Tag: librarian

thank you, jessamyn!

Thanks to a mention on librarian.net this past Sunday, hits on this blog have gone from about five per day to nearly forty per day. It also helps that I discovered blogrolling a couple of weeks ago, so I’m now pinging that site whenever I add a new entry. In light of all this new … Continue reading “thank you, jessamyn!”

Thanks to a mention on librarian.net this past Sunday, hits on this blog have gone from about five per day to nearly forty per day. It also helps that I discovered blogrolling a couple of weeks ago, so I’m now pinging that site whenever I add a new entry. In light of all this new traffic, I’ve made a few changes to the blog, including the improvement to the RSS feed and adding handy-dandy topics to help categorize the content. I’m also starting to make one entry per topic so that there is less of a hodge-podge of things. In other words, I’m starting to use some of the features of Moveable Type that until this point have been gathering dust on my server. Maybe one of these days I’ll even do an over-haul of the stylesheet and make this blog look a bit more unique!

generic response

I wrote a short note to the company making the librarian action figure referenced on July 10th, and today I received a response. Here is my original message to them: I have a sense of humor. When I saw your design for the librarian action figure in the Seattle Times article today, I didn’t laugh. … Continue reading “generic response”

I wrote a short note to the company making the librarian action figure referenced on July 10th, and today I received a response. Here is my original message to them:

I have a sense of humor. When I saw your design for the librarian action figure in the Seattle Times article today, I didn’t laugh. That stereotypical image of shushing librarians is so tired and worn out that it has ceased to be funny. If we are superheroes because we “make sense of the world of information,” then why not make an action figure that represents that?

Here is the response I received from Jan at Accoutrements:

Greetings,
Thank you for your interest in the Librarian Action Figure. She should be available in Mid to Late September. For retail purchasing info and availability updates please stay tuned to mcphee.com. For wholesale info please go on our website at accoutrements.com.
Cheers

It is so heartening to know they read email comments and respond with thoughtful and appropriate replies. Here is my response:

I am curious – what part of my message to your company gave any indication that I would want to purchase this item? Your response definitely puts me off any thought of it.

If I receive a response on this, I’ll be sure to post it here.

Continue reading “generic response”

librarian action figure

I’m trying not to be frustrated by the design of this librarian action figure, but of all the things that librarians do, shushing isn’t our most useful action. If we are superheroes because we “make sense of the world of information,” then why not make an action figure that represents that? I do have a … Continue reading “librarian action figure”

I’m trying not to be frustrated by the design of this librarian action figure, but of all the things that librarians do, shushing isn’t our most useful action. If we are superheroes because we “make sense of the world of information,” then why not make an action figure that represents that?

I do have a sense of humor, but sometimes I get tired of the same old stereotype being drug up time and time again. Couldn’t they have modeled this action figure after the Librarian Avenger?

[added note: Apparently, I’m not the only person having this reaction.]

post-conference depression

I suppose that unless you have experienced it, it is difficult to imagine how much fun one can have at a conference with a bunch of serials librarians. We only get together once a year, so perhaps that explains the intensity of everything, from the session topics to the late night laughter. On the flight … Continue reading “post-conference depression”

I suppose that unless you have experienced it, it is difficult to imagine how much fun one can have at a conference with a bunch of serials librarians. We only get together once a year, so perhaps that explains the intensity of everything, from the session topics to the late night laughter. On the flight home, I felt slightly nauseous and inexplicably sad. It has been a long time since I have felt like that, but it is a familiar to anyone who has experience summer camp. I was ready to go home when it was time, but at the same time, I wanted to hold on to those experiences and to the bond that has been created between my cohorts and me. I have to look on the bright side; even though we are scattered in four states and two countries, we will almost certainly see each other at least once a year. Perhaps that is what makes our time together this past weekend as precious as it is.

