Happy New Year.

Hello all,

Jen and I will be unable to update this blog over the weekend, so here are a couple of links for you to enjoy until we see you again Monday. Have a wonderful 2010!

Libraries should get better with use:
http://www.walkingpaper.org/2399

Digitization of dissertations:
http://bibwild.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/am-i-missing-something-or-is-this-disturbing/

Searches and Such

A Luddite in the Library.

I’ve been saving this article to share with you all for a while.

Luddite in the Library, by Diana Wagman

After reading this article a few weeks ago, I felt that I could not simply pass the article along to you, good reader, without some objections on my part. Upon revisiting the article for this blog post, I discovered the part that bothered me most:

I spent three hours at the library and did not learn much about Luddites, but what I did find actually gave me chills. This is what I discovered: If you have a specific destination, the Web is the place to go. If you just need to search, there is no place like the library.

I disagree with this statement. The library is a place to go for any kind of search - specific, or broad, or just to browse. And, you know who has the skills to make these searches go better for you (and sounds like broke down in this article): librarians. (I would imagine you guessed I might say that, though.

The truth of the matter is a librarian can help you find specific information. This is usually facilitated through a reference interview, to help the librarian know as much about your need as possible. My reference class this past semester covered all the pertinent information about the reference interview - and that process is designed to find specific pieces of information.

Of course, you might be trying to find something like the book you just read and enjoyed. Well, librarians can help with that as well, though a process called reader’s advisory. And are you just browsing for items in a broad subject heading? We can help there as well, with our knowledge of our collections, as well as the Library of Congress subject headings.

So, let me tell you reader, that your local library is the perfect place to conduct any kind of search!

Google vs Cataloging

Another blog post that has been circulating at the top of my pile (on Google Reader) for a while, is this great post about the differences between a catalog and Google. Instead of reading my post here today, go click through the link below, and then tell me what you think!

Google is Not Perfect, by “Fran.”

The Unique Position of Libraries in the Information Age

One of the themes in librarianship that bounces around in my head quite a bit is how we can stay relevant in this ever-changing information age that we live in. I found myself nodding my head yes to the last several paragraphs in this blog post, which I thought you might like to read:

The Search for the Next Big Thing, by AndyW

If I’m in a database such as EBSCO, and one of my results is a citation for a journal article, wouldn’t it be cool if it told me where the nearest library holding was? Make a button so that I can do a photocopy request within the interface if the holding is too far away. (You already have my card number since I needed that to get into the database in the first place.) I don’t think we lack the technology to make this happen either.

This is where our customers are looking for information first; this is where we should be looking to be. And why not? We are all in the “getting people to information” business; we just happen to be the non-profit end. This is a win-win for both sides where we get our catalogs and holdings onto higher profile platforms while they get to offer better varied results to their users. Our library automation vendors certainly aren’t offering us new ways to be able to market our holdings or be able to glance around our area to see what other libraries might have an item. Hell, the idea of adding text message hold and overdue notifications seems like onerous task to them despite the explosion of text messaging as a communication medium.

The truth is that libraries are uniquely positioned as the most universal and diverse “middle man” in the information matrix; we are the best human resource for people to have for all of their questions and intellectual and entertainment needs. We are where the big corporations and our vendors are not: in a position to evaluate information interface effectiveness at the human level on a scale far larger than their focus groups and in real life settings. This is what we bring to the information table and this is why it is important to look to share it with the others. There is nothing to lose, only tools and resources to gain.

Those who hang onto their data fiefdoms do not progress in this information age. They are anchors, relics of an old age where thoughts and ideas must be chaperoned rather than be freed. Only be removing any shackles or obstacles between people and what they seek can we move forward in our mission to provide universal information access. It is where we need to be heading in the new year: proving again our value to the general public while eliminating the virtual distances that keep us separated from the others who work with information. Both of these connections exist; let us strengthen them and forge ahead.

Amen!

Happy Holidays

Readers,

On behalf of me, Jen, Domo, and Cosby, allow me to wish you a very happy holiday season. We hope it is filled with joy and fun times for all. The Dean Files blog will officially be on hiatus until next Monday.

Jason

Changing Roles at the Library of Congress

As you might, or might not, know - for libraries in the United States, the Library of Congress is the “top dog.” Meaning that in general libraries in the United States follow the LoC’s lead in many areas - from classification and cataloging, to subject headings and formatting. But, like many libraries in the US in our information age, the LoC is changing. I recently read this post

Thomas Mann on LC’s Distinctive Role, by Jennifer Eustis.

which talks about the criticisms of the LoC put forward by Thomas Mann. There are some good points in the post, and I suggest reading the post for more information. Also, the blog post discusses some of the key roles for the LoC - important ones for such a large and influential institution.

Top 10 Things That Are Being Killed Off By Digitalization

One of the most interesting library-related lists I have seen recently is this list:

Top 10 Things That Are Being Killed Off By Digitalization, by Richard.

That’s all I have today - you might also want to look at the discussion in the comments beneath that post - some good thoughts there. What do you think is being killed off by digitalization?

Librarians, Library Assistants, and Library Staff Titles

From my reading this year in the world of libraries, there seems to be a bit of contention about who should hold the title of “librarian,” and who should be titled an assistant, technician, or the like. This blog post highlighted this for me, and made me want to share some thoughts on titles with you:

Librarians and library assistants, by Stephen Denney

Initially, I agreed with Mr. Denney - there are many folks out there working in libraries who do not have an MSLIS who do great work, and share skillsets with librarians. The library workers out there with these skills should not be disparaged by other MSLIS holding staff simply because they do not have the degree. Intelligent people work in libraries, and should be treated with respect - regardless of their title. (I also, incidentally, think this applies in life.)

