(On a side note, I am also currently enrolled in CS 195 – Beginning Web Authoring – through Oregon State University, which is where I work full-time. I’m half-way through the class – it ends four weeks from now). I’m learning lotsa good stuff, by the way.

I want to learn as much as possible about librarianship – not only because it’s uh, kind-of important, but moreso because I LOVE it! Furthermore, I am working to supplement the academic experience with practical experiences – which I also love and find joy in. But, at the same time, I am keenly aware that I can’t let the full-time job that pays the bills suffer… I put 100% into that for sure… and I am putting 100% into the other responsibilities important to me: my volunteer experiences through the local public library and my internship.

As a result, it’s been a little tough to add in the weekly blog writing like I wanted, and staying on top of all my RSS feed subscriptions has been rough…When Bloglines tells me I have two thousand posts to read, it’s a tad bit daunting.

And there’s that thing called family that needs to fit in too…

Ah, the joys of work-life balance!

So yup, I’m purty busy… yup, my brain is ’bout to explode… Nah, I don’t get much sleep… But there are other folks who are doing twice as much as me…(How the heck do y’all do that, by the way?! Please share your secrets with me!)

So… back to the original question: shall I jump in and take the two courses or just one…?

Photo credit: bees wallpaper from flickr user jelene

In honor of my LIS 5661 government documents class, I share with thee such splendor.

Students from San Jose State University’s SLIS library and information science program have created a wonderful collection of LIS publications. Using a wiki, they have it organized by:

LIS scholarly journals

LIS professional and trade publications

LIS online forums

Civilian publications

Book publishers

Unclaimed titles

Professor Laurie Putnam noted that her students have created profiles on over 200 publications! All LIS professionals can contribute to the wiki, meaning this resource can only get better!

As someone who is working on her MLIS, I am always interested in reading about the future of the profession, no matter how wonderful – or bleak – some may predict it to be. It’s important to critically analyze where the profession is, where it’s going, and where it can go.

Three posts – and the comments generated by them – have my head spinning (in a good way):

First, Karin Dalziel (Nirak.net – the Musings of a LIS student): Why every library science student should learn programming

Then Matt Hamilton (Brewin’ Librarian): What I’m Finding as an Information Professional

And a response by Bobbi Newman (Librarian by Day) with her post, What’s the Matter with our Profession?

I don’t claim to have answers – I’m only a rookie in the world of librarianship – but it is clearly obvious that librarianship/libraries/librarians are changing as information changes and the way people want/need information. As for the solution, well, what’s the right thing to do today may likely be out of date tomorrow, but it is good we’re discussing this… Either way, the profession needs people who can adapt and are willing to adjust to professional, societal, and economic changes (just to name a few variables). I don’t think this is just a librarianship issue, however; I believe, actually, that any profession needs adaptable professionals or problems with relevancy will exist (and persist!) For example, in my day job as an academic adviser on a college campus, the very field of advising — which is about sharing information and educating students regarding university policies, academic programs, appropriate resources and so on – also demands adaptation. We cannot solely depend on traditional ways of advising (i.e., make an appointment and wait a week to see an adviser)… Over the past several years, I’ve seen academic advisers and departments incorporate new ways of advising via email advising, instant messaging, text and even through social networking sites as Facebook and Twitter.

I believe a big part – which has never changed – is that it’s all about the constituents we serve. As such, we should tailor our delivery and programs the way that best works with our constituents in a way that they want and need.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, of course… there is so much more to this discussion, which is why I have enjoyed reading what others have to share.

Other thoughts:

• The People Factor in LIS from the zeds

• Technology Education and the Real World from Information Needs to be Free

From yesterday’s Library Journal:

Rutgers Faculty Agrees to Drop “Library” from SCILS Name.

Why is “Library” such a dreaded word?

update 3/23/08

The Library Journal posted two responses today regarding Rutgers’s decision to drop “Library” from SCILS:

Jorge Reina Schement: Why Rutgers Faculty Agreed to Drop the “Library” Name

Mary K. Shelton: It’s Wrong for Rutgers to Drop the “Library” Name

update 3/27/09

And now Andrew Albanese: What’s in a name? Readers Sound off on Rutgers Proposed Name Change to SCILS

update 4/3/09

And yes, it really did happen: Rutgers Board of Governers Approves Name Change Dropping Word “Library

1. Continue posting to the blog twice a week.

2. Improve the look and layout of the blog so it gets away from the “template” look.

3. Continue to improve XHTML/CSS skills.

4. Increase volunteer time at the Corvallis Public Library to twice a week.

5. Get involved with the Albany Public Library.

6. Increase number of reference questions answered through IPL.

7. Become proficient in GIMP (Gnu Image Manipulation Program).

8. Continue working on MLIS specializations in leadership/management and reference.

9. Continue to fine-tune web authoring ability. Take CS 195/295 (intro to web authoring/ intermediate web authoring) through Oregon State University (spring 09/fall 09).

10. Join OLA.

11. Do an internship this summer.

I am updating this as I go through school… slowly… semester by semester… Several classes I took have since changed their course numbers, but they still cover the same content! All courses are from Florida State University’s College of Information.

Spring 2007

LIS 5442 Information Leadership (3)
This course allows us to explore the changing context of leadership in contemporary society. We will examine the implications of new communication and information technologies on organizations and the role of information leadership in the Information Age.

*(When I took this class, it was LIS 5916; It has since moved to LIS 5442.)

