Hello, dear readers. A post on the weekend? I know, it’s shocking. But I feel I need to apologize for my last post after being told by a friend that it contained rather atrocious sentence construction and lacked a certain level of variety in vocabulary so as to irritate those most demanding critics, English majors. My apologies. If I am allowed an excuse, it was a long and tiring week and I really wanted to share some cool technology lists, but lacked the time to edit the post to exacting standards given the 5 hour meeting yesterday. (I also happen to be a fan of Godin’s “just ship it” approach and the Cult of Done, but that’s to be discussed at some other time.) So I feel that I owe you, dear reader, a bit more coherent and thoughtful post. Therefore, let’s talk about two subjects that just keep popping up in the blogosphere: privacy (a very important topic) and language (something I love to talk about, and hopefully will not mutilate in this post). Allons-y!
EDUCAUSE has a new publication on the 7 things you should know about privacy in Web 2.0 learning environments which would be lovely to share with your patrons and instructors given the increasing level of interest and use of Web 2.0 technologies in education. While I’m all for being in compliance with student privacy acts and regulations, I do hope that the legal concerns over privacy do not dissuade instructors from incorporating emerging technologies and tools in their courses. As Michelle Pacansky-Brock notes over on her blog, MPB Reflections: 21st Century Teaching and Learning, there are so many possibilities of incorporating interactive, social media tools in the classroom that it would be a huge disservice to our students to exclude these tools. Instead, we as librarians and educators should frame this issue as an educational opportunity to teach our students (and faculty) about safe and effective uses of Web 2.0 technologies–a great opportunity to show the value and applicability of information literacy for the instructional librarians among us.
If you are leaving a job and need to return a laptop to your employer, check out Lifehacker’s What should I do to my work laptop before I leave my job? article. This is a must read if you want to make sure that your files, passwords, etc. do stay private even after you return the laptop. Just another facet of privacy that may interest you.
Secret codes happen to be a way of communicating messages semi-privately, even on a PA system, if most people don’t understand the code. If you are interested in some of the more commonly used phrases and codes, or just wanted to know what “paging Dr. Firestone” means, check out the post. See, learning can be both fun and useful.
While secret codes are fun to learn but may or may not be that useful, this post on commonly misheard expressions to avoid (or fix) in your writing is quite useful. I’m sure all but the English majors among us have committed some of these errors and could use a quick review. Now you should be able to avoid these mistakes that may cause confusion in your communications. And, limiting confusion definitely will increase your productivity (as you won’t have to answer emails explaining to people what you thought you had explained already) and decrease the time spent wanting to bang your head against a wall, both of which are very good things.
I thought it might be nice to end with a fun video (which I unfortunately cannot embed) from The Big Bang Theory. (If you haven’t ever watched The Big Bang Theory, I suggest that you do–it is quite funny.) I’m a bit rusty in physics, so if someone could explain to me how, in a multiverse, being a clown made of candy in a few universes means one cannot dance in any of them, I would be most appreciative. Please leave your explanation in comments.
Dear readers, I hope this post made a bit more sense than Friday’s post. As always, I wish you a fantastic weekend and a productive, stress-free, and lovely week to follow. The Waki Librarian will be back on Friday.
Happy Friday! So, wow, does anyone else feel like they’ve had a really long week that went quite quickly because of all the meetings and chaos? Hm, maybe that’s just me. Anyway, it’s beginning to get busy on campus again as classes start up next week and I’ve been in meetings what seems like all week, so this is going to be a relatively short post this week. It’s all about technology and includes some lists of technology fun (mainly because I like lists and Lifehacker has had a bunch of them recently). So sit back, grab a cup of tea, and read on for some tech tips to put on your list of things to do this weekend for fun.
For those who aren’t Mac and Linux people, the release of Windows 7 was a pretty big deal. It’s definitely a vast improvement over Vista and slicker than XP. For those who still aren’t quite sure what to do with it, check out Lifehacker’s list of the top 10 things to do with a new Windows 7 system.
