For many things I jump right on the bandwagon (eg. LibraryThing), others I wait and wait til I can't hold out any longer (eg. MySpace, Facebook). Second Life is one of those things that I'm hesitant about joining.

I have to say I agree with the Librarian's Guide to Etiquette. Ok, well maybe not exactly. I'm just not convinced it's worthwhile. Supposedly there are over 3 million accounts, right? But how many of those are regular users? And of those who are regular users, how many are from my 'real' geographic location and therefore people I want to reach? What type of people are drawn to Second Life anyway? I haven't checked it out for myself yet. At least with a social space like Facebook I can limit to one of my specific networks (so where I work, or where I went to school), which as a librarian I feel are more useful. I just have a lot of friends and acquaintances who are 'techies' and geeks and gamers, but I don't think any of them have ever mentioned Second Life.

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I was just surfing around on Facebook to see what other librarians are up to and saw a friend of mine joined the group: "dude, I've TOTALLY memorized my library card number" under the "just for fun" category. It seems a couple students from UWaterloo started it and it's "For all of you nerds who spend so much time taking out books/journal articles that you have memorized your library card number... only join if you have ACTUALLY memorized it though!!"

Unfortunately, I don't have my library card number memorized so I guess I shouldn't join the group. I suppose this would be a good group for a Waterloo librarian to join since the library users are already there! (Most of the group members are from Waterloo).

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I'm not sure if I actually clearly stated before that I am indeed on OLITA council for this year. I was told last Wednesday night by Paul Takala (OLITA past president) at the OLA opening reception that I was indeed going to be on council because one councillor was stepping up to be VP.

One of OLITA's big projects is the Digital Odyssey. At the OLITA AGM the dates for the Digital Odyssey were mentioned, but I didn't write them down (I think it's around April 20th this year). I haven't attend a DO yet, but I really wanted to last year. Hopefully I can manage things this year to go. My new boss seems pretty supportive and congratulated me on making council. (My old boss was supportive too.)

I just have to say one thing that irks me. Dating blogs - as in Digital Odyssey 2006, or Super conference 2007. If it was me, I'd just make a Digital Odyssey Blog, or Super Conference blog, no years attached, because I just see the information flowing from one year to the next and, heck, I'm lazy (don't like clicking around from one blog to another). Tags would be good enough to differentiate the years, right? Am I missing something? Why is it everyone else sets everything up by year?

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This year Freedom to Read Week is February 25th to March 3rd.

Freedom to read can never be taken for granted. Even in Canada, a free country by world standards, books and magazines are banned at the border. Books are removed from the shelves in Canadian libraries, schools and bookstores every day. Free speech on the Internet is under attack. Few of these stories make headlines, but they affect the right of Canadians to decide for themselves what they choose to read.

What plans do you have for this event? Is your library celebrating? That particular week is reading week here at the college, so it's doubtful that anyone here will do anything, but I think I may try to get a few friends together for something outside of work. Suggestions? Oh, I just thought maybe I could do something before FtRW at the college - any ideas on that? I am the newbie so I don't know if the staff here normally do something or if they'd be open to planning an activity.

(Yes, I have posts in draft on the super conference - I'll post more soon, really!)

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OLA session #1111: Contribute to the Collective Collection, Comrade

Friday morning I attended this session presented by Ross Singer from Georgia Tech. There were a lot of ideas in this session that are exciting, but I just didn't get it. I think after a few days I understand a bit more.

Ross stated how the catalogue has no 'real' relationship to the outside world. There's no way for the community to be involved, so at Georgia Tech they're working on changing that. One thing Ross mentined was how the public interface does not have to be 1:1 with inventory.

I think that's the way many of us work - we only want what we have or 'own' in the library catalogue. I know there's a link somewhere to, for example, the Directory of Open Access Journals, but I haven't heard of any library worker here actually referring students there.