However, I can see some points of the other side of this argument, and I think that is where my opinion lies - just over the “line” of this debate. I have an abstract concept of how I feel, but allow me to illustrate it first with an example from another field.

An MSLIS is a professional degree - much like a J.D. is for a lawyer, or an M.D. for a practicing physician. These degrees give the holders (of the degrees) the skills, knowledge, and expertise to perform tasks in their fields at a very high level, and to be considered experts in the field - so much so that people will pay handsomely for their services. Patients who need medical advice on a problem do not seek out a physician’s assistant, nor do people seek out paralegals when they need good legal advice. They might go to these people for general pointers, but not to solve problems - you seek out a “professional.”

And so, I think that the public at-large is partially responsible for the “title divide” in librarianship talked about in Mr. Denney’s blog post. When people have an information problem, they seek out a librarian - a person with a professional degree. And this is not to discount the skills of assistants, etc - but people desire that someone with the skills gained in the course of their professional degree help them with their problem. And, that is why I think that the title “librarian” should be restricted to MSLIS holders.

Decorating for the Holidays

Last night, Jen and I put up our Christmas decorations in preparation for the holidays. This really is our favorite time of year, as there is so much to love about it. The weather (especially this year) is wonderful, and we love the spirit of friendship and fellowship that (for us) really drives this season. We both love to hang decorations in our house, and each of us have our favorite decorations from when we were kids. Here’s some photos, and we hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

The Information Diet

On this blog, I have referenced before that one of the developing and stated roles of librarians is to help people decipher and sift through the massive amount of information available to them so that they can find what they need. While catching up on my Google Reader this weekend, I read this interesting article, that tells us that on the average, Americans “consume” about 34 gigabytes of information each day. Of course, only part of that is traditionally the purview of librarians - but it does give you an idea of just how much information we use (and need, hopefully) on an average day. Here’s the article, I hope you enjoy it:

The American Diet: 34 Gigabytes a Day by Nick Bilton

The Kimbell Holiday Party

Jen’s job at the Kimbell has many perks - one of them being the annual holiday party. All of the staff is invited, and everyone has a great time. I think last night was the best one I have been to - mostly because of two things: the hard work Jen put in (she did an amazing job!!) and the folks we sat with. What a fun evening! Here are a couple of photos of the party in that beautiful space:

A Recent Video Recommendation

Readers,

Jen and I are currently working our way through the most recent film and book by Simon Schama: The American Future: A History. We really like the work of Schama - he is a great (peerless I would say) narrative historian; whose works include A History of Britain, and The Power of Art. His most recent series looks at American history through the lens of the election of Barack Obama. We are in the middle of the first episode and we are enjoying it - and you might, too, Here’s a preview:

What’s new around the Dean Files

Well, hello reader - it has been a while since last we met. Things have been quite busy here at the Dean Files, so let me fill you in on all the goings-on.

First, my fall semester at Syracuse is all wrapped up, which is great. I feel as if I have learned a great deal, and some of it I have already put into practice. I’ll write more about using my new reference skills in another post, but I have enjoyed putting the abstract concepts discussed in class into practice in the “real world.” Over the month of December, I will do my best to share with you some of the things I found interesting that I picked up over the semester.

Second, Jen and I have been hard at work creating a links page for The Dean Files, and that page is now live - you can go to it through the link at the top of the page. The links page features some of the links we really enjoy from a variety of areas - so check it out. We also have updated the Library link up top to reflect out current collection.

Third, the holiday season is upon us. A busy time for everyone, but a great one - I will be sharing more personal news and updates on here during the month of December, and I hope you like it.

See you again tomorrow!

Jason

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello Readers,

I am wrapping up a very busy time for me - all but one of my major class projects are completed, and Jen and I are getting ready to head out of town to celebrate the holiday with our family. Before we go, though, allow me to share with you two things.

First, the text that follows is an interview which I had with staff members from the Amon Carter Museum Library. This was the conclusion of a project I had to complete for my reference class. I felt it was a nice dicsussion of the reference work we do at the Carter Library.

Second, I want to wish you and your families the best of Thanksgivings - I will post again on November 30th. Happy Thanksgiving!

Text of Interview:

What is your definition of “reference service”?

Assisting patrons in finding information which helps them with “projects.” These projects can be personal, educational, or academic in nature.

How do you provide reference service to your user population? In other words, what does reference service “look like” in your information environment?

The Carter library provides reference services in four ways - in-person, phone, email, or postal mail. These questions might provide a referral to an appraisal service, or copies/scans of a pertinent source. Also, interlibrary loan is, on some level, considered a reference service, as books are frequently requested through ILL to answer patrons questions.

What types of reference questions do you receive? What are some specific examples?

The most frequent type of reference question that the Carter library receives is the patron who has a print or work of art by an American artist, and is seeking valuation or authentication of that work. As a not for profit institution, it is illegal for the Carter to do either of those things, but we can provide them with auction catalogs, artist information, and contact information for appraisal services. Also frequently received are questions about the biographies of the more obscure American artists.

What kinds of patrons do you like working with the most? Why?

Patrons who come in seeking a specific piece of information (meaning their reference question is very specific) are easy to work with. Due to the nature of the library’s collection, if a patron says, “I need information on Frederic Remington,” there are literally hundreds of sources we can provide them with. However, if they are seeking information on a particular Remington artwork, and especially something about it, it makes answering their reference question well much easier. Also, the Carter frequently has reference questions that the patron has been seeking the answer to - and has consulted many other libraries before coming to us. These patrons have questions which we are uniquely disposed to answer - and that is extremely rewarding - to have patrons so thankful to finally find the information they are seeking.

Describe a recent reference transaction you had with a patron. What went well? What didn't? What would you change if you could?