Not a list, but still about technology and an issue near and dear to my heart, accessibility, is Gizmodo’s article: “How Blind People See the Internet”. Take the time to read it, then take the time to share it with the website people at your library and help make your library’s website more accessible. Oh, and kudos to WordPress for being quite an accessible online platform according to the fabulous Web2Access. (Web2Access is a great resource for quickly checking out the level of accessibility of various online products and tools.)
Now that you’ve become an even more savvy technology user, you deserve something fun. Therefore check out the guide on how to customize almost anything you buy. My friends and I love some of these customizing sites–great for creating personalized gifts. Plus, it is just fun to play around with customizing different items, so have some fun this weekend and allow your inner artist to play.
While this post has been about technology lists, I just couldn’t help but highlight this article from Seth Godin that came through on my reader: turning the tables on critical trolls. We’ve all had to deal with people that criticize new ideas; this seems to happen especially when it comes to trying out new technologies for supplementing or improving services in the libraries. It is so much easier to criticize than actually create or put your ideas on the line, as Godin notes, and his simple way of dealing with the trolls is fantastic. Really, take the time and put it to use in the next meeting you’re in. And remember, don’t be a troll–they’re not made of awesome.
And, because it wouldn’t be Friday if I didn’t have something fun, wacky, or just plain silly to share, here is a library video that is making its way around the blogosphere. I have to give major props to anyone brave enough to sing in a YouTube video:
Have a fantastic weekend full of relaxing and reading. The Waki Librarian will be back next week.
Happy Friday! I hope you are having a good day. I’m enjoying a weekend break with my family before the fall term starts. I thought today I might write a bit about some intersections among librarians, technology and language. The first two concepts won’t be surprising to anyone who has been reading this blog for a bit, but the third might seem a little odd. Allow me to explain. I study changes in language in archives and libraries as part of my research; I’m slightly fascinating (okay, I’m actually super-fascinated) with how language shapes our perceptions and why this discourse matters to librarians and archivists. So that’s what is up for today.
Why young librarians and not just librarians for today’s focus? Mainly because I recently read get in the goddamn wagon and the associated comments. Really, go click through the link and read it, I’ll wait here. I agree with the main argument that younger librarians need to be the ones starting to push agendas and change in the slow-moving organizations. But I also agree that age is really just a number, and just because someone isn’t in the 22-35 year old demographic doesn’t mean s/he doesn’t have awesome ideas to contribute to the profession. The post plus comments remind me of one of the best definitions of “old” I’ve ever heard: you are old when you refuse to learn and refuse to change. I think that as soon as you utter the words, “I’m too old to change,” you are old. I’ve heard people my age (yes, I fit within the 22-35 demographic) who refuse to change and to learn and to grow and frankly, I want them out of the profession a lot more than the “old” colleagues I have that are cool with texting and tweeting students, write blogs, and can argue coherently with me about the pros and cons of iOS and Android.
I also thought about my fellow librarians, young and old, while reading Seth Godin’s post about whatever happened to labor? Just start changing and becoming irreplaceable and opportunities will open up. The up and coming generation of librarians (and archivists) can’t wait around for jobs to open up–because we all know how the supposed “glut of jobs on the market because of retirements” has played out. We need to work together, not in committees, but on small scale, local ways to help each other and get into positions of power to change the institutions and “way we’ve always done things” from the inside. And once you’ve “made it,” don’t forget to give back and to keep learning and growing so you don’t smother the possibility for changes in your institution (oh, and don’t form a ton of committees if you want things to be done rapidly). As Godin would say, race to the top, not the bottom.
Oh, and if you would like to see why age isn’t as important as a willingness to learn, check out the report on an increase in older adults using social media. Yay for adopting technology, making it work for you, and not fulfilling the stereotypes that “old” people can’t be comfortable with technology.