Ok, so instead of trying to go through all that was said, here's a few thoughts. What if our 'catalogue' was more than a catalogue? What if patrons had a place that not only held catalogue records of items they used but also ILL info, website bookmarks, citations with annotations, etc.? That's what Ross is trying to do. There's this idea of a LibraryCube, a web services bundle of 'library things' to enable communication to non-library applications; that aggregates library services. And then, another, um not sure if it's an application or what, uses the librarycube and also connects with other tools like research guides, wishlists, etc. and...yeah this isn't making sense, is it? That's why I'm not the expert. I guess the end result is to have everything for everyone in one place - like a giant portfolio for students that are also linked to groups or classes they're in and...hum, I'm really not getting his point across.

Basically he's doing lots of cool stuff, so if you get the chance to see him speak, go see him!

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Here are the three OLITA program planners from this past year. We worked hard to provide sessions and speakers that would capitivate and inspire our audience. It's a little trickier in terms of audience, unlike OCULA, OPLA, OHLA, etc., we have to think of sessions that will appeal across ALL types of libraries and environments. We also have to have sessions that appeal to the "techies" and geeks as well as those who are just interested in tech or would like to know more. We've heard some positive feedback already; of course the evaluations are the best tool for really telling us how we did!

It was really great fun and educational being a part of the Super Conference planning committee for the last two years. I certainly would be up for the challenge again in the future, just not right now. I'm looking forward to actually having the time next year to sit down and listen to the sessions!

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I made it back! I'd say it's a relief to be home, but it's not because one of my pets is really ill; I knew he wasn't looking so well and was planning to take him to the vet after my next paycheck. Well, I suspect he won't last the night. If he does though I'll call the vet and see if he can get in. If nothing else, I'll have to take my other rattie in to get checked out since if it's what I suspect, it is contagious. So, I'm sitting here, with Julius cuddled between my legs under my laptop. It'd be cute if he didn't look like he was knocking on death's door.

OLA was great right to the end! I'll certainly blog about today later on because the sessions I went to were very informative and the closing luncheon was a blast!

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Today I attended two sessions, the two I convened: session #1111 with Ross Singer on "Communicat" and #1412 with Karen Calhoun on the Next Gen ILS. I didn't quite 'get' Ross' session at first, but now I think it's starting to filter through my brain. Karen's was quite interesting. I have thoughts on them both, but I'm so tired, that I'm going to hold off till I'm more awake so that I can at least try to make sense of it all, especially since if I do understand them, they kind of had opposite goals.

I attended the OLITA AGM and award presentation. I'm now on OLITA council for a year. That's going to be fun! As always, I learn as much outside of the formal programming as I do in the sessions because librarians just know sooo much! Even though I feel I don't always have much to offer, it's great to listen in on all the great conversations happening and to hear what other folks are doing out in libaryland. I have to admit, I also like it when strangers know my name :) Yeah, there's been a few people this conference that have come up and they know me, but I don't know them.

Oh, so to follow up, Stephen Abram walked by today and actually stopped and gave me a little hug just to make sure there was no misunderstanding yesterday :D I hope that last post didn't make him sound angry because he wasn't in the least; I just felt silly not being able to help him.

I totally missed the all-conference reception. I'm a little disappointed, especially when I see the librarians walking around with glowing bands, but I had a great time eating dinner with a couple friends instead.

And, I think I've started my own new tradition: meeting FIMS students! Last year I met Jason Hammond at OLA. This year I met two other MLIS students. It's great to see students really coming out and taking an interest in OLA and what we do, or at least wanting to know more about the field; I met these two at the AGM. Then again, maybe the students are just learning where to get the free alcohol!?! Oh and speaking of students, I hear there were a group of four students up from Kent State volunteering this year! I think it's pretty awesome when the American students hear about OLA and decide to take a 5 hour road trip!

I'm still not good at the expo thing. Overall, I've gotten three signed books, a compact mirror, a calendar and a few sticky notepads. I just don't collect a lot of stuff! I was disappointed that one author's book went so fast it was gone in seven minutes! Seven! Oh well, maybe next year I'll get something nifty.

Alrighty, tomorrow is another day and I want to hit a few more sessions. OLITA's spotlight session is at 9am; our top tech trends panel. It's always a popular one and this year we have some great panelists! (Amanda Etches-Johnson, John Blyberg, Michael Stephens). Sean Cullen had to cancel for personal reasons so the lunch speaker is going to be a surprise for everyone. I really wonder if they were able to find someone as good on such short notice.