A professor recently contacted the Carter seeking election information from south Texas during the late 1800’s. The professor was very specific in what they were seeking, and the staff had to search, but eventually the information needed was found. Better search-ability of the microfilm would have improved this transaction.

What are the reference resources you use most often?

The most frequently consulted reference resource are the artist bio files, followed by the catalogues raisonnés.

What are the reference resources you feel a "rookie" librarian must know to work at the reference desk alone?

A knowledge of the best searching practices for the local catalog is absolutely essential, as well as a good knowledge of searching and content areas of the electronic databases to which the library subscribes. Also, knowing the content of the reference books in the collection is essential.

By what modes do you typically deliver reference service (in-person, email, IM, chat, phone, etc.)?

Postal mail, email, in-person, and on the telephone.

How do you decide which reference resources are best for different types of users in your environment? That is, what criteria do you use to evaluate reference resources?

Make a judgment as to the depth of information that is required, which then leads to whether the person is best served by a reference source that provides basic information or something more scholarly. In the Carter library, we most patrons are seasoned researchers who are mainly interested in scholarly resources.

What are your goals for your reference service?

To exhaust all possible resources and possible avenue answering a reference question from a patron. To respond the their reference queries in a timely manner, as well as being pleasant and friendly in the course of the reference transaction.

What instructional strategies do you use at the reference desk?

Show patrons how to do something, with less and less help over time from the reference desk staff, until they are comfortable with what they have learned.

How do you evaluate your reference service overall? What statistics do you keep?

Due to the small nature of the Carter library, there is no formal evaluation system for reference services. Evaluation comes through feedback about reference transactions from patrons. Statistics are kept on the number of reference questions received, and in what format - be they in-person, phone, et cetera.

Why did you choose to become a librarian in this environment?

Sam’s response: “I have an interest in art, but in my case it was really just good fortune smiling on me. Before working at the museum in 1991, I had no idea that art museums had research libraries (like a lot of people). When I ran across the job ad for "reclassification cataloguer" that the museum posted, it immediately intrigued me. The rest is history. With the exception of a few short stints at two universities, I have been at the museum for the bulk of my professional career.”

I’m considering becoming a librarian in an environment similar to the one you work in. What do you think I should focus on as I complete my graduate program?

Copyright, cataloging, and administration.

Class Update

Next semester, I will take 9 hours of class credit. At the end of the semester, I will have 22 of 36 credit hours required for my MSLIS. It’s exciting to be over halfway through my degree program, and even though I don’t feel like I have learned a great deal, when I actually think about it and reflect upon it, I have learned so much. My classes so far, for the most part, have been great. So, let’s recap, shall we - as of December, here are the classes I have completed:

IST 601 - Introduction to the Library and Information Profession: A broad overview of the field and an orientation to the School of Information Studies. Describes the past, present, and future of information studies.
IST 511 - Information and Information Environments: Key components of the field and its relationship to other fields and professions. General structure, issues and problems, research, and literature.
IST 605 - Information Resources, Users, and Services: The discovery and use of print and electronic resources and delivery of services in libraries to meet information needs of varied patron communities in a broad range of contexts.
IST 600 - Library Budgeting
IST 600 - Library Marketing
IST 600 - Library Fundraising
IST 618 - Survey of Telecommunications and Information Policy - Public policy issues of the digital environment, including freedom of expression, intellectual property, economic regulations, privacy, security, access, standards, and dissemination of public information. Application of economic, legal, and political science concepts to policy analysis.

All in all, that’s 14 credit hours so far. Next semester, I will be taking:

IST 613 - Library Planning, Marketing, and Assessment: User-focused planning, marketing, and assessment of activities that support core functions of libraries, such as collection development, systems, and public services.
IST 616 - Information Resources: Organization & Access: Introduction to theories, tools, and standards for information organization and access, including cataloging rules and formats, content analysis, indexing, classification, and fundamentals of information retrieval systems.
IST 604 - Cataloging of Information Resources: Cataloging rules, standards, and metadata schemes; bibliographic utilities; formats of print and nonprint materials; cataloging software; management issues.

I am thrilled about what I am going to learn next semester. In my work at the Amon Carter Museum Library, I have already done some assessment, as well as cataloging - two areas (especially cataloging) that interest me very much. 604 means I get to become very familiar with two things - MARC, and AACR2. I’ll explain more about these standards soon, so stay tuned.

The Social Media Revolution

It seems to me that one of the information needs that we librarians can help our patrons with is social media and social networking online. Before thinking about this more, I felt that social media is a pretty simple and straightforward topic, but then I watched this video, and I was quite wrong. Enjoy!

The Importance of Ephemera

Some time ago, the librarian at the Amon Carter Museum Library shared this article with me, which I found very interesting:

Gallery Card as Relic? By Roberta Smith

In my time at the library, it has become very evident to me just how important these ephemeral items (generally, information on paper with less than about 12 or 20 pages) are to researchers. At the Carter library, we use these ephemera to put in Bio Files for the artists. These files are generally our first line of reference when we are asked reference questions about a specific artist. Without these physical items, our bio files would not be the excellent (and rare) reference source they are today.

Of course, I can understand why galleries are changing to an email format - sending these gallery cards and announcements by email is almost free, while sending a physical card through the mail takes time, money, and extra effort. Also, sending an email is far better for the environment than a piece of postal mail is.

This highlights the oncoming crisis for libraries, especially ones like the Carter - what happens when paper starts to dwindle? I feel sure it won’t go away entirely, but what are we going to do with all this digital data? How is it going to integrate into our paper collection? These are some questions I want to look at in the second half of my MSLIS studies.

