Geeking the Geek Gear

On Saturday, when I volunteered to help with the final clean-up at the old Addison Township Public Library, I sported an old Geek the Library shirt which read: I Geek Libraries. It was my very first Geek shirt that I purchased during Winter 2011 term while working on a strategic marketing plan for LIS 7040 that utilized the Geek the Library campaign. Quite a few fellow volunteers inquired about my shirt...

Last night, I gave Anne Switzer, the facilitator of Lit to Film Club, a custom Geek the Library shirt. The group began asking questions about how I procured such a shirt...

So how can you get a custom Geek shirt? There are two answers: (a) I purchased my first few shirts directly through Geek the Library which has a Zazzle store; (b) The rest of my shirts, including Anne's, were purchased via my local public library once they kicked off their campaign -- be sure to check with your local library, too.

Please note:
If you wear a Geek the Library shirt in public, be prepared to answer questions about its meaning -- which fulfills the purpose of the campaign -- to raise awareness about public libraries!

For those interested in reading my marketing plan, which was created for a fictional rural public library, you can do so here:
Geek the Library: Applegate District Library Awareness Project by JC Brown

Technology Tool Chest

Since starting library school in spring of 2010, I been able to experiment and play with different sources of technology. Among my favorites:

Jing: First introduced to me this semester in LIS 7420: Client-Based Website Development. Jing is a free software that can capture images and video on your computer. For a project, I used this software to create an instructional video on how to use MeLCat to interloan a book.

Googledocs: This was first introduced to me in my third semester via LIS 7040: Library Administration and Management. Google hosts online applications that can create word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, drawings and tables. Since winter term 2010, I have used this application every semester for group collaboration (LIS 7340, LIS 6510, and LIS 7560).

Google Wave: This application was first introduced to me during my first semester of library school in LIS 6010: Introduction to the Information Profession. My group used this application to collaborate ideas and content for a ethical scenario. Later, I introduced this application professionally when working on a federal grant with a consultant whom was based out of Okemos.

Dropbox: Like Google Wave, this online data storage was first introduced to me during my first semester of library school in LIS 6010. My group used this application to store our individual segments of a movie we created.

Blabberize: Also introduced to me during my first semester of library school, my group used this fun application to add voice-over to images of various animals for an ethical scenario skit. I also used this application to create an introductory video for LIS 6080.

Filezilla: This free FTP program was first introduced to me in LIS 6080, but I didn't actually use it until LIS 7420 for uploading html and css files to the server.


An oldie, but a goodie from fall of 2010...
Instead of a traditional, "Hi, my name is JC" video, I created monster using Blabberize and an application by AMC MadmenYourself.

Migration

Notice anything different? (Hopefully!)

Thanks to Blogger, I was able to move my personal website content over and create separate "pages." To navigate, please click on the tabs at the top of your screen: Blog, About JC, Plan of Work, e-Portfolio. With that said, I just uploaded new content from one of my Winter 2011 courses (recruitment package and marketing plan).

In a month or so, I will delete the Office Live website.

Thanks for reading!

Good and Bad News

Where to start...

Good news or bad news? I'll start with the bad news.

Late yesterday afternoon, I received this email from Dr. Joseph Mika:
"I am sorry to inform you that we will not be able to do the trip to Germany.  We started off with 15 students and too many have dropped since we first started planning to make the class feasible.  Dr. Anghelescu and I would have loved to show you Germany, but it just did not work out.  Sorry."

This particular trip to Germany would have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience as the two professors (Mika and Anghelescu) are truly experts in the LIS field. The word "disappointed" does not even begin to explain how I feel about this development; however, I think I know a person who is perhaps more disappointed than I. A big thank you goes out to Professor Mika for all of the hard work he put into organizing and planning the trip to Germany.

Professor Anghelescu canceled her International and Comparative Librarianship class and is offering to supervise directed study (LIS 7990) for interested students. Considering these developments, I need to amend my Plan of Work. In order to pursue my interest, I am seriously contemplating directed study this fall. My interim topic, prior to my formal proposal, "Censorship and Intellectual Freedom During the Second World War" with a focus on how the Third Reich affected public libraries, the region, and children/young adults growing up during that era.

For Fall semester, this morning I registered for Survey and Analysis of Literature for Younger Children (LIS 6510)...and hopefully, if all goes well, I will be registering for Directed Study (LIS 7990).

