Open Cover Letters

It’s an open repository of samples of cover letters for a variety of professions to [...]]]> The other day I was browsing through Library Journal’s “Movers and Shakers 2012” (Vol. 137 No. 5). Among the featured information professionals was Emerging Technologies Librarian Stephen X. Flynn who has created a site for job seekers:

Open Cover Letters

It’s an open repository of samples of cover letters for a variety of professions to help inspire those among us who, like myself, get frustrated trying to craft the perfect sentences to grab the attention of hiring committees.

Great idea!

Saturday my co-worker Anne Marie Watson and I are presenting at the Alberta Library Conference in Jasper, Alberta.

The topic of our discussion is affordable ways to integrate mobile technologies into library services, including text reference, QR codes, and mobile-friendly websites and apps.

In other [...]]]>

Scan this code with your phone or visit http://rdc.libguides.com/goingmobile

Saturday my co-worker Anne Marie Watson and I are presenting at the Alberta Library Conference in Jasper, Alberta.

The topic of our discussion is affordable ways to integrate mobile technologies into library services, including text reference, QR codes, and mobile-friendly websites and apps.

In other words, it will be about ways to go where library users are these days… on their cell phones, anywhere, anytime…

Our presentation slides and more information about technologies and resources are available on a Going Mobile LibGuide I created to complement the session.

A few weeks ago I led a session with RDC Library co-workers Yvonne Phillips and Lisa Wakefield entitled “You Are What You Read.” The hour-long session was done as part of a Wellness Day event held for faculty and staff over the mid-term break. It was a fun way to promote the [...]]]>

Source: ppdigital

A few weeks ago I led a session with RDC Library co-workers Yvonne Phillips and Lisa Wakefield entitled “You Are What You Read.” The hour-long session was done as part of a Wellness Day event held for faculty and staff over the mid-term break. It was a fun way to promote the Library and our services.

The following is a list of some of the resources we sent out to the 13 people who attended our session.I just thought I’d share these since there is some great stuff out there to promote to both book works and ‘not-so voracious’ readers like myself.

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You Are What You Read Session Resources

Find:

www.earlyword.com: A blog with links to many, many review sites, award winners, books to movies, and more. Lisa’s fave!

www.librarybooklists.org: A compendium of book lists, including “Murder By Toaster: Mysteries With Surprisingly Lethal Weapons”, “Quilting Fiction”, and several pages devoted to Read-alike fiction lists for all genres.

www.webrary.org/rs/rslinks.html: The Morton Grove Public Library Web Sites for Booklovers page… a smorgasbord of links to explore!

www.yournextread.com: Enter a book title, and this site generates suggestions for your next read in a fun & visual way.

www.kirkusreviews.com: Billing themselves as “the world’s toughest book critics”… but we think the NY Times will give them a run for that title!

www.nytimes.com/pages/books/index.html: Reviews, articles, columns: everything a booklover needs to kill a Sunday afternoon!

www.publishersweekly.com: News and reviews from the world of publishing.

http://www.salon.com/topic/books: The literary section of Salon features book reviews, interviews, columnists and publishing news.

Do:

Some websites to help you decide which e-reader is best for you

• http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/e-book-readers/buying-guide.htm
• http://www.pcworld.com/products/tablets/ereaders.html
• http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/collection/1985/top_e-readers.html

Share:

Create bookshelves, share with friends, join a group, chat with authors

• www.librarything.com
• www.goodreads.com

www.bookmooch.com: Take your old books off the shelf & trade them online with other bibliophiles on this no-fee site. Your only cost: postage!

www.onlinebookclub.com: An online community for book lovers.

Having photos of yourself taken where you are trying very hard to look studious, professional and well-meaning can be an awkward endeavour, but a necessary one all the same. This [...]]]> I had Monday off for Family Day, yet still I spent part of the day in the library… taking “professional” pictures amid the book stacks.

Having photos of yourself taken where you are trying very hard to look studious, professional and well-meaning can be an awkward endeavour, but a necessary one all the same. This is especially so when it comes to providing pictures for things like conference programs, and including photos of yourself in profile pictures on tools like LibGuides and on social networking sites like LinkedIn and Twitter. (Rest assured, employers do Google searches on job applicants [I certainly have when hiring staff] so it helps to look your best in the digital realm.)

