So, I am ACRL Member of the Week.
There. I said it.
Being recognized has been a strange thing for me. I am not a shy person. And I am comfortable talking about what I do, why I do it, and what I enjoy or dislike about it. But I am not the kind of person that feels comfortable sharing my successes. Or highlighting my acheivements. I'm not sure I really knew that about myself until this Member of the Week thing. I mean, I share exciting things with my family. But even with my friends....I hesitated. Is it obnoxious to put this on my Facebook page? Is it inappropriate to tweet yourself?
Andy convinced me I was being ridiculous about not putting something like this on my Facebook. Wouldn't I want to know if one of my friends was highlighted by their national organization? OF COURSE! So, I posted it. And let me just say....I have amazing friends. The support and love overwhelmed me. And made me grateful for the connections I am able to maintain via social networks. But still....those are my friends. As I said in the email to my parents, brother, husband, and non-facebook friends, "If not you, who?"
I couldn't bring myself to Tweet it. I couldn't bring myself to sing out into the Twittersphere about my self. I struggle with that when I post to the blog. But why? Where is this discomfort? I don't feel embarrassed or uncomfortable highlighting workshops I am giving. I have no problem saying that I am speaking at ACRL or LILAC or VT NEA. I am fine sharing articles being accepted. But recognition is different, for some reason. Perhaps it's the part of me that is afraid of being tagged as a fraud. Perhaps it's the part of me that thinks that while I do good work, it's not more worthy of recognition than so many other librarians. Perhaps it's the part of me that blushes. But frankly, I would rather congratulate someone else than myself.
Where does self promotion and self congratulation swap seats? And at what point does it get to be too much?
I feel like this is one of those things that we each have to figure out as we go. They certainly don't tell you in library school how to manage success. Or recognition. And I am trying to figure it out. I don't really have an answer here. It's just something I've been thinking a ton about in the last two days. And I wonder how other people handle it? How do you share your successes? How do you push your achievements out there for people to see? Do you do it at all? Are there some things you do and some things you don't? Is there a "best practices" I am not aware of? I am sure I am not the first person to feel a bit ill at ease in moments like this. Who's got a trick up their sleeve for this one?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Awesome Ahead.
Champlain is in the midst of working on our next Strategic Plan: Champlain 2020. As such, the Library is engaging in some forward thinking about what we think the library might look like in ten years.
Ten years.
It doesn't sound like that far away, especially because ten years ago felt like yesterday. But in truth, ten years, especially when we think about the rate of change in technology, is a different world in libraries.
Do I mean that?
Yes and no. Academic libraries have changed a lot in the last ten years, twenty years, fifty years. But at their core, libraries have remained something very stable. They are weavers of intellectual fabrics. They are a place for all members of all communities. They are a place of expansion, learning, exploration, growth. That is true. That is solid. But how we are manifesting that has changed immensely. Social media, Library 2.0, information commons, user-centered design...there are more examples than I could possibly think of. Yet, at their core, libraries remain committed to supporting and engaging our users in learning, community, and pleasure.
So what does that mean in an academic library?
Andy and I got to thinking about it in front of a white board. Here's what we came up with:
Some of these are pretty space oriented. I want to be out from behind the desk. Librarians on every floor, walking with hand held devices to provide instant access to information.
The thing about that, is that libraries could be doing that already. Whether anyone is, is a different question. But they could.
And that’s the thing about this question of what the library should look like in ten years. We can’t really answer it when it comes to space or technology. Or users. What we can do is answer it in terms of attributes. Qualities.
That’s exactly what happened in our meeting the other day. The question shifted to “What do we want to be known for in 5 years?” I couldn’t help but blurt out “awesome”. And my awesome boss actually wrote that down. I mean, it’s not going into our actual document but she took it ran with it. Because seriously, how much better can it get than trying to figure out what awesome means.
AWESOME.
What does it mean to you?
To your library?
To your patrons?
Ten years.
It doesn't sound like that far away, especially because ten years ago felt like yesterday. But in truth, ten years, especially when we think about the rate of change in technology, is a different world in libraries.