As we are on the topic of technology, I’d like you to check out the stream of digital consciousness photograph from a presentation. I direct your attention to the line that says “Don’t Obsess about Metadata.” Now from the rest of the points on the slide, I think this must have been a very interesting and wonderful talk. I even agree with a lot of what is said on the slide, but not worrying about metadata makes me twinge. I’m probably especially sensitive to talk about metadata as archivists have to worry about it when it comes to digital preservation, and we think about metadata, a lot. I also wonder if the presenter ever thought about metadata in the context of Google’s Book search. This article aptly points out the problems of having inadequate, inaccurate, and plain outrageous metadata. I especially like the line that says, “But books aren’t simply vehicles for communicating information, and managing a vast library collection requires different skills, approaches, and data than those that enabled Google to dominate Web searching.” Metadata is important, so let’s do it right (you can still be innovative and have good metadata.)
Metadata is a very structured type of language and all language shapes how we talk and think about life (at least in my opinion). Check out this incredibly interesting article on different languages and different realities. It’s interesting even if you aren’t a language geek, really, and something to keep in mind when you are writing for your library or posting signage.
In the midst of lots of reading for my research, I like to take breaks to read fiction, pop non-fiction, and assorted “popcorn” books as my friend, Hanna, calls them. One of the books I’m currently reading is The Power of a Positive No because, quite frankly, I’m really, really bad at saying no to people. So far the book is quite good and I’m looking forward to implementing some of the techniques the next time my gut reaction is to say no, but I’m waffling because I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Find out a little bit about the concept through Lifehacker’s article on how to use the power of a positive no. Yet another example of the power of language and the difference between saying no without destroying the other person and saying no in a way that hurts people’s feelings (and makes you feel guilty). Connotations and discourse matter–a key principle that my fellow young librarians need to remember as we try to improve the library world (and get more people to see technology as a tool and not the enemy).
And finally, an extra for all the students that are back in school, tools and tips for better online reading. Save yourself some eyestrain because you know you’ll be reading a lot of articles online. You can thank me later.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Friday post without something fun, so check out some of the cool new stuff over at ThinkGeek and a clip from The Big Bang Theory.
Have a wonderful weekend with lots of time for reading and relaxing (and going outside to talk to people). The Waki Librarian will be back next week.
Hi, all. Yes, once again we turn to talking about conferences and productivity. Why? Mainly because I am super-excited about Internet Librarian at the end of October, but also because work never stops–even when you are at a conference. So any help to make conferences productive, and keep us from wanting to gouge out our eyes from trying to keep up with what is happening back at the library, is probably a very good thing. Shall we dive into some conference goodies? Allons-y!
First, unless a conference happens to be in your backyard, or within reasonable driving distance, you probably are going to have to fly. And if you are going to fly, you better show up at the airport with a goodly amount of time to spare. So check out Lifehacker’s guide on how to always get to the airport on time. Lots of common sense tips, but it is always good to have a reminder. Also, you may be interested in when you can get the best price on airfare. Turns out that the cheapest time to book a flight is about eight weeks before your travel date. That’s definitely handy to know. (Also good information to share with your library patrons who may be traveling soon.)
Once you’re at the conference, you’ll want to implement some of the tips from WebWorkerDaily on how to stay productive at conferences. Lots of good tips and I really like the emphasis on not trying to do everything so you can actually enjoy and learn at the conference. I’ll try to take that advice to heart while at Internet Librarian.
Also, if you are ever like me and come home from conferences with a mess of notes that made sense of the time but now look like just scribbles, check out How to take effective conference notes. Then be nice and share your experience and tips on your blog. I really find it helpful to read about other people’s conference experiences, especially from conferences that I haven’t been able to attend.
And since you know you’ll be working on your laptop, computer, other digital device while you are away from the office at a conference, check out turning your flash drive into a portable privacy toolkit. Really, is there anything a flash drive can’t be reconfigured to do?
Do you have any conference productivity tips? If so, please share them in the comments. I’d love to hear about them and the Waki Librarian will be back on Friday with more library fun.
Happy Friday! Isn’t it just lovely that it is Friday and the start of a three day weekend? I am ready for a break. Today’s post is a bit of a hodge-podge of stuff; in a way, it’s kind of how my brain has been feeling this week–lots of disparate pieces of information swirling around that I’m trying to make sense of and put in some kind of logical matrix. But never fear, The Waki Librarian will make as much sense as possible in this Friday’s post. Allons-y!
