It made national news- the ice storm in Massachusetts. I lived through it and still have no power. Here is a photo of my backyard. Well, my landlords back yard as well, which is why it’s a mess of trailers and above ground pools.
The ice covered everything and if you view more of my photos on Flickr you can see what that looks like. I think this has been the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in the seven years I have lived out here in Massachusetts. Once the sun came out the ice glittered all over the mountain by my house.
This is also one of the most dangerous things i have ever lived through. I lost power on Thursday, Dec 11 at about 11pm. I am posting this about 5 days later and my power still has not returned. I may not get it back until this weekend. The ice caused some tree branches to break. They would hit the power lines cause them to snap. I could hear the branches falling all night on Thursday night.
I have heat in my apartment because I have natural gas. My biggest problem is that once the sun sets I am bored. It’s not easy to read by candle light; I tried.
I am at work. The campus opened on Tuesday morning. This was good because I have been able to charge the computer and phone. It has also given me a good internet connection so I can upload the photos for everyone to see.
Obviously, I am not writing in this blog. It’s mostly because I am lazy and busy. I laze about watching TV and then panic to get everything done. I am your classic procrastinator and I enjoy it. It’s thrilling.
This puts non-critical blogging at a disadvantage. I still want to use this space, but I am not sure for what exactly. After focusing much of November of another round of National Novel Writing Month (5th year as participant, 4th win) I realized that I am not doing anything with these novels. Now, the past 3 (including this years) are not something I want published. They are just for me. Year one, my first novel ever, was actually a good idea and a decent story for a first draft. I actually think I want to edit it and try and get it published.
I realized that this would actually be a good use of this blog. I am sure many people have done this in the past, but I think it’s a grand idea. I think using the blog, twitter and a few other tools will be ideal to tracking the progress. I am even going to make the novel available for feedback and commentary from readers. I imagine including ideas from novels I like and dislike - things to consider trying, things to avoid, etc. I could even include tips from books on writing.
The point is, look for these changes in the next few weeks. There will still be blog posts about other topics, but this will be the main focus on what I am doing here now.
Where was I when Obama was elected president?
I was sitting on my couch.
I was talking to my mother on the phone about how excited I am.
I was on Twitter, posting updates about my much my mind has been blown.
I was watching my two favorite men (Colbert and Stewart) announce the results and then have a crisis about what they will cover now that the election was over.
I was on CNN.com trying to figure out why they had called California when 1 precinct was reporting.
I was wondering if Florida would make up for the 2000 election.
I was not regreting putting my NaNoWriMo novel on hold to focus on my country.
I was feeling excited to see my country become a country where anyone really can become president.
I was realizing that over 4 million people on Facebook voted today
I was irritated that Fitchburg does not give voters a “I Voted” sticker.
I was tempted to call Emily and Adam in Germany to tell them the news.
I was contemplating going to bed and happy not to repeat my sleepless night during the 2000 election.
I was proud to be an American (even if some people didn’t think I was a real American) and to live in a country where the majority of people can recognize a need for change and are willing to hope there can be something better.
I was excited about what this may mean for our status internationally- stronger dollar for one.
When I was last in Miami, Katie asked me to knit her some dish towels and such for her new home. With doggies and her own interests in mind, we picked up some cotton yarn (6 skeins) and I set to work. I have since made her 2 potholders and 2 dishtowels. I have enough yarn for a variety of other projects so I want to make some doggie toys. When she and I discussed what my nephews will play with she said “socks”.
My first thought was about how I have never made socks before. My second thought was how the dogs wouldn’t care if they sucked because they were going to rip them to shreds. Thus, I sat down yesterday to try my first sock. I will have a picture tomorrow, but I finished it and it came out pretty cute. I will have some changes to make for it’s match, but as a toy to send the dogs this is perfect. I am going to fill it with stuffing and sew it shut.
I was surprised by how easy socks are. The biggest problem for me is the ribbing on top, but I always have a problem with that. The heal was so easy to do once I realized that it was just short rows. I got really good at short rows with all the baby bibs I made.