Do I mean that?
Yes and no. Academic libraries have changed a lot in the last ten years, twenty years, fifty years. But at their core, libraries have remained something very stable. They are weavers of intellectual fabrics. They are a place for all members of all communities. They are a place of expansion, learning, exploration, growth. That is true. That is solid. But how we are manifesting that has changed immensely. Social media, Library 2.0, information commons, user-centered design...there are more examples than I could possibly think of. Yet, at their core, libraries remain committed to supporting and engaging our users in learning, community, and pleasure.
So what does that mean in an academic library?
Andy and I got to thinking about it in front of a white board. Here's what we came up with:
Some of these are pretty space oriented. I want to be out from behind the desk. Librarians on every floor, walking with hand held devices to provide instant access to information.
The thing about that, is that libraries could be doing that already. Whether anyone is, is a different question. But they could.
And that’s the thing about this question of what the library should look like in ten years. We can’t really answer it when it comes to space or technology. Or users. What we can do is answer it in terms of attributes. Qualities.
That’s exactly what happened in our meeting the other day. The question shifted to “What do we want to be known for in 5 years?” I couldn’t help but blurt out “awesome”. And my awesome boss actually wrote that down. I mean, it’s not going into our actual document but she took it ran with it. Because seriously, how much better can it get than trying to figure out what awesome means.
AWESOME.
What does it mean to you?
To your library?
To your patrons?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Blogging the Blahs
I've been having a hard time focusing lately. Part of it could be that time of the semester. Part of it could be the season's changing. Part of it could be how much energy I am exerting into teaching.
But I am sharing it, in part, because I think that while it is important to share our successes, our questions, our highs and our lows, it is also important to share our blahs. Our moments that we don't think are worth sharing. Because sometimes...frankly...I am not productive. Sometimes I want to curl up and go back to bed. Sometimes I want to drink tea and read. Sometimes I want to go play.
Two thoughts about the Blahs:
1. It's ok. I do pretty amazing work on a regular basis. And I have some pretty incredible opportunities at my finger tips. What I am saying is that I am not reading too much into it. I am not necessarily feeling the Blahs because I am not challenged at work or not interested in the work I am doing. Sometimes, it just happens. It would be something worrisome if it happened a lot or for a long stretch. But if you are experiencing the Blahs too, it's ok. We don't need to beat ourselves up about it. We don't need to guilt ourselves over having a Blah day. What's most important is that we share how we are doing and not read too much into it.
2. This is me blogging the whole me. When I met David Silver four years ago, I never would have guessed that such a little phrase as "blog the whole you" would have such a lasting effect. But it has. It is a rule of blogging for me. So blogging the Blahs is just as important as Blogging the Awesomes or Blogging the Challenges or Blogging the Solutions.
Sometimes blogging is an intimidating task because it feels like I should only be blogging about "real" things. But having the Blahs is real. And sometimes sharing it, letting it out, venting can be cathartic and just what I need to get past it. To put some zip back into my step. To return to being the Sheck.
And don't get me wrong....venting is not the only way I am dealing with the Blahs. I am looking back at projects that are on the side lines to seek "Inspirado". I am talking to co-workers, like Andy. I am attending fun stuff like tomorrow's Chili CookOff at the Library. I am also taking inspiration from fellow bloggers, like Bobbi Newman who wrote a really authentic, honest post about making a mistake. Hats off to her for blogging her whole self! And for inspiring me to do the same.
So that's my post for today. That's how I am feeling. How about you?
But I am sharing it, in part, because I think that while it is important to share our successes, our questions, our highs and our lows, it is also important to share our blahs. Our moments that we don't think are worth sharing. Because sometimes...frankly...I am not productive. Sometimes I want to curl up and go back to bed. Sometimes I want to drink tea and read. Sometimes I want to go play.
