Empowerment

Cool News

/ dwakimoto

Can you believe that it is already Thursday? Well, I have some fun news and tools to make the last few days of the workweek fly by too.

I love Cooliris. It is such a fabulous add-on and time saver when you are searching through a mess of images. And now, Cooliris is even better. Yes, that’s right, you can now do even more with Cooliris, check out their blog post about the new features. Too bad it still isn’t compatible with Chrome. The best part, in my opinion, is the fact that you can now use Cooliris to search through the images on your computer! How cool is that? Now you can quickly scan through all those photographs on your hard drive to find the perfect one. This is going to make me so much more efficient at sorting through the photos on my computer. And it looks just as beautiful as when you are searching Flickr or another online image site. Really, take the minute today to download Cooliris and you can thank me tomorrow for all the time you have been saving.

In other cool news, Peggy sent me this great link about how many great advances are happening for accessibility. I think this is just wonderful and the fact that the California State University is leading the way just makes me inordinately happy to be working at a CSU. Now if we could just get Ning to be fully accessible, I think this week just might be perfect. But we are making progress and that is good.

I’m off now to work on the reference desk. Have a great day and remember that cool technology and accessibility can go hand in hand. Let me know of any other cool news you’ve heard.

Technology Brown Bags: Learning Web 2.0 without the Stress

/ dwakimoto

So, yes, this is a little like cheating on a blog post because I had this written months ago. But I just got notice that it won’t be published so I figured I would share it on my blog and write something else for “mainstream” publication.

So for all of you that are excited, overwhelmed and just want a little more guidance on Web 2.0 fun, I give you technology brown bags. And, for those dear readers who are really sharp, you’ll notice that the brown bags talked about here correspond to the podcasts that can also be found on this blog. Enjoy, and as always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me or leave a comment below. Happy Tuesday!

Technology Brown Bags: Learning Web 2.0 without the Stress

Blogs, wikis, virtual worlds, social networking, widgets, gadgets, and podcasting: if this list of tools and technologies sounds like Greek or maybe Geek, you are not alone. Just because we work in a Web 2.0, hyperlinked, global world does not mean that anyone gave you a Matrix-like download on how to code, program and use these new tools. But luckily, there is a simple way for you and your colleagues to learn and to apply Web 2.0 tools, even if you have not completed the famous 23 Things challenge. So take a deep breath and I’ll tell you how holding informal technology brown bags to learn Web 2.0 without the technology stress helped my library and can help yours too.

When I started working at Cal State East Bay, I noticed that while some librarians had begun incorporating Web 2.0 features into their courses (we all teach a section of a two-credit information literacy course), the majority of the librarians had not. Most wanted to use Web 2.0 tools but felt that they did not have the time to learn or the skills to implement tools such as blogs, podcasts and Twitter in their classes. As we moved toward teaching more courses online, this was a situation that had to be remedied without causing more technology anxiety. When I first proposed the idea of having tech brown bags, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Armed with the positive response, I moved on to scheduling the topics and times of the brown bags. I made a survey to let those who were interested in the brown bags decide the topics.

Topics and Scheduling
The online topic survey was very simple and made for free through SurveyMonkey (www.surveymonkey.com). The survey listed various topics that we could cover and had places for respondents to suggest other topics that interested them. I used SurveyMonkey because it is easy to use, you can easily see the results and the surveys are Section 508 compliant. Based on the results, we held brown bags in the Fall Quarter on: Web 2.0 terminology, blogs and RSS feeds, Voicethread, podcasting, creating accessible online resources, social networks, and virtual worlds.

After determining the topics, I had to figure out times for the brown bags. Again, this proved to be an opportunity to share another new tool before the brown bags began. Instead of emailing out possible times, I used TimeToMeet (www.timetomeet.info). TimeToMeet is a web-based service that allowed me to “paint” my availabilities on a calendar and then email a link to my painted calendar to others for their consideration. Recipients of the link then “painted” in their availabilities on the same calendar. Once everyone responded, TimeToMeet emailed me the date and time that would work best for the majority of people. Another nice feature of TimeToMeet was that I could go back to my calendar at any time to find other times to hold the other brown bags. This tool eliminated the need for lots of email messaging and scheduling confusion.

