The Last Laugh

Hello my loyal readers (if you exist)! 

This week, for my last blog post entry, I will be taking a look at ‘Interesting questions we get’. This is a blog post by Michelle McLean (Connecting Libraian) and it can be found here, http://connectinglibrarian.com/2012/06/28/interesting-questions-we-get/. 

In this piece of writing Mclean talks about the many funny, awkward or just plain silly questions she has commonly heard during her time as a librarian. The kind of questions that make a million answers rush through your mind, answers that should be kept to yourself. Things like receiving a phone call and being asked “Do you have a book?”, or someone walking right past the printer (marked with a large sign) and asking where it is, or even asking “Do I really have to pay a fine?” when notified several times of the items due date and overdue status. 

These commonly asked questions which bring a sarcastic response to the tip of the tongue, every time librarians have to keep their cool and be diplomatic.

Honestly when thinking about being a librarian I don’t often think in terms of this. And I probably should have. Being able to ignore the urge to laugh and stuff may well come with practice, but I hope I can do that.

What Would I Do?

Hello once again readers! 

This time around I will be taking a look at another blog by Bobbi Newman (aka; Librarian by Day). This blog is posted under the title ‘Who do you help first?’ and is found here, http://librarianbyday.net/2009/05/14/who-do-you-help-first/. 

This particular article starts us off with a hypothetical situation: “You’re sitting at the reference desk and as someone approaches the desk the phone begins to ring and an instant messaging window pops open, who do you help first?”.  The author then talks about a few of the answers they have heard during conferences and groups. The only answer Newman deems “wrong” is “the person in front of you, they took the time and effort to come in”. Here the author explains that they try to discourage this kind of thinking in a library as all of these people have taken the effort to contact you by means they have been told are appropriate. 

What I have taken away from this blog post is not so much something that the author said or explained, but more something that they made me really think about. Right at the end of the page Newman asks us, the readers, “who would you help first?”. And I actually took a few minutes to think about it if it really were me behind that desk. I think that kind of self-reflection is important sometimes too.

So readers, what would you do?

Technology Training and Libraries

Hi readers! This week (or last technically) I read an article from ‘Computers in Libraries vol. 31, no. 9, page 10, November 2011’. 

 This article, written by Irmilla Vengersammy under the title ‘Libraries Adding Value with Technology Training’, is about technology and how libraries should be (and are) providing patrons with classes and tutorials in this constantly evolving area.

, the author talks about the constant flow and evolution of technology in our everyday lives and how libraries could (and should) use this to our advantage by teaching these all important life skills to our patrons. This would benefit our library users and at the same time add value to our industry and help show how indispensable libraries are even now. Many libraries already have with the running of numerous classes to do with technology and the internet. One such service mentioned in the article is a job-seekers “course” which is run through the library (both in person and over the internet). This service teaches patrons how to write resumes and cover letters, offers mock interviews, and shows them how to search and apply for jobs via the internet. 

Before reading this article I never knew that these classes existed and I’m actually finding myself quite interested in pursuing this. I feel it is important to learn this kind of stuff and I had no idea that there were courses and tutorials being offered by libraries for free for…God knows how long! 

Why did no one tell me of this?!

A Look at the Different Kinds of Librarians

Hello again! This week I’ll be looking at a blog linked by one of my fellow students (Thank you for that, saved me a lot of time! XD). 

This blog post by Kerri Cicolani is entitled ‘Why do we need library technicians in our school libraries?’ and can be found here, http://hubinfo.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/why-do-we-need-library-technicians-in-our-school-libraries/. 

In this particular post the author talks, quite passionately, about her job as a library technician in a primary school setting and the differences between her position and that of a teacher librarian. The differences, she explains, are in their areas of expertise along with the knowledge and services each different kind of librarian can offer their patrons. For example, a library technician has experience with cataloging and web 2.0, while a teacher librarian has the skills and expertise in a school setting to be able to better help students with their curriculum work. Of course this isn’t all they do, this is just a small example of the differences in their day-to-day jobs. Cicolani also fervently shares her belief that in all school libraries it is important to have well trained staff, teacher librarians and library technicians both. 

I will admit that prior to reading this I didn’t really have that much of an idea for the differences between the many kinds of librarians. It was quite an enlightening read in that aspect and one I recommend to everyone!

Public Libraries, a Hope for the Future

Hi everyone! The Library Fox is back with another post! 

This week’s blog entry is about an article by Michelle McLean entitled ‘Public libraries now and always’. 

The blog can be found here, http://connectinglibrarian.com/2012/06/30/public-libraries-now-and-always/. 

In this blog post the author talks a little about her lifelong attachment to public libraries. McLean shares with us in this heartfelt article her love for public libraries and why, once she got into work in this sector, she never left (and doesn’t plan to!). 

I loved reading this blog entry! It really fills me with hope for the future. Not just the future of libraries but for my future in libraries. 

Doing this library course I have long pictured myself in a public library and reading a little about McLean’s experience working in libraries and her positive view on the industry (both the industry itself and her role in it) was really uplifting!