Now I plan to try a few more test socks for the puppies and then see if I can do some that will actually go on my feet.
In recent months I have taken on the task of helping our ILL assistant locate difficult articles. Those are the ones people send with incomplete or incorrect citations. Most of the time I can find what she needs and sometimes I can’t. She has been a bit overwhelmed with requests this week so I have taken on another part of the task: translating journal abreviations.
Google is great for this.
This use to be a long drawn out process requiring that I use at least 1 book. Now, I type the abreviation into Google and it comes up with my correct title.
I love Google!
Ha! It’s done! It took me over 6 months to finish this project. This is the doggie scarf and hat for ETH. It’s from Lucinda Guy and is a pain in the rear. The pattern calls for those little dogs to be added, but the big pain is that this is fingerling yarn to its super thin and was 100+ stitches across. The scarf is folded in half so the two sides match and there is no back. Plus, the pattern for the set was this mini cable that was easy to do once I got use to it, but doing it for so many stitches made me loose track of my sanity. It’s a pretty project, but I am never doing it again.
We took a quick break and are now back with Vicki Burns.
- Instruction @ UR
- no formal program
- integrated into courses with a research component
- mostly with writing program
- Strengthened subject librarian program
- faculty interviews helped open communication
- embedded librarians
- take the class for credit or audit the class
- faculty refer to them with assignment
- Course pages
- reserves in catalog difficult
- now doing it through Blackboard
- select resources
- include faculty when they can
- offer more options to faculty
- short demos
- prefer to be involved in assignment
- some will do optional library sessions
- sometimes only option when professor can’t give the time, but it’s important they see a tool
- Strengthen relationship with writing center
- librarians are tutors
- writing fellows are trained to identify when student should come to a librarian
- adjuncts go through pedagogy training and library is part of that
- Critical evaluation of teaching methods
- meetings that focus on teaching
- Every class has a librarian
- course pages
- parent breakfast
- used Beatles as theme
- scare fair
- halloween time party
- go into stacks to locate three books related to theme
- staff in costume
- they get candy
- they get tour of tower that is typically closed
- got fortune related to major with a quote and contact info for subject librarian
- Library rennovation
- lots of color
- brought in natural light
- looked for firm that would work with librarians and students
- students wanted tables, not comfy chairs by windows
- whiteboards- students love them!
- students want designated quiet area
- call it the “quieter” are (never really quiet)
- designed flexible study rooms that seem to have drawn people into the library
- walls can be written on
- not real walls and door
- arch. has specific name for these rooms
- theater that can not be reserved by faculty- only for students to use
- people loved the bold carpet
- no service desk in new space
- students like working on their own
- only 10 computers
- print stations
- lots of laptops
- book mobile with popular reading
- also have paperback exchange
- done training, but not a lot of takers
- some students spend a lot of their time there.
- stacks are quiet because they dont get cell phone service
- Night Owl Librarians
- done for three weeks during heavy paper writing time
- this is at reference help
- Webpage changes
- want to access the library the way they access Google
- using drupal
- they will have widgets and can choose what goes on their page.
- can change colors and ad things like class assignments ad such
- July 1 for roll out
- Long Term Benefits
- “new understanding and appreciation that students’ concepts of library services is different from ours”
- students don’t understand services the same way we use to- personal connection
- Use to doing it themselves and are comfortable with that
- services we provide should meet that need
- talking about combining reference and circ desks
- Staff participation
- worked longer, just fit it in and people helped
- staff felt good about the study
Questions:
- classroom changes: more discussion on learning styles, cutting down on what they tell them in sessions and amount of information. Get them started and then have them come back and get more help.
- Library portal- just library or campus: just library
- class sizes: not many large classes (maybe 10 with over 100 students) so no big gen ed classes
- will personalized portal be a turn off: will be default page and they will have to sign in to personalize it (like iGoogle). Eventually want more widgets from that- even use iGoogle widgets.
- writing across the curriculum: they have one: upper level writing- students take number of classes in major with writing. library doesn’t have role in that
- chat reference service- did students mention it in interviews: students did not mention, but it was going.