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Hier, j'ai assisté à la session de Dominique Demers. Dominique est une auteure québecoise des livres pour la jeunesse (et autres). Elle était aussi une journaliste, et maintenant elle est animatrice pour un émission sur Radio-Canada pour les touts-petits, "Dominique raconte".
Pendant la session, elle nous a parlé de l'imaginaire. Elle nous a fait nous souvenir qu'on explore l'imaginaire pour se rendre heureux; que la rêverie est au centre de nos vies; et que nous sommes tous les artistes de notre propre vie.
Dominique nous expliquait que les livres, et particulièrement les livres des images, sont importantes pour les enfants parce que les livres leurs laissent à rêver, pas comme le cinéma ou la télé qui ne permet pas aux enfants les mêmes opportunités. Elle a donné des suggestions aux bibliothecaires comment intégrer les livres et le conter pour la jeunesse. Une chose qu'elle a dit est que lire est comme l'amour. Pense à ça: c'est vrai, non?
À la fin, elle nous a raconté une histoire, Tous les soirs du monde. C'était bien amusant et rafraîchissant d'avoir quelqu'un me raconter une histoire!

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FYI, OLA does have a collaborative blog this year:
http://olasuper2007.blogspot.com

There's a good number of contributors, though it doesn't look like they all have posted yet. I'm pretty sure there are a few others out there blogging the conference. I haven't attended any sessions yet, so that's why I haven't had much to say about the speakers.

Having a cold (or whatever this is) isn't good for running around with. I had lunch with some former co-worker from U of Windsor, and now I'm going to try to take a quick nap before the next plenary session since I feel dizzy sitting down. Really, even though I'm not paying for this room, it is worth it to get a room at the conference hotel; it's great being able to pop back in here to rest!

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Somehow I ended up behind the registration desk this morning. I was only supposed to help out til around quarter to nine so I could go check on my 9:05 sesssions but I didn't manage to escape until 9:10. Fortunately I peeked my head in and the session was running fine. Good thing too - imagine they had waited for me if something was wrong!

So, I'm at the desk and who walks up and lays down his registration form and credit card but Stephen Abram himself. I just kind of stare. I mumble something about not being able to register him. He asks why I'm standing at the reg desk, but I correct him - see the new registrations and the 'S-Z' pick-up lines are at the same counter and I was working the S-Z. Anyway, I felt like a total goof ball standing in front of him; I didn't even give him any sign of recognition. He's like library celebrity and I was completely starstruck.

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The OLA theme this year is 'Solutions in a changing landscape'. Well, the MTCC sure looks the same, and many of the folks here too, but the vibe is different. Maybe it's the free wine (sponsored by CVS and Whitehots).

So I made it here but was only able to listen to the last 10 mintues or so of Cory's talk. That's a bummer. Oh well, that's the way things go.

I did of course make it to the Welcome party (wine!). I first ran into Sharron Smith - my favourite Reader's Advisory librarian. After catching up (I don't think I've seen her since December book club), I kept running into people and we decided I am just that popular. And I feel that way too since I keep banging into people that know me (even if I don't know them). I met Rebecca finally, and I talked to Darlene Fichter who is always a barrel of laughs. There were many others I barely got to say "hi" to as we mingled through the crowd. By 11 pm it really thinned out and, as we danced (kind of), Darlene suggested it was only extroverts left - I'm still undecided if I'm introvert or extrovert; I always thought I was introvert, now I'm not so sure.

I found one of my co-planners, but not the other. Tomorrow I have to get up bright and early to help at the registration counter and then check on all the sessions. I should've gone to bed a while ago, but hey, I'm usually up this late Wednesdays anyway!

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Staff are already setting up in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Librarians from all over Ontario are making their way to Toronto. Tonight, the Ontario Library Association's Super Conference begins!

Unfortunately, I didn't get today off work, so I'm not able to join my co-planners in Toronto to help them stuff bags and get things ready. I do plan to catch the Greyhound after work though, so I should be able to at least make part of the opening plenary speaker, Cory Doctorow. I really don't want to miss him!

