Better Late than Never

So, I put this off this week because I had a lot to say and was not sure how to say it. Monday and Tuesday I travelled to and attended the IP 2050 conference at UNC Chapel Hill. This conference consisted of 4 panels, each addressing different aspects of the future programs that educate information professionals. While much of the conference focused on academia and the future programs that would make SLIS or SILS students viable candidates in the workforce, I waited with baited breath to see what the speakers would have to say on the impact it would have on the public library system. Specifically, I was waiting to hear how they proposed to get the information to the students who in turn would get it to the masses during a time of increased budget cuts, staff cuts and downsizing. Unfortunately that happened with only one speaker out of 16. Now, I know they were not there to debate budget and staff cuts but I would have liked to hear more about how they thought this would be addressed in the future. Like many of the speakers noted, it is very difficult to speculate what education will look like for library students and graduates 38 years from now. One speaker suggested I get more ionvolved with my state and local library associations, I am a member and plan to attend their conferences, but attending conferences does not help me address the concerns that loom, not 38 years on the horizon but on tomorrows horizon. Many of the "librarians" in our county have degrees far outside the realm of Library science, some have no degree, some are building managers, some, and I don't say this to be mean, really need to retire, and some would love to go to school and either can't afford it or don't have the time. So, how do we as future graduates in MLIS, SLIS programs bring that knowledge to them and do so inexpensively, with the most impact, not only to those who work behind the desk, but those that we serve? More thoughts to come, so stay tuned.

Politics and common themes

It is 4:19 in the morning and my cat is curled up on my lap while I stare at this blank page and ponder my next attempt at blogging communication. Not surprisingly I had very few comments on my last and first blog post, well, actually one although thirty people did take the time to read what I posted. I guess I expected a few more comments, mostly along the lines of "oh, give me a break and get with the times". This morning elections opened for one of the library associations officer candidates I belong to. I took the time to read through the candidates portfolios before casting my vote and noticed something akin to a common theme amoung all 6 candidates. Every one of them expressed the need for us to embrace social media and move forward in the world of technology. Only one of the six left out the word I in their veiw of what they see the leadership embracing in the next year. These two things caught my attention more than their degrees, current jobs or volunteer positions. It was rather refreshing to see that in this "it's all about me" world there is still someone out there who thinks it really has nothing to do with "me" and everything to do with "my actions for the good of the whole". I hope the candidates who do get elected see "the bigger picture" and embrace what is best for the "whole", not what is best for the "me". Wouldn't it be nice if politics everywhere embraced that sentiment? Primaries are next week in my home state, I'm an election official for my state and have been for nine years, I wonder if those who show up at my polling station will have read over the cadidates portfolios as carefully as I scrutized this one small association election. Wouldn't it be nice to see a wise, more informed voter in all aspects of the political world. I plan to be one of them, how about you?

Attempting to Embrace Social Media

My attenpts at blogging have been sporadic, inconsistent and shameful. As a budding librarian I have been so interested in learning the new technologies, not that blogging is new, but woeful in embracing it. What fascinates me the most about all of this social media is how enraptured the younger generation is about telling everyone everything, no thoughts about privacy, everything is fair game and truthfully I find that so distressing. I think it ranks right up there with living in housing on a military post, nothing was a secret, at least not to your neighbors, and I speak from personal experience. I guess that is why, when we hear about Pinterest law suits becasue of copyright and privacy issues I am not surprised. Does anyone else have a problem with this? Come on, am I the only librarian out there who is hesitant to embrace the social media that rules the day without some serious investigation? So, I am embraking on the 23 Things for Professional Development this week, a few weeks late but I attempted to do so last year and did not get much accomplished. This is a first attempt on my adventure that will be blogging. The plan to to learn and grow, it's what we are supposed to do as professionals and as humans! Step one completed.