Brown Bag Preparation and Facilitation
A tip that will help when you start up a brown bag program is the Web 2.0 idea of perpetual beta. This means that everything can always be improved and changed. Thinking of facilitating brown bags in this way will free you from believing that you have to know everything about Web 2.0. Instead, think of these brown bags as a way of learning and sharing information and having fun. And, trust me, your colleagues will be so happy that you are sharing your knowledge and that you are all learning together, they will be forgiving of any mistakes and technological difficulties you run into during these brown bags.

Preparation for the brown bags is simple and consists of: preparing handouts, refreshing your knowledge of or actually learning the topic of the day, and remembering to bring in a microphone and laptop to record the brown bag. Because the brown bags are informal and interactive, you do not have to create a lecture; you just need to be supportive, enthusiastic and have all the URLs for the resources you will go over ready when you start the brown bag in the computer lab. Enthusiasm is definitely the most important element in the technology brown bags.

Even though you will be playing with Web 2.0 products during the technology brown bags, people still love to get printed handouts of the main points on the topic you will be discussing. I posted the handouts to my blog and the library’s wiki so everyone would have access to them. This is especially important to provide access to information for those who could not attend the brown bag. I highly suggest making your handouts available online, who knows who else outside your library you might help.

Another tip I have is to start the brown bags with a cartoon or silly YouTube video. This serves two purposes: it will make everyone laugh and it will introduce the topic of the day in a humorous way that relieves anxiety about learning new tools. Try starting with a comic from xkcd.com, or use the Internet Overdose Song. Remember that the technology brown bags should combine learning with fun so that there is little to no technology anxiety in learning these new tools.

After the laughter has died down, just start in on the topic of the day and make sure everyone is comfortable with interjecting and asking questions at any time. In brown bags, it is perfectly okay to go off on tangents. In one of the brown bags I facilitated, there was a discussion about ways to improve the library catalog with Web 2.0 applications that bled into talking about tag clouds that led to a demonstration of Cooliris (www.cooliris.com, which is awesome by the way) and circled around to Wordle (wordle.net) before coming back to the possibility of using tag clouds in the library catalog. Tangents let you explore connections you might have missed otherwise. Just make certain that everyone understands where you are going—do not ever think you are explaining too much. Remember this is new ground for a lot of people, so explain everything and then explain it again.

Podcasting: Reaching Beyond the Brown Bag
Thanks to the ease of podcasting, people who missed the in person brown bags can still listen and benefit from the brown bags. Podcasting, in its basic form, is really quite simple; you record, edit, upload your mp3 to a server and provide a link to your podcast. You can get a microphone very inexpensively and you can use free, open source software for the recording and editing. For example, I use Audacity (audacity.sourceforge.net). I recorded every brown bag and later edited them, which was the fun part because I could take out all the awkward pauses and “ums.” Then I uploaded the podcasts to the library’s server and made them available via my blog and the library’s wiki. In addition to making handouts available online, I highly suggest podcasting your brown bags as the podcasts are great resources that anyone can access anytime from a computer with Internet access.

Take Home Message: Have Fun and Share Knowledge
You too can help your colleagues learn new Web 2.0 technologies and tools. All it takes is a little planning, a little knowledge and a whole lot of enthusiasm. Informal brown bags are a great way to ease the technology anxiety that surrounds implementing Web 2.0 in your library. So whether you are a digital native or a reluctant technology newbie, you can help facilitate learning in a supportive environment with your colleagues. Remember, the idea is to play, to have fun and to learn. Who knows, it might even make you want to go further into the wild world of Web 2.0. If nothing else, it will give you a great opportunity to share your knowledge, connect with others and brush up on your techie skills. Because that is what it is all about in the end—sharing and growing together in an online world.

Getting Things Done

/ dwakimoto

Since it is the end of the quarter, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to get more done in less time, mostly because of the fast turnaround time required between giving final exams and when the grades are due. So here are some articles that might help you get things done.

The first battle of the day is actually getting up. If you’re not a morning person, you probably need some motivation for getting up in the morning. That’s where this great article from Wired comes in–here’s tips for getting out of bed. Try a couple and maybe you’ll be a morning person too, or at least not as reluctant to get out of bed.

This Cult of Done Manifesto has got to be my favorite thing that has come over my RSS feeds this week. Made by Joshua Rothhaas (a.k.a. spatulated), licensed under Creative Commons, and just plain awesome. Become part of the Cult of Done and actually get things done. I love all the advice, but especially like the advice, “Laugh at perfection. It’s boring and keeps you from being done.” I’ve got it taped on my wall right about my computer monitor so I can remember that “Done is the engine of more.”

