This week I attended the languages division meeting to introduce myself as the library liaison. All of the instructors were very friendly, and I was able to offer my assistance in creating a Wiki should they want to do so. I also attended a workshop introducing the PCC budget to me. This helps in understanding where our funding comes from and why it can take so long to get monies.
I also have continued with my teaching of Bibliographic Instruction classes and have received praise from the instructors I have worked with. I think I enjoy teaching these classes most of all of my duties here.
Today I also had a telephone conversation with the Emerging Technologies Librarian at UCLA, Michelle Jacobs. I was able to get her input on using social networking sites in the library. She prefers Facebook, as does my own dean and I may have to re-focus my attentions on Facebook as opposed to Myspace.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Signage
The new signs for the library are finally finished. I also have bookmarks designed to hand out to rowdy students to help bring down the noise. The Circle K club on campus may help as well with patrolling the library to keep it quiet, but they have not contacted me yet with their ideas and needs.
Some other options have been discussed in our staff meetings for maintaining the third floor as a Silent Study Area. I think moving large "group study" type tables downstairs may be the best idea. Having solo study carrels on the third floor would definetly discourage group chatter.
Today, we also had visitors from UCLA come to explore librarianship at the community college level. It was fun to show off our library a bit and talk about my recent experiences with job hunting and interviews.
Some other options have been discussed in our staff meetings for maintaining the third floor as a Silent Study Area. I think moving large "group study" type tables downstairs may be the best idea. Having solo study carrels on the third floor would definetly discourage group chatter.
Today, we also had visitors from UCLA come to explore librarianship at the community college level. It was fun to show off our library a bit and talk about my recent experiences with job hunting and interviews.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Silence in the library.
Our library is currently having difficulty maintaining quiet space for study. The student center is under construction and student have few places to congregate on campus, and so many end up in the library. I have been working on signage that I hope will help control noise levels in the library. Jesus, our production artist, has worked with me to create proofs of these signs that I have shared with the other librarians. I am currently going over some revisions prior to publishing the final signs for use. It is my hope that with these signs in place, librarians will feel more justified and secure in enforcing quiet study, knowing that there is a policy in place and posted for students to read. These signs will do very little if as librarians we don't work together to show students that we are enforcing these policies.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Circulation meeting
Some time has passed since my last post. In that time, I have had the opportunity to teach my first BI here at PCC and have planned and held a meeting with my circulation staff.
The BI lesson went very well and I really enjoyed it. I am repeating the same Counseling 10 BI tomorrow, and will also be holding a BI for Speech 1 next week. I also have set hours at the Reference Desk now and find that for the most part I am well equipped for my work there. At times I still have difficulties because of my lack of familiarity with the collection and my own reliance on electronic resources. Some of the instructors here use the old periodical indexes, microfiche, and microfilm collections, and I need to practice more with these.
The Circulation staff meeting went very well and provided a comfortable/open forum for the circulation staff members to share their concerns and some of their personality. I enjoyed speaking with them all and getting to know a little about them while also discussing some minor policy changes.
The BI lesson went very well and I really enjoyed it. I am repeating the same Counseling 10 BI tomorrow, and will also be holding a BI for Speech 1 next week. I also have set hours at the Reference Desk now and find that for the most part I am well equipped for my work there. At times I still have difficulties because of my lack of familiarity with the collection and my own reliance on electronic resources. Some of the instructors here use the old periodical indexes, microfiche, and microfilm collections, and I need to practice more with these.
The Circulation staff meeting went very well and provided a comfortable/open forum for the circulation staff members to share their concerns and some of their personality. I enjoyed speaking with them all and getting to know a little about them while also discussing some minor policy changes.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Proposal for Implementation of MySpace.
Below is the proposal for implementation of MySpace in the Shatford Library that I wrote for an Infopeople online course.
Proposal to implement MySpace as a social networking tool to draw attention to library services and events.
What is MySpace?
