Finding the Librarian

On Hold

cp — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:20:48 +0000

I haven’t posted anything here since September 10 and the reason for that is I withdrew from my courses, for the time being, to begin a new direction in my life. I am going through some changes that require all my focus and attention. I couldn’t find it within me to discipline myself enough for online study, my priorities lie in what is happening now. I am living in the moment instead of living for something moments/months/years away. So, head on back to The Window for more of my regular day to day writings of a kook.

That’s it for now folks~

Out on a Limb to Say…

cp — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:16:36 +0000

I don’t like blackboard~PERIOD~I simply don’t like blackboard. Part of my life has included living a number of wonderful years in the NWT and seeing the origins of WebCT delivering a means of education to dispersed areas, perhaps otherwise untouched. I married an IT guru who has been on the cusp of online learning from it’s conception and well… all I can say is that I’m a Moodle fan! I like open source.

Ok, anyway, I am trying my darnedest here to make sure I’m covering all my bases. Blackboard. I’m all over the place! Ok, so I’m taking 3 courses this term – my very first in this program. YES, I’M NERVOUS! I have read through the all the threads, I’m sure, and I have a hard time registering introductions of the online form. Little things do catch my eye… certain locations of where people are from – either I’ve been there or I want to go… but, to get back to the heart of Blackboard… wheee… there are so many layers, too many restrictions, or maybe I just need to get even more ORGANIZED! I am not making excuses here, and I think in the end, I’ll do just fine (with some fresh grey hair) but comm’on, I can’t be the only one who hates hitting the return button and clicking numerous times to finally achieve my goal?! Online learning… it is us, after all, that are ironing out all the wrinkles right? It’s still so new! Hey, I sincerely do not mean to sound critical, though that may be the overtones that you detect when reading my thoughts. I am glad to be here, and I am looking forward to connecting even more so with fellow students and will focus on the good stuff… I just have to ink in my calendar first and know that I have all the dates covered.

If anyone is reading this from my Techniques class… do you know if we are supposed to do the “Test Quiz” under Assessments or do we wait until we’ve learned a thing or two?

Just wondering… is it obvious that I’ve worked a late shift at the library, after spending the “first day back to school’ and first day in kindergarten? Juggle juggle yawn yawn submit submit and sleep.

My Artical for a Newsletter

cp — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:07:54 +0000

I was recently asked to write an article for a newsletter within our library at UNBC. After I was finished I thought it would be fitting to also post it here seeing as it talks about all that library stuff. I took a few snippets from the 3 mini essays that were part of the application process at Langara for the Lib Tech Program, I figure if I say it good once I may as well repeat myself! Here goes…

The Geoffrey Weller Library, like all libraries in the 21st Century is facing significant challenges and opportunities. My role as library assistant in circulation essentially provides front-line assistance to the patrons. Due to the exponential growth of information technology and it’s widespread usage in storing and retrieving information, the role of libraries continues to diversify. This change has also created new roles for the positions within the workings of the library.

It is this exciting change and opportunity that prompted me to enroll in a 2 year Library, Information, and Technology Diploma program with Langara College to attain the skills necessary to meet the challenges of these emerging technologies. As a library assistant in circulation, I perform the basic and daily tasks to ensure the needs of patrons are met. Libraries have emerged as information hubs for digital information in academic institutions as increasing numbers of students and community members gain access to digital texts with portable devices. The growing popularity of distributed online learning adds to the importance of libraries as curators of not only information, but necessary information management skills. 10 years from now, digital texts and aggregated digital information could quite possibly outpace traditional print texts as primary class reference material. The continued proliferation of digital resources will require library staff with skills that blend emerging technologies with library practices. The synergy of library practices with technological proficiency in library staff will transform libraries from traditional roles as ‘containers of information’ to ‘information portals’ where patrons receive advice and instruction on how to effectively aggregate resources from physical spaces ( e.g. shelves, stacks, archives ) and virtual spaces ( e.g. blogs, user-generated media ) and effectively determine relevance and reliability.

I first became interested in library sciences when working as an adult educator at Aurora College. In addition to my role as an Adult educator I was also managing at the library at the college and coordintated inter-library loans between our college and colleges in the northwestern arctic. I am enthusiastic about the personal and professional growth that the Geoffrey Weller Library offers me and look forward to working with the library to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Thank You Amazon

cp — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:30:37 +0000

In regards to my previous post…

Well, I caved… worrying about the usual challenges of being a distance learning student, I thought I might go too far astray without the textbook. It takes a lot of discipline to perform as one should do to do well with their studies. Trust me. I know this because I did it while I was living overseas in China. With a new baby I enrolled in three online course at Athabasca University – whoa – I overloaded and simply didn’t enjoy it. It was a grueling task filled few months, I made it through, but not with fond memories. My baby is now 5 and heading into Kindergarten this year along with her brother who is ripping into grade 3 – time fl..s – not to sound cliche. Since I’ve been back in the ‘actually getting paid’ work force, and enjoying my hard work routine. I’m feeling there is no time like the present to hunker down with a stack o’ books and let the learning happen. Perhaps I’m being a little dramatic about the whole textbook issue, but I do, in this case, think it’s a little ironic – a good ol’ fashion textbook on internet literacy (!!!)… anyway, once I found the right edition on amazon for a much cheaper price I feel a bit better about learning internet literacy from a paper text. Also, I do have to admit that I love books and holding it in my hands may keep me connected to my goals better, if that makes any sense?

Textbooks… Do We Need ‘em?

cp — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:41:11 +0000

On September 8th classes will begin. Yesterday I received a ‘Welcome to the Course‘ letter from one of my instructors and in the letter she mentions the name of the textbook needed for the class. I have to be honest though, I’m anti-textbook, it is such a obvious mark up cost that we poor students have to bear. It’s a cruel world out there in the marketing scheme of things isn’t it! What got my goat even more was that the title of this required textbook is called Internet Literacy… my question is why are we turning to an actual bound book to learn about internet literacy? Why is this book not an online resource? Not the mention the book is listed at $103 CND. Geesh! I am tempted to see if I can get through this course without it… what do you think my chances are? Perhaps I shouldn’t be admitting that publicly. I think if I’ve got the topic there is enough on the internet that I can most likely acquire the information I will need there – for free!!

Soon…

cp — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:21:13 +0000

Currently I am full of enthusiasm about hunkering down and beginning my diploma this September. I have pretty much mapped out the credits I need and the pace of which I can handle it all and have figured it should take me 3 years to complete. In the mean time, as I wait for all the chaos of my classes and the daily juggle of life, I am filling in as a casual in the serials department – working with the acquisitions librarian. I am enjoying the newness of what I am learning and gaining a further appreciation for the diversity in the inner workings of the library. It’s fun stuff, but more than that I love what I do in that it provides assistance to those striving towards a higher education – that is hugely rewarding to me.

Beyond Books

cp — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:57:39 +0000

I first began working in a library February of this year, 2009. I had wanted to find a way into library studies sooner than later and this job has been a catapult straight to where I wanted to be. I am currently working as a library assistant in circulation in a Northern BC university. Since I started working here, I have learned about an online program through Langara College called Library and Information Technology Diploma. My long term goal is to eventually pursue a Masters of Library Science. Since age doesn’t matter my limit is age 60 – to cause myself no pressure. So, this is where my journey begins, beyond books and beyond the call of duty I will strive to further my ability and to juggle the responsibilities of work, school, mothering and all else that life requires from us – it will be a hoot!