The mission of librarians and museum professionals is to foster conversations that improve society through knowledge exchange & social action Lifelong learning in & out of formal educational settings These topics are equally applicable to librarians and museum professionals These topics must be contextualized The following values permeate these topics: Openness & transparency Self reflection Collaboration Service Empathy & Respect Continuous Learning/Striving for Excellence (which requires lifelong learning) Creativity and imagination The Salzburg Global Seminar convenes numerous meetings throughout the year focused on creating solutions for issues on an international level. In October, I was honored to participate in the […]
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http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/893005-264/library_science_without_the_library.html.csp Recent MLIS graduates are gravitating to different fields than their predecessors. According to theLibrary Journal survey, respondents are working at “software and Internet companies, practicing information architecture, user interface analysis and design, and software engineering…and in medical centers and pharmaceutical companies, law firms and corporations.” But the survey also states that graduates are accepting “lower salaries and part-time hours as retail clerks, baristas, and office assistants in order to pay the bills.” While my motives for entering library school may be anathema to many librarians, students with my background are becoming hard to ignore. It’s safe to say that library […]
My new column is up at Library Journal: http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/ljinprint/currentissue/892499-403/lessons_from_learning_2.0_.csp In their recent book, A New Culture of Learning (CreateSpace, 2011), Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown explore similar concepts and the importance of continuous learning. The parallels to the original Learning 2.0 model are striking. The book is based on several assumptions about our new normal, for example, “The world is changing faster than ever and our skill sets have a shorter life,” and “Play is the basis for cultivating imagination and innovation.” Planning for ongoing organizational learning for staff may seem like just “one more thing” in our stressed environments, but […]
User experience (UX) thinking was born at information schools but hasn’t found a home in many libraries. Why not? The answer is simple. Many LIS programs haven’t integrated UX coursework into their curricula, and libraries suffer as a result. Granted, a few schools have incorporated UX elements to varying degrees. New York’s Pratt Institute SILS program, for example, offers a Cultural Informatics track with coursework devoted to “usability, human computer interaction, cultural heritage description and access and digital archives and libraries in global information environments.” Jen Waller, a grad of the iSchool at the University of Washington, reported via Twitter that […]
Forgive this late post, but I totally forgot to link to my September column in LJ: http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/community/libraryeducation/891738-272/the_role_of_mentoring_.html.csp Mentors can advise new librarians on all aspects of the profession, including tips for getting along with coworkers, the ins and outs of dealing with library administrators, and the like. The online world offers a new twist. While much is gained by participating in the ubiquitous social networks, there are pitfalls as well. A professional’s expressions are now open for the world to read, hear, or view. Because anyone tweeting, blogging, or Facebooking can share their thoughts so easily and post sometimes […]
Online LIS Education—or Not | Office Hours My new column is up at LJ! I may have a bit of a bias, but I would much rather my students make the short trip to their desks and computers instead of commuting across town or farther. Time saved on travel could roll over into time spent on coursework or finding balance among school, work, and life. Money saved on gas and travel could transform into paying for classes or student loans. Other students may be drawn to the classroom, to in-person interaction with a professor and other classmates. I would argue, […]
Do not miss this post at In the Library with a Lead Pipe: http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2011/is-the-united-states-training-too-many-librarians-or-too-few-part-1/ Is the United States Training Too Many Librarians or Too Few? (Part 1) Some questions from the essay: Should library schools admit fewer students? Is the admissions process sufficiently selective? Are library school curricula and graduation requirements too similar or too distinct? Are they providing their students with the skills they need in order to get hired and do useful work? Should there be licensing exams for librarians? What data would we need to collect in order to come up with useful answers to these questions? […]
A cliche but one that rings true as I write: summer is flying by. We arrived in northern Michigan in late May and it felt as though I had unlimited weeks leading up to the beginning of my new position at SLIS at San Jose State University. Now I’m in California for a week to start the semester with orientation and my first faculty retreat. This summer I’ve made time for work on research, updating my participatory service and emerging technologies course, and have taken a bit of a breather – ending each night by a campfire. I’ve spent some […]