As you can see, it’s been quite some time since I posted anything new here. Part of that has been a result of my busy summer, but part of it has also been a lack of enthusiasm. The format of this blog might be changing from purely links with minimal commentary to a blend of reflections on my experiences as they happen, along with important links with commentary. Basically, I’ll be keeping both the format and the content eclectic, which is as it should be.

it’s friday

I got a credit on librarian.net for my contribution. Have I mentioned that Jessamyn rocks? Can’t figure out what to put on your summer reading list? Take a look at this resource. If you’re in the UK, it will direct you to the closest public library with that book, but even if you’re not in … Continue reading “it’s friday”

I got a credit on librarian.net for my contribution. Have I mentioned that Jessamyn rocks?

Can’t figure out what to put on your summer reading list? Take a look at this resource. If you’re in the UK, it will direct you to the closest public library with that book, but even if you’re not in the UK, it’s still a good place to get you started.

There is a one-man play with a plot that centers on the mysterious return of 113 years overdue book. It sounds very interesting. If anyone in the Washington D.C. area goes to see it, please let me know what you think of it.

The new director of the Minneapolis Public Library system is a lawyer (not a librarian), formerly the commissioner of housing, a lesbian, and she refused to take a higher salary than that of the public safety chiefs. You go girl!

Turns out that the “FBI Agent” that came looking for Merv’s records in this week’s Overdue is really his father.

peeps go mobile

My folksinging friend Lis Harvey played the quiz on last weekend’s Whad’Ya Know? (WPR program) Extensive scientific research has been done on Peeps but only recently did researchers begin to look into the ability of Peeps to do research themselves. Research librarians have conducted one such study at the Staley Library at Millikin University (IL). … Continue reading “peeps go mobile”

My folksinging friend Lis Harvey played the quiz on last weekend’s Whad’Ya Know? (WPR program)

Extensive scientific research has been done on Peeps but only recently did researchers begin to look into the ability of Peeps to do research themselves. Research librarians have conducted one such study at the Staley Library at Millikin University (IL).

It’s spring, and that means that it’s time for all of the gardeners to get their gear together and start planting. This year, Northern gardeners can get a little help from Peeps.

Soon, those who feel the need to publish online every thought that crosses their mind will be able to do it anytime/anywhere using their mobile phone. I don’t think I’ll be jumping on this bandwagon. As you can see, I can barely keep up with one entry a week! Make sure you check out the interview with the creator of The Diary of Samuel Pepys as a weblog. [thanks aw]

political librarians

A great deal of today’s entry comes from the recent issue of Library Juice. I am posting here the links that I found most interesting and have some relevance to non-librarians. Hey, there’s a federal agent in my book! Jessamyn West, the author of the fabulous librarian.net weblog, has written an informative article for the … Continue reading “political librarians”

A great deal of today’s entry comes from the recent issue of Library Juice. I am posting here the links that I found most interesting and have some relevance to non-librarians.

Hey, there’s a federal agent in my book! Jessamyn West, the author of the fabulous librarian.net weblog, has written an informative article for the average American on the Patriot Act.

Before Gulf War II started, there was an online petition to prevent the war from starting created by Librarians for Peace. Now they have created a petition calling for a halt to the war. Feel free to sign it if you are a librarian and feel so lead.

I believe global peace starts with children growing up in safe environments and not being taught to hate the “other”. Here is a list of children’s books that are anti-war put out by Weapons of Mass Instruction.

Shellac, the Sound of the Future. I missed this on Tuesday. Bummer.

I have been amused by Andrei Codrescu’s commentaries on NPR for many years. His essay on libraries and book jackets is yet another ironic piece of refined humor. Oh, and if you’re wondering, we take them off because they are easily damaged and look quite ugly after a short period of time.

Also from Tuesday: The Capitol Steps 2003 “Politics Takes a Holiday” radio show was great fun to hear. If you missed it (or missed part of it, like I did), you can download and listen to it on your RealAudio player.

dixie chicks on the next geraldo!