MySpace is a social networking website where the focus is on each individual user’s profile. Each user has a profile and develops it as an online representation of their identity. They can include pictures, their interests, and other facts about themselves. MySpace allows for a lot more self-expression than Facebook (another social networking site) because in MySpace members can actually alter the style sheets on their site, tailoring the look to their own personality. Members can then start adding friends who are listed on their profile with links to the friends' profiles. Friends can only be added if they add you as well, so people can't just go around adding anyone to their profile regardless of whether they're really a friend. Once they've added all their friends, they are basically publicly displaying their social network online. From there they can see who their friends of friends (and friends of friends of friends) are, in order to make new connections. Each profile has a message board where friends can write messages and ask questions. Most of these sites also have collaborative spaces – groups, discussion boards, etc. – but the site is really centered on the individual's identity development as opposed to collaboration. Perhaps this is what has made it so appealing for young people, who often visit these sites 10 or more times per day to see what their friends have written on their message board and who has changed their profile that day. (This description has been taken nearly word for word from Meredith Farkas’ Infopeople online course.)
What can MySpace do for our patrons and library?
A Shatford Library MySpace page would create an online presence where students and patrons can interact with library staff and faculty, as well as their peers. Many students already have MySpace pages and access the site regularly. If they were to add the library as a friend, the library would then be able to inform them of special events, workshops, or programs by posting to their bulletin board. Students would also have a familiar outlet to discuss problems or concerns they might have about the library. A well maintained Shatford Library MySpace page might rejuvenate the library’s image and have students reconsider preconceived notions of libraries.
Evidence that MySpace can make a difference.
Here are two examples of library MySpace pages that are successful in providing information and drawing patrons into the library community.
Brooklyn College Library: http://www.myspace.com/brooklyncollegelibrary
Denver Public Library: http://www.myspace.com/denver_evolver
Policy Issues.
The Shatford Library MySpace page will be monitored by a librarian in order to remove inappropriate content such as foul language and discriminatory comments.
Proposal to implement MySpace as a social networking tool to draw attention to library services and events.
What is MySpace?
MySpace is a social networking website where the focus is on each individual user’s profile. Each user has a profile and develops it as an online representation of their identity. They can include pictures, their interests, and other facts about themselves. MySpace allows for a lot more self-expression than Facebook (another social networking site) because in MySpace members can actually alter the style sheets on their site, tailoring the look to their own personality. Members can then start adding friends who are listed on their profile with links to the friends' profiles. Friends can only be added if they add you as well, so people can't just go around adding anyone to their profile regardless of whether they're really a friend. Once they've added all their friends, they are basically publicly displaying their social network online. From there they can see who their friends of friends (and friends of friends of friends) are, in order to make new connections. Each profile has a message board where friends can write messages and ask questions. Most of these sites also have collaborative spaces – groups, discussion boards, etc. – but the site is really centered on the individual's identity development as opposed to collaboration. Perhaps this is what has made it so appealing for young people, who often visit these sites 10 or more times per day to see what their friends have written on their message board and who has changed their profile that day. (This description has been taken nearly word for word from Meredith Farkas’ Infopeople online course.)
What can MySpace do for our patrons and library?
A Shatford Library MySpace page would create an online presence where students and patrons can interact with library staff and faculty, as well as their peers. Many students already have MySpace pages and access the site regularly. If they were to add the library as a friend, the library would then be able to inform them of special events, workshops, or programs by posting to their bulletin board. Students would also have a familiar outlet to discuss problems or concerns they might have about the library. A well maintained Shatford Library MySpace page might rejuvenate the library’s image and have students reconsider preconceived notions of libraries.
Evidence that MySpace can make a difference.
Here are two examples of library MySpace pages that are successful in providing information and drawing patrons into the library community.
Brooklyn College Library: http://www.myspace.com/brooklyncollegelibrary
Denver Public Library: http://www.myspace.com/denver_evolver
Policy Issues.
The Shatford Library MySpace page will be monitored by a librarian in order to remove inappropriate content such as foul language and discriminatory comments.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Third Week
As I begin my third week at PCC, I am preparing to teach my first BI and to present information about Podcasting to my colleagues. I have also grasped a better understanding of how the circulation desk runs here, but still have much to learn. I am currently scheduling a meeting with all of the circ staff to make certain we are all on the same page. All in all, things are going well. I only hope that today, my first paycheck arrives without any difficulty.
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