Since we are getting close to the start of fall quarter at my institution, I have been thinking a lot about apathy. I worry about apathetic students and how to combat apathy when I’m teaching. While not specifically on teaching, Seth Godin’s post, Better than nothing (is harder than you think), still rang true for me in regards to teaching which may sound weird at first because Godin was writing about sales, but bear with me. If I’m competing against my students’ apathy or even worse, actual disdain, towards the course I teach, then I have be such a great teacher and guide that I can pull them out of their apathetic stupor and into the realm of learning. And this is a serious and quite a large task, but it’s also the fun bit of teaching. (It’s also nice when I get students that are genuinely excited about learning and are curious people, but the real challenge is the apathetic ones.)
While you are talking with someone (face to face, naturally) you can ask them if they know about having free access to SAGE journals through October 15th? This is definitely information to share with your library patrons.
And while you’re out there meeting new people, please, please, please read and take to heart this article on how to remember people’s names. It really is true that having someone remember your name is fantastic and having someone screw up your name is like listening to nails on a chalkboard (or that horrible dying noise your computer makes right before it gives you the blue screen of death). It is especially annoying when, as Philip Guo wrote, people spell your name incorrectly in an email after they have to type your name in your email address. (I speak from experience. And no, telling me that Diane is close to Diana and I shouldn’t get upset is not helping your case. Also, trust the advice on avoiding nicknames.)
I really appreciated the tips in the article because I’m not naturally good at remembering names, but when you teach you have to remember a lot of names quickly so I’ve gotten much better. Plus, remembering my students’ names is just one more way to demonstrate that I’m not apathetic about teaching. And, if nothing else, it is common courtesy to remember and to get a person’s name correct in conversation and in writing. So take a couple extra seconds and cement the name in your memory the next time you meet someone new.
Speaking of teaching, have you seen Sweet Search: A Search Engine for Students? My question is: is this really helpful for our students? Or is this just a stop-gap measure and a substitute for teaching students to develop critical evaluation skills? Life doesn’t come at a person pre-screened and evaluated. Part of the learning process is figuring out who’s a charlatan and a quack and who is actually sharing factual, helpful information–be it online or in person. It reminds me of the quote from Don Marquis that says, “If you make people think they’re thinking, they’ll love you. But if you really make them think, they’ll hate you.” So are we getting our students to think they’re thinking by using a “better,” vetted search engine and therefore they will throw evaluation out the window? Are we playing into apathy about learning the hard and sometimes time-consuming ability to discern valuable information out of the “surplus of digital data” that Godin writes about? Or, is Sweet Search actually a better way to have students interact with the web? I’m not sure about the answer and would like to hear your thoughts on it.
Just a quick post about privacy as I’ve been meaning to share these links for a while but just haven’t gotten around to it. Privacy seems to be a buzzword lately with all the talk of loss of privacy due to social media, GPS, etc. So if you have library users who are curious about how they can better protect their privacy, you can send them the sources noted below. They are also helpful if you have questions about maintaining some semblance of privacy in your life.
Lifehacker, of course, often has great posts on privacy and technology. For example, do you use the incognito browsing in Google Chrome? If so, Lifehacker warns you to not trust private browsing modes for true privacy. Luckily Lifehacker also provides some alternatives to help you browse in secret. (A good thing too with the holidays coming up so your family and friends can’t tell what you’ve gotten them!)
Oh, and don’t forget to protect your passwords too so you don’t end up in this situation, as Leonard did in an episode of The Big Bang Theory. (Sorry, the embedding feature was disabled for this video, so you’ll actually have to go to YouTube, but it’s worth it.)
Enjoy! And The Waki Librarian will be back soon with more fun stuff.
Happy Friday! I’m so glad it is almost the weekend, mainly because I’ve gone through the last couple of days thinking it was Friday only to be rudely shocked by the fact that it wasn’t yet Friday. But that is neither here nor there, so let’s get into the fun technology stuff for today. Today’s technology links are a bit of this and a bit of that, some just for fun, some that you can use, and others that would be good to pass on to your library users.
