On Being a Library Advocate
It is very hard to be an effective advocate for libraries. Most librarians and library staff are pretty happy to tell others about what we do and the services we have to offer. I know that I have often embarrassed my family by chatting about our databases when talking with others. Databases are one of the most underused library resources and so hard to get people to use but they can be so valuable.
However, we cannot just promote library services to people. No matter how great they are. The existence of libraries all over is threatened. Many question whether we need them. Those of us who work in libraries need to determine for ourselves how important the library is and whether we are willing to speak up and be heard.
We can participate in activities such as writing letters or email messages and sending them to federal, state and city officials. In Nebraska we have a Legislative Day where library staff are encouraged to take their local senators to lunch and educate them about the library. There is also a national legislative day and action that can be taken on that level.
We can go to the city council hearings and speak up. We can encourage our patrons to go to those hearings, tell their stories, and write their representatives. We can encourage them to join Friends of the Library groups and encourage those groups to be advocates. We have to be willing to put ourselves out there and encourage others to do the same.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
CPD23 Thing 15
Even Introverts Can Enjoy Conferences
I have been a frequent conference goer from ALA and PLA to our local state library association's annual conferences. I have also been a conference presenter both in large and small venues.
First, conference attendance. I generally enjoy conferences -- whether there are interesting sessions to attend, vendors to browse, speakers to listen to, tables to staff, committee meetings to sit through, colleagues to catch up with. I also end up totally drained by the end of the conference. I love the ideas and the energy but all that interaction with others -- honestly, it gives me a headache. So I find ways to rest up and restore -- if I can I room by myself just so I can get some alone time. Otherwise I might sit somewhere in a crowded room and try to isolate myself (pouring intently over the conference program often helps to keep others at bay).
I have always gotten something out of a conference. I may not get something out of every session I attend but overall attending is worthwhile. Sometimes I attend because I have committee meetings I have to go to but generally it is because of the sessions offered. On reflection some of those sessions, even the ones that haven't been directly related to my job, have been pretty worth while. I still remember a session given by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library about Friends and Foundation groups at PLA nearly 4 years ago. It was a very well done presentation, very engaging and entertaining, yet informative. My library director had asked me to go to that one and I am glad I did. And many keynote sessions I have attended have been really interesting whether hearing from a Google staffer on how to search and it's algorithm or Mary Pipher talk about immigrant populations in Nebraska.
I started presenting at NLA annual conferences a number of years ago. That first year I was rather terrified. I was part of a panel and I read what I had written. I am sure it was not very engaging. Since then, I have become comfortable in this small setting, where I often know at least some of the participants. I have been pretty good at coming up with conference sessions for TSRT to sponsor at NLA. Last year was one of the few years I didn't present. But I am back in the saddle again and will be working on a RDA panel presentation for NLA in October.
What I have found far more daunting and don't really care to go do again, is presenting at PLA. For the past two years I was part of a group of presenters that presented Dangerous Ideas at PLA. In Minneapolis we were in the conference center's auditorium -- it is a big space. When it was my turn to speak I couldn't really see the audience. I did not have a large part to play but did my part okay. I have a soft voice and am not very experienced with microphones so I may not always have been heard. Last year's PLA was in Portland and we were again in a large space, a ballroom, or two. I put together a powerpoint slide show that told a story (about passive aggressiveness in a library) -- I used images with a little text and had notes to speak from. I did better than the last time, but I know that I was hard to hear at times. I started with a joke (My name is Deirdre and I am non-confrontational passive aggressive), at least it got a laugh.
But I am really not comfortable in front of such a large group. I do well with the NLA audience. I can talk on a subject I have some knowledge and perhaps expertise with and not need a script (or a microphone). I am glad I have done the presentations at PLA -- it is good to know that I can do them but also good to know that I don't want to do it again. Like going down the enclosed slide at Coco-Keys.
I have been a frequent conference goer from ALA and PLA to our local state library association's annual conferences. I have also been a conference presenter both in large and small venues.
First, conference attendance. I generally enjoy conferences -- whether there are interesting sessions to attend, vendors to browse, speakers to listen to, tables to staff, committee meetings to sit through, colleagues to catch up with. I also end up totally drained by the end of the conference. I love the ideas and the energy but all that interaction with others -- honestly, it gives me a headache. So I find ways to rest up and restore -- if I can I room by myself just so I can get some alone time. Otherwise I might sit somewhere in a crowded room and try to isolate myself (pouring intently over the conference program often helps to keep others at bay).