Okay, well, this might tie as my favorite thing to come over the RSS feeds recently. Microsoft might always get the label of big, bad corporation, but now it has a Creative Commons Add-in for Microsoft Office. This rocks. Download and install this Add-in and get led through a few easy steps to create the Creative Commons license of your choice and easily insert the license into your Word document, Excel spreadsheet, or PowerPoint presentation. How cool is that? I love it. Not only does this let you get done with your work more quickly, no more hunting around the Creative Commons site for the license you want, but it also allows you to disseminate your work and hopefully spark ideas for others so they can get their work done too. Isn’t technology and sharing great?

And finally, all this talk of working, getting more done and productivity might be making a few of you overwhelmed with all the things that librarians and information professionals need to get done, like, yesterday. Well, take a quick break with the comic strip Unshelved. Check out this comic about Twitter, have a laugh, and then feel better about getting back to work.

Have a great day, read a lot, and we’ll see you next time on The Waki Librarian blog. Thanks for reading.

Making the Best of Bad Situations

/ dwakimoto

It is the last week in the quarter at my university. This means that students, faculty and staff are all running on low and are ready for spring break. Which means, of course, that this post must be a mixed bag of things and information that just caught my eye. Without further ado, faithful reader, here is to Tuesdays–they have the grand distinction of not being Mondays and being one day closer to Friday and the weekend.

What does any of the above have to do with today’s post? Well, I was thinking about the situation the world is in (which gets depressing awfully quickly) and the last-minute panicking students at the reference desk, and then I thought–well we definitely need something uplifting. And I have to say that this post,“We live in Shakespearian Times,” captures the undying spirit of librarians quite nicely. I love this part: “How do I stay optimistic? I realize first the issues I face are miniscule to the good I can do.” This is how I feel about all the obstacles we face and how I stay optimistic. And if you missed the 40 inspirational speeches in 2 minutes video when I posted it the first time around, take a look at it now.

When people ask me why I stay positive, I simply tell them it is the best way to live. Why be all doom and gloom all the time? The world gives us enough of that. Or I just say one of my favorite quotes on being positive by Herm Albright, “A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.”

Speaking of staying positive, it is very difficult when you read articles about more hard times for those looking for academic jobs. I think it is just wrong that we keep telling people to go further with their education, that it is the way to better jobs and security, when there aren’t many jobs at the top. It discourages me in the same way that all the debate over whether or not their will be a flood of openings in the library world when the Baby Boomers retire. Does this mean I’m against people getting doctorates or furthering their education? No way. But it is a loss when those with doctorates have no where to fully utilize their expertise. How do we fix this? I’m not sure, but investing more in education (at all levels) might be a start.

If this report is true, then Yelp is behaving badly. I love Web 2.0 and sites that allow people to interact and comment about places they’ve been, products they’ve bought, etc. But if a company is purposefully trying to skew reviews and ratings, that is completely ruining the experience and possibilities of We 2.0. It just goes back to the point I try to hammer home to my students–it doesn’t matter what you are reading or watching, always step back and evaluate where the information is coming from and how it might be biased.

Now for something completely cool, let’s celebrate NARA’s 75th anniversary. This site is full of information and news about the National Archives. Rock on archivists–the macho heroes of Washington!

Have a great rest of your day. More later in the week.

Thoughts for a Soggy Monday

/ dwakimoto

So, it’s Monday. All my Boston friends are snowed in and out here we are in quite a soggy state with all the rain. But I will not be complaining about the rain because: 1. we desperately need the rain and 2. I’ve always been quite fond of rain. However, with the rain comes the inevitable, slightly muddled brain so I’m only going to tackle one issue today, faithful readers, more will come later this week.

At my library, I’m often referred to as the library point person on accessibility. I don’t mind this in the slightest because I honestly can see nothing wrong with insisting on accessibility. If it wasn’t just that I work at a university that mandates accessible resources online, I would still be on team accessibility. I mean, I’m a librarian, librarians are all about access, and accessibility is just one facet on getting the greatest number of people to our resources and services. This is a very long way of saying that this article on Amazon allowing authors and publishers to disable Kindle’s read aloud function makes me sad.