First up, because I linked to Lifehacker’s guide to the best iPhone apps a few weeks ago, I thought I should link to the Lifehacker pack for Android for all those readers with Android phones. It really is a fantastic list of apps; I found a couple new ones to add to my phone that are very helpful (and I should probably add a couple more, but I need to do something other than play with the phone).
Speaking of technology and libraries, if you somehow forgot about it, registration is open for Internet Librarian 2010 being held October 25-27 in Monterey, California. If you work in the library field and love technology (I mean, really love to experiment with all the latest technology and are completely fine with being geeky), this is the library conference on the West Coast for you.
For a super helpful search tool, check out CloudMagic, a Gmail browser extension that improves searching for contacts and emails in Gmail. This is a definite must for those who have massive amounts of saved email or really anyone who wants to save time when they search.
For those who are fans of the show Bones (thanks Anna, for the reminder that this is totally something Angela would have in the lab!) or James Bond-like gadgets, check out this video on the Virtual Autopsy Table video. How amazing is that technology? The image quality and ability to work through different layers is great. I wonder if medical schools in the United States will adopt this technology.
Now step back from the computer and smell the delicious scent of fresh brewed tea after you read an article that says you should home brew your tea to reap the most polyphenols. Just another great reason to break out the kettle and brew a lovely pot of tea. Oh, and if you are ever in the Boston/Cambridge area, you must check out my favorite tea shop, Tealuxe in Harvard Square (the Newbury Street Location unfortunately is closed). Check out the creme de la Earl Grey–fantastic!
Now that you have your cup of tea (not too close to the computer of course, don’t want to spill it on the keyboard!), relax and take a peak at this example of using QR codes for marketing. (I thought I’d re-share this video because it explained to me how to use QR Codes and The Litbrarian’s post about QR Codes reminded me I need to use this video when I teach information literacy classes in the fall). Enjoy.
QR Codes in a Living Book
Have a fantastic weekend full of relaxation, soaking up the last bits of summer, and reading great books (but if you finish Mockingjay please don’t spoiler it for me!).
P.S. Anyone in Cambridge area see the Doctor around MIT?
I wasn’t going to write this post. I had talked myself out of writing this post after venting to a friend about the annoyance of librarians who disregard the work of archivists as others disregard the work of librarians. Plus, I try to keep a positive outlook on life and not get thrown out of whack by uninformed comments. And then I saw this, Post-SAA Howl (and the associated comments), which is making its way around the various archives blogs and listservs. So today, I’m going to write a post so those who haven’t studied or trained as archivists will be able to understand (at a very basic level) what archivists do and why archives are important. [Hint: if librarians don’t just put books on shelves, it would be safe to assume that archivists don’t just put things in boxes.] Then I promise to wrap up with some useful technology tools and tips to help you and your patrons.
Portelli wrote, “You teach nothing unless you are also learning, and you learn nothing if you don’t listen,” (p. 52 of The Battle of Valle Giulia). I’ve been listening to my fellow librarians for a while and learning from them and I think though, it is my turn to teach just a bit (I promise I won’t get too preachy on my soapbox). So first, some background: I, like a lot of archivists, was trained as both a librarian and an archivist (and, in my case, a historian as well). Lots of archives studies/archives science programs are part of library and information science programs, therefore a lot of archivists have MLS/MLIS/MSLS, etc. Archivists know what librarians do because we had to take all the required classes for library science too. We get it that librarians don’t just put books on shelves and a lot of us love working in libraries and archives. In addition to the library science classes we had to take archives classes too. A lot of us have also done internships or practicums in archives to get experience. So trust me, your local archivist can understand where you are coming from and can intelligently speak with you about library matters. (Just don’t ask us to catalog anything.)
Where the difference comes in is that librarians aren’t often required to take archives classes and therefore don’t know what archivists really do. And this is a problem because then archivists have to deal with stereotypes in the eyes’ of their fellow information professionals in addition to the rest of the world. So before you go telling your archivist that all s/he does is put stuff in boxes and that anyone could do it and that it doesn’t take someone with training and education in archival principles and theories, please read the rest of this post so you know what archivists do in the basement archives all day.