Reading my feeds today I realized I hadn't actually sat down to figure out what my own schedule will be when I saw that other's had. As a planner, I have to check in on sessions to make sure everything is going okay and that everyone is where they're supposed to be. For instance, last year a convenor never showed up, so I had to stand in last minute. That means I really don't get to sit in on too many sessions, but usually I'm able to slip into a few. This year OLITA has three conference planners, so there's fewer sessions I have to check which means more time to get to a session I want to see!

This year I'll also be convening two sessions both on Friday, February 2nd:

• 9:05 am Session #1111 Contribute to the Collective Collection, Comrade. Ross Singer.
• 3:45 pm Session #1412 ILS, The Next Generation. Karen Calhoun

I'm hoping my throat lasts and that I don't develop a cough. Yes, I'm sick. Illness always picks the best time to attack, doesn't it?

In addition to the above sessions, I'll also be at the Super Conference welcome party tonight and the FIMS alum reception tomorrow at Armadillo's Texas Grill. If you see me running around, feel free to stop me and say HI! (But don't get too close - my germs my like you better!)

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I just got the news that I didn't get elected to OLITA council and yes, I'm disappointed. I think there was a mix-up yet again with my membership because I didn't even get election information so I have no idea what the other candidates' profiles look like and I didn't get to vote at all. Not that my vote would've mattered much but I would've liked to have known who I was up against. (Sometimes I get OLITA emails, sometimes I don't).
Oh well, I'm still new to the profession so I'm sure there will be a lot more opportunity in the future. It's nice to not have any volunteer obligations, though I know it wouldn't take much to suck me back in. The other good point is that since I won't be ''tied" to OLITA/OLA, after my current contract is done I could broaden my job search to a much larger area (not that I don't like Ontario, but I'm still young enough that it's easy to move around and explore). If I was on council, I'd likely only search for local prospects.

OLA Super Conference is only a week away! Lots of great speakers are coming to Toronto. I'm glad there are three program planners for OLITA this year because I hope to do a bit less running than I did last year!

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A lot of what I learned is coming back to me, some of it slower than others. For instance, last night I was helping a nursing student use Ovid. I haven't used Ovid since I was in grad school about 2 years ago. I don't think Ovid was covered in most courses, so I'm thankful I took the class on Sources and Services for Science and Technology. Still, I had such a hard time remembering how to do a search!
Finally I showed the student how to search the subject headings separately and then combine the searches to get what she was looking for. The woman really was thankful I could help her at all. She had to call me backa couple times since she would 'get lost' after printing out one article and couldn't get back to her results. I've caught myself a few times telling the students that I'm new here and still learning too!
Oh, there was another interesting thing at the ref desk last night. A young woman came up and she looked familiar - I thought I knew who she was which was confirmed when she asked if I was Jen and belonged to my sorority back home. She was a member when I was already alum and was only active for a year because she transferred. It's great the way people make connections, even when they don't seem important at the time.
This week I did four "Information Literacy" sessions, though really it was just basic library instruction (how to do basic searches in the catalogue and databases). Next week I have 7 to do! Again, some are just basic, but then there's others that are more in depth.

Ok, no more time to write, must go work the desk.

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I started my new position at a college library last week. It's a library technician position, but really, I see no difference in what a library tech here does as what librarians do at other libraries. I'm essentially a subject liaison for business, journalism, marketing and a bunch of other areas which requires me to present information literacy sessions to classes. I may at some point be involved in collection development for those subjects as well.

Another responsibility of mine is to update and maintain the library website. It's currently in a horrific state. An Information Literacy Consultant was also hired at the same time as me and he is assisting with the redesign as well (since he will be creating some online tutorials) so that helps with my work, but it's still a really big job. Since it's the start of a new term though, I have several IL sessions scheduled that I need to work on so the website isn't as high a priority (it's been this bad for awhile, a couple more weeks won't hurt).

In addition I also have reference desk shifts - usually 4 hrs or so a day, but because I'm new I'm technically supposed to hang out at the desk all day so I can just overhear everything going on. I'm really quite proud when I'm able to answer a ref question all on my own (like the fellow who wanted a Spanish-English dictionary related to woodworking - who knew that existed!).