I have always gotten something out of a conference. I may not get something out of every session I attend but overall attending is worthwhile. Sometimes I attend because I have committee meetings I have to go to but generally it is because of the sessions offered. On reflection some of those sessions, even the ones that haven't been directly related to my job, have been pretty worth while. I still remember a session given by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library about Friends and Foundation groups at PLA nearly 4 years ago. It was a very well done presentation, very engaging and entertaining, yet informative. My library director had asked me to go to that one and I am glad I did. And many keynote sessions I have attended have been really interesting whether hearing from a Google staffer on how to search and it's algorithm or Mary Pipher talk about immigrant populations in Nebraska.
I started presenting at NLA annual conferences a number of years ago. That first year I was rather terrified. I was part of a panel and I read what I had written. I am sure it was not very engaging. Since then, I have become comfortable in this small setting, where I often know at least some of the participants. I have been pretty good at coming up with conference sessions for TSRT to sponsor at NLA. Last year was one of the few years I didn't present. But I am back in the saddle again and will be working on a RDA panel presentation for NLA in October.
What I have found far more daunting and don't really care to go do again, is presenting at PLA. For the past two years I was part of a group of presenters that presented Dangerous Ideas at PLA. In Minneapolis we were in the conference center's auditorium -- it is a big space. When it was my turn to speak I couldn't really see the audience. I did not have a large part to play but did my part okay. I have a soft voice and am not very experienced with microphones so I may not always have been heard. Last year's PLA was in Portland and we were again in a large space, a ballroom, or two. I put together a powerpoint slide show that told a story (about passive aggressiveness in a library) -- I used images with a little text and had notes to speak from. I did better than the last time, but I know that I was hard to hear at times. I started with a joke (My name is Deirdre and I am non-confrontational passive aggressive), at least it got a laugh.
But I am really not comfortable in front of such a large group. I do well with the NLA audience. I can talk on a subject I have some knowledge and perhaps expertise with and not need a script (or a microphone). I am glad I have done the presentations at PLA -- it is good to know that I can do them but also good to know that I don't want to do it again. Like going down the enclosed slide at Coco-Keys.
Monday, August 29, 2011
CPD23 Thing 14
Social Bibliography
As I work in a public library we don't tend to have a huge need for bibliographic software, although I wish I had these options when I was in grad school!
I found all 3 products interesting -- they each have different features and offer different things to the user. However, I am not sure that anyone would use all 3 products -- maybe two but not all three. I found it particularly interesting that all 3 include a social aspect. That is not something I would have expected to be desired or included with bibliographic citation software.
I guess it shows how social media has really influence all aspects of our lives and work that it is even in our bibliographies and scholarly references. The level of social media seems to really vary with each product. Zotero has groups and forums which are a bit more old school discussion groups although it does allow you to create a profile which is definitely a more common social media aspect these days.
On the other hand, Mendeley, clear was created with contemporary social media in mind. The collaborative aspects of Mendeley are emphasized in its introductory video and a selling point for how it is different than Zotero (which is refers to as being a source of your information). The bibliographic generation aspects are not highlighted.
CiteULike seems the simplest of all of the software/apps under consideration and that also seems to have been the intent of the designer. It definitely has appropriate social aspects and ease of pulling your articles together although it is not so clear how easy it is to put together a bibliography.
Of the 3 Zotero appeals most to me -- but that probably has to do with how I am most familiar with using this type of app, creating bibliographies for papers. I also want to get my professor spouse to take a look at these, I'd be interested to hear his take and what he'd prefer.
As I work in a public library we don't tend to have a huge need for bibliographic software, although I wish I had these options when I was in grad school!
I found all 3 products interesting -- they each have different features and offer different things to the user. However, I am not sure that anyone would use all 3 products -- maybe two but not all three. I found it particularly interesting that all 3 include a social aspect. That is not something I would have expected to be desired or included with bibliographic citation software.
I guess it shows how social media has really influence all aspects of our lives and work that it is even in our bibliographies and scholarly references. The level of social media seems to really vary with each product. Zotero has groups and forums which are a bit more old school discussion groups although it does allow you to create a profile which is definitely a more common social media aspect these days.
On the other hand, Mendeley, clear was created with contemporary social media in mind. The collaborative aspects of Mendeley are emphasized in its introductory video and a selling point for how it is different than Zotero (which is refers to as being a source of your information). The bibliographic generation aspects are not highlighted.