Two thoughts about the Blahs:
1. It's ok. I do pretty amazing work on a regular basis. And I have some pretty incredible opportunities at my finger tips. What I am saying is that I am not reading too much into it. I am not necessarily feeling the Blahs because I am not challenged at work or not interested in the work I am doing. Sometimes, it just happens. It would be something worrisome if it happened a lot or for a long stretch. But if you are experiencing the Blahs too, it's ok. We don't need to beat ourselves up about it. We don't need to guilt ourselves over having a Blah day. What's most important is that we share how we are doing and not read too much into it.
2. This is me blogging the whole me. When I met David Silver four years ago, I never would have guessed that such a little phrase as "blog the whole you" would have such a lasting effect. But it has. It is a rule of blogging for me. So blogging the Blahs is just as important as Blogging the Awesomes or Blogging the Challenges or Blogging the Solutions.
Sometimes blogging is an intimidating task because it feels like I should only be blogging about "real" things. But having the Blahs is real. And sometimes sharing it, letting it out, venting can be cathartic and just what I need to get past it. To put some zip back into my step. To return to being the Sheck.
And don't get me wrong....venting is not the only way I am dealing with the Blahs. I am looking back at projects that are on the side lines to seek "Inspirado". I am talking to co-workers, like Andy. I am attending fun stuff like tomorrow's Chili CookOff at the Library. I am also taking inspiration from fellow bloggers, like Bobbi Newman who wrote a really authentic, honest post about making a mistake. Hats off to her for blogging her whole self! And for inspiring me to do the same.
So that's my post for today. That's how I am feeling. How about you?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Information Literacy Month?
Oh yes, people. October is Information Literacy Month according to the White House. How awesome that this coincides with the IL teaching load at work.
There might be some grumbling about this out in the Blog- or Twittersphere. But when you take a moment to think about it, what does this proclamation really mean? It recognizes that information is not power alone. It recognizes that information is necessary but not necessarily. It recognizes that information alone is not enough. That critical thinking about information is central to an information society.
And that librarians have an important role to play. Our role may be changing, as is the role of information. My awesome co-worker, Andy Burkhardt, is blogging that these days. But we have a role to play.
The real question is what role that is going to be?
What are you going to do?
Come on. Tell me.
There might be some grumbling about this out in the Blog- or Twittersphere. But when you take a moment to think about it, what does this proclamation really mean? It recognizes that information is not power alone. It recognizes that information is necessary but not necessarily. It recognizes that information alone is not enough. That critical thinking about information is central to an information society.
And that librarians have an important role to play. Our role may be changing, as is the role of information. My awesome co-worker, Andy Burkhardt, is blogging that these days. But we have a role to play.
The real question is what role that is going to be?
What are you going to do?
Come on. Tell me.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Opportunity Lost or Just a Library Saved?
Phew.
The Philadelphia Library system is staying open. Here is the announcement from the Free Library.
Here is also an interesting post by Jessamyn about it. I think she makes an interesting point about believing in our elected officials. But....that's fine line. What is a girl to do? One minute we need to rally, engage, communicate, and be a part of the change. And then there are times when we should sit back and assume all will be well. I get the gist of what she is saying but it still doesn't sit well with me.
Why?
Because every problem is an opportunity. And we missed one.
What really bothers me about the lack of action and organizing is that we missed an opportunity. Librarians could have used this as a moment to engage and organize around addressing legislatures, speaking out for our communities, and demand more. More support for libraries. More funding. More commitment so that something like this isn't even a question. Then we wouldn't have to have PR stunts like Philly pulled.
But we didn't. We just let it go because really, who is really going to close a library?
What about you? Did you follow this story? Did you engage others? Why? Why not? Is this an opportunity lost or just another library saved?
The Philadelphia Library system is staying open. Here is the announcement from the Free Library.
Here is also an interesting post by Jessamyn about it. I think she makes an interesting point about believing in our elected officials. But....that's fine line. What is a girl to do? One minute we need to rally, engage, communicate, and be a part of the change. And then there are times when we should sit back and assume all will be well. I get the gist of what she is saying but it still doesn't sit well with me.
Why?
Because every problem is an opportunity. And we missed one.