Anyway, I did it. Look out for my smiling mug looking back at you in the WILU 2012 program this May. Or just visit this blog post. (As an aside, Photovisi is a really neat free online collage-making tool.)

Thanks to Sona Macnaughton for being my photographer

Marketing Director for Edmonton Public Library (EPL), Tina Thomas, led the keynote session entitled It’s a New Day! Rebranding the Edmonton Public Library.

I was thoroughly impressed by the new brand that EPL released last year. The Library’s [...]]]> Last June I attended (and presented at) the NEOS Mini-conference at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta.

Marketing Director for Edmonton Public Library (EPL), Tina Thomas, led the keynote session entitled It’s a New Day! Rebranding the Edmonton Public Library.

I was thoroughly impressed by the new brand that EPL released last year. The Library’s collection of promotional materials–including t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, logos, bus ads, & videos–are simple, clean, fresh, captivating…

For more information, take a look at Edmonton Public Library: Spread the words.

There’s also lots of great videos on EPL’s YouTube channel.

& hopefully the EPL Store will be up and running soon.

These surveys, taken by Library and Information Science (LIS) grads between 2003 and 2008, offer insight into things like how long it took them to find work, salary, types of jobs, length of [...]]]> Tonight I was pleased to come across placement surveys on the Faculty of Information & Media Studies website (University of Western Ontario).

These surveys, taken by Library and Information Science (LIS) grads between 2003 and 2008, offer insight into things like how long it took them to find work, salary, types of jobs, length of job search, and location of placement.

If you’re considering library school–or looking for library work–I’d definitely recommend taking a look at them. They do not provide a full and complete picture of what the job hunt is like right now across the country, but they do still shed some light on the realities facing library school graduates over the last decade.

I would also recommend taking a look at the following blog post. It provides a lot of great advice on applying for library jobs from the perspective of an employer, including valuable advice on writing cover letters:

Tough Times: Thoughts on the Library Job Market from a Department Head Who Just Hired a Reference Librarian

The author, Rick Roche, also provides a number of insights into the profession of librarianship as a whole. For instance, Roche points out that new librarians need to explore non-traditional professions, and be prepared for the risk of being unemployed or under-employed. Furthermore, he argues that library schools  need to scale back their enrolment numbers. I concur. With several library schools in Canada alone churning out graduates (in addition to US schools and online MLIS programs), supply is increasingly exceeding demand.

Like it or not, September is the month that has most academic librarians running around from class to class doing all that they can to ensure students know about what resources are available to them and how to use them effectively. This is usually accomplished through one hour classes where the librarian talks [...]]]> Unofficially, anyway…

Like it or not, September is the month that has most academic librarians running around from class to class doing all that they can to ensure students know about what resources are available to them and how to use them effectively. This is usually accomplished through one hour classes where the librarian talks and clicks from one place to the next on the library Web site. The students follow along, ask a few questions, and then walk away a bit more aware of how to do research…

Let’s face it, this can get dull and boring very quickly. Thus, it can be a drag to lead these sessions and it can be a drag to attend them. And the jury is still out as to whether the students truly learn what they will need to know come October and onward, when their assignments start piling up.

Solutions:

• Push for more library sessions throughout the term that are built around what students will need to know for specific assignments. Make it relevant and timely.
• Pre-test students using something as simple as Survey Monkey to get a sense of what they already know before planning an instruction session. No one wants to sit through a session on how to search for books in a library catalogue for the third time in a semester.
• Ask instructors to attend library sessions for their classes. This encourages students to take it seriously and emphasizes the importance of having students develop strong research skills.
• Pressure administration to let you and your colleagues within various groups on campus pilot a research and writing course for first year students where you will have the time and resources to teach them all about the skills they will need over the course of their education and thereafter.
• Make your sessions engaging for students. Join the Boring Library instruction Elimination Eradication Program (BLEEP)/ watch the following YouTube clip:

In the most basic sense, LinkedIn is a social networking site much like Facebook that is geared toward a professional audience. Since a lot of librarians are on there, I thought it might be useful to flesh out some of the advantages and disadvantages of [...]]]> Personal branding? Social networking? A waste of time?

In the most basic sense, LinkedIn is a social networking site much like Facebook that is geared toward a professional audience. Since a lot of librarians are on there, I thought it might be useful to flesh out some of the advantages and disadvantages of getting LinkedIn.