CiteULike seems the simplest of all of the software/apps under consideration and that also seems to have been the intent of the designer. It definitely has appropriate social aspects and ease of pulling your articles together although it is not so clear how easy it is to put together a bibliography.
Of the 3 Zotero appeals most to me -- but that probably has to do with how I am most familiar with using this type of app, creating bibliographies for papers. I also want to get my professor spouse to take a look at these, I'd be interested to hear his take and what he'd prefer.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
CPD23 Thing 13
Cloud Collaboration
This week's things are all ones I am at least somewhat familiar with and two of them I have used extensively and mainly professionally.
Google Docs: I use this all the time. I use it it take notes during meetings or at conferences. I have a netbook computer that I take to such events and have found that it is wonderful to be able to type my notes as they happen rather than to try and decipher them later. And it makes it easy to share them after doing a quick clean-up. I love using Google Docs this way. I appreciate that I can make the notes on my netbook but still access them on my work or how computer. One difficulty is if there is no wireless access at the event. This is not usually a problem if at a national or state-wide conference or at a public library in the US, but at an academic library or elsewhere you are not guaranteed access.
Another difficulty comes when you try and share with people. If you aren't trying to make it secure and willing to just share the link it works just fine. However, if you want to keep it secure those who do not have a Google account can have difficulties logging in and accessing the documents. When I was on the NLA board we were able to set up and use Google Docs to share the written reports. This was much easier than sending email attachments or bringing printed copies to meeting. It took a bit for everyone to learn how to upload their documents and access them but we eventually got it up and running. I have been trying to get this set up with another board I am on but they do not seem to be as technological adept as librarians.
I have used Google Docs to collaborate on a project only occasionally. Usually it has been to share things I have completed. An exception was for a PLA presentation -- we did work together on the document, sometimes during a conference call. And when it came time for the presentation I had my material in Google Docs and on a jump drive, just to be sure I had it!
Wikis: I have been using wikis for a few years now. I remember when I first learned about them and how to use the collaboratively. They seem to have become just a part of working life -- although I tend to use them to look up what others have done and do not post to them. I have thought about setting up a wiki for a departmental manual but have not gotten past the thought. Currently I am leaning toward setting up a LibGuide instead.
Dropbox: This is one I have not really used, although I do have an account. My brother invited me to use it and I set up an account but I have not put in anything. I am thinking that I'll mainly use it for photograph sharing. It seems like it would be similar to use as Google Docs.
I appreciate the programs that allow sharing of materials, working collaboratively and not being tied to a particular computer or a jump drive or needing to download software.
This week's things are all ones I am at least somewhat familiar with and two of them I have used extensively and mainly professionally.
Google Docs: I use this all the time. I use it it take notes during meetings or at conferences. I have a netbook computer that I take to such events and have found that it is wonderful to be able to type my notes as they happen rather than to try and decipher them later. And it makes it easy to share them after doing a quick clean-up. I love using Google Docs this way. I appreciate that I can make the notes on my netbook but still access them on my work or how computer. One difficulty is if there is no wireless access at the event. This is not usually a problem if at a national or state-wide conference or at a public library in the US, but at an academic library or elsewhere you are not guaranteed access.
Another difficulty comes when you try and share with people. If you aren't trying to make it secure and willing to just share the link it works just fine. However, if you want to keep it secure those who do not have a Google account can have difficulties logging in and accessing the documents. When I was on the NLA board we were able to set up and use Google Docs to share the written reports. This was much easier than sending email attachments or bringing printed copies to meeting. It took a bit for everyone to learn how to upload their documents and access them but we eventually got it up and running. I have been trying to get this set up with another board I am on but they do not seem to be as technological adept as librarians.
I have used Google Docs to collaborate on a project only occasionally. Usually it has been to share things I have completed. An exception was for a PLA presentation -- we did work together on the document, sometimes during a conference call. And when it came time for the presentation I had my material in Google Docs and on a jump drive, just to be sure I had it!
Wikis: I have been using wikis for a few years now. I remember when I first learned about them and how to use the collaboratively. They seem to have become just a part of working life -- although I tend to use them to look up what others have done and do not post to them. I have thought about setting up a wiki for a departmental manual but have not gotten past the thought. Currently I am leaning toward setting up a LibGuide instead.