Summer 2007

LIS 5411 Introduction to Information Policy (3)
Course examines selected fundamental policy questions relating to information use, access, and dissemination. Particular attention is given to complex policy issues that involve value conflicts among information ownership rights, personal privacy rights, and public access rights to information in a societal context.

LIS 5020 Foundations of the Information Professions
This course provides background information about the information profession including librarianship and the discipline of library/information science (LIS) and information technology (IT); the organizations and institutions of the information provision environment; and the applications of technology to information provision. The overall intent of the course is to facilitate optimal information management.

*(When I took this course, it was coded LIS 5916; It has since moved to LIS 5020.)

Fall 2007

LIS 5603 Introduction to Information Services (3)
Introduction to reference work using both print and online sources; relationship of reference work to other information services in libraries and other information-providing agencies.

Spring 2008

LIS 5271 Research Methods in Information Studies(3)
Examines the principles and methods of systems analysis and research in the context of library and information studies. Considers problem identification and definition, techniques of data collection and analysis including statistical analysis. The course also discusses typical problems studied.

LIS 5603 Introduction to Information Services (3)
Introduction to reference work using both print and online sources; relationship of reference work to other information services in libraries and other information-providing agencies.

Summer 2008

LIS 5362 Design and Production of Network Multimedia (3)
Examines theory, concepts and techniques for designing, producing, and evaluating network multimedia resources to meet specific information needs. Students engage in collaborative design projects applying theoretical constructs from communication, education, engineering, graphic design and information science to the provision of resources using emerging multimedia network technologies.

LIS 5703 Information Organization (3)
Principles and techniques of bibliographic organization, including the description, subject analysis, and retrieval of recorded knowledge and information in bibliographies, catalogs, and machine-based systems. Emphasis is on the application of AACR2, Sears, and L.C. Subject Headings and the Dewey Decimal classification in the organization of library catalogs.

LIS 5008 Advanced Online Searching (3)
Prerequisite: LIS 5603
Presents the latest tools, resources, and techniques of searching online database systems (such as DialogWeb & LexisNexis) and various Web search tools (such as search engines, directories, & meta-search tools), and of delivering search results for clients.

(When I took this class, it was LIS 5916; It has since moved to LIS 5008).

Fall 2008

LIS 5313 Design and Production of Media Resources (3)
Techniques for designing, producing and evaluating media sources which meet specific instructional needs.

Spring 2008

LIS 5661 Information Needs & Services in Government Information
This course provides an introduction to government information sources and research with a primary focus on U.S. government information. Students will learn about the structure of government and the dissemination of government information resources to the public, including techniques for locating and using government information sources.
]]> http://lindybrown.com/blog/2008/12/mlis-my-coursework/feed/ 1 http://lindybrown.com/blog/2008/11/lil-ole-me/ http://lindybrown.com/blog/2008/11/lil-ole-me/#comments Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 lindybr1 http://lindyjb.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/lil-ole-me/ So yeah, I’m one of 500 gadzillion folks blogging. I’m probably waaay behind when it comes to the information professional world of librarians and their ability to catch on to the latest technologies and and creations of information retrieval and organization, social networking, public relations 2.0, trend setters, knowledge-creation, shaping and dissemination tendencies…

Sigh.

So I wanted to jump in. I’m enjoying learning about all this stuff, but dang! I feel a tad bit like a wannabe… Well wait! I guess I kind-of am, eh? For example, inspired by my latest assignment for LIS5313, I’ve been writing about Twitter, but sheesh, that’s so passe now, isn’t it? Wasn’t that, like, so 6 months ago?

Will I always be on the backend of things, trying to catch up?

So here’s another blog of random ramblings… discussions about library-related things that, most likely, were already discovered and discussed about 5 years ago. I believe, however, that maybe if I keep practicing all this and keep fiddling around with this blog-thingy, I might get the hang of this, become a better writer, researcher, and contributor to this global information world. I would like to think that others might be interested in what I have to say, but… yeah… comments are at zero. I can’t help but want to feel wanted, ya know?

So yeah, I’ll take my damaged ego (zero comments and readers will do that to a person), and I’ll continue to troop along. I wonder… how did all those popular blogs out there start out? How’d y’all get so popular?!

Maybe, just maybe they started out just like this one?

When I was surfing the web awhile back, I was looking for blogs created by librarians who were currently in library school. I wanted to read more about their experiences while in school – the classes they were in, the things they were learning, their aspirations to become librarians and so on… I wanted to learn more about that community and then become part of it…

I am trying to do all I can to become a good information professional. I realize that I am a little behind… well, I’m actually a lot behind. I work full-time in another profession (one that I do enjoy), but I know I can’t do it forever. Looking forward, I am trying to gain all the experience and knowledge I can to be prepared when I graduate with my MLIS.

Right now I fear I may be over-educated and under-qualified. I know I need to gain much more experience before my resume looks appealing to a library that is looking to hire… And this is ok, because I am happy with my current job and have no plans to jump ship at this time. However, I want to make sure I keep getting practical library experience. That is what I crave most and am trying to gain.

So I am volunteering with a digital library reference service as well as at a local public library. It can be tough – I’m working 45+ hours a week in my current job and then volunteering another 8+ hours a week on top of that. I have so much to do – and so much I want to accomplish in preparation for that next career step!

So in the meantime… Here’s blog #500-gadzillion-and-one.