And onto good news...

This afternoon, I took my laptop to Caro District Library and not only finished my final for LIS 7040 (Library Administration and Management), but also submitted my essay for LIS 6210 (Organization of Knowledge). Exam for LIS 7040: 22/23. If my calculations are correct (assignments, case studies, etc.), I should end up with a 4.0 in that class.

Tomorrow, is the scheduled final for LIS 6210 and I reserved the meeting room at Bad Axe Area District Library. The room has a large table in which I can spread out my materials and will likely encounter minimum distractions. Confession: I am a bit keyed up over this exam.

Geek the Library

This past Sunday, I made the final revisions to my marketing paper for LIS 7040 and submitted it for grade via Blackboard. What a huge relief!

The assignment, as described by Professor Walker's syllabus, "Create your own strategic marketing plan for a library that will utilize the four strategies (positioning, segmentation, target and quality of service) outlined in Evans. See examples listed under Content – however, the appropriate format is discussed in the lecture...Rubric: 25 points for content, discussion of plan and analysis with respect to the four marketing strategies, application of readings; 5 points for grammar, syntax and proper APA format."

My marketing plan was designed for a fictional rural library, Applegate District Library, in which I created earlier in the term for the job description/interview project. The plan implemented the Geek the Library campaign created by OCLC, a prominent agency in the LIS field, by way of funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and focused on building library awareness while demystifying library funding issues by way of opening dialogues with the community. 

 

Once the paper is graded, I will likely upload it to my personal website for viewing; however, here is a snippet from the positioning section:

"In laying the foundation for the Geek the Library campaign, the word 'geek' needs to be defined as well as the varying contexts it might be used. OCLC declares the word, for use in the campaign, a verb defined as, '(1) to love, to enjoy, to celebrate, to have an intense passion for; (2) to express an interest in; (3) to possess a large amount of knowledge in; (4) to promote.'  Prior to the campaign's official launch, the "geek" concept will initially be introduced to the patron population via posters, a display in the front vestibule, and bookmarks available at the reference/circulation desk. Patrons will have a chance to share what they "geek" with others and optionally, to be featured on the library's website. By sharing their interests, patrons are letting the library staff know what materials could be added to the collection which might not only increase patronage and circulation data, but assist with the development of specialized guides to materials and sources within the agency.

And here is a little information about the fictional Applegate District Library:

Mission statement: to provide the citizens of LaVera, and surrounding areas, the highest quality services and equal access to information and ideas.

The rural and picturesque Village of LaVera, “Where Living is a Vacation,” plays hostess to the Applegate District Library which serves approximately 15,000 patrons and circulates more than 85,000 materials annually. Applegate District Library is a member of the Dorata Library Cooperative and houses several special collections including the genealogy room, local history section, John Irving Collection, Pottery and China Collection of the United Kingdom, and the Louisa May Alcott Collection.

Update (4.24.2011):
Grade on this assignment = 4.0

Menagerie

I have quite a bit to write about, but not a lot of time. 

Look what came in the mail yesterday?!

Sunday: I toured Grand Valley State University's Steelcase Library in downtown Grand Rapids with ALA@Wayne and had the opportunity to learn about their Automated Retrieval System. Fascinating. Look for a post and photos soon. For now, you can view the photos via my website.

(A spiel about the online albums: they are a bit glitchy and will sometimes throw an error that says something to the effect of "photo missing" -- the photo is not really missing and the issue can be rectified by hitting the forward or backward queue button.)

On Tuesday, I was the winner of the library advocacy contest hosted by ALA@Wayne.

LIS 6210: I am falling in love with classification work.

I wrapped up my marketing paper for LIS 7040 yesterday -- of course, I will write more about it in a spell.

 This morning, I finished reading City of Thieves by David Benioff. One word: brilliant.
 

I just returned from the theater...look for a post about Focus Feature's latest film Hanna in the near future. One comment: I love the soundtrack!

Motivation Case Study

Library Journal article: What's My Motivation?