Dropbox: This is one I have not really used, although I do have an account. My brother invited me to use it and I set up an account but I have not put in anything. I am thinking that I'll mainly use it for photograph sharing. It seems like it would be similar to use as Google Docs.
I appreciate the programs that allow sharing of materials, working collaboratively and not being tied to a particular computer or a jump drive or needing to download software.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
CPD23 Thing 12
On Being a Social Butterfly, or Not
Social media is a great way for introverts to be social. We can interact on our own terms. We can lurk, listen, and perhaps participate. When we really don't want to deal with others we don't have to do so and don't have to feel bad about not attending some event.
Social media allows you to set your terms. Will I check in with FB/Twitter/LinkedIn, every day? Once a week? Will I post or just comment on others' posts? It is all up to you. You decide what works for you. If you want every place you go to appear as you check in on your chosen social media sites, that's your choice. If you'd rather everyone didn't know where you were at every minute of the day, then you don't do that. You have options and you have choices. You are very much in control.
Social media can help you feel a little less isolated. This can be true of professionally (as well as personally, of course). Having a frustrating time with something (perhaps a vendor)? -- Post it on your social media site and often you'll get comments of support. See an interesting article? -- Share it with others (there can never be too much information about RDA). Want to celebrate? Ask a question? You can do this through social media and your contacts.
The downside is that perhaps your group is not there the moment you want them to be so they may not respond. Or it may take them a while to respond. But usually someone makes some kind of response. Sometimes it can start an exchange with lots of different people involved, and you can really see the social in social media.
I have seen colleagues use social media in interesting ways. One colleague has posted on FB to collect ideas from the "hive mind" for names of new programs. It is great to see the non-library folks chime with suggestion too. Sometimes it is just to ask a question, even a reference one -- and if others are there they might post a response.
The drawback here is that although you can do things on your own terms and schedule, so can everyone else so if you need an immediate answer you may be out of luck but if you can collect answers over time you might get some great thoughts.
Social media is a great way for introverts to be social. We can interact on our own terms. We can lurk, listen, and perhaps participate. When we really don't want to deal with others we don't have to do so and don't have to feel bad about not attending some event.
Social media allows you to set your terms. Will I check in with FB/Twitter/LinkedIn, every day? Once a week? Will I post or just comment on others' posts? It is all up to you. You decide what works for you. If you want every place you go to appear as you check in on your chosen social media sites, that's your choice. If you'd rather everyone didn't know where you were at every minute of the day, then you don't do that. You have options and you have choices. You are very much in control.
Social media can help you feel a little less isolated. This can be true of professionally (as well as personally, of course). Having a frustrating time with something (perhaps a vendor)? -- Post it on your social media site and often you'll get comments of support. See an interesting article? -- Share it with others (there can never be too much information about RDA). Want to celebrate? Ask a question? You can do this through social media and your contacts.
The downside is that perhaps your group is not there the moment you want them to be so they may not respond. Or it may take them a while to respond. But usually someone makes some kind of response. Sometimes it can start an exchange with lots of different people involved, and you can really see the social in social media.
I have seen colleagues use social media in interesting ways. One colleague has posted on FB to collect ideas from the "hive mind" for names of new programs. It is great to see the non-library folks chime with suggestion too. Sometimes it is just to ask a question, even a reference one -- and if others are there they might post a response.
The drawback here is that although you can do things on your own terms and schedule, so can everyone else so if you need an immediate answer you may be out of luck but if you can collect answers over time you might get some great thoughts.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
CPD23 Thing 11
T-t-teach, teach me
Mentoring is so important in libraries. Library school only teaches you so much. And you don't need to go to library school to work in a library. Either way, you learn a great deal on the job. So it is important to have people you can trust to help guide you. People you can seek out for advice.
I have never set up a formal mentoring relationship, although I have seriously considered asking an informal mentor to be a formal one. It has been easier at a large library to find a mentor -- when I worked at the historical society I was the only librarian/archivist, I had to constantly explain what I was doing to others. But at OPL, my first supervisor stepped in and filled a mentor role. She is the one who got me involved with the Technical Services Roundtable of NLA -- she encouraged me to take on the job of editing the TSRT newsletter which was way out of my comfort zone.
She also encouraged me to apply to and wrote a recommendation for me to attend the Nebraska Library Leadership Institute. When she retired and I inherited her job duties I followed many of her practices and procedures -- it provided a great foundation as I learned so many new things and was a new manager. She taught me how to nurture the staff you supervise -- encourage them to try new things and stretch beyond their usual roles.