Where I’ve Been

Readers,

As I feel sure you have noticed, I have been posting a bit less frequently recently. Allow me to let you know on what I have been up to. As you all know I am a MSLIS student at Syracuse University, and I am enrolled in 9 class hours this semester. Recently, two of those classes, Reference, as well as Telecommunication Policy. In reference, I have been hard at work honing my reference skills, as well as making a pathfinder all about the history of photography. You can check it out here:

http://demo.libguides.com/historyofphotography

In Telecomm Policy, I have been working on a paper about a case. Really, that’s all I need to say about that, as the paper is too dry to share with you all. I won’t force you to read it. Also, I have updated our library, as of today, to show some recent acquisitions.

So, that being said, I should have more time to write and update here. Enjoy!

The Library at Night

I am re-reading a wonderful book by Alberto Manguel, titled The Library at Night. If you are interested in libraries, or bibliography, I would highly recommend this book to you. It’s a wonderful and thoughtful work on libraries and their many facets. Here are some quotes to get you “hooked.”



“There is nothing,” Naudé wrote, “that renders a Library more recommendable, than when every man finds in it that which he is looking for and cannot find anywhere else; therefore the perfect motto is, that there exists no book, however bad or badly reviewed, that may not be sought after in some future time by a certain reader.” These remarks demand from us an impossibility, since every library is, by needs, an incomplete creation, a work-in-progress, and every empty shelf announces the books to come. (81)



We dream of a library of literature created by everyone and belonging to no one, a library that is immortal and will mysteriously lend order to the universe, and yet we know that every orderly choice, every catalogued realm of the imagination, sets up a tyrannical hierarchy of exclusion. Every library is exclusionary, since its selection, however vast, leaves outside its walls endless shelves of writing that, for reasons of taste, knowledge, space and time, have not been included. Every library conjures up its own dark ghost; every ordering sets up, in its wake, a shadow library of absences. (107)

A Video Best Saved for Friday

Here is a wonderful TEDTalks video by my favorite author, Dave Eggers, about efforts to work with schools and improve student’s learning and academic experiences. Absolutely wonderful, and great that this is such an important part of his business model. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

A great idea for libraries, or any public space.

I saw this video recently, and thought I would share it with you all - I think this would be great in a library’s common area! What do you think?

Why we need Librarians.

I just finished up reading this article in The New Yorker, and I thought it was a wonderful illustration of why we need librarians. Many people cannot filter good information from bad - and with the massive amounts of information available on the internet, the filtering task becomes almost impossible. Librarians are trained to help with this. So, without further ado:

The Things People Say, by Elizabeth Kolbert

Look Around You: Ghosts

Because it’s the week of Halloween, allow me to share this episode from one of my favorite television shows with you. Enjoy!

Some Of My Recent Work

Readers, I would like to share with you this video featuring some of my recent photographic work. Enjoy!

Mr. Carter’s Library

The library director of the Amon Carter Museum Library today uploaded an interesting description of the original contents of that library. I thought I would share the link with you.

Amon G. Carter’s Library, at the N-Files

Digital Libraries

Since starting library school a few months ago, I am frequently asked about efforts to digitize, as well as share the information that libraries collectively hold. I could point these people to a few places, but this is the best summation I have seen, and I thought you might enjoy it.

Behold! The Power of Libraries

I just finished looking at this post about the power of libraries, and thought I would share with you all. Follow the link!

Libraries in Action, by Dave Lankes.

Educational Thoughts

I was reading Barack Obama’s book The Audacity of Hope earlier this week, and came across a thought-provoking quote about education, appearing on pages 192-193.

If we’re serious about building a twenty-first-century school system, we’re going to have to take the teaching profession seriously. This means changing the certification process to allow a chemistry major who wants to teach to avoid additional expensive course work; pairing up new recruits with master teachers to break their isolation; and giving proven teachers more control over what goes on in their classrooms.

It also means paying teachers what they’re worth. There’s no reason why an experienced, highly qualified, and effective teacher shouldn’t earn $100,000 annually at the peak of his or her career. Highly skilled teachers in such critical areas as math and science - as well as those willing to teach in the toughest urban schools - should be paid even more.

There’s just one catch. In exchange for more money, teachers need to become more accountable for their performance - and school districts need to have greater ability to get rid of ineffective teachers.

So far, teacher’s unions have resisted the idea of pay for performance, in part because it could be disbursed at the whim of a principal. The unions also argue - rightly, I think - that most school districts rely solely on test scores to measure teacher performance, and that test scores may be highly dependent on factors beyond any teacher’s control, like the number of low-income or special-needs students in their classroom.

But these aren’t insoluble problems. Working with teacher’s unions, state and school districts can develop better measures of performance, ones that combine test data with a system of peer review (most teachers can tell you with amazing consistency which new teachers in their schools are really good, and which are really bad). And we can make sure that nonperforming teachers no longer handicap children who want to learn.

Let me say, I am not endorsing this, nor asking you to accept it - I simply thought it was a thought-provoking article.

- Jason Dean

The State Fair of Texas

Dear readers,

As you might know, last weekend Jen and I went to the State Fair of Texas. As I know some of you are from out of state, or have never been to the state fair, indulge me for a moment while I give you a brief overview of this annual event.

Since 1886, the state fair has been held at Fair Park in Dallas, home to some lovely art deco architecture built for the Texas Centennial in 1936. Since 1952, a fifty-two foot tall cowboy named Big Tex welcomes visitors to the fair. The fair is also home to a large assortment of fried foods (including fried butter) as well as a large midway. The centerpiece of the midway is the Texas Star, the largest Ferris wheel in North America. The Texas State Fair is the largest on the United States, and has an annual attendance of approximately three million people, second only to the Minnesota State Fair in attendance. It’s a great experience, one which we try to go to every couple of years. We love going for the experience itself, as well as what a great social equalizer the fair is. People from all walks of life come to enjoy themselves, and eat a bit too much fried food.