Ooh, this blog post was just interupted for a question. The student gave me a "free hug coupon" for helping her; it's reusable too! Now I just have to decide who gets the hug.

So, lots of learning going on; I'm going to have an information overdose soon. I need to redeem that hug coupon and fast!

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Way back in October, the KPL bookclub read Mindscan by Robert J. Sawyer, and he came to our bookclub to speak about it. I had heard Sawyer speak once before since his Hominids was chosen for One Book One Community in 2005.

Mindscan delves into the question of what makes us human and centres around consciousness - what it is, how it works, why its so special to us. Even now, months after reading it, I still wonder about it all. During the book club, Sawyer talked over an hour to all of us and I'm sure he would've stayed and talked longer if many of us didn't have plans already!

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According to the OLA blog, the Super Conference is off to a record start!

The first badges have been run and Super Conference is off to its strongest start in over four years. Solutions in a Changing Landscape is the theme for OLA's 105th annual conference. Super Conference opens Wednesday, January 31st with Boing Boing creator, Cory Doctorow at 8 p.m. and closes Saturday, February 3, at the luncheon featuring Gemini Award-winning star, Seàn Cullen.
...

EXPO 2007 is attracting close to 180 companies displaying their wares in almost 240 booths. Both are records for this popular event. EXPO can be bought on its own. It is included in any Super Conference registration.

Last year, Super Conference attracted 4,495 to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for a whirlwind of ideas and inspiration.

I hope those of you in Ontario who haven't registerd yet, take a moment to look at the Super Conference website! There's a lot going on you don't want to miss!

BTW, OLITA still needs 2 or 3 volunteers to convene (I think a session or two each on Friday and Saturday)! For more info on convening, contact me at canucklibrarian @ gmail.com or my 'real' email if you know it ;)

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Really I can't keep a secret; well not unless it's one of those 'skeleton-in-the-closet' type secret that I'm holding for a friend. Indeed, if I have a secret of my own, I can't keep it; I'm all about telling everyone everything about me.

So, it's no real secret that I've been on the job hunt. I've put out dozens (ok maybe just over a dozen) résumés since the beginning of summer. I've received very little interest from those I've applied to. In total I've had three interviews and, thanks to a friend pointing out what I already knew, it's quite obvious my interview skills are lacking. (All interviews are pretty much the same; you'd think I'd be a star at them, but nope.)

Nevertheless, I've finally received a job offer! Yay! And I'm taking it! Yay! It's actually a library technician job, but I've never been one to support that whole librarian/library technician debate (ok, actually I can see the different sides of it, it's just hard for me to pick a single stance). My new position is also only a contract job; so I may end up back here cataloguing again next year.

Oh, and where is my new job? Well, that I won't say just yet because I wouldn't want to jinx anything. But, I do believe that a few of my readers are from the library I will be working at. I'm very excited about working in a library! Yay! A real library! So coming with the New Year, comes a new job! And I'll get to do reference! Woohoo!

My supervisor is disappointed, but she managed to talk me into working a few part-time hours here anyway. We'll see how it goes; not sure I can handle two jobs. She's just hired four new cataloguers, two of whom are recent UWO grads. How do I know? I searched google for them! Yes, I'm one of those types of people. So anyway, one of them is actually a current FIMS student (I found his class blog), and another did her co-op back last year. It's too bad I won't be around as much so I may not get to know the new cataloguers. I'm sure they'll hear plenty of stories about me though.

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Every year I see that there are various scholarships or subsidies available to librarians/library workers to go to the Ontario Library Association's Super Conference.

There's the Brodart/OLA Scholarship for first-timers (1 available); the Brodart/OLA Scholarship for First Nations librarians (2 available); the Brodart/OLA Scholarship for first-timer techical services librarian/worker (1); and the YBP/OLA Scholarship for Academic librarian/worker (2). (see the above link for detailed criteria/application info)

In addition, the OLA also offers those under/un-employed librarians, students and First Nations librarians a discount on attendance. Low income earners pay just $100 for the whole conference; other groups pay as little as $20/day.