Since that time I have turned to other experienced managers within our library system for advice. I talk with these people about our shared experiences on a variety of matters. Sometimes I am listening to them, sometimes they are listening to me. Sometime we commiserate and sometimes we celebrate. It helps a great deal to have others to talk to when needed.
The Nebraska Library Leadership Institute also provided mentors. Each group had 2 mentors and 6 mentees. The mentors had to be silent through most of the program, but they were always available. Since the program they are people we could have gone to as a formal mentor, although I never did that.
In the last few years I have been surprised to find that others have put me in the role of mentor. I have been able to provide advice from interviewing (having been both an interviewer and interviewee many times) to how to handle a given situation. I have been contacted by those interested in library school or those at library school who are interested cataloging or perhaps other things. This has included someone from another state wondering how to move from an academic setting to public library cataloging.
I have been surprised because I don't feel that I know enough. I know I don't have all the answers. And that is true of all mentors but the idea that others view me as someone who does have some of the answer is still surprising. I am wondering when I moved from someone with lots of questions and seeking lots of answers to someone with some of the answers.
Mentoring is so important in libraries. Library school only teaches you so much. And you don't need to go to library school to work in a library. Either way, you learn a great deal on the job. So it is important to have people you can trust to help guide you. People you can seek out for advice.
I have never set up a formal mentoring relationship, although I have seriously considered asking an informal mentor to be a formal one. It has been easier at a large library to find a mentor -- when I worked at the historical society I was the only librarian/archivist, I had to constantly explain what I was doing to others. But at OPL, my first supervisor stepped in and filled a mentor role. She is the one who got me involved with the Technical Services Roundtable of NLA -- she encouraged me to take on the job of editing the TSRT newsletter which was way out of my comfort zone.
She also encouraged me to apply to and wrote a recommendation for me to attend the Nebraska Library Leadership Institute. When she retired and I inherited her job duties I followed many of her practices and procedures -- it provided a great foundation as I learned so many new things and was a new manager. She taught me how to nurture the staff you supervise -- encourage them to try new things and stretch beyond their usual roles.
Since that time I have turned to other experienced managers within our library system for advice. I talk with these people about our shared experiences on a variety of matters. Sometimes I am listening to them, sometimes they are listening to me. Sometime we commiserate and sometimes we celebrate. It helps a great deal to have others to talk to when needed.
The Nebraska Library Leadership Institute also provided mentors. Each group had 2 mentors and 6 mentees. The mentors had to be silent through most of the program, but they were always available. Since the program they are people we could have gone to as a formal mentor, although I never did that.
In the last few years I have been surprised to find that others have put me in the role of mentor. I have been able to provide advice from interviewing (having been both an interviewer and interviewee many times) to how to handle a given situation. I have been contacted by those interested in library school or those at library school who are interested cataloging or perhaps other things. This has included someone from another state wondering how to move from an academic setting to public library cataloging.
I have been surprised because I don't feel that I know enough. I know I don't have all the answers. And that is true of all mentors but the idea that others view me as someone who does have some of the answer is still surprising. I am wondering when I moved from someone with lots of questions and seeking lots of answers to someone with some of the answers.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
CPD23 Thing 10
Talkin' about my education...
I've been lucky enough to have had an international (albeit Anglophone) education. I went to school in Melbourne, Australia (which means my US history and geography are spotty and I use British or Australian words at times). I returned to the US for college at a true liberal arts school which provided me with a very broad background. I then went to Canada for graduate school. I started with history -- Victorian British history and after it became clear that I was not going to be a history professor I began investigating archives.
I went to library school at the University of Toronto and specialized in archives. Along the way I learned that I had an aptitude for cataloging so I began to take cataloging courses too. The U of T program is a 2-year, accredited degree. When I was finishing we were able to choose between getting a Masters of Library Information Science or just plain MLS degree (I chose the latter).
... and my career
When I was doing my degree I was also able to work a few library jobs in other university departments. First I worked at a job I created in the philosophy department (where my husband was a graduate student) -- setting up their departmental library using bibliographic software, Endnote, as a kind of catalog. I did lots wrong but I got things started there. Then I was a graduate library assistant at the Criminology Library. I learned so much here -- from shelf reading (which I love to do), how to tattle-tape and how to be a great boss from the library director. I even got to do a bit of reference work.
