I’ve been threatening this for awhile, but I finally got in gear and managed to get it done - I’ve got a new blog: the SwissArmyLibrarian.net.
The official transition day is Tuesday, Feb. 26th, 2008, so I won’t be posting anything until then. I’ll talk more about it soon, but before then, please update your feed readers to the new RSS feeds.
And stop by the new domain to take a look and let me know what you think.
I keep an eye on library job openings in Maine, and now I see the the Cabela’s store in Scarborough is looking for someone to work in the Gun Library.
A few of the job duties overlap with my current position:
And a few do not:
I wonder if having a Swiss Army knife since college could get me the job. Probably not, but maybe for “Big and small game hunting” they’d count wrangling little kids and teenagers in the library during after-school hours. But I guess that’s more like herding than hunting. I just need to keep looking.
Anyone interested can apply online.
via MELIBS-L
Sparked by a discussion in the ning Library 2.0 forum, I recently revamped my Library’s 404 error webpage (what displays when the webpage someone is looking for is not found).
Until earlier this year, we just had the standard “404 error: file not found” page, which is common and boring. I had made it a little more interesting just by adding our logo and some helpful information. But Darlene’s call for injecting humor and casualness in this situation got me to rethink it, and I came up with our current page.
Libraries are always fighting the traditional stuffy stereotype, and little things like this can make the patron experience more interesting and memorable. Also, it really was fairly easy to do, and I think in this case, a little effort goes a long way (of course, ideally, this page would never be seen).
But let your 404 page be seen - Darlene also started a flickr Library 404 Page group, so please add your screenshots. Also, some live, non-library examples are available at sendcoffe.com.
And before anyone asks: I didn’t put too much thought into the books in the photo. This is just the shelf closest to the Reference Desk. But really, I think these titles lend themselves pretty well to the process of discovery of something missing - plus, this is the “self-help” section.
& 
Helping this patron after she asked the question was straight-forward, but the question itself was kind of interesting (for three reasons).
Patron: I need help with my Netflix account.
Me: Sure, what’s the problem?
Patron: Well, I have WebTV at home, and I just signed up for a Netflix account. It worked far enough to allow me to input my credit card number and purchase the account, but it stopped working when I got to the part were I set up my request list. I called their tech support, and they said that yes, the WebTV browser will not work with this part of the Netflix website, and that I should go to my public library. So here I am.
3 Reasons Why This Is Interesting
The patron and I went over to one of the public computers, logged into her account, and selected a few movies for her to start with. She figured it out pretty quickly, and should be able to do it on her own the next time she comes in.
*Earlier this week I read a Public Libraries article by David Lee King and Michael Porter entitled, “You as Internet Know-It-All”. Basically, it explains why it is important for librarians to (at the very least) be familiar with emerging technology and what’s popular, regardless of whether or not we use (or even care about) them ourselves.
I liked the article, but the reference question above nicely illustrates the importance of their point: this patron would not have been served well