It’s so beautiful outside today that I wish my campus had a campus-wide wireless network. That way, I could borrow a laptop and work on the lawn. Ahh… one can dream… The Specious Report has written a satire of Natalie Maines’ apology. I think it is much more appropriate. Geraldo Rivera has “volunteered” to leave … Continue reading “dixie chicks on the next geraldo!”

It’s so beautiful outside today that I wish my campus had a campus-wide wireless network. That way, I could borrow a laptop and work on the lawn. Ahh… one can dream…

The Specious Report has written a satire of Natalie Maines’ apology. I think it is much more appropriate.

Geraldo Rivera has “volunteered” to leave Iraq after broadcasting the location of the Army troops he was quasi-embedded with, as well as their possible future movements. I thought that the Fox News Channel was the breeding ground for conservative war hawks. I had no idea that they were actually working for Saddam!

Ever since the Patriot Act was passed in Congress, librarians have been discussing what to do about patron privacy. Booksellers have also been concerned, but their situation is somewhat more complex than libraries, since they have a history of using their customer histories to provide more customized service. One bookstore owner in Washington State has decided to not follow many libraries’ leads and is retaining his customer records in full. He briefly explains why he has made this decision, despite privacy concerns surrounding the Patriot Act.

keeping my chin up

I’m trying to keep my sense of humor and lightness in the middle of all this chaos and darkness. One step towards doing so is to turn off the network news. Another step is to find things to laugh about, and there are some of those in today’s entry. The US Department of Homeland Security … Continue reading “keeping my chin up”

I’m trying to keep my sense of humor and lightness in the middle of all this chaos and darkness. One step towards doing so is to turn off the network news. Another step is to find things to laugh about, and there are some of those in today’s entry.

The US Department of Homeland Security has set up a website to provide citizens with information on how to be prepared for a terrorist attack and what to do if one occurs. The US Department of Laughs has set up a page explaining some of the more ambiguous pictures found on the Department of Homeland Security website.

If you want to keep up with the latest news on the war in Iraq, I suggest taking a look at Warblogs:cc. It is a weblog that collects the latest information posted to several war-focused weblogs, as well as major news source headlines. One stop shopping for all your war news needs.

Some citizens of Longmont (CO) are committing a “patriot act” by organizing a “subversive book check-out” and rally protesting the USA Patriot Act. Sounds like a good idea to me! I hope it works.

Edna Fripple, librarian for the Sir Walter Raleigh Secondary School, has won this year’s “Shushy” award. Kudos to The Toque for this amusing piece of satire.

rain rain go away

It’s been pouring rain all afternoon, but now that it’s time to go, it has stopped. Good thing, too, since I didn’t bring my umbrella or rain jacket today. Several interesting things came across my email and web searches. No real connection between them other than they caught my attention. Purdue Libraries hosted five Russian … Continue reading “rain rain go away”

It’s been pouring rain all afternoon, but now that it’s time to go, it has stopped. Good thing, too, since I didn’t bring my umbrella or rain jacket today. Several interesting things came across my email and web searches. No real connection between them other than they caught my attention.

Purdue Libraries hosted five Russian librarians recently as a part of the Open World Program at the Library of Congress Center for Russian Leadership Development. One of the librarians, Anna Britayeva, said, “I think that it is great that here in the United States, people pay so much attention to the libraries, because libraries are cultural centers, and many people depend on libraries. So I think if you want your nation to become more educated, more cultured, you should build more and more libraries.” Amen, sister!

This week, an American peace activist was killed by an Israeli army bulldozer when she tried to stop them from destroying Palestinian homes in Gaza. Today at her memorial service, Israeli armored vehicles attempted to break up the peaceful mourners with tear gas and grenades. Sick and wrong.

Want to learn Welsh but having trouble? Try this illustrated dictionary, intended for those learning Welsh as a second language.

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