A Wandering Eyre

Little did I know that the internet and its online “amateurism… was challeng[ing] the basis of our civilization…”

Where is the duct tape when you need it. Seriously, does anything this man says make sense anymore?

–Jane, bloggers are the devil

I have been doing some grumping in this space about technology lately and it occurred to me this morning that I may have given my library or other large academic libraries a bad rap. I still think, and my coworkers know how I feel, that we could be moving a bit faster. I never claimed patience as one of my virtues.

Things move slowly in large institutions because there is bureaucracy and red tape; that is the nature of the beast, but there are many advantages to working at a large library. Here are a few for your perusal:

• Resources - In a time when many are tightening their belts, our budget has remained mostly the same. We are in a hiring freeze, but I do not think this has seriously effected the work flow, yet. My budget for African American Studies remains the same as last year and for that I am grateful.
• Staff - We have a lot of staff, librarians and paraprofessionals both. This means that I do my job and just my job. I am not in a library with only 5 librarians and doing the job of 20. I can take my time, look around, read interesting things, and explore new directions without sacrificing time from other duties. This is one of the things I love about my job.
• Space - We had the means to build a shiny new building with great spaces for our students. The campus knows where we are and generally like coming here. We have collaborative classrooms with integrated technology. Our only problem now is coming to grips with the ways students use the building for different purposes than which it was invisioned, being ok with that, and creating policies that reflect our acceptance.

So it is not all bad. Yes it takes more time to implement things here because more people get a say so in the workings of the library. This is both a good and bad thing. Each beast has its own challenges and rewards. We just have to be accepting of both.

–Jane, loves the smell of reference in the morning

Speaking of technology in libraries: While I want to say, “Way to go Michael and Jenny - I want my library to be like that!” I think most of us are stuck somewhere in between. Somewhere like what Rochelle describes. Most of us want to be able to dream the big dreams, but are mired in a system that keeps us in fish tanks. I wonder how long it will be before I do not hear, “What is a blog?” or “Why do we need that online stuff?”

–Jane, wonders every day

I am working on a great new project with Meredith Farkas called HigherEd BlogCon, a conference to be held all online, which will examine the uses and effects of technology on higher education. At this moment, the wiki (which the link above takes you to) is our planning area and general work in progress.

Meredith and I will be working on the Library and Information Resources Section, but other areas include faculty blogging, web sites and web development, student life, PR marketing and development, and teaching. The call for papers and presenters will go out soon, so keep your eyes and ears open. I love two things about this project:

1. I think it is a good thing (and about time) that multiple people from different backgrounds and campus situations, sit down and talk about how technology is effecting how we educate our society.
2. It is fabulous that we are using the technology to talk about the technology! We are planning on a wiki and the conference will be on a blog. That is just cool.

If you want more information, you can visit our planning site or Meredith’s post about the conference. Suggestions and discussion are welcome.

–Jane, hears the Coors Lite “wingman” commercial song in my head now

I hope everyone had a great holiday.

My favorite thing about Thanksgiving this year: Texas A&M gave t.u. a run for their money and I am very proud of my team.

My least favorite thing: I just needed one unscheduled day!

Now, I am back to work, thinking big thoughts regarding technology in libraries and how it buoys us up or drags us under.

–Jane, holding onto the life preserver

I have been trying to read an article about how to properly use SWOT analysis for strategic planning. It is so riveting that I have been alternately staring off into space and checking my various email accounts. My library is beginning a strategic planning phase and I am on the Steering Committee. Strategery! I am hoping that we can address some technology concerns in our planning process, so I sent the committee the Library 2.0 paper and surrounding discussion, which I mentioned Sunday.

Since Sunday, I have been thinking quite a bit about Library and Librarian 2.0. This discussion reminds me of a similar theme, the Blended Librarian, first discussed by Steven J. Bell and John Shank. While I agree with many of the ideas behind being a “blended librarian,” I take issue with the term, because when I read the definition of what a blended librarian is I think that is what all librarians all should be. Here is the definition from the web site:

An academic librarian who combines the traditional skill set of librarianship with the information technologist’s hardware/software skills, and the instructional or educational designer’s ability to apply technology appropriately in the teaching-learning process.

Should not all librarians:

• understand instructional design
• have good technology skills
• understand how technology can enhance resources and research
• help professors integrate information literacy into their courses
• promote integration of the library into the learning process

I do not think we need a fancy name. We already have a name, librarian. I think Library 2.0 is a different sort of concept, since it has more to do with collaborative software and how the library, not the librarian, interacts with the public. But if I were to define Librarian 2.0 it would go something like the following:

A Librarian 2.0 would:

• understand and use disruptive technologies
• recognize that the library has no walls, physical or otherwise, if information is truly to be free
• work to reach users where and when the PON (point of need) occurs
• work to educate coworkers and the public on different uses of communication and collaboration software

Very soon though, I think we should all be Librarian 2.0s. We will have to be for our users to find us useful at all. Then we will not need a fancy name like Library or Librarian 2.0. We will just be the Library in which there are Librarians.

What would you add to the list?

–Jane, a Jane by any other name…

For more information on the blended librarian, see the following:

Bell, Steven J. and John Shank. “The Blended Librarian: A Blueprint for Redifining the Teaching and Learning Role of Academic Librarians.” College and Research Libraries News 65 7: 372-375.

I made mine on Sunday. Check out the others posted on Flickr. Than, go and make your own.

Steven Cohen wants the group to reach 200 and it is now at 68.

-Jane, looks around

Rick the Librarian has me cracking up today with his IM Shorthand for Monty Python. I added a few - go add your favorites.

–Jane, burn her!

This post will mean very little to non-aggies.

I was IMing my brother (thank you Meebo) and I realized that he is a junior at A&M this year. Which means E-Walk. Which means I am really freakin old. I am what people call an “old ag,” a “dead elephant.”

–Jane, Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2001… and old

Well now that Kinky Friedman has Jimmy Buffet’s endorsement, there is no way that he could not win his bid for Texas Governor.

–Jane, chew a little juicy fruit