My stance:

By way of the case study reading (see article above), I felt as though the Library Director, Mary Lawless, was incredibly reactive rather than proactive during the transition process. While I understand that each person has their individual differences and personality which in turn gives them different perspectives, Mosca’s reaction demonstrated that she did not understand the organization’s interim goal: the library operating rather than shutting off the lights and closing the doors. If Lawless had spent a little time laying some foundation work with her staff, such as clearly explaining the organization’s financial crunch, developing a game plan for the additional responsibilities, consistently employing recognition and positive reinforcement with her management-style, perhaps the Mosca-situation might not have occurred because the “unknown” would have already been answered. “Fear of the unknown” is how I chalk up Mosca’s behavior behind her interruption.

Professor Walker, in response to a fellow student's question, stated: “...you are attempting to answer the question ‘why should I?’ when anyone in that Library could be the next person to be laid off.” In her lecture, Professor Walker provided an example in which an employee proclaimed that she, being Beth Walker (the supervisor), was responsible for motivating her. Walker’s reply was along the lines of “she is not responsible for motivating the individual person, but for creating an environment that is conducive to motivation.” I feel that Lawless has not provided an atmosphere conducive towards employee motivation.

In this specific situation, which is certainly reactive, I would first focus on “damage control” -- putting out the fire which, in this case, it would be Mosca’s interruption. The article describes the feeling behind the interruption as, “The anger in Mosca’s voice grew as she went on.” Mosca used the word “we” a great deal when presenting her views. Immediately, I would give each employee individual praise in front of the group, thank them for their patience and then move onto “knowledge is power” (briefly explained in my first paragraph) which is part of appropriate crisis intervention. Before jumping into the game plan, I would discuss staff support, the importance of knowing your limit, and methods to prevent burn-out. 

Laying out a game plan would come next which includes clearly defining the end result (the goal) and how each person plays a part (roles, duties, responsibilities) in the larger picture. After laying out the game plan, I would then open the floor for a Question and Answer session. Closing the staff meeting, I would remind staff of my open door policy and schedule a special meeting for department heads to discuss staff support. By scheduling the meeting in front of the entire staff, the subordinates know that I am making an effort towards creating a better environment.

Incorporating ideas from a fellow student's experience, Lawless should use the agency’s intranet to create a “financial crisis” page that would contain the following elements: updates, seniority lists, facts/figures, a transcript of the Q/A session (from the staff meeting), and a discussion board. Last but not least, Lawless should follow-up with each employee, individually, to give them an opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns.


And I leave you with one of my favorite scenes from the Harry Potter movie series...

Feeling the Pinch

Odds stacked against libraries as cities feel pinch | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Highlights from the article:
"We can't take these people on as refugees," said Southfield library director Dave Ewick. "My heart goes out to Troy residents. But I can't give them for free what my people are paying for — they need to realize how valuable a library is and pay for it."

The Baldwin Public Library, which has served Birmingham for 104 years and maintains service contracts with Beverly Hills and Bingham Farms, will not offer any services to Troy residents, since a reciprocal relationship will no longer exist, according to its website.

"The residents of Birmingham have told us they don't want us giving away services," said Baldwin library director Doug Koschik. In Berkley, the board raised the nonresident library card fee to $125 from $50, effective April 1, to fall in line with other facilities and minimize the rush, officials said.

"We're getting several calls every day from Troy residents," Berkley library director Celia Morse said. "They're clearly shopping around, and we don't want to put ourselves in the position of being the bargain. … I'm not really in a position to handle a large influx of new users."

A 2010 Harris Poll for the American Library Association found that 94 percent said libraries "improve the quality of life in a community." Nearly two-thirds of adults had used their library in the past year, the report added.

My stance:
While I moved away from the suburbs six years ago, I must admit that I feel unplugged from the "suburban library world"; however, conducting library visits for graduate school, I have found libraries in the Thumb area of Michigan to be practically synonymous with community centers. Every week, I am visiting a rural library to study for class and observe my surroundings -- utilization is not even a question or a doubt in this area. Patrons are always found browsing the stacks, perusing periodicals, and interloaning materials. Through observation, I have found it almost rare for a public computer to be unoccupied as many people are using the computers to search and apply for jobs, conduct research for a class paper, apply for assistance, download tax forms, research genealogy, and connect with friends/family.

How many library cards do I have? Two. Since I utilize Bad Axe Area District Library and its services at least once a week, I found it appropriate to apply for a card to "pay my way" like any citizen residing in that district. The difference: because I was a non-resident, I paid an annual "membership" fee. In all actuality, I will likely end up with more than two cards since I patronize multiple libraries across the area in order to study and observe.

