Seattle. Space Needle. Pike Place Market. Good food. Football. Fairweather fans. More good food. Friends. Coffee. Train. Home.
Pictures later.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Random Stuff
I felt like I should post something...
Let's see... So far this week I watched the VP debate. Palin terrifies me even more after having watched that. But I am cautiously optimistic about Obama's chances in November. He is pulling ahead, and McCain and Co. are getting desperate enough that they are attacking Obama's character and contacts. Obama's response was basically that the American people are too smart to fall for your last grasp. Thank god someone finally said it.
I had my first instruction session at the new university library. I had two hours. Two hours all to myself. They students seem interested and responded, and said stuff... I was pleasantly surprised.
I worked my first night desk shift. It was looooong. And students here, while pretty smart, don't respond to the Librarian Evil Eye when talking on their cell phones. I got used to southern students who would look ashamed when you would glare at them for doing anythings slightly wrong. And then they would apologize. Not so much around here.
I went to a librarian's drink night Friday. I got there kind of late ("late" being 6:00 for adults with children. Or old people.) . But they all seemed nice. met another person from Wisconsin. I don't know what it is about Wisconsin and the Pacific Northwest, but there are a lot of them out here.
I either have a cold or allergies. It's annoying.
It was windy here today. Weather.com said we were having gusts of 29 mph, but there were wind advisories saying gusts up to 40 mph. Whatever it was, it rattled the windows so much I had to close the bedroom window. And there were a whole lot of whitecaps on the bay. When I wasn't trying to clan, I was watching a couple of boats bob up and down in the water. At one point I thought one of them would capsize.
LJ is coming out next week. We're gonna bum around town for a day and a half, maybe drive to Canada (maybe not), and then head to Seattle for the Packers-Seahawks game. Given the injury of Aaron Rodgers, I don't expect it to be much of a game. Wait, what was that? Rodgers? Injured? I know! It's a shock! That man couldn't stay healthy when he was a back-up, why would he stay healthy when he was starting? But, anyway, I figure it will be chance to hang out in Seattle, see some friends, drink some beer, and have a good time.
Let's see... So far this week I watched the VP debate. Palin terrifies me even more after having watched that. But I am cautiously optimistic about Obama's chances in November. He is pulling ahead, and McCain and Co. are getting desperate enough that they are attacking Obama's character and contacts. Obama's response was basically that the American people are too smart to fall for your last grasp. Thank god someone finally said it.
I had my first instruction session at the new university library. I had two hours. Two hours all to myself. They students seem interested and responded, and said stuff... I was pleasantly surprised.
I worked my first night desk shift. It was looooong. And students here, while pretty smart, don't respond to the Librarian Evil Eye when talking on their cell phones. I got used to southern students who would look ashamed when you would glare at them for doing anythings slightly wrong. And then they would apologize. Not so much around here.
I went to a librarian's drink night Friday. I got there kind of late ("late" being 6:00 for adults with children. Or old people.) . But they all seemed nice. met another person from Wisconsin. I don't know what it is about Wisconsin and the Pacific Northwest, but there are a lot of them out here.
I either have a cold or allergies. It's annoying.
It was windy here today. Weather.com said we were having gusts of 29 mph, but there were wind advisories saying gusts up to 40 mph. Whatever it was, it rattled the windows so much I had to close the bedroom window. And there were a whole lot of whitecaps on the bay. When I wasn't trying to clan, I was watching a couple of boats bob up and down in the water. At one point I thought one of them would capsize.
LJ is coming out next week. We're gonna bum around town for a day and a half, maybe drive to Canada (maybe not), and then head to Seattle for the Packers-Seahawks game. Given the injury of Aaron Rodgers, I don't expect it to be much of a game. Wait, what was that? Rodgers? Injured? I know! It's a shock! That man couldn't stay healthy when he was a back-up, why would he stay healthy when he was starting? But, anyway, I figure it will be chance to hang out in Seattle, see some friends, drink some beer, and have a good time.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Call Me Mentor
This afternoon an undergrad came to see me about becoming a librarian. It was one of those random things how she found me, but she did. She has a list of questions ranging from, "What is your day like?" to "What kinds of librarians are there?"
I could barely answer some of them. I showed her what I was working on: creating research guides for undergraduate classes and why I was making them. What kind of librarians are there? Well, if you've ever heard me talk about or ask questions about what happens in tech services, you would know that I really don't know what happens outside of the reference department. I know it is all important and necessary, but I barely understand it. Which is why we are all lucky I am not in tech services.
