowned out by the voices of the make-dos.

Is there an answer? I say yes. I say we demand, as a profession, more from the companies who build our OPACs. I say we demand that they utilize existing technologies and strive to create them so we are not always three steps behind the crowd. I say we refuse to keep silent just because so many others are.

The OPAC Manifesto is a good place to start.

–Jane, “the revolution starts now”

Steven pointed out this fun tool today. It creates a visual of similar authors. I could play with this thing all day.

–Jane, just wasted 10 minutes watching names float

Updated: I looked for George R. R. Martin, then clicked on R. A. Salvatore, and there in the list was God. The Great I Am Himself! I did not know He was a Sci Fi/Fantasy author. I clicked on God and was amused by the resulting “similar” authors which included Faulkner, Bradbury, and… J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter is the devil.

I am holding two tickets to see Serenity in San Jose at 9:35.

–Jane, giddy as all get out

Many things are happening today. I am trying desperately to stay focused, but all I can really think about is this. I will be in San Jose at the LITA Forum, but Karen Coombs and I are escaping to see Serenity later Friday night. I have to go see my BDH tear it up on the big screen. I will be blogging on the official blog and posting here as well. Readers, you are in for some geeky thrills. Between the BDM and Forum, I think my nerd heart will simply explode.

–Jane, hearts Joss

I swear by my pretty floral bonnet, I will end you.

I have to go into work today and I will be very busy, so this might be the only post you get today, gentle readers, but it is a doozy.

After 8 years, Mr. Rochester has decided to make me an honest woman. I am now in possession of a very sparkley ring and the rights to nag him until the day he dies. Awesome.

–Jane, promises to nag in sickness and health

I do not usually like mysteries. I seem to have problems actually caring about whodunit, so when my sister began pestering me to read Patricia Cornwell, I was indifferent. I finally worked up the interest to read the first novel in the Scarpetta series, Body of Evidence. I admit that I enjoyed the read. By the end of the book, the reader has a grip on the crime, the victims, and the main character. I liked that Cornwell gives the reader insight into Kay Scarpetta, the Chief Medical Examiner for Virginia. I tend to like more forensic related mysteries and this had plenty of that. The mystery itself was unpredictable which made the reading much more enjoyable.

Recommended.

–Jane, what to read next?