Jocasta Who? or Why Library & Info Tech?

Who is Jocasta Nu and why would I want to be her?

Let me preface this with the most common comments and questions that I was asked when I told people I was starting school for Library and Information Technology;

1)      “But you don’t have glasses and a mini-beard.  You can’t be a librarian!”

2)      “You’re not boring.  Why would you want to work in such a boring place?”

3)      “Aren’t libraries dying?  Technology is making them obsolete.  Why would you want to start in that field?”

4)      “There are so many unemployed people with useless degrees.  Just get a job based on your experience.”

First of all – I must address number 1 – Female facial hair does not run in my family so even if I had the inclination to grow a mini-beard, I probably can’t.  Secondly; don’t you think that those assumptions are a little stereotypical?  Come on.

Secondly.  Boring?  I really think that it’s sad when someone says a library is boring.  And to say librarians are boring?  I’m sorry if that has been your experience, but let me try to change your opinion.  This is where Jocasta Nu, the Knights who say “Ni” and all other guardians of information come in.  Jocasta Nu was the Jedi Archives Librarian (fictional – just in case you weren’t sure).  Not saying that she was perfect by any means, but to be an old lady who manages hundreds of years of Jedi archives, can effectively wield a light saber and hold her own against a bounty hunter (while wearing a dress, I might add).  Pretty impressive, I’d say.  I would probably not come to work wearing long robes and carrying a light saber.  Maybe just a cute scarf and a laser pointer. 

A librarian is a guardian to a gateway.  Maybe I’m romanticizing things a bit, but how could it be boring to help people along on their way to discovering new knowledge?  The Knights who say Ni may not be the most accurate example, but they guarded the way through a deep dark forest and 3 sacred words.  Kind of the same.  Forest = wood = paper pulp = books.  (See the connection?)

On to number three.  This is a debate that continues to rage: does the economic climate and new advances in technology cause library usership to decrease because people have less time for leisure because they’re working too hard?  Or does usership increase because people are looking for cheap entertainment, knowledge to enhance their skills, or a calm place to escape?  This may be breaking news to those of you who haven’t stepped into a library since your last high school paper, but libraries are changing too.  They have computers, eBooks, technology stations and more.  You can download eBooks without even having to enter the library, participate in online Book Clubs and find out about community events online.  So while the traditional library is definitely changing, it continues to thrive and morph with the advancement of new technology.  Take a look at what MacLean’s has to say on the matter. 

Number four.  For many library workers, this is a long-term career.  Libraries don’t have a particularly high turnover rate, but as libraries change with the advancement of library technology, many librarians don’t have the skills necessary to keep up.  That’s where the new breed of library workers comes in.  Though current librarians are able to learn new technology, it’s generally faster and easier to hire in new blood.  Library and Information Techs are the ones who update libraries and put into place many of the new advancements that are coming into effect in today’s libraries.  These are mid-level jobs, but are one of those fields that have a broad range of employment opportunities.  Small library management, large library tech, private libraries (like hospitals and museums), information management for large organizations, museums and archives are some examples. 

One thing that drew me to this field (which may not be a selling point for everyone) is the high number of part-time positions that are available.  Being a mom is important to me and I don’t want to raise a bunch of “latch-key” kids whose parents arrive home from work hours after they come home from school.  As long as I have kids at home a 30 hour work week is perfect for me. As far as my experience goes the vague description of “Administration” doesn’t get that much recognition in this world.

So I hope this answers some of your questions and maybe even entices a few of you to look into this field.  If so, take a look at the Red River College Library & Information Technology department to find out more. 

And lastly, don't worry about late fees when it comes to any library I'm working in.  If I have any say in the matter we won't be collecting money.  I'll be take payments in shrubbery.

The Blogging Bandwagon

What is a blog?  Are it's writers the anti-social, techno-savvy segment of our population?  Are they written by those with "time on their hands" or "nothing better to do"?  Many blogs once fell under these stereotypes and perhaps some of them still do.  But as technology is simplified and a greater percentage of people puruse the web, more and more are seeing the value in a blog.  If you can believe it, from 2002-2009, 133 million blogs were indexed by Technorati!  We are beginnng to realize that everyone has valuable thoughts that others are actually interested in. Society's collective confidence in our individuality is growing.  We are starting to realize that no matter who we are or where we live, that there is always someone of like mind (be it elsewhere in the world) that we now have the means to connect with.  Now everyone can have a friend.  Or two.  Or two million.

Blogs can be a great way to teach, to learn, to debate, to connect.  Obscure, little known topics are now eagerly published by those passionate about them.  Technology has caused the line between blogging, mini-blogging and social networking to blur.  Instead of having to commit a block of time for blogging, bloggers are now posting more impromptu blogs through their social network from their phones or iPads (Technoratti's State of the Blogosphere).  This newest development is making blogging faster, easier and maybe even more personal.

Two thirds of all blogs are written by men, half of all bloggers are married, and half are parents (according to Technoratti, 2009).  But this skewed cross section of the blogging popluation is changing.  Women, and moms in particular, are starting to blog more.  Being a mom, blogs like Some Random Mother are mostly the types that I follow.  But I don't just follow.  I once started another blog (Cherry Pits in Gravel) while working at my fruit stand...about working at my fruit stand.  (They say to write about what you know, right?)  I posted once and then abandoned it as life got in the way.  Maybe if it had been quicker and easier to blog I would have continued.  Maybe now I will.

This bandwagon of blogging has been jumped on by nearly every section of society and finally libraries are starting to catch up.  They are realizing that blogs can be a great asset to many types of libraries, but high school, academic and public libraries in particular.  Libraries need to be current and engage with their patrons.  They need to reach out to invite in new patrons.  They need to show that libraries aren't just places to find a book.  Meeting a person in their world (the internet) and on their terms is a great way to introduce them to the library.  Library blogs can introduce new authors or genres, advertise events, give research tutorials, start book clubs, writing clubs and music clubs, just to name a few.  Did I say music?  In the library?  Take a look at The Unquiet Library found at Creekview High School in Canton, Georgia.  That looks like a fun library!  Doesn't that blog inspire you to visit their library?

Blogs can help librarians introduce themselves to new patrons and give a window into the library that some people may have never seen otherwise.  The interactivity of blogs encourages communication and participation.  Facebook, Twitter and other mediums may do the same thing but the great thing is that the blogger doesn't have to choose!  The librarian blogger can connect everything through links and therefore gain even more exposure for the library.

If you have technologically savvy & efficient manpower to manage a blog, then it's not a problem but there are some instances where a blog is not a possibility.  A library with a small staff who do not have the experience or inclination to learn may have to make other arrangements.  Perhaps an enthusiastic volunteer?  And then there are the libraries that serve an isolated community with little internet access or slow download speeds.  There may be no reason to have a blog since the community will have little use for it until better technology reaches them.  As technology advances there will be more and more opportunities for libraries to take advantage of this great medium and to advertise themselves to their communities.