- immersion librarian- is she embedded in classes: no, she has a difficult department to work with
- do they train faculty on creating assignments: pedagogy class for TAs and library does talk to them about stuff- assignment creation is included
I am blogging @ NELIG Annual! We just got started with Vicki Burns’ key note address about the anthropological study they ran at the University of Rochester.
- Their project was funded by an IMLS grant.
- Started project with Faculty, but then extended it to the students
- Did work with their research subjects review board (very important to use them when working with human subjects)
- More than 100 students participated
- Used: phot surveys ,mapping diaries, interiews, charettes, late night dorm visits, flip charts
- flip charts: what do you see in this area, what do you want to see in this area?
- Found from faculty:
- assume we teach research methods
- expect their student know how to find research materials
- students lack critical thinking skills
- unable to develop a thesis for papers
- lack good writing skills
- comments more on problem of writing mechanics, rather than finding resources
- Retrospective Interviews
- students who had just finished a research paper
- had to chart out the entire process on poster
- the students do seem to plan ahead
- may be part of assignments/annotated bibliographies are increasingly common
- Co-Viewing
- many people started showing interest at this point
- watching tapes of discussions with students
- Photographic survey
- had specific tasks to take pictures of
- things you can’t live without, things you take to class with you, things you take everywhere
- used disposable camera
- way to see things you can’t visually observe (cultural probe)
- Reference Interviews
- happened after research help types of reference transaction
- had to talk to those who never came to the library
- student assistant trolled for participants
- Tried using Red Bull to entice students, but it wasn’t very popular
- Mapping Diary
- used campus map and students recorded one day activities
- had to have one class
- record time and # sequence
- got rid of “no food/drink” policy because students are often eating and running or eating when they study
- days of students is very busy
- Late Night Dorm visits
- may have been better to do sooner
- students were very willing to let people in with video cameras
- Workshops to improve webpage
- want one page to get to all their stuff
- Design charette
- we have empty space, what should it look like
- natural light, group study space, food, carpeting, quiet/comfortable
- no florescent lights (makes them tired?), no echos
- study break room with sound proofing
- used similar technique for webpage
- circle part they use and cross out what they don’t use
- what to add
- news and events got crossed out
- What they learned
- students on go
- more than attend classes
- eat quick meals at odd times
- they carry their belongings- laptops only when they are needed
- use technology everywhere
- every day is different
- want flexibility to meet different needs
- family room feel/comfort
- only some want staff support
- want desk, but don’t care what happens at desk
- very distracted in dorms
- rooms open
- contrast between freshman dorms and upperclassman dorms
- most students had instruction session
- most expected them to do well
- if they had trouble finding stuff they changed topics
- asked family and friends for help picking topic and editing paper
- work on paper in chunks
- there is some time management
- most difficult: developing thesis, organizing and writing difficult (know about writing center)
- several did consult librarian
- assumed Google was searching the library
- are evaluating resources- just not in the way we suggest
- expected to do well
- students to do not come to the desk cold (met librarian somewhere)
- had tried on their own
- knew name of databases
- found reference was helpful
- Post reference interview was uncomfortable and don’t think they got an honest response
- students feel they had sufficient time to do their papers
- go to professors and TAs for help/see them as subject experts
- use library catalog and databases
- only see need to come to help to find books
- students are confident in ability to find info
- heavy users of library tools
- lack of clarity of role of librarian- only consult us when faculty suggest
Question:
- Did they talk to same people: not originally, but did follow up later (recently)
- Size of campus: not that big
- commuter students: very few- commuters are student who live in apartments right off of campus. They didn’t identify these students
- why digital cameras: quicker for interview/ fresh info
- how are students thinking critically about sources if not the way we suggest: not looking at points- look at article to see if they like it or not, but not going much deeper. They are looking for relation to topic with terms they want it to have.
- student representation: they got the good students mot of the time- the students who volunteered. In the dorms and student union they got a bit more variety. Vicki feels it’s very important to have gone to the student union. She wants to go to the fraternity and such next.