Jen and I went on a particularly lovely day last weekend, and the weather was not unnoticed by many of our fellow fair-goers. The fair was very busy - so much so it took us about thirty minutes to get through the front gate. Admission was fairly inexpensive due to a free ticket (you know who you are - thanks!) and we proceeded on to eat the only “true” Texas State Fair Food - Fletcher’s Corny Dogs.

Let me tell you, there are corny dogs and then there are Corny Dogs, with Fletcher’s being purveyors of the latter variety of hot dog on a stick. Perfectly cooked with a tasty breading, Fletcher’s are excellent - and best eaten at the fair. Half of the enjoyment of eating the corny dogs is trying to put your condiment of choice on it with your hands full, as well as trying to eat standing up while staying out of the way of your fellow fairgoers. Jen and I managed to successfully consume three dogs between us, as well as take some fun photos of the corny dogs and Big Tex himself.

After our bellies were full, we moved on to the indoor car show. This is one of my favorite parts of the fair - the opportunity to look at and sit in cars, without the annoying salesmen, is wonderful. I can report that the new Lexus hybrid is great if you are in the market, and so is the new Subaru Outback. Our favorite, though, was the new Prius. People were crowded around the new Camaros on the floor, ogling them - but we just moved on. I’m sure my brother James is annoyed by this - but sorry - we just weren’t interested.

As we left the car show, it began raining lightly - which we took as our sign to start wrapping things up. We proceeded into the food hall, home to the many fried culinary curiosities that the fair is well known for. Fried Butter, Chicken Fried Bacon, and most unusual was the Fried Coca-Cola. We did not try any of these foods, as we were out of Lipitor and coupons needed to purchase the food.

Leaving the food hall, we walked around the side of the Cotton Bowl to the Midway. The midway has lots of games you can play, with prizes awarded with varying regularity at each stall. Another highlight of the midway are the rides, all of which looked a little questionable to Jen and I - but maybe that’s just me growing up with a family that runs an amusement park mistrusting carnival rides. I will say everyone on them was safe, and sounded like they were having a great time, though I cannot speak to whether or not fried food and the rides went well together. The Grand Dame of the midway is the huge Ferris wheel, the Texas Star. I rode this once with my dad, and you can hear the slag from the welds rattling around inside the support arms as you go around. With Jen (and my) fear of heights, we passed on taking a ride.

We made our way around to where we came in, and got to the car. We were tired, but we had a great time. I feel sure in saying it will be another couple of years until we return - but hopefully we made a few great photos - which will be posted either on the site here, or on flickr.

Check out the fair, if you can - it’s a great place!

- Jason Dean

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Fair_of_Texas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Park

A Note from Cosby

Well hello, hello, humans!

I just wanted to write today and tell you things are going well for me. I have calmed down quite a bit, and I am really enjoying this home life. It’s great!

I think my favorite new thing I want to tell you about is my new litter box. I used to love scattering my litter all across the floor, something which annoyed Jen and Jason to no end. Now, though, I can’t do that anymore because of the litter box. Also, I like it because it’s much more environmentally friendly, and I can do my cat business in private.

It’s called a ModKat, and if you have a cat, I’d say check it out!

- Cosby

My Time on the Reference Desk

Yesterday I sat down with a library staff member to observe for an hour at the reference desk of the Amon Carter Museum Library. The observation was very fruitful, as I learned about the many facets that constitute working the reference desk in the library.

First, staffing the reference desk in the library includes many different tasks. Of course, one does fulfill reference duties, which are top priority while working the reference desk, but a person staffing the reference desk is also responsible for observing patrons and protecting the artwork that is displayed in the library. Another responsibility reference desk staffers are charged with is to continue their normal duties if they are not fulfilling their reference duties. Meaning that they need to continue cataloging and circulation duties if they are not answering reference questions.

After a general demonstration of tasks associated with working the reference desk, I learned that the Carter library answers reference questions in three ways: through e-mail, phone, and in-person. The library also answers reference questions through postal mail, but this option is rarely used - the library might receive three questions through postal mail in a year. Most reference questions from the public are submitted to the library through phone calls, followed by email, and then in-person reference sessions. Museum staff members mostly submit their reference questions in-person, with a few phone and email questions submitted.

After giving me a rundown of the monthly reference statistics, I was then shown the steps taken to answer most reference questions. Many requests deal with information about a specific artist or artwork. If this is the case, the person working the reference desk generally will consult the bio files first. The bio files are simply a collection of ephemera about a specific artist. While the patron consults these items, the person working the reference desk then will consult the library catalog to see what items the library has about the topic. Before pulling books, the patron is consulted again to narrow their request a bit further, and then if they are needed, items are pulled from the stacks and brought to the reading room. A phone reference interview needs to be more specific, so that the resources can be pulled and consulted with the person on the phone. If the needed resources are found, they can be photocopied or scanned and emailed to the patron.

However, as a non-profit institution, staff members or volunteers of the Amon Carter are not allowed to value, or authenticate works of art. If a valuation or authentication request is made, the patron is referred to an appropriate appraiser or authenticator.

Overall, my time observing was very illuminating as to the multiple roles of working the reference desk. One does not simply answer patron questions - one also has a number of other responsibilities to manage. I look forward to observing again next week!

Carter Blog

Readers, I just wanted to repost something you might have missed. I write occasionally for the Amon Carter Museum Blog, where this post that I authored was originally posted on June 18. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!



If you are one of the patrons of the Amon Carter Museum Library, all that you might see is the reading room, and one of the fine library staff members helping you find what you need in the library. The reading room is a great space - quiet and welcoming – designed by architect Philip Johnson. At the east end are the periodicals which the Carter subscribes to, along the south wall are the major reference works in the library (catalogue raisonné, etc.) and the Bio Files. On the west wall are the study alcoves, and the north wall displays the collection of exhibition catalogs held at the Carter. It’s a wonderful space, and as I said, really the only space that most patrons of the library see. Behind the scenes, though, it’s a different world.