She wanted to know the difference between a public library and an academic library. Having only worked in an academic setting, I had a limited view. I told her why I wanted to work in an academic setting. I explained what I saw as the biggest draw to being in a public library--the strong sense of community service. She asked me what my research areas were and why. User behavior, mostly. I like observing people and what they do. They fascinate me.
I explained the difference between some library schools--mainly the L versus the I in LIS. If she wants to be a public librarian, look at a program with a more traditional library setting. Some schools will require a thesis and comps, some won't. I told her it was a professional degree, so look for programs that emphasized work, practicum, etc., over research. The theory is important and needed for a base, but what she will find most helpful is what she learns on the job.
If she visits a school, ask if there is help finding a student job or assistanship. Ask if the library school works closely with the library system. That may hint at the amount of job possibilities available on campus.
Turns out she is looking at UW-Madison. I talked up Madison and told her it was wonderful and explained the program to her. Get some work experience in a library--either now or when she was in library school. I told her if she went to school straight from her undergrad she would probably be one of the youngest people there. If she decided to go to UW to move to Madison, get a studio apartment and a job and have absolutely nothing to so with the university for one whole year. Out-of-state tuition is crazy expensive. I had several friends who did this so they could get in-state tuition.
She is also looking at a school closer (not The Other UW). It's a program I have heard good things about, too. In the end, go to an ALA-accredited school. If she doesn't she may as well throw her money out the window. If the other school works better for her monetarily, geographically, go there. Get the degree and get some experience. That what is most important.
I also told her that she will hate library school. She and everyone around her will complain about it nonstop. If they don't, there is something wrong with them. I almost gave her the speech I got when I went through orientation at UW: At the end of your first year half of you will love library school and the other half of you will fucking hate it. But I decided not to crush her spirit so early.
Honestly, though, I love being a librarian. I also like making fun of librarians. But like many people I know who went to library school, when I began to figure out what I would be doing, what the purpose was, it just made sense.
I could barely answer some of them. I showed her what I was working on: creating research guides for undergraduate classes and why I was making them. What kind of librarians are there? Well, if you've ever heard me talk about or ask questions about what happens in tech services, you would know that I really don't know what happens outside of the reference department. I know it is all important and necessary, but I barely understand it. Which is why we are all lucky I am not in tech services.
She wanted to know the difference between a public library and an academic library. Having only worked in an academic setting, I had a limited view. I told her why I wanted to work in an academic setting. I explained what I saw as the biggest draw to being in a public library--the strong sense of community service. She asked me what my research areas were and why. User behavior, mostly. I like observing people and what they do. They fascinate me.
I explained the difference between some library schools--mainly the L versus the I in LIS. If she wants to be a public librarian, look at a program with a more traditional library setting. Some schools will require a thesis and comps, some won't. I told her it was a professional degree, so look for programs that emphasized work, practicum, etc., over research. The theory is important and needed for a base, but what she will find most helpful is what she learns on the job.
If she visits a school, ask if there is help finding a student job or assistanship. Ask if the library school works closely with the library system. That may hint at the amount of job possibilities available on campus.
Turns out she is looking at UW-Madison. I talked up Madison and told her it was wonderful and explained the program to her. Get some work experience in a library--either now or when she was in library school. I told her if she went to school straight from her undergrad she would probably be one of the youngest people there. If she decided to go to UW to move to Madison, get a studio apartment and a job and have absolutely nothing to so with the university for one whole year. Out-of-state tuition is crazy expensive. I had several friends who did this so they could get in-state tuition.
She is also looking at a school closer (not The Other UW). It's a program I have heard good things about, too. In the end, go to an ALA-accredited school. If she doesn't she may as well throw her money out the window. If the other school works better for her monetarily, geographically, go there. Get the degree and get some experience. That what is most important.
I also told her that she will hate library school. She and everyone around her will complain about it nonstop. If they don't, there is something wrong with them. I almost gave her the speech I got when I went through orientation at UW: At the end of your first year half of you will love library school and the other half of you will fucking hate it. But I decided not to crush her spirit so early.
Honestly, though, I love being a librarian. I also like making fun of librarians. But like many people I know who went to library school, when I began to figure out what I would be doing, what the purpose was, it just made sense.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Annoy Sarah Palin, Read.
With it being Banned Books Weeks and all, I think this is the best time to think about John McCain and Gov Palin and the absolute disaster they would be if elected.
Reading is Fundamental, Gov Palin. Leonard Pitts Jr., Seattle Time.
Reading is Fundamental, Gov Palin. Leonard Pitts Jr., Seattle Time.
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