- upperclassman vs. freshman: never broke that down
- follow up 2/3 years later: have done some of that recently
- how are they taking all their notes to the points she is mentioning to us: writing the book was helpful. Left out retrospective interviews in book and there was some disappointment about that. Nancy was also helpful and insightful. Some people still disagree with things said.
In a few weeks my first program planning experience will come to fruition. On June 6th the NELIG’s (New England Library Instruction Group) annual program will take place in Springfield, MA and I was one of the program co-chairs! It has been one of those career changing experiences, especially because the theme, how students learn, is a hot topic for librarians. A year ago the University of Rochester released an anthropology study they did about how and why students use the library tools, study and research. While some of the findings may have been expected, the reasons for them surprised many of us. Not only because of their simplicity, but because they challenged assumptions we have about current college students.
For example, I always assumed students waited to the last minute for research because of two reasons- procrastination and they write and research at the same time. This was often my model for research in college so I carried the same assumption about our students. What their study revealed was that the reason is our students are over-booked between classes, work and extra curricular activities they unable to find the time to research until the night before the paper is due. Another example, my previous thoughts about radical trust became firmer when I read their study and learned that students turn to their parents and friends for advice. I, personally, use the findings of their study as a constant reference for my programing at the library.
My true excitement over the NELIG program is that our keynote speaker is the Head of Reference at U Rochester and an important participant in said study, Vicki Burns. I can’t wait to share my excitement about this with my colleagues and she is the perfect person to talk to instruction librarians. My biggest frustration is that nobody from my college seems to realize what I am doing. My desk is cluttered with files on proposals, contracts, feedback forms, and all sorts of stuff to help me plan this conference, but my colleagues don’t seem to realize that I am planning a major event.
This excitement is keep me going over a slow summer. As soon as it is over my attention goes straight to Let’s Talk About It for the fall. I think these big projects are keeping me sane.
I have been reading and thinking about radical trust recently. Mostly because I have been called upon to explain why I feel it is so important for libraries and librarians to be accessable in social networking technology. If you are unsure about what radical trust is, look it up in wikipedia. To sum it up from my point of view: the students around me practice radical trust. That means they are willing to trust anyone in their circle of association: friends, co-workers, professors, parents.
Between my own observations, speaking with other librarians and reading about the U Rochester study from last year, I have realized that students don’t come to librarians for help for two main reasons. First, they don’t know how we can help them. Second, we aren’t in their circle of trust. How can we communicate our value to them if they do not consider us an option for assistance. Right now they see my value when I am in the library and they need help in the library. When they are outside of the library they turn to other people in their circle. Before I can begin to promote myself and the library, I need to make sure they recognize that my assistance is not limited to the building I work in.
Social networking technology helps us with this. I have already written about how I am using LibGuides as portals to the library and social networking helps us in the same way. By being in MySpace and Facebook you begin to place the library in their circle of trust. You strengthen that connection when the library is actually their friend in these networks. Don’t sit and wait for the students to find the library- go out and make them your friend. Most will not reject the invitation since they accept it from anyone they may or may not know. My sister has made many of my friends into her friends if she met them once. Don’t just make a profile, get some friends and call it a day; put up content! Put links to the library up on your profile. Create a nifty box to search the catalog and pop it in there. If you are in Facebook, use the JStore and WorldCat applications. If you use IM chat with something like Meebo, pop in a widget so they can chat with you! Have fun with blogs, videos and music. Make sure they see the many ways you can help them. Update your status so they know what is going on- better yet: tweet!
The goal is to be viral- be everywhere and have fun. Don’t worry about statistics and reporting frequency of use. These are free tools that don’t take too much time to use. Remember, this helps deal with radical trust. Don’t try to convince students and patrons that radical trust is bad. It isn’t bad- it has a lot of great implications. Your job is to get them to include you and the library in that radical trust in order to be a voice you know they can trust when they need information.
Once you are in that circle you can begin to change their understanding of how librarians can help them.