For example, how does the Carter decide what resources to add to the library’s large collection of over 100,000 items? What path do these items take from the bookseller to the stacks? What happens when a patron requests a book? What about interlibrary loans? Also, the library is just not books, periodicals, and ephemera. It is also a repository for some very important archives – such as the archives of Laura Gilpin, Eliot Porter, Karl Struss, and important records relating to the history of the museum itself. What of the archives, then?

My mind was filled with these questions when I began volunteering at the library here at the Carter. My name is Jason Dean, and I am a student at Syracuse University earning my Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. Before I started my library science program, I contacted the Carter library about providing me some practical library experience. So far, working at the Carter has provided me with a wealth of experiences and knowledge, some of which I would like to share with you – and I might even be able to answer some of those “How does it work” questions I posed above.

For my first post, allow me to give you a brief description of how the museum selects what resources are purchased and then added to the collection. There is a document that states a broad collection development policy. It’s the tool that guides what the library collects. Though it offers some solid boundaries, it must also be flexible enough to accommodate new subject matter that may relate to new art entering the collection or special research projects. Any of the staff members (including curatorial staff) can propose the purchase of a book, but the final “veto” power rests with Sam, as he is the library director. Individual librarians have influenced the document as well, with their interests and their quest to expand the collection of the library in a meaningful way. These purchases can be sourced from any number of businesses, from ones we use every day – Amazon – to specialized rare book dealers. If an item falls within the areas outlined by the collection development policy, then the subject is researched to see if it will fit into the collection of resources we have here. If it does, then the item is purchased and integrated into the collection.

We also receive a great number of books which are gifts, or books that are sent in exchange by other museums. When the Carter exchanges books with another museum, generally we will send them exhibition catalogues they are interested in, and in exchange they will send us the books we want that the other museum has published. As I mentioned above, we have some very generous donors that give books outright to the library frequently. These gifts are recorded, and then they are researched to see if they fit into out collection.

Depending upon the size of the item purchased, it might simply go into the extensive bio files and skip the next step in the process altogether. However, if Sam, Jon, or Mary Jane think it best, the item will go on to the next step in the process.

What happens to the book next? Do we just put it on the shelf and leave it be? This question will be answered in the next post, which will take you through part of the behind the scenes area in the library. I hope you enjoyed this small look into the library, and I also hope you’ll keep checking “The N-Files” blog, as there is some great information about this wonderful library on the blog.

Trip Through Texas

For our summer vacation, Jen and I toured a part of our great Lone Star State that neither of us had spent much time in: Central and Eastern Texas, where Texas began. We had a wonderful time, and allow me to tell you about some of the highlights:

Washington on the Brazos - This state park is the birth of Texas independence. It’s a neat spot, but not really worth a return visit.

Independence - A very interesting little town. Independence was the home of Sam Houston, and the original location for Baylor. A neat spot, but we didn’t even get ut of the car.

La Grange - We liked La Grange! An older German town, La Grange has some beautiful architecture as well as some gorgeous scenery. We would love to go back to La Grange.

Round Top - Just a neat tiny little town, with neat buildings, and a wonderful antiques market. Might be worth a return trip during the music festival, or for the antiques market.

Bastrop - Home of the Lost Pines, we loved this spot. Neat shops and buildings. Lots of outdoor activities.

Lockhart - The Barbecue Capital of Texas. We ate at Smitty’s Market, and it was wonderful. Definitely will go back for the food, as well as the architecture.

- Jason Dean

Thoughts on the next Governor of Texas.

Dear reader - this post might be inflammatory, or might anger you. Allow me to issue a disclaimer before you read, and I continue writing. In this post, I am not advocating any specific political party, nor any specific candidate. I am, however, enumerating several concerns I have about the state of my home state, which I love dearly. Problems with this wonderful state have come to my mind recently, and I simply desire to share my concerns with you.

Soon, the great state of Texas will elect a new Governor. For those of you unfamiliar with this post, and our politics, Texans have historically been mistrustful of most forms of government, leading us to create a constitution that dramatically limits the power of the governor. So, the office is mostly a ceremonial one, but one with a very important power - what T. Roosevelt called the “bully pulpit.” The governor is reflective of the majority (hopefully) of Texans, and as such has a very important task. I have assembled this “wish list” of things I hope the next governor will address, and hopefully, solve:

First, the state of highway transportation - as evidenced by Interstate 35. Jen and I recently attended a wedding in San Antonio. The drive, according to the distance and speed, should have taken four hours. It took eight hours, because for most of the distance between Fort Worth and San Antonio, 35 is a four lane highway. Four lanes are simply not enough to handle the massive amount of traffic that travels that corridor daily. Why not fix it? The state doesn’t have the transportation funds to do so - a story that plays out over and over again in many places in the state. Our next governor should attempt to solve this difficult, and widespread problem

Second, the state of public education in Texas. Texas has one of the worst public education systems not only in the United States, but the “western world.” As a former educator, allow me to tell you that the system is a complete mess for the students. Poor funding, confusing standards, and conflicting racial expectations are just a few of the problems students face in the public education system in Texas. Overall, the state is consistently near the bottom of rankings between states, and has been there for years. Our next governor should grab the board of education by the scruff of its neck and set it on a path that creates a quality, meaningful education for all students. One so good that private, exclusive schools are put out of business. Texas should be a beacon of education, not an embarrassment to a great state and nation.

Third, some sort of review of death penalty policies and procedures. Texas has a notorious reputation when it comes to the application of capital punishment. Just las week, I read this article in the New Yorker highlighting the problem:
Trial by Fire, by David Grann
Something must be done to either change the system by which capital punishment is administered in the state, or abolish it altogether. Our great state should not be besmirched by a reputation for executing innocent citizens.