I totally understand that we need to protect authors’ copyrights and the profitability of audio books. But getting a computer to read aloud text is not the same as an audio book as Neil Gaiman eloquently argues on his blog post. And this comes from a Newbery Award-winning author. Gaiman later followed up on this point with this post where he convinced his agent that read aloud was okay. I think if you can’t see the benefit of this feature after reading Brook McCall’s letter on Gaiman’s journal, well I really have nothing more to say about that.

Honestly, accessibility isn’t just a laudable goal. It should be a down on the ground, every day of your life commitment of not forcing some people to live as if they don’t deserve the same access as others simply because of a disability. I think this is especially relevant to librarians and, yes, I think that is all I have to say on that.

Have a great rest of your Monday. I’ll see you later this week.

Security, Cataloging and Value

/ dwakimoto

Happy Tuesday, faithful reader. It is getting crazy here at work with the winter quarter coming to a close and all the students out in force trying to negotiate higher grades with less work. But I digress. Today, once again, I have a seemingly vast array of completely unrelated topics to talk about, but I assure you it all makes sense, or at least it should by the time we are finished.

Today I want to talk about security, not just because we are in the midst of a recession and security sounds like a good thing, but because we live in a technology-filled world and need to be able to properly secure our hardware and software. So here, from Lifehacker is a must read post on how to Properly Erase Your Physical Media. Really, take the time to read this post if you read nothing else today. It is amazing how lax people can be about wiping their data. I recently bought a refurbished cell phone and, lo and behold, all the old contacts, pictures and calendar were still on the phone. Luckily for the person, I’m nice and simply deleted everything, but someone else could have used the personal information. So be safe, not sorry and have some fun destroying your data before getting rid of your digital devices.

Speaking of security, one issue you don’t hear a lot about is security in Web 2.0 applications. Luckily for us, Librarian in Black has a post on the Top Web 2.0 Security Threats which links to a 15 page pdf on the topic. Just something good to be aware of, especially for any of us who are coding and editing Web 2.0 gadgets, widgets and other fun stuff.

So from security, we move to cataloging because even if you have really secure data, it doesn’t really do you much good if you can’t find what you want when you need it. Enter in Lifehacker’s 5 Best Movie Cataloging Tools. I love applications that make life easier, more organized and are pretty. And since many of these applications can be used for more than just movie cataloging, you can really get organized. And you’ll never be buy the same movie twice, saving money and those annoying return rituals.

So cataloging your home library or home movie collection is definitely helpful and adds value to your collection, but what about library value? I know that many libraries are trying to show that they are even more important in these, frankly, extremely bad economic times. So in case you didn’t see it the first time it was making its way around the blogosphere, check out the Denver Public Library Value Calculator. I really like the fact that this calculator converts value into dollar amounts which seems to be a good way of catching people’s attention.

Lastly, on the subject of value, here is an article on Tools for Landing a Better Job. No, I’m not looking for a job–I love my work, but for those who are, here is a list of 10 tools to help you with your job searching, interviewing and landing a new job. Most of the tips are pretty basic, but it is always good for review. And for those, who like me, are quite happy with their current positions, it never hurts to take a look at resume and CV tips so you can keep your CV current.

Have a great day and remember to step away from your computer at least once today. See you later this week.

Online Northwest 2009 Keynote

/ dwakimoto

Keynote by Dr. BJ Fogg, from Stanford

Title: The New World of Persuasive Technology

Talking about technology and behavior change, especially online video
Computers and persuasion (captology, coined the term)

We can create machines that influence how people behave, changing human behavior

Europe and the US academics are working on persuasive technology

The web is a platform for persuasion:
Every website has a persuasive intent (key to teach our students)
All have a persuasive goal
You wouldn’t create a website unless you had a goal

Social networks are platforms for persuasion

Mobile phones will be platforms for persuasion

All about videos now. Bringing video into the context of your life.

Technology changes, but human psychology doesn’t change as quickly; it is stable.

How do you think clearly about behavior change?
Think about persuasion targets in professional life.
What behavior do you want people to do?

Fogg likes to do beneficial things with technology (therefore not in the school of business 🙂
Change the world in great ways.

3 core things that change human behavior: motivators, simplicity, and triggers

Target Behavior: Parting with your money (pledge money)
Question: When it comes to soliciting money, is personal video message better than generic email?
Email: 0% of people pledged
Video: 58% watched video, 82% of those pledged, overall 47% pledged

Why does this work? It is the experience that is persuasive–video.