Archivists have been popularized as “keepers of memory” which is, like most popularizations, a huge simplification but we’ll start there because at least it isn’t a negative stereotype. There are professional debates about the role of the archivist and archives (which we’re not going into here), but here is the basics: archivists collect, appraise, preserve, arrange, describe, and make accessible records (these could be textual documents, photographic materials, ephemera, or objects) with lasting (legal, historical, social) value. Archivists don’t arrange archival collections by subject as is done in a library. Archivists maintain provenance (the Golden Rule in archives) which mean that records from a single creator stay together and aren’t mixed with other collections. There is also the principle of Original Order which says that archivists should keep materials in the order in which they arrived at the archives; archivists may or may not preserve Original Order depending on their training and philosophy.
Description means the writing of finding aids which I liken to MARC records on steroids. In finding aids, archivists can contextual the collection by providing biographical or historical information about the creator or organization responsible for the collection. Finding aids also can contain index terms that can be used in MARC records to facilitate access to the finding aids and therefore collections. Box lists are often created so researchers can get an overview of what is in the collection and which parts of the collection they will need to consult for their research. Because archives contain unique materials, collections are not described at item-level meaning it is up to the archivist to provide good enough access points so that the researchers can tell what is in the collection.
Which brings us to another important point, the archivist(s) at an institution are the only ones (usually) who actually know what is all in the archives because of the impossibility of item-level cataloging. This means the archivist is very important if you are doing research and a store of institutional memory in his/her own right. (It also means that you should really be nice to the archivist as a researcher because they can seriously help or hinder your research. For examples, check out Archives Stories ed. Burton.) The archivist, to be good at his/her job, also needs to have working knowledge of institutional and local history, at the very least, to help researchers and contextualize the collections. Because archives are often one-person shops, or very under-staffed, the archivist is probably also the grant writer, outreach coordinator, records manager, and exhibit coordinator for the archives.
Archives, in my opinion, shouldn’t be considered a luxury, but a necessity for every organization. Not only are they repositories for institutional memory (and great sources of material for publicity and exhibits when institutional anniversaries come around), but also important for retaining legally important documents for their organization/institution. Archives can also help build community identity and memory. They can be important historical resources for civil rights movements, for social justice. (See any of the work by Verne Harris or Randall C. Jimerson for examples.) Archives are not just something you throw in the corner in a dusty and rusting filing cabinet, they are centers of historical documents, places of power (see work of Michel Foucault, Terry Cook or Joan Schwartz), and a resource that keeps us from forgetting and holds people and institutions accountable for past actions. If more people understood the importance of archives, perhaps there would be more jobs for archivists and more funding for archives. (Wishful thinking, probably, based on the problems libraries are currently facing. But without understanding, I don’t think archivists have a fighting chance in these lean budget years.)
So all I’m really saying is don’t disregard the work of the archivist in the same way as many stereotypically disregard the work of the librarian. I know a lot of librarians that are appreciative and understanding of archivists and vice versa, but I also get far too many comments about how work in the archives shouldn’t be a priority and that professionally trained and educated archivists aren’t needed that I felt I needed to set the record straight. As always, I’m happy to provide heaps more information about archivists’ work and debates in the field if anyone wants it.
So go forth now armed with more knowledge and give the archivists a break. We’re working just as hard as the librarians and are professionals too. Saying hi, bringing cookies (as long as they stay outside of the archives), and hugs are almost always welcome too.
Now on to the technology good stuff:
You know how popular “working on the cloud” is now, right? Well, did you ever think to ask How Secure is Your Cloud Data? Check out the post and get informed, then share the information with your friends and library users.
For something fun and helpful, check out the Idiom Dictionary. This would be great to share with people learning English because some English idioms are just kind of crazy.
Oh, and not because it is in any way archival, but because it looks cool, check out turning paperbacks into hardbacks. If you want to make the project more archival, check out the comments–they are fantastic!