Fourth, address all this secession nonsense. Someone really needs to calm these people down:














































And, no I don’t mean Rachel Maddow. Texans all have a bit of a rebellios streak in them, but frankly, that sort of behavior is disrespectful to our nation, regardless of how we feel about it. As a matter of fact, one of the great early Texans, Sam Houston, fought hard against secession - and I feel that he is still right today. As a Texan, it’s amusing to talk about Texas as a nation, but honestly, Texas as a nation was a mess. It wasn’t until the US annexed Texas that things got better. And, to be frank, Texas would not function without federal money. Personally, I find this offensive, as well as to friends and family members of mine that have served our nation in the armed services. The governor needs to explain to these secessionists that their discourse is not helpful, and to calm down and do something constructive with their passions.

Fifth, do something about our state shrine, the Alamo. This is a personal sore spot to me. I am not going to say much else about my complaints, but if you are curious, look back to this post:
The Alamo
Much like was done with another important Texas site, the Governor’s Mansion, the state should partner with the public to reclaim this sacred site, and erase all the traces of crass commercialism from Alamo Plaza. Restore the walls of the Alamo, and make this a place that celebrates Texas heritage - and not just Anglo heritage, as it tends to do today. Also make it a place of remembrance, not only for those who lost their lives in the Texas revolution, but also a place of remembrance for all Texans who have given their lives in service of their state, and nation.

I hope this makes you think about what you would like to see change with the next governor of Texas. And I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it.

- Jason Dean

IST 511, Final Day

(Originally posted elsewhere on July 24.)

Just got back to the room from the end of session barbecue. It feels great to be done with this part of the courses! It’s such a relief, but I will also look forward to the fall semester, and more opportunities for learning. Overall, it was a phenomenal experience – one of the best educational experiences I have ever had. Scott and Natasha did a great job giving everyone beginning the LIS program a level playing field so we can all now go forth and get more into the finer points of librarianship.

Our poster session was today, which I very much enjoyed. It was great to hear people’s comments about our idea, and talk to many people about an issue of which they might not have been aware. It was also fun to see what other groups had created in the short time we had for the assignment. Overall, it was a nice day, and a great way to wrap up this week of intensive study. I sure am ready for home, though!

- Jason Dean

IST 511, Day Four

(Originally posted elsewhere on July 23rd.)

Today’s discussion was about ethics, our profession, and the many concepts and ideas that those phrases bring to mind. We started off by talking about the definition of what librarianship is to the public as well as how we define ourselves. I felt that this was a very interesting topic, and a great formal introduction for everyone in the class. This topic was followed by a broad discussion of ethics, and areas in which the ethics of our profession might conflict with other ethical schema. In all of these conflict areas, there is no easy or clear cut choice as to what one should do in those situations. It confirmed for me that librarianship is very much a dynamic field, and a profession I am proud to associate myself with.

We also talked briefly about how to resolve complaints in the library – specifically when patrons object to materials in a library collection. This discussion highlighted for me the need of libraries to have a broad array of well thought out policies to deal with a myriad of problem areas. This enables all library staff, and not just accredited librarians to make good, clear decisions according to pre-established guidelines.

After class, our group wrapped up our poster project by completing our brochure. I look forward to the opportunity to share what we have learned in this process with everyone who attends the poster session.

- Jason Dean

IST 511, Day Three

(Originally posted elsewhere on July 22nd.)

I think today was my favorite day of 511 so far.

We started off the day by talking about systems – an area of the library that is very interesting to me. Hearing Natasha explain systems, then having some librarians active in systems come in to talk to us was a great combination, and really introduced me to some new ideas and concepts that I can take back to my home library. I learned some about digital preservation, a field that interests me as well. It was a great morning.

But the afternoon was even better! We met Dr. Lavender, and he showed us some of the highlights from the special and rare collections here at SU. This is an area that very, very much fascinates me. He showed us some of the most wonderful works – including the most fantastic illuminated manuscript I have ever seen. It was really a great presentation, and I look forward to taking his class next summer. Wonderful! We also looked at different areas of preservation in the library. This was a great look into the two different ideas about conservation – for rare books, or for items that circulate regularly. I enjoyed both of those presentations – but like I said, Dr. Lavender’s part was my favorite.
Overall, a great day!

- Jason Dean

IST 511, Day Two

(Originally posted elsewhere on July 21.)

Dr. Nicholson discussed overall copyright ideas and issues with us this morning in 511. This is an area that librarians need to have some good knowledge of, but most people coming into library school have very little knowledge of the area. The broad introduction was very interesting to me – and actually will be a help to our group this week as we are talking about copyright issues on our poster. I think the main theme from copyright is “watch the money.” It’s the money trail that gives you a clear indication of a copyright violation, or a fair use issue. Also new to me was the knowledge that the US government does not reserve copyright on any of its works – unlike most other governments in the world. I think about how often I use images from the White House’s flickr, for example – and I am glad to love in the US, where the government does not hold on to those copyrights.

The second half of the day dealt with searching. We became more familiar with the resources of the SU Library though this, which is good. The most exciting part of the searching demonstration was the “what’s next” aspect. I really enjoyed seeing the beta site for the library, and I am excited about using that on a regular basis – seeing if it grows to meet the needs of the patron population here. I also enjoyed seeing the Summon search feature – something I will take home and discuss with the director of the museum library I work at. Overall, it was a very productive day capped by a presentation about commercial options for librarians. The presentation was very interesting, but not for me. The environment and purpose of Razorfish and other agencies like it seems to run counter to my own belief schema and I really don’t think I would be a good fit.

- Jason Dean

IST 511 First Day

(Originally posted elsewhere on July 20th.)