Pros:

Stay connected: It’s a way to keep in touch with colleagues whom you may wish to work with on a project in the future or seek advice from on something relevant to your job. Who knows, someone might even see your profile and offer you an opportunity to do something in line with your skill set and interests.

Maintain privacy: By having a LinkedIn account for professional acquaintances and a Facebook profile for friends, you can keep your personal and private lives separate.

Showcase your abilities online: Much like having a blog and an e-portfolio, this is another way you can show people what makes you special, smart, involved and valuable to the profession by way of your interests and experience. It even lets others add recommendations about your abilities, which never hurts.

Increase your search engine results: While looking for a job and once you have one, people are very likely going to look you up online. LinkedIn profiles tend to rank high on search engine results. It can therefore be an easy way for you to represent yourself in a professional manner on the Internet. (I’d also recommend removing your name from any and all personal Web sites you may have created in the past that may not cast you in the most professional light, e.g. Myspace.)

Research an employer: See who works at a given library and what they’re up to. This can be an indication of the level of professional development opportunities a library provides its employees with and what type of people you may find yourself working with. LinkedIn is especially handy if you want to learn a bit about the people who will be interviewing you should you have an interview coming up.

Cons:

LinkedIn can do more harm than good: Like anything you put up about yourself online, make sure it casts you in a positive light. If your profile is sloppy and incomplete or if it makes you come across as wholly lacking experience and/or direction, it might be best to hold off creating a profile. Remember to check your account regularly and keep your information as fresh and current as possible. A friendly, professional photograph of yourself helps as well.

LinkedIn lacks zest: The profiles on LinkedIn are pretty cold and without personality. You cannot dress them up with colour and a variety of visual elements that might better reflect your true self. For some, this is perhaps a blessing in disguise, but for others, traits like creativity and a sense of humour are what can truly impress employers, colleagues and the public.

Privacy concerns: What goes on the Internet often stays on the Internet. Always think twice about revealing too much of your personal information online or things you may regret later, especially if you have your profile set up so that it is completely open to the public.

Additional Resources:

• LinkedIn: Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell You, But Was Too Shy/Modest/Embarrassed to Say… A piece from LIScareer.com about what LinkedIn has to offer LIS professionals

• LinkedIn is *NOT* Facebook for Grownups A slight rant against the impersonal side of LinkedIn

• Robyn Hall- LinkedIn My new LinkedIn account. By all means, feel free to add me as a connection if you’re somewhere out there in the library world and stumble upon this.

• Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn A great list of ways to make LinkedIn work best for you

* Helpful tip: If you want to include bullet points or other symbols that will enhance the organization and aesthetics of your profile, follow these simple directions.

The following are just some of many software and Web applications available on the Internet that are [...]]]> Chances are that if you’re looking for work in a library setting, you’re going to be asked about your experiences with new technologies and your thoughts on how those technologies can be successfully integrated into library services.

The following are just some of many software and Web applications available on the Internet that are a) easy to learn, b) free,  c) highly relevant to libraries, and d) pretty fun to play with, all things told.

Web 2.0

Starting with the obvious, Web 2.0 applications are in heavy use by lots of libraries that are looking for ways to connect with their patrons and provide their users with new and effective ways to conduct their research. Some of the most useful applications include:

Blogs (e.g., Blogger, TypePad, WordPress): Updates, news, staff communications… blogs aren’t a new thing by any means, but they haven’t lost their utility.

RSS Feeds (e.g., Google Reader): Stay up to date on blogs, news and various other types of updates on the Internet by having notifications sent to a feed reader on topics of interest… and teach your patrons how to do the same.

Social Bookmarking (e.g., Delicious, CiteULike): This is a way to share Internet bookmarks. I took a class on social software and libraries where Delicious was particularly useful. Everyone in the class tagged their bookmarks about Web 2.0 with the course code (LIS9763) so we could all share sites relevant to the course. Added bonus is that this lets users access their bookmarks from anywhere, not just their personal computers.  (CiteULike is solely for sharing scholarly references with others; it’s definitely a useful site to use and to show faculty and students.)

Twitter: A great way to promote things like library services and special events.You can even include a Twitter presence on a library’s homepage and use Twitter Feed to automatically make a “tweet” whenever you add something new to any blogs your library maintains.

