Librarians and the X.0 (2.0, 3.0) world

It is interesting to me that so many librarians are fearful of and/or avoiding the x.0 world.   I also find it very odd.  Librarians have historically been early adopters of technology … though I am now seeing that it is truly only some librarians who fit this bill.  So many won’t explore or try out new tools – tools that would be very useful to them in their professional and/or home lives — and sometimes are fun to use!

I have been thinking about this because I am simply baffled by the negativity with which some librarians are approaching the wide variety of new and practical tools that are now freely available to us.  The irony is that some of the very same people who I find are now using all the excuses they can imagine to avoid new technologies are the very same librarians were the first to embrace the possibilities that past new technologies provided! Librarians imagined then created online catalogues (OPACs) before the days of commercially available catalogue databases.  From variable-length data fields (in MARC records) to sharing of bibliographic data online, librarians were using the internet and e-mail extensively and efficiently even before the days when the average techno-savvy person could access online bulletin boards … before the days of gopher and Lynx!

What does this mean? I guess it is a reminder to me that while many librarians are early adopters of new tools, not all librarians are.  And, just because historically particular librarians may have been early adopters of some technologies doesn’t mean they objectively analyze new technologies … perhaps they were just early adopters of a particular technology.  And, this isn’t limited to the more experienced librarians, there seem to be many librarians of all stripes who avoid new technologies.  No judgement here, just an observation.

As for me, I have always been an early adopter … though I don’t adopt technologies just because they are new.  I had my first cell phone (a bag phone, powered via 12V cigarette lighter plug in my car) in the early 1990’s (kinda funny as I haven’t owned a cell phone for over 10 years now), I began using the internet in 1990 while studying for my undergrad (when a forward-thinking English prof , C. Stuart Hunter, insisted that his students complete short quizzes online at the University of Guelph), and I am always thinking about how I can use new tools (both in my work as a librarian and at home).  I don’t believe new technologies are good simply because they are new … they must meet some need (efficiency, entertainment, communication, …) or be useful tools, I don’t jump on all bandwagons.

LONG overdue library book

After 52,858 days (over 140 years!), long overdue book is returned to the Washington and Lee University’s Leyburn Library (previously known as Washington College)… what an amazing story!  See the Washington Post for more information.  I know I don’t always return my library books on time, but this has me beat by many many YEARS!

April 1st fun

Yukon Government launches walking dead action plan.

According the Yukon News website, “The Yukon will be “undead ready” by 2012, according to a new $6-million Walking Dead Action Plan announced last week by the Yukon government. “This plan provides key opportunities for Yukoners to remain safe from the threat of re-animated corpses,” said Health and Social Services Minister Glenn Hart in an official release this week. The centrepiece of the plan is a $2.3-million package to promote “zombie-proof” housing in Whitehorse communities.Home builders will receive subsidies of up to 50 per cent for the installation of acid sprinkler systems, fortified window shutters and roof-mounted flamethrowers.”

My favourite part of this is the roof-mounted flamethrowers” …  who knew that it was so dangerous to live in Yukon?

NRC Research Press news

I can’t believe it.  NRC Research Press has announced that after 8 years of providing free access to NRC Research Press journal titles (such as Canadian Journal of Forest Research and Canadian Geotechnical Journal), this free electronic access will cease soon, likely in 2011.  I find this very discouraging.  When I spoke with NRC Press representatives approximately 8 years ago (when they first launched the free online versions of their journals), they assured me the plan was to provide this free access forever.  When I spoke with them a few years later, they said they hoped they would be able to continue to provide free access … at this point I became worried.  Now, a few years later, my fears have been realized.  No more free access to these valuable journals for Canadians.

As a librarian I find this disturbing on many fronts, the two main fronts being:

• First, patrons in my library will find their access to vital information is reduced when this change in access is implemented
• Second, as Open Access journals are growing internationally, it is sad that these vital Canadian research journals are moving in the opposite direction.

