Teddy takes it to the ‘net

Ted Kennedy discusses Net Neutrality on YouTube. Go Ted, Go!

never too late.

I just read an article in the Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME) about a book returned to the library 60 years late — and the guilty party paid the fine! Of course, like the generous institution that it is, the PPL caps its fines at $10 per item. The book, The Baby Whale, Sharp Ears, after spending some time on display (encouraging others to return overdue materials), will be put back in circulation.

back atcha!

Okay, I’m back. My computer has been replaced and is running beautifully, the semester has started and should prove to be challenging in a entirely different way than I have previously experienced, and the job search is beginning to pick up steam! Busy, busy, but super all the same.

First, the fall semester is upon us here in Bloomington and as this my last semester in my MLS program things are getting interesting! I was lucky enough to win a fellowship from the IUB Libraries Reference Department so I will be working in that department this semester on the reference desk 12 hours per week. In addition to working the desk, I also have the opportunity to design and conduct an independent research project. I am in the process of refining my research question, but the long and short of it is that I will be analyzing the transcripts from the department’s digital reference services in order to discover thematic content. This analysis will hopefully lead to the creation of evidence-based online help modules for the libraries’ web site. Very exciting! I’ve never conducted this sort of “real” research before so it is a little overwhelming at this point, but I am learning a lot. I have to get Human Subjects approval from the IRB and everything. That will surely be an interesting experience!

Second, since this is my last semester, the job search is picking up considerably. I was fortunate enough to attend the ALA conference in New Orleans this past June where I made a number of wonderful contacts with new friends and colleagues in addition to gaining insight into ways to “power up” my job search! Now it is time to put those techniques and professional contacts into practice. So far, I have sent out materials to three institutions and I am finishing up a couple more to send out by tomorrow afternoon. Applying for positions sometimes feels like a full-time job in itself! I am moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in December (finishing my last class and hopping in the car!) so my options are constrained by that fact, but luckily I am finding that there are a decent amount of opportunities available in the region. In addition, just last night I booked my flight, hotel, and conference registration for the California Library Association conference to be held in Sacramento this November. They have a recruitment center there that I am very excited about. I’m heading out there with a fellow job-seeker from SLIS so I think it’s going to be a blast!

I suppose that’s it for now. Just a little update on where I’m at and what I’m up to. More to come…