We just wrapped up our first day of IST 511, and we covered a great deal of information. We looked at the history of libraries – something that interests me because of my passion for history. We also talked a great deal about issues in the future of librarianship – what problems we will face when we graduate and go into libraries all over the country. It was a great day, and a wonderful – if a bit overwhelming – way to get started in this wonderful program. I want to say that the quality of the presentations, as well as the professors here at Syracuse, have been consistently very informative and very high quality.

I think my best “pearl” I took from the sea of knowledge given to us today would be the idea proposed by Dr. Nicholson that libraries should look at casinos. I laughed when he suggested it, along with the rest of the class, but he really does have a great point. Both spaces are designed to provide a variety of highly engaging activities for people who come in through the door. Of course, the end result of that engagement is very different, but studying casinos as a model for libraries would be helpful. The casino provides a place where its users want to stay for long periods of time, engaged in the services that the casino provides. The library provides a “fix” for the information addiction people have – and in whatever form people have it. I cannot point to any specific research or ideas, but the overall thought has been mulling around in my head all day, and will continue to do so.

- Jason Dean

My Apologies

Readers, I have not fallen off the side of earth. The previous two weeks have been challenging, and very busy. I am not the type to advertise those sorts of things, so let’s just say I was very busy with school (which I was). I apologize for falling behind a bit on the blog posts, but all is well again and I am back in the blogging groove. I am writing for the blog all afternoon, so have no fear.

I will also cross post the blogs from my Syracuse summer residency here, just to give you a taste of that - as well as my upcoming experiences doing reference work in a library.

Thanks for hanging in there!

- Jason Dean

A Tale of Two Videos

Readers, we will be out of town beginning tomorrow, and so I simply want to share two thought provoking videos that I think are very pertinent for this current time with you. Please feel free to comment about them in the comments section below. Have a great weekend!

Jason Dean

The Alamo

Readers, I am not sure how many of you have traveled to San Antonio and seen the Alamo. If you have, like Jen and I, you were more than likely very disappointed. Only two structures from the original mission compound remain - the famous chapel, and the convento, where the final parts of the battle played out. The rest of the Alamo is gone. Given up to hotels, Madame Tussaud’s, and really bad souvenir shops.

Did 183 (ish) men die in this place so we could view wax figures? I say they did not. Their legacy deserves a better memorial. I believe that the Alamo grounds should be reconstructed, so that visitors gain a greater sense of the battle, as well as the scale of Mexican San Antonio. This would be a much more fitting honor for those men, and would fit (or exceed) the expectations of visitors. Hopefully, we will soon see a change in governors here in Texas, and the new Governor will proceed with making this dream a reality - a state park for the Alamo. Not a national site, though - I think the Alamo should belong solely to our great state. If you’d like more information check out this article from the November 2008 issue of Texas Monthly.

You Aren’t Here, by Gary Cartwright

- Jason Dean

The Beginning of Fall

This morning, shortly after I got out of bed, my wife came up to me, and said “Happy first day of fall!” I must admit I was confused, as I had not heard that the first day of fall is August 31st. It has been lovely outside, with cooler than normal temperatures.

What she meant was that it is the first day of my fall semester at Syracuse. It feels odd, as there are no traditional classes to go and attend, they just begin. I am curious to see what the workload each week will be like, and how the classes proceed on. I’ll give you more updates as time goes on, but here is my schedule for this semester:

IST 605 - Information Resources: Users & Services
IST 618 - Survey of Telecommunication and Information Policy
IST 600 - Library Budgeting, Marketing, and Grant Writing

- Jason Dean

Archives

For this morning’s link, I thought I would share with you some information about archives. In many institutions, the archive is an extension of the library, and the two parts generally work well together. What is contained in an archive, and how do you find it? This link might help you answer those questions:

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2009/06/the_dallas_librarys_archives_d.php

Hope you have a great weekend!

- Jason Dean

Value of an MA degree

I once seriously contemplated earning an MA in History. It’s a field I love, but something that was not supposed to happen. According to this article, that might have been a good decision.

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/what-is-a-masters-degree-worth/

- Jason Dean

Hello there

Reader, allow me to be honest. This is not the best week for me and writing. So, I hope you’ll forgive me as I will have abbreviated posts today, tomorrow, and Friday. All will be well again on Monday.

Thanks!

In the meantime, check this out:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/177246.asp

- Jason Dean

Note From Cosby

You know, life can be pretty hard for a cat sometimes. Swatting blinds, chasing motorized balls, eating, using my litterbox - these are all things that I do for sun or out of necessity. I do them because I love them, and maybe (but don’t tell them this) because Jen and Jason like it when I do most of those things. Except swatting the blinds. Man, they hate that. I try to sneak one in every now and again, but nothing gets past them.

Well, I guess that means it’s time for a nap.

- Cosby Dean

The Lost Art of Reading

This weekend, I was hard at work (and enjoying myself) finishing up the last of my pretty substantial backlog of books to be read. I finished up the final book last night at about 11 PM. I love to read - perhaps one of the underlying motivations for my career choice. I have also been working on cleaning out my Google Reader unread list, and came upon this article, which is the perfect companion to me telling you I finished my backlog:

The Lost Art of Reading, by David L. Ulin

I hope you enjoy it - have a great Monday!

- Jason Dean

Back!

Good readers, we are back from our trip. I will write more about it next week, but we sure had a wonderful time. In the meantime, here’s a great video about Charles and Ray Eames and the (maybe?) defunct Polaroid system - one which I wish I would have used more.

Jason Dean

Vacation!

Readers,

We will not be online until Thursday, as we are on vacation! We hope your week goes well, and to entertain you in the meantime, here are some videos we would like to share with you about places we are going on our vacation!

Jason Dean