After that I started working full time. I was lucky enough to get a cataloging job right out of library school. In fact I never attended my library school graduation because I was working. I worked for an outsourcing outfit in Kitchner, Ontario : Library Services Center (which was then called the Ontario Library Services Center). I couldn't believe that anyone would pay me to catalog when I knew so little.
I learned so much. How to work as part of a team, what cataloging for an audience meant, what a corporate author really meant, how to catalog a wide variety of materials, how to cope when you have to start working 40 hours a week for the same pay of 35 because the company is in dire financial straits, how to catalog in an online system (which was the new Horizon which made my life easier years later) and how to work in an open office environment. I also managed to screw up my right hand with RSI (thank goodness for the Canadian health care system which made it possible to treat that even when poor) so I have learned to be very careful with ergonomics and how to mouse with my left hand.
We left Ontario for Omaha in the mid-90s when my husband was hired as a professor at Creighton University. I struggled to find work when we first moved here. I did interviews for the few job openings I found -- my lack of a car or a drivers license hampered my search a bit. After 6 months out of work I turned to temp work. I temped for about a year and eventually was offered a job as an archivist at the Union Pacific Museum.
This was a contract position but it was archives. The museum at that time was located in the Durham Museum in downtown Omaha -- a restored Art Deco train station. While I was there Union Pacific completed it's takeover of Southern Pacific which meant a huge amount of material for the UP Museum. I worked extensively with SP archives. And I learned that working with photographic materials is very different than print but wonderful.
I dealt with a wide variety of materials from corporate memos and records to silver tea sets and publicity stills and station plans and blueprints. I worked with train fans who wanted to plans or photos of all the SP stations, those who wanted to know what colors to paint their trains; researchers who knew something about history and trains and those who knew nothing (do you have an aerial, color shot of the Golden Spike?, Uh, no.). At this early stage of online commerce I saw first hand how putting a buy online with a credit card increased our photo sales incredibly. I also learned how to put together displays, something I had never, ever done before.
But this was a contract position -- no benefits and little chance of anything changing so I was still looking for a permanent job. I found one at the Douglas County Historical Society as the Librarian/Archivist. Here I learned so much about Omaha history and genealogical work. I didn't do as much cataloging as I would have liked but I did manage to help the society to a new membership/cataloging database, PastPresent.
I left for a variety of reasons, including low pay and few benefits. I interviewed 3 times with the Omaha Public Library -- for a serials cataloger position , an adult reference librarian position and finally a cataloger and reference librarian position. After the city had a job hiring freeze I eventually started in January of 2002.
The split position, 20 hours reference and 20 hours cataloging, was a new one for OPL. I rather enjoyed it. I worked the main reference desk -- handling calls of all types most mornings and came downstairs to the oasis of quiet in the afternoon. I cataloged adult nonfiction. I worked evenings and weekends but it wasn't bad. When the cataloging department manager retired I became first the interim manger and eventually the manager of the new Technical Services department. It was a combination of the acquisitions and cataloging departments which have shared spaced in the basement of the downtown library for many years but didn't become one department until more recently.
Since I have been manager the department has gone through not only the merger but also the building of shared facility with our local community college, Metro Community College. This meant a shared ILS which has been a challenging experience at times (sharing catalog records has been the easiest part). We also have worked to meet the challenge of 48 hours turnaround (that means 48 hours from when we receive the materials until they get out to our patrons) and preparing an opening day collection for a renovated library branch in under 2 months. We also worked on an opening collection for a brand new library branch in another shared facility with Omaha Public Schools. Now we are working on changing from the Horizon ILS (by Sirsi-Dynix) to Millennium (by III) -- hoping to go live by the end of month.
But I really I love my job. I greatly enjoy the work I do. I enjoy the challenges I encounter. Sure, it is not all wonderful all the time but I generally have a high rate of job satisfaction. I don't know what the future will bring but I always trust that things work out eventually.
I've been lucky enough to have had an international (albeit Anglophone) education. I went to school in Melbourne, Australia (which means my US history and geography are spotty and I use British or Australian words at times). I returned to the US for college at a true liberal arts school which provided me with a very broad background. I then went to Canada for graduate school. I started with history -- Victorian British history and after it became clear that I was not going to be a history professor I began investigating archives.
I went to library school at the University of Toronto and specialized in archives. Along the way I learned that I had an aptitude for cataloging so I began to take cataloging courses too. The U of T program is a 2-year, accredited degree. When I was finishing we were able to choose between getting a Masters of Library Information Science or just plain MLS degree (I chose the latter).
