Friday, March 28, 2008

Impress Your Professor : Thomas Mann Takes on Web 2.0

So, does "Web 2.0" render traditional cataloging irrelevant? Thomas Mann doesn't think so, and I have to say that I adore his scornful, deft, sarcasm-laced, and beautifully written critique of his own colleagues over at LC -- this should be required reading for everyone in library school now...give it a try -- I promise you'll skip through it at a pace I would have thought impossible for such a seemingly deadly dull topic -- but this is a wonderful short story that puts all the right people in their place.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Event update!

We've added another speaker to our career day!

Heather K. Calloway
Archivist/Librarian
Commissariat of the Holy Land USA
Franciscan Monastery

For more information about this event, please click here.

YouTube Tuesday

The Wisdom of Google
A brief introduction to finding full text articles in Google Scholar.



Book Busted
This is not one of our typical "fun" post videos. But, it does involve a book... sorta.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Impress Your Professor: I need more books

In honor of the holiday break, I give you books. Scratch that. I'm actually keeping all the books to myself. (Yes, all of them.) In there place, I had you a post about where we can all delve into and share our passion for books, their authors, and those who read them.

The latest site I've come across about book reviews is TitlePage.tv. TitlePage.tv is innovative because it posts videos about and with authors. These interviews are then open to conversation on the web. The website just opened and the future looks promising.

In case that's not enough for you, there's LibraryThing. A website that allows people to catalog their collections and share their books.

Are you having a hard time figuring of what to read next? Check out What I Should Read Next. This site analyzes what books it's users have read to give you a list of choices based on your reading preferences.

If you're listening for something about books to listen to, I highly suggest the addictive "Books" portion of the NPR website. Be forewarned, the main page alone is enough to send your "To Be Read" list out of control.

These are just some of the main websites I've come across. If you've got a favorite book review website, please add it to the comments section.

Happy Reading!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

YouTube Tuesday

Do Mashed Potatoes Count?
Zdnet breaks down what constitutes a mashup.



But Which One Is the Mac?

A point-counterpoint take off of a popular commercial series.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Impress Your Professor: Can't we all just get along?

Compatibility is a problem in libraries—what with the online catalog and dozens of journal databases, I often find myself wishing that everything worked together and was in one place. I’m gonna keep my fingers crossed, but in the meantime someone has solved this problem for media files! Techies, this should interest you: doubleTwist is a new company and free software created by Jon Lech Johansen (better known as DVD Jon, he cracked the content scrambling system used to encrypt dvds). CNET explains that the software “essentially allows any kind of music, photo, or video file to be shared between a long list of portable media players, and through Web-based social networks.” Read the rest of the article here.


Also! Fun way to test your vocabulary: http://www.freerice.com/index.php
Enjoy!


EVENT: Career Day

We'd added two more speakers to our career day panel. Check out the new details below!


ASIST will host a panel discussion of different jobs available in the field of library and information science. The current speaker list includes:

Todd Harvey
Folklife Specialist
American Folklife Center
The Library of Congress

Marisa Bourgoin
Reference Services
Archives of American Art
Smithsonian Institution

R. James King
Chief Librarian
U.S. Navy Research Laboratory

RECENTLY ADDED!
Eileen Deegan
Program Analyst
Office of Information Resources
International Information Programs
U.S. Department of State

Kate Martin
Director of Library and Research Services
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP


When:
April 15th at 6:00pm
Where:
Information Commons (Marist Hall)
Cost:
FREE to all

Snacks will be provided.

Check back here as updates become available.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

EVENT: Career Day

The CUA chapter of ASIST is now offering another reason to get your taxes done early...

Career Day
ASIST will host a panel discussion of different jobs available in the field of library and information science. The current speaker list includes:

Todd Harvey
Folklife Specialist
American Folklife Center
The Library of Congress

Marisa Bourgoin
Reference Services
Archives of American Art
Smithsonian Institution

R. James King
Chief Librarian
U.S. Navy Research Laboratory

When: April 15th at 6:00pm
Where: Information Commons (Marist Hall)
Cost: FREE to all

Snacks will be provided.

Check back here as updates become available.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

YouTube Tuesday

Forward to the Future
A video compilation of where people think libraries are headed.



Beware the Librarian
Jack Bauer's skills can't compare...

Friday, March 7, 2008

Impress Your Professor: Get a Job... Lazy.

Spring break is almost over. Everyone is reluctantly returning from various tropical locations knowing that there is a pile of school work waiting for them. It's time to get back to work. This weeks "Impress Your Professor" will be short. It's about finding a job once we finish school!

I'm addicted to the Well Dressed Librarian blog. On December 11th he wrote about finding his new job and listed some great tips for librarians looking for work. Letter "O" is great. Network! Network! Network! Joining a site like Linkedin is free and that's how he found his current job. At Catholic, SLIS students are presented with some amazing opportunities to meet and interact with real Librarians. There are various field trips, colloquiums, and guest speakers in classes. Take advantage of these circumstances and network.

First get back to all the school work that you put off during spring break!

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

YouTube Tuesday

Librarian 2.0
What skills and traits the next wave of librarians need.



My how things have changed
If it's in black and white, you know it's old...