Tower for goats!

One of the many things I love about working in a library is that I never know what wonderful information will fall into my hands … and today the prize goes to“31 Ft. Goat Tower keeps animals fit, happy” from Farm Show Magazine.  As the library I work in provides information services related to natural resources … including agriculture … we subscribe to a number of agriculture journals.  Farm Show Magazine is, for me, the most interesting of the agriculture journals as it features amazing and innovative “made it myself” inventions … and the goat tower is one of the most interesting “made it myself” creations I have seen to date.  Having spent some time around goats (a friend had goats as pets), I am sure that goats must love this tower.  Goats seem to enjoy both exploring and venturing upwards …

I love my job and the fascinating tidbits of information I come across each day!

Teslin Public Library to re-open

The Teslin Public Library has been closed since early Dec. 2008 due to mould.  According to a Government of Yukon news release, the library will be re-located to another building in Teslin (former Nisutlin Trading Post building) and will open in April.  After months without their library, I am sure Teslin residents are very happy about this!

OLA-SC … day one

I am at the Ontario Library Association’s Superconference today, after a full day Partnership meeting yesterday.  Lots and lots of snow (snowfall warning!) here today, kinda feels like I am home … but warmer …

Millenials

I am finding the discussions about millenials in today’s work world very interesting.  Are they really that different from me?  Apparently I am part of  “Generation X”, those born between 1950s/60s and the early to mid 1980s, (depending on the defintion used), but I really don’t see that much difference between myself and those we classify as “Generation Y”, those born between1974 to 1982 (again, depending on the definition used) and 2000.

Yes, there are obvious differences … Generation Y are digital natives and haven’t had the same experiences of life as those of us who are Gen X or boomers.  But, in the work sphere, we really aren’t very different. We all want to be respected, would like flexible work options, and are more engaged when we are challenged.

For example, I have found that all demographic groups desire greater flexibility/options with their work hours.  From the young mother who wants to have more time with her children, to the the mid-career employee who wants more time to pursue their passions (shorter work days so they will have more time to ski or kayak and options for unpaid personal leave so they can enjoy more travel)  to the close to retirement employee who wants to travel more and continue to actively participate in the work world … the same flexibility is desired.  While I have given the above examples by the age of employees, the examples aren’t limited by age-groups.  We really aren’t that different.

This time my question for you is:   is dividing us up into age-based groups and then allowing each demographic group to define (or limit) these groups by life experiences and desires any different from the statement “when I was your age I had to walk 5 miles to school … uphill both ways”?  Things are always changing, we have all lived through change. The pace of change is always changing.  What do you think?

What does work-life balance mean to you?

I have been researching the concept of work-life balance, and am a bit surprised by what I am finding.  I have always thought of work-life balance as balancing work (job) with my life outside of work (the things I must do and the things I like to do outside of work: my passions, and family).  What I am finding in the literature is many discussions of work (job) and life (only family) … no mention of passions, or what people do to recharge their batteries.  Hmm.

Basically, it seems as if the concept of “work-life” balance is recognized as balancing the demands of work with the demands of family.  I guess this surprises me because, while it is very important to balance those two spheres, one could spend all their time working at their job and on family responsibilities yet have no true balance in their lives.

One way of looking at this discrepancy could be that work-life balance is being defined as time management and not true balance.  The majority of people are trying to manage the demands on their time.  Everyone has lots of demands on their time: partner/spouse, children, parents, extended families, friends, work (the need to make a living and the requirement to do one’s job effectively while doing more with less), and more.

For me, work-life balance means balancing my work life (which I both love and need) and my outside of work life (the things I must do and my passions)…. far more than only work and family.

So, my question is, what does work-life balance mean to you?

Just too cold out … for too long

What can I say, between the holidays and the cold weather (-40C right now), I just haven’t been motivated to write. My apologies. Happy New Year!