Wikis (e.g., Wikimedia, PBworks, Wetpaint): These are particularly useful for collaborative projects that involve multiple authors and/or resource sharing. On a related note, I’d recommend learning the back end of Wikipedia since it’s a very helpful information literacy learning tool.

Software (free trials)

Most software products offer 15-30 day trials where you can test things out before purchasing them. Particularly since the ability to create content like online tutorials is a highly marketable skill right now, it’s very wise to spend some time learning as much as you can about these technologies.

Camtasia Studio: This is one of the most popular tools used to create online tutorials. It’s screen capturing software that is relatively easy to edit; if you’ve ever used Windows Movie Maker, it’s quite similar. I personally am not a huge fan of screen capture since it limits the possibilities for interactivity and experiential learning, BUT… it gets the point across. (There may also be copies of this floating around in the world of BitTorrents, but you didn’t hear that from me.)

Elluminate Live: If you’ve ever attended a webcast, chances are you’ve already used this software. Elluminate brings participants together from anywhere in the world to participate in a web conference that can include audio, video, chat, PowerPoint and the recording/playback of sessions.

Lectora: Create stylish, interactive online lessons/tutorials with relative ease. The trial is only 15 days and there is a bit of a learning curve, but thus far I am very impressed with the professional quality of this product.

LibGuides: Lots and lots of libraries are using this tool to create research help guides. I find some to be way too cluttered with information, but all in all, this program is very useful to anyone with some basic knowledge of proper information architecture/usability.

SoftChalk: I love SoftChalk! I wish there was more flexibility in modifying the HTML, but all in all, this product is pretty fantastic. You can create online tutorials with built in quizzes and widgets (for things like video clips) without any advanced knowledge of Web design.  The best part is that you can keep whatever you create during the trial period, meaning you can create a tutorial, upload it to SoftChalk Connect, and add it to your portfolio, no strings attached… although, of course, you will suggest your institution purchase this product in return.

Survey Monkey: Want to know what your students know? What they learned after a session you taught? What patrons think about a new library service? Where staff want to hold a holiday party? This tool is great for all things online survey. And the best thing is, you can make a free account where you can create surveys of up to ten questions.

Open Source Software

In short, open source means free and enabled by community support. These products can sometimes be a bit clunky, but they’re also great for libraries (or by extension, patrons) looking for cost effective solutions that meet their computing needs. A few of my favorites include the following:

Content Management Systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal, Joomla): While these options require a user to pay for server space, the systems themselves are free and utilized by lots of libraries (particularly Drupal in larger libraries and WordPress in smaller ones).

GIMP: This photo editing program does many of the same things as Adobe Photoshop. I personally like Photoshop better for its more advanced options, however, GIMP does the trick.

Linux: This family of operating systems are the gateway into an open source universe where everything is free and Windows is proven obsolete, sort of. Ubuntu is the most popular. Such systems may lead to some compatibility problems and users may have some trouble adjusting to a different interface, but… it’s also an extremely affordable option for libraries facing financial difficulty.

Moodle: This is the open source equivalent to course management systems like WebCT/Blackboard. I’m not very familiar with it, but I have heard great things and a number of libraries are currently converting over to this system, which speaks for itself.

Mozilla Firefox: This is the best, most secure Web browser by far. My favorite feature is Adblock Plus, which blocks advertisements therefore blocking annoyances and the many viruses that tend to linger in the javascript of shady ads.

Open Office: All the things you get from Microsoft Office Suite for $0. It doesn’t run as smoothly, but it does the job and the file types are all MS Office-compatible so you can share files with others.

Pidgin: This is a universal chat service that can be utilized effectively for online chat reference.

Zotero: This is a reference management system that can be added on to Firefox. I don’t particularly like the organization of groups that users can create and share with others, but it’s still a pretty good program, especially for those who do not have access to RefWorks.

Learn More…

• The EDUCAUSE Resource Centre:  An extensive library of publications, presentations, blogs and podcasts on how technology and libraries intersect.
• Information Wants To Be Free: Meredith Farkas’ blog is a great place to learn about how new technologies and libraries intersect. Also check out her 2007 book, Social Software in Libraries: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community Online.
• Social Software and Libraries (course sites for summer 2009, winter 2009, winter 2010):  These are accessible course sites for a MLIS class offered at Western. Search through the readings and students’ insight to get a sense of trends concerning libraries and Web 2.0.

A few sites that provide examples of interview questions include: