Library tour video

My library has had a wonderful summer student working with us this year.  One project she took on was to create a “library tour video” for us.  Prior to this summer she had not worked in a library, but she just “gets it”. So, we let her decide on the content, direct us, and produce the video. She did a wonderful job!  Yes, we are not all great in front of the camera, but I think we did ok … and we certainly tried hard.

As the Yukon Energy, Mines and Resources Library is hidden away on the third floor of a government building in Whitehorse, we are hoping that this video helps potential clients feel more comfortable about coming to the library.  EMR Library tour page can be found here, with the video and a brief photographic tour.  The icing on the cake is that a local band, Soir de Semaine (thanks again!!), permitted us to use one of their songs in the video!

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.

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!

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 …

Teslin Public Library temporarily closed

CBC Radio in Whitehorse reported this morning on the 7:30am newscast that the Teslin Public Library is temporarily closed. During the closure the mould will be cleaned up.  Hopefully the clean-up works! See OHS Canada for more information.

Follow-up: Yukon library and mould

More details.  The village wanted the Teslin Public Library to leave the building so the village could demolish the building, but … the plot thickens … the library board, the Yukon government, the village, and occupational health and safety are all trying to figure this out. See CBC for more details.

Details: “Hollywood Librarian” film screening in Whitehorse, Yukon

October is dedicated to library and information services in Canada and this year’s Canadian Library Month theme is “Your Library Your World”.

The Yukon Library Association (YLA) in cooperation with the Yukon Film Society (YFS) is hosting the Yukon release of Ann Seidl’s “Hollywood Librarian: A Look at Librarians Through Film” on Saturday October 11th at The Fire Hall in downtown Whitehorse.

Written and directed by Ann Seidl based on the true story of America’s Librarians and proudly presented by Overdue Productions, this 95 minute feature length film had its red-carpet premiere at the American Library Association annual conference in Washington, DC on June 22, 2007 to over 4,000 librarians and friends.

Hollywood Librarian is the first movie ever on the subject of the real lives and actual work of U.S. librarians.  Using the “hook” of Hollywood motion picture clips, it introduces the audience to all kinds of librarians: school and children’s librarians, special librarians (medical and corporate), academic librarians, library educators and graduate students, a cataloger, and public librarians.  Beginning with the history of information organization – Hypatia and the Library of Alexandria – it then touches on Andrew Carnegie, Melvil Dewey, and early women library professionals. Moving on into the 21st century, the documentary gives audiences the chance to peer into the world of librarians: the skills and passion it takes, the challenges of book censorship, the themes of censorship, intellectual freedom, children and librarians, pay equity and funding issues, declining library funding and the value of reading.

Where: The Fire Hall (1st and Main, Whitehorse)

Tickets at the door: $6 ($5 YFS members)

Film showing at 7:00 pm,  Saturday October 11th

Reception at 6:00 pm: Your chance to meet Yukon librarians, past and present. Photos of early and current-day Yukon libraries will be on display and librarians and library staff from various Yukon libraries will be on hand to meet you. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact me via this website. Thanks!

“Hollywood Librarian” is coming to Whitehorse

In celebration of Canadian Library Month, the documentary “Hollywood Librarian” will be screened in Whitehorse by the Yukon Library Association and the Yukon Film Society.

When: Saturday October 11th, 7pm (reception at 6pm)

More details to follow!