One of the two classes I am taking this semester is "Library Administration and Management" and a recent assignment required me to reduce the operating budget of an academic or public library (my choice) by 25%. Putting it in those terms sounds simple, right? Sure. Taking a moment to imagine what the end-result would actually look like was a bit intimidating. Would quality be so low in which patrons would stop coming to the library? Possibly. What line item gets cut, frozen, or *gasp* eliminated? It was definitely a balancing act. (Thank you to Professor Robert Holley (lead) and to Beth Walker, my course instructor, for this practical and very real assignment.) 

Let's face it: librarians are certainly not getting rich -- beyond the salaries for staff, the library, itself, costs money to operate. Many of my readers are in the LIS field, but to those who aren't, please take a moment to think about some the costs involved with operating a library: utilities (electricity for lights and to run computers for patrons), collection development (subscriptions to magazines, the best-seller that you want you to read, books on gardening, antique tractors), licenses for databases (the database used for genealogy research costs money), grounds maintenance (snow shoveling, etc), maintenance agreements for the OPACs (online public access catalog: what you use to look up materials), processing and cataloging costs to make new materials available to patrons (or fees paid to the cooperative/consortium to cover)...and let's not forget the cost of internet that is always readily available for use. It simply adds up.

*deep breath*

Confession: I must admit that I had a very difficult time taking a stance on this issue because the issue itself contradicts a firm belief that I have held: access to all. My heart breaks for those who lost their library, but at the same time I am very much angry and disgusted by the lack of community support.

(A special thanks to Joy and Charli for sharing the article.)

Creativity and Innovation

For LIS 7040 (Library Administration and Management), we were asked to take the Creativity and Innovation quiz which is described, via the website as, "...quick and fun quiz to help you start to identify those creative behaviours in yourself and others. It's important to note that these are behaviours, not personality types."

My result, which I feel aligns with my Myers-Brigg Type Indicator (INTJ):

Mainly A’s: The Fact Finding/Pattern Seeking Position

The Fact Finding behaviour is driven by a need for mastery of concepts, knowledge, and competence. When we are in the Fact Finding and Pattern Seeking position we begin to understand the operating principles of persons, places and things. When in fact finding mode we draw on expertise, objectivity, logic, consistency and rationality. When you’re Fact Finding and Pattern Seeking you input into a creative process by objectively analyzing a situation for the purpose of considering previously un-thought-of possibilities. Research, analysis, searching for patterns, and reviewing current hypotheses are some of the key creative elements of Fact Finding.

P.S. Jane Austen and Mr. Darcy were both INTJs.

Hermionish Playlist

I love writing papers and working on assignments while listening to some tunes. I updated my Hermionish playlist via YouTube. This morning, I studied for Neavill's midterm, wrapped up a capital budget request for LIS 7040, and submitted an essay for a scholarship...

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About My Reading Habits

While catching up on my Delta Alpha sister's blog, Lisa's World of Books, I stumbled upon this survey of sorts. Enjoy.

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack:
I think this answer is going to show everyone how truly nerdy I really am. I do not eat anything while reading because I do not want to defile the pages. If I am reading a mass market paperback, which would be rare because I prefer hardcovers, a few cubes of Williams' Sharp Cheddar might be on my tea cart.

What is your favorite drink while reading?
Contrary to my previous answer, I will drink while reading. It really depends on the book and the type of reading at hand. Anything academic related typically caffeinated soda. When I was trying to save Huron County (insert sarcasm), I would unwind with a book and a cocktail, usually cranberry and vodka. Night reading always calls for a glass of ice water, or rather, ice with a water.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
In general, the idea of writing in books horrifies me. However, I have been known to own multiple copies of a book: a trade paperback and a first edition/author signed piece. If the book is for a review or Literature to Film Club, I will mark only in the paperback edition. My paperback edition of East of Eden (Steinbeck) has paperclips on several pages.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
Again, I think this answer shows my nerdiness, but I will not dog-ear a page and leaving a book lying flat while open is very hard on the binding. Definitely a bookmark or a mental note of the page number.

Fiction, non-fiction, or both?
Typically both. Right now, beyond my textbooks for library school, for my research interest (LIS 7850) I have been reading several non-fiction works on the Second World War, specifically, The Diary of Anne Frank (a recent re-read) and currently I Will Bear Witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, 1942-1945. For Literature to Film Club, I recently finished reading a fiction piece titled The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. On my list next, for Literature to Film Club, An Education by Lynn Barber.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
While it is ideal to read until the end of the chapter, life can be unpredictable. I can stop anywhere, but I prefer to pause at the end of a section.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
This answer should be easy to predict: no. However, in the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that I did throw Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (the last book in the Twilight series) and it took much coaxing and a bit of coercion from a few friends to finish reading it.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
Absolutely. My motto: Ancora Imparo. I am still learning.

What are you currently reading?
Management Basics for Information Professionals (Evans and Ward, 2007)
Cataloging and Classification: An Introduction (Chan, 2007)
Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (2nd edition, 2002 revision, 2005 update)
I Will Bear Witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, 1942-1945 (Victor Klempere)

What is the last book you bought?
On Monday, I did a little antiquing, with a friend, and purchased a 1911 edition of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
At any given time, I am normally reading more than one book.

Do you have a favorite time / place to read?
While I can read just about anywhere and at any time, I prefer Bad Axe Area District Library. I love the atmosphere of that library. Part of my routine for unwinding, I often read in bed before falling asleep. Since resigning from SafePlace, it is not unusual for me to wake up at 3:30a and pick up where I left off earlier.

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?
To answer the question, I do not particularly prefer them. A few years back, I fell in love with J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and for a conversation piece as well as common thread with my father, I picked up Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I am still plugging away at the Wheel of Time series as the newest book has been out for awhile and I haven't had the time to read it as of yet.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
As far as authors go, I always recommend David Sedaris, John Irving and Jhumpa Lahiri. I often recommend Blindness by Jose Saramago, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.

How do you organize your books?
Considering I bought an old turn-of-the-century farmhouse that is being renovating...until completion, most of my books are packed away in boxes and totes. I have plans to turn the dining room into a library. Considering that I am in library school, I will likely create a basic second level catalog for my collection and then catalog my special collection at the third level. My non-fiction works will likely be classified via the Dewey Decimal system.

Lecture: Nazi Book Burning

If I can get my paper for LIS 7040 written, with revisions and polishing saved for tomorrow afternoon, then I will attend Sunday morning's lecture Fighting the Flames of Hate: America's Reaction to the Nazis Book Burning at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills.

When I saw the lecture and topic posted on Facebook, via my newsfeed, I was floored as it is matches my research interest for LIS 7850 (study abroad). Even more intriguing: the lecturer, Dr. Guy Stern, is a retired professor from Wayne State University's German studies program.

Back to the paper for LIS 7040, I am citing various points of the ALA's Code of Ethics as rationale of the job description and subsequent hiring decision.

(1) We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests.
(2) We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources.
(3) We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.
(4) We respect intellectual property rights and advocate balance between the interests of information users and rights holders.
(5) We treat co-workers and other colleagues with respect, fairness, and good faith, and advocate conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees of our institutions.
(6) We do not advance private interests at the expense of library users, colleagues, or our employing institutions.
(7) We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our institutions or the provision of access to their information resources.
(8) We strive for excellence in the profession by maintaining and enhancing our own knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of co-workers, and by fostering the aspirations of potential members of the profession.

Adopted June 28, 1997, by the ALA Council; amended January 22, 2008.

Photo Credit: from HMC's Facebook event page

Failed Ninja Moves

1.16.2011: ER Improv and Comedy

Greetings.

Last Sunday I fell down the stairs and I have not been able to get to a computer to write any new posts...

Another week homebound has left me with plenty of time to study for my two classes and work on my paper for LIS 7040. I wrapped up L.A. Confidential and I am geeked about watching the movie again. LIS 6210 is interesting. I am itching to try my hand at creating bibliographic records.

I need to brush up on intellectual property.

That is all...until I graduate to stairs.

Long Hair

Last night I took Nyquil and had very bizarre dreams...one of which I will count as a nightmare. In dream (A), sporting long hair, I rescued a screaming neglected baby out of a car seat. The baby, a beautiful little girl, was wearing a urine-soaked diaper. Heartbreaking.

In dream (B), with long hair again, I "visited" my old neighborhood and recounted various misadventures while helping a neighbor start her Charger.

Winter term starts today!

The workload for Cataloguing (LIS 6210) looks heavy. I need to work into my study schedule some library study days to change things up and get me out-and-about again. Onto reading...