What really bothers me about the lack of action and organizing is that we missed an opportunity. Librarians could have used this as a moment to engage and organize around addressing legislatures, speaking out for our communities, and demand more. More support for libraries. More funding. More commitment so that something like this isn't even a question. Then we wouldn't have to have PR stunts like Philly pulled.
But we didn't. We just let it go because really, who is really going to close a library?
What about you? Did you follow this story? Did you engage others? Why? Why not? Is this an opportunity lost or just another library saved?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Hello? Opportunity? Is that you?
Opportunity knocks. You have to decide if you are answering the door.
Well, I am answering. My incredible partner in crime and constant source of inspiration, Rob Williams, and I are taking our show on the road. Our enthusiasm, prowess for things digital, and creative energy around social media is coming to Vermont's Upper Valley in early October. We are looking forward to working with artists a bit south of here to make their foray into social media.
Here's the description. If you have questions, let us know! If you are interested, SIGN UP! If you are reading this, please share this opportunity with others. I hope to share more opportunities like this in the future!
Well, I am answering. My incredible partner in crime and constant source of inspiration, Rob Williams, and I are taking our show on the road. Our enthusiasm, prowess for things digital, and creative energy around social media is coming to Vermont's Upper Valley in early October. We are looking forward to working with artists a bit south of here to make their foray into social media.
Here's the description. If you have questions, let us know! If you are interested, SIGN UP! If you are reading this, please share this opportunity with others. I hope to share more opportunities like this in the future!
Twitter Me This: How Writers and Artists Can Harness New Web 2.0 Media For Creativity and Business Success
TEACHERS: Rob Williams, Ph.D. and Sarah Cohen
SPONSORED BY: The Writer's Center and Vermont Commons: Voices of Independence.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 6th from 6-9 p.m.
WHERE: White River Junction's Center For Cartoon Studies.
COST: $30
DESCRIPTION: Are you a wordsmith who hates the thought of wrangling the Web? Then come to this three hour workshop, where we'll teach you how to harness the power of new Web 2.0 tools - Twitter, Blogger, Google, RSS Readers and more - to support your work as both a writer and an entrepreneur. Sign up for this workshop, or find out more information by contacting Rob Williams at editor@vtcommons.org or (802) 279-3364 (mobile yak phone).
Monday, September 14, 2009
URGENT ACTION: SAVE PHILLY LIBRARIES!
I am from Philly. And I love it there. I don't follow sports much but I always cheer when the Birds, the Phils, the Flyers, or the Sixers are playing simply because I am proud of my city.
But that's over.
That is if Philadelphia libraries close on Oct 2nd. Here is the WAY TOO BRIEF article from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
According to the Free Library's blog:
So here's what I think: get the social media machine to work. TWEET it! Use hashtags: #savephilly #libraries
Send your tweets to @PhiladelphiaGov and @Philly311. If you have other suggestions, SHARE THEM!
Donate your status to Saving Philadelphia Libraries.
The Free Library of Philadelphia also has an ACTION PAGE.
ACT. CALL. WRITE. TWEET. If you are in Philly, let us know what else we can do!
Libraries will get us through time of no money better than money will get us through times of no libraries!
But that's over.
That is if Philadelphia libraries close on Oct 2nd. Here is the WAY TOO BRIEF article from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
According to the Free Library's blog:
At stake are over 700 jobs, loss of access to information and resources including 800 public computers for Philadelphians and no place to go after school for over 80,00 students.
With almost 7 million visits annually and 22 million hits to its website, the Free Library is the most heavily used of all institutions in the city. As the largest provider of internet access in a City where 41% of homes lack web connection, the Library provides the essential link to information, jobs and resources found only on line.
So here's what I think: get the social media machine to work. TWEET it! Use hashtags: #savephilly #libraries
Send your tweets to @PhiladelphiaGov and @Philly311. If you have other suggestions, SHARE THEM!
Donate your status to Saving Philadelphia Libraries.
The Free Library of Philadelphia also has an ACTION PAGE.
ACT. CALL. WRITE. TWEET. If you are in Philly, let us know what else we can do!
Libraries will get us through time of no money better than money will get us through times of no libraries!
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