Persuasion goes back a long way. (Fogg uses Wordle a lot 🙂
Goes back to Adam and Eve–what if there was facebook?

Facebook is #1 persuasive technology right now.
Did a class on Facebook
Student projects–making applications for Facebook
projects got 16 million users in 10 weeks
Secret: Think clearly & run many trials

Human Psychology:
What motivates people?
Humans are fairly predictable.
Motivators:
Pleasure and pain
Hope and fear
acceptance and rejection

Driver behind Facebook–social interaction, want social acceptance and avoid rejection

Mega-motivation: no, doesn’t get behavior change
Need more than just motivation to change behaviors

Other factors:
People need to be able to do what you ask them to do.
Easy to accomplish goals
Need motivation and ability
Simplicity is good. People don’t want to learn mostly.
People: Just give me a pill.
Make it simple and easy for people, if you want behavior change
Don’t require training

Simplicity has 6 elements:
Time
Money
Effort
Brain cycles
social deviance
non-routine

People are fine watching video; rather watch a video than read. Therefore instructional videos are great.
Demos

Humans are mostly lazy

Keypoint: reduce behavior to one choice, one step, one click.

People who like to think hard and challenge themselves are the outliers.

Add video to increase motivation for behavior change.

Either simplify or motivate in order to change the behavior if what you want to happen is not happening.

Must know which path when persuading people using technology. Code doesn’t adjust unlike people. Must think clearly about context when making videos and application.

6 Different flavors of web video (can find on the web)

Even when people have motivation and ability, you need to trigger the behavior.
Facebook has notifications, which is one reason why it is so successful

All 3 must be present at the same moment to have behavior happen (motivation, ability and trigger).

Focus on trigger and simplicity, usually have enough motivation.

Thoughts: Absolutely great speaker.

Take home message: Use more videos to trigger behaviors that you want.

Tech Fun for Everyone

/ dwakimoto

One of the things I like most about the continuing advancement of technology, especially collaborative, online technologies, is that it is getting easier to use these technologies. It used to be if you wanted to create a professional looking website you needed to know a lot of HTML and preferably CSS, etc. Or you needed to have money to hire a professional web designer.

Now, if you want to have a website or a blog, you have many drag-and-drop and WYSIWYG options to choose from to build your own online presence. Now, this is not to say we no longer need skilled web designers, information architects and graphic artists–of course we do! But to have a functional, simple, website is now within the reach of way more of the Internet surfing public. And to me, that is a good thing.

This is basically just a very long-winded way of saying, “Yay! Look at some more cool online stuff I have been playing with and want to share with you.”

First up is LucidChart: an online, collaborative flowchart application. You can make beautiful flowcharts all via drag-and-drop! I think this is so cool. No more wasting time in Word or other programs that can’t make a decent flowchart. You can use LucidChart instead. I might just have to make a flowchart to use in class because of this application.

Of course, that still doesn’t solve the problem of getting people to read flowcharts as evidenced by xkcd comic, “Flow Charts”:

 

Flow Charts comic from xkcd

Flow Charts comic from xkcd

It just can’t be a Friday without sharing an awesome post by Lifehacker; this one is about Self-education. Yes, more self-improvement for the new year. And yes, it includes watching YouTube videos! Now there is no excuse for not learning something when you are staring at your computer screen day after day, for hours on end.

And, finally, here is Michael Stephens’ Ten Trends & Technologies for 2009. A very interesting read about technology and the library. I’m really interested in learning and applying more of the mobile technology applications to the library. I mean, if people are going to insist on being tied to a cellphone or BlackBerry all day, they might as well get optimized library websites and catalogs on there too. (Full disclosure: the one technology I personally am not thrilled with is the cellphone, except for texting, I really like text messages. I just don’t like people calling me all the time; that’s what texts and Twitter are for! I mean, who really needs to know that you are standing in line at the supermarket? Not me.)

But, back to the post, the most exciting bit, to me, is the emphasis on making the library a collaborative space, a learning commons space, The Commons for the campus or community. I think that is how it should be and how it needs to be for libraries to remain vital and vibrant.

Happy Friday, enjoy the weekend!

Getting More Done

/ dwakimoto

It is a new year and that means time, of course, for new year’s resolutions. Everyone always has great, glorious, and huge plans starting on Jan. 1. (At least, I usually do.) This year, however, I suggest taking a different approach and trying to do small things that will lead to goals you can actually achieve and are slightly less arduous than running a marathon, or writing a best-selling novel. (Full disclosure: running a marathon and writing a best-selling novel have ever been on my resolutions list).