The first time I went to OLA I had just graduated from my MLIS and was unemployed (though I had a coffee meeting at OLA to finalize a job offer), so I went for the whole conference pretty cheap. I had a great time, it got me involved, and I learned a lot!

If you haven't registered yet, you've missed the early-bird discounts; however, those of you who've never attended a Super Conference before still get the early bird prices! We want you to come, and I know you want to come too!

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OLA NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR 2007 SUPERCONFERENCE POSTER SESSIONS!

Your programs, research, best practices, new ideas on display at OLA Super Conference 2007.

Deadline for submission: December 15, 2006.

POSTER SESSIONS ARE PLANNED AT SUPER CONFERENCE ON:
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Friday, February 2, 2007
12:15 - 2:00 p.m. (a session will be 45 minutes, 2 sessions per day)

WHERE:
EXPO 2007 (Exhibit Hall)
Metro Toronto Convention Centre Hall C
Poster Session Co-ordinator:
Doris Rankin
E-mail: [email protected]

WHAT IS A POSTER SESSION?
Poster sessions are an effective forum for the exchange of information among conference delegates and a means to communicate ideas, research, and programs.

Poster sessions can be on a wide variety of topics, such as:
• a description of an innovative library program
• an analysis of a practical problem-solving effort
• a display of a successful event, activity, or production
• a marketing campaign
• the results of a research project

Poster session participants create displays demonstrating their projects with eye-catching materials such as pictures, graphs, diagrams and narrative text on 4' x 8' boards. In the assigned time periods (45 minutes duration), participants informally discuss their presentations with conference attendees

For more details on the submission process, check out the OLA website.

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I think librarians have a hard time taking a joke...or we take ourselves too seriously or something, because it seems after I posted the link to the post from The Peevish Kitty Explains It All some folks representing librarians decided to point out "what an ass [she is] and telling [her] how [she] need[s] to work on [her] reading comprehension skills (among other things)."

So, CinnamonOpus, I'm sorry if any librarian ire was directed your way through me :)

I guess it just goes to show, you don't mess with Librarians!

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(I received the following via the ABFO listserv and thought it sounded cool, so I'm passing it along! I don't get TFO, but I'll certainly be checking out the website the day after.)

Panorama : Spécial littéraire sur nos auteurs franco-ontariens

Toronto, le 30 novembre 2006 – Pour célébrer la cuvée littéraire franco-ontarienne de l’automne 2006, Panorama, l'émission d'affaires publiques de TFO, présente un spécial littéraire sur les nouveautés franco-ontariennes. Cette discussion studio sera diffusée le jeudi 7 décembre et sera disponible sur le site Web tfo.org/panorama le lendemain de sa diffusion.

Andrée Lacelle, poète et critique littéraire et François Paré, professeur titulaire au Département d’études françaises de l’Université de Waterloo, se joindront à l’animatrice Gisèle Quenneville pour commenter cinq œuvres franco-ontariennes, celles-ci choisies en collaboration avec Andrée Lacelle.

Ils exploreront Doucement le bonheur, un roman de Marguerite Andersen, Et les regrets aussi..., un roman de Michèle Matteau, Crac, un recueil de poésie de Paul Savoie, Une nouvelle légende, un livre jeunesse de Lysette Brochu et À grandes gorgées de poussière, un roman pour adolescents de Myriam Legault. Il y aura aussi une série de mentions spéciales.


Un rendez-vous à ne pas manquer!

PANORAMA, 7 jours sur 7 sur les ondes de TFO, en direct du lundi au jeudi à 19 h, en reprise à 23 h et le lendemain à midi ou sur le Web, 24 h sur 24 !

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I mentioned to a 'reader' earlier today that my blog has *gasp* 50 subscribers via Bloglines and that it had actually been linked to and/or mentioned by others. The following is a link to a post that asks, "What in the HELL could they have to BLOG about??". ("They" being "librarians".)

I was too lazy to register to post a comment, though when I first read it I had planned on going back, but never got around to it. I particularly like the comments about the Diary of a Subversive Librarian (i.e Random Access Mazar).

So, what in the hell do librarians have to blog about? Hmmm, good question. Let me think on it some more.

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