Cali the Librarian

Your library joke is tired, even if it’s new to you

It is almost impossible for you to make a library play on words that has not been done a million times before, even something that sounds contemporary like riffing off of “adult graphic novels”. You’re probably annoyed that you got the job writing about the library funding crisis but don’t take it out on us. Notify the headline writer also, please. We know you’re doing your best but we should never see “turns the page” or “starts a new chapter” when a new building is built or a librarian gets a new job, retires, or dies, or any sort of bun/shush/dewey/cat pun again ever. Thank you.

— Jessamyn West | How Not to Write about Libraries: Some Guidelines for Reporters (via thepinakes)

11. Roam a library.
You never know which book, author, or topic will speak to you from the shelves. You might just find what you didn’t even know you were looking for.

From Forbes: 20 Ways to Find Your Calling

Camera: Canon CanoScan LiDE 25

niwandajones:

I honestly love Boggle.

This is adorable… and it’s good advice, too. :)

(Source: boggletheowl)

Summer Reading Flowchart: What Should You Read On Your Break?

(Source: twitter.com)

Library Marketing Toolkit: How NOT to Tweet - for libraries and information services

A few great pointers especially for those starting out on Twitter (e.g. upload a picture!).

(Source: twitter.com)

Digitization 101: Is now the time for librarians?

New librarians are entering the job market fresh from receiving their master’s degree (MLIS). The months and years spent in the classroom are behind them and they are anxious for the next chapter of their lives to begin. Some have already found job opportunities. Others are still in the job hunt and wondering when a job offer will appear. For them, this is a time of doubt. Was getting an MLIS the right thing to do? Weren’t a ton of librarians suppose to be retiring? Is this the right time to be a librarian?

HubSpot Blog: 13 Ways to Create a Cringeworthy Social Media Presence

1) Launching a Private Social Media Account
2) Having a Disproportionate Follower:Following Ratio
3) Writing Updates That Are Too Long
4) The Airing of Grievances
5) Talking Smack About Competitors
6) Making Off-Color Comments
7) Publicly Solving Customer Service Issues
8) Hijacking Hashtags
9) Piling Your Tweets With Too Many Hashtags
10) Insulting Your Customer Base
11) “Targeting” Poorly With Automation
12) Posting WAY Too Frequently
13) Retweeting Instead of Generating Original Content

I have two comments:

2) My library cannot possibly follow as many people as follow us (we have nearly 13,000 followers and there’s concerns about following being taken as endorsement… we don’t presently have a policy, so I play it very safe in who that account follows.)
12) The example on this one isn’t very good.

(Source: twitter.com)

Shelf Check: Some Notes on Tweeting for Public Libraries

Some good thoughts on what to do (and what not to do) when tweeting for a library.

A few of my opinions vary, but my library also isn’t a public library, so by necessity some of my practices are different. :)

Elmore Leonard’s Writing Advice

Letters to a Young Librarian: When to Say Yes, or "Another Committee? Are You Crazy?"

Some excellent points are made about what to consider when you are given the option to participate in a committee (though I’ve realized that, in many cases, you aren’t given the option of saying ‘no’).

"Remember that there are only three kinds of things anyone need ever do. (1) Things we ought to do (2) Things we’ve got to do (3) Things we like doing. I say this because some people seem to spend so much of their time doing things for none of the three reasons, things like reading books they don’t like because other people read them. Things you ought to do are things like doing one’s school work or being nice to people. Things one has to do are things like dressing and undressing, or household shopping. Things one likes doing — but of course I don’t know what you like. Perhaps you’ll write and tell me one day."

— C. S. Lewis, in a letter to Sarah, his godchild, on 3 April 1949 via Stan Carey (via bobulate)

Chris Brogan: The Time We're Losing

Every time we don’t say sorry first and end the stalemate, we are losing time. Every time we focus on our regrets, we lose time. Whenever you look in the mirror and judge yourself a failure, you are losing time. Strangely, this made me think of golf balls.

There is not one golf ball in the world that judges itself a failure. Sometimes they land in the hole. Other times, they get lost in the woods. But they are still primarily the same object. The same is true for you. Failure is something about a moment. Failure is a great thief of time. Learn. Embrace your learning. Move. Time only goes in one direction, and that’s away from you.

(Source: twitter.com)

Galleycat: How To Find the Book on the Tip of Your Tongue

Trying to remember a book you read as a child? Need help finding the title of a short story you loved in college? Post your query on the Tip of My Tongue page at Reddit–hundreds of dedicated readers will help you find the book.

(Source: librarystuff.net)

Tame the Web: Ten Keys to Career Success –SJSU SLIS Commencement Speech by Dr. Ken Haycock

The ten keys:

10. Understand the education you got.
9. Recall always our enduring values.
8. Continue to demonstrate that we make a difference.
7. Your job title is irrelevant.
6. Take advantage of the career resources available to you.
5. Develop your network.
4. Build your board of directors.
3. Continue to learn.
2. It is all about you.
1. Celebrate.