And, because it is Friday, have fun watching Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory explain how to play Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock:
Have a wonderful Friday and a lovely weekend full of relaxation, reading, and fun.
Happy Friday (I don’t care that it’s the 13th–it’s still a Friday and that is a very good thing)! I hope you had a lovely week and are looking forward to an even better weekend. This week’s post is a bit of a departure from the normal (though there are some links to fun stuff, of course). I want to take some time to talk about experiences and some intersections among various aspects of my research and work interests.
So, I was re-reading the introduction to Alessandro Portelli’s The Battle of Valle Giulia: Oral History and the Art of Dialogue when I came across a sentence that completely stopped me in my reading tracks and I knew I had to write about it. Portelli wrote, “Each interview is an experience before it becomes a text” (p. xiii). I just thought that the sentence is wonderful and so applicable to so much of our work in libraries and archives. (Portelli, for those who are unfamiliar with his work, is an amazing oral historian and considered one of the leading voices in the field. And yes, I am one of those people who reads and re-reads introductions–moving on.)
We too often forget about the experiences in life. Because we can now digitally track and count and monitor statistics so easily, we sometimes lose touch with the fact that each statistic is a person or group of people. We forget that humans are social creatures and (most) like at least some social interaction. We forget that there is wonder and can be joy in our work. We run from one meeting to another, from one project to the next with barely any time to look out the window yet alone stop for a break to actually just chat with someone. And I’m not saying that I’m the best person at stopping to smell the roses, but I think it is important to remember to experience things before we get into the analyses.
Which is pretty much what Portelli is getting at in the above quote. Interviews, or any interactions, are experiences before they become text–either literally with the transcription of oral history interviews or text in the more general term for a unit to be analyzed. We put off tomorrow the interactions we could have today because somehow we have separated the experience from the interaction and it is just another thing to get through, to survive. And that is just sad.
Now before anyone jumps on my case about this being completely divergent from my usual posts about evidence-based practice and evaluating new programs, please don’t get me wrong–evaluation and analysis are extremely important in our work BUT they should not come at the expense of losing the wonder of experiences. If we lose touch with experiences and just race through our work and our analyses, we miss opportunities to wonder and to actually connect with others. So just experience something, laugh, enjoy, and connect before getting into the nitty-gritty of analysis. Trust me, the connected experiences are what will propel you through the long hours of assessment and slogging through data while not losing sight of the goals of evidence-based practice and assessments.
Okay, so that is my soapbox speech for the day. I’m stepping down now and just want to share a couple of potential helpful links that have come through my feeds recently before leaving you to enjoy the rest of your Friday and the weekend.
And for the final bit of fun because it is Friday and also because a couple of my friends had really bad weeks and could use a laugh: “Big Bang Theory Moves Furniture”:
Have a wonderful weekend filled with reading, laughter, fun and enough time to enjoy the experience. The Waki Librarian will be back next week.
Happy Friday! So this will be short because I’m brain dead from this week, but wanted to share some interesting links about the Library of Congress and other digital stuff that’s been floating around online. So let’s get to the fun stuff and then we can get on to the weekend.
Check out the cool news about Library of Congress’ National Digital Stewardship Alliance. Yay, for more digital preservation standards and educational efforts.
Oh, and if you have an iPhone, check out Library of Congress’ iPhone app for a virtual tour of the library. Let me know if you like it. If you find one for Android, let me know too.
And, if you want to jailbreak your iPhone, check out the Jailbreak Matrix. Now that Library of Congress’ Copyright Office has deemed it legal to jailbreak your phone, you might want to know the best way. Oh, and if you have an Android phone and want to get more out of it (and use Twitter), check out completeandroid for lots of cool tips. (Thanks to litbrarian for pointing this out to me)
For something different and fun, check out How to Pick the Perfect Typeface. It is both a funny and useful flowchart. Even if you don’t do graphic design, check out the flowchart since it is fun, kind of like xkcd’s Tech Support Cheat Sheet.
Finally, check out xkcd’s “Still No Sleep” comic and then get some sleep this weekend (have fun and read too):