So, of course, faithful reader, I have a couple of articles that should help you on your way towards accomplishing more, stressing less, and managing to make 24 hours in a day really seem like enough time to get everything that is important done.

First we have this great article on the art of radical exclusion. Now this is going to be very, very difficult for those of us who are people pleasers and volunteers of the world. You know who you are. But just read the article and think to yourself, what is more important: saying yes to everything that everyone ever asks of you or having your sanity at the end of the day. For those who feel stretched too thin, take heart and try the art of radical exclusion.

On the other hand, those of you who never volunteer, make it your resolution to help out those who do volunteer. Volunteering can be great and lifting your own weight in work, and in life, is always appreciated.

This next article I find really, really interesting. It discusses Gladwell’s book, Outliers, which postulates that social forces are incredibly important in shaping individuals that accomplish great things. But what I find really interesting is Brooks’ argument that individuals who actually accomplish the most are those who are fantastic at controlling their attention. I think this makes complete sense, especially relevant in our hyperlinked, 24/7 world. People who are okay with tuning out email, IM, twitter and other interruptions do get more done. Maybe we won’t all become the next Bill Gates by controlling our attention, but we will get more done.

I know that when I turn off the email, I get tons more accomplished in a day. A few months ago I tried an experiment where I only opened my email account at 4 specified times during the day. At first I was afraid that I would miss important messages, but after a couple of days I found that not only did I get more work done, I didn’t miss any messages that were totally crucial to my work or life. I fell off this bandwagon during the last couple of weeks of the year and am trying to reinstate this in my life as being tied to the computer and Internet all day is a recipe for complete distraction.

So all I’m really saying in this post is: stop multi-tasking and trying to do it all! You can’t do it all. There are only 24 hours in a day and you don’t have a time-turner (if you don’t get what I just said, I suggest reading Harry Potter). Focus your energy and you’ll be able to achieve a state of flow more readily and get more accomplished while being less stressed. All in all a great recipe for not only becoming healthier in the new year (stress really is a killer) but also being a better person to others as you will be less stressed–everyone likes people who are calm, not stressed.

Happy Friday, good luck on controlling your attention and let me know your tips for getting more done and being less stressed.

A Happy New Year of Books, Self-Improvement and Education!

/ dwakimoto

Happy New Year! Well, The Waki Librarian is back after a lovely holiday break. I hope you had a great holiday break as well.

For 2009 first post, I have for your reading pleasure articles about Self-Development/Improvement, thoughts on undergraduate education, and reasons for buying books! So let’s dive in for more fun in the waki world of libraries, education and technology!

First off, here is another great, slightly old (sorry, I just have so much I want to share but limited time to share it in!), article from Lifehacker on Self-Development because this might help you with some of your New Year’s Resolutions! These are really simple tips, like watching a TED talk and writing thank you notes, which will not only improve your brain but can make others feel better too. And that is a great situation. I’d also add that learning new things should always be on a list of self-development tips and can easily be accomplished in small chunks so you don’t become overwhelmed and give up on your resolution of self-development. Hopefully this year, The Waki Librarian blog will help you implement technology that helps you and your organization without overwhelming you!

The New York Times has this great article on why an undergraduate degree should not be a job qualification. I think this is a very well-written opinion editorial and it brings up a point no one ever wants to talk about: the fact that college isn’t for everyone. Everyone should have the opportunity to further their education, but that doesn’t, and shouldn’t, necessarily mean a 4-year liberal arts degree. By pushing college and the bachelor degree on everyone, I completely agree with Murray that students are coming to campuses across the country who do not really want to be there. And I think it is hurting everyone, the students who want the bachelor degree, those who don’t, the instructors and society. I think Murray’s suggestion of a more holistic view of job qualifications and certifications is a very valid one. I think it is time that we do something about this crucial matter.

Finally, a post about the joys of buying books. Don’t forget to read the comments which are fantastic. I love the per hour rate comparison of buying books to other indulgences. I love it when people talk about books and I like this nuanced view of buying books versus using the library and how one person’s buying/reading habits might not suit someone else. And, yes, I am biased–I *heart* libraries (but I really love a good used bookstore too!).

Happy 2009!