... and my career
When I was doing my degree I was also able to work a few library jobs in other university departments. First I worked at a job I created in the philosophy department (where my husband was a graduate student) -- setting up their departmental library using bibliographic software, Endnote, as a kind of catalog. I did lots wrong but I got things started there. Then I was a graduate library assistant at the Criminology Library. I learned so much here -- from shelf reading (which I love to do), how to tattle-tape and how to be a great boss from the library director. I even got to do a bit of reference work.
After that I started working full time. I was lucky enough to get a cataloging job right out of library school. In fact I never attended my library school graduation because I was working. I worked for an outsourcing outfit in Kitchner, Ontario : Library Services Center (which was then called the Ontario Library Services Center). I couldn't believe that anyone would pay me to catalog when I knew so little.
I learned so much. How to work as part of a team, what cataloging for an audience meant, what a corporate author really meant, how to catalog a wide variety of materials, how to cope when you have to start working 40 hours a week for the same pay of 35 because the company is in dire financial straits, how to catalog in an online system (which was the new Horizon which made my life easier years later) and how to work in an open office environment. I also managed to screw up my right hand with RSI (thank goodness for the Canadian health care system which made it possible to treat that even when poor) so I have learned to be very careful with ergonomics and how to mouse with my left hand.
We left Ontario for Omaha in the mid-90s when my husband was hired as a professor at Creighton University. I struggled to find work when we first moved here. I did interviews for the few job openings I found -- my lack of a car or a drivers license hampered my search a bit. After 6 months out of work I turned to temp work. I temped for about a year and eventually was offered a job as an archivist at the Union Pacific Museum.
This was a contract position but it was archives. The museum at that time was located in the Durham Museum in downtown Omaha -- a restored Art Deco train station. While I was there Union Pacific completed it's takeover of Southern Pacific which meant a huge amount of material for the UP Museum. I worked extensively with SP archives. And I learned that working with photographic materials is very different than print but wonderful.
I dealt with a wide variety of materials from corporate memos and records to silver tea sets and publicity stills and station plans and blueprints. I worked with train fans who wanted to plans or photos of all the SP stations, those who wanted to know what colors to paint their trains; researchers who knew something about history and trains and those who knew nothing (do you have an aerial, color shot of the Golden Spike?, Uh, no.). At this early stage of online commerce I saw first hand how putting a buy online with a credit card increased our photo sales incredibly. I also learned how to put together displays, something I had never, ever done before.
But this was a contract position -- no benefits and little chance of anything changing so I was still looking for a permanent job. I found one at the Douglas County Historical Society as the Librarian/Archivist. Here I learned so much about Omaha history and genealogical work. I didn't do as much cataloging as I would have liked but I did manage to help the society to a new membership/cataloging database, PastPresent.
I left for a variety of reasons, including low pay and few benefits. I interviewed 3 times with the Omaha Public Library -- for a serials cataloger position , an adult reference librarian position and finally a cataloger and reference librarian position. After the city had a job hiring freeze I eventually started in January of 2002.
The split position, 20 hours reference and 20 hours cataloging, was a new one for OPL. I rather enjoyed it. I worked the main reference desk -- handling calls of all types most mornings and came downstairs to the oasis of quiet in the afternoon. I cataloged adult nonfiction. I worked evenings and weekends but it wasn't bad. When the cataloging department manager retired I became first the interim manger and eventually the manager of the new Technical Services department. It was a combination of the acquisitions and cataloging departments which have shared spaced in the basement of the downtown library for many years but didn't become one department until more recently.
Since I have been manager the department has gone through not only the merger but also the building of shared facility with our local community college, Metro Community College. This meant a shared ILS which has been a challenging experience at times (sharing catalog records has been the easiest part). We also have worked to meet the challenge of 48 hours turnaround (that means 48 hours from when we receive the materials until they get out to our patrons) and preparing an opening day collection for a renovated library branch in under 2 months. We also worked on an opening collection for a brand new library branch in another shared facility with Omaha Public Schools. Now we are working on changing from the Horizon ILS (by Sirsi-Dynix) to Millennium (by III) -- hoping to go live by the end of month.
But I really I love my job. I greatly enjoy the work I do. I enjoy the challenges I encounter. Sure, it is not all wonderful all the time but I generally have a high rate of job satisfaction. I don't know what the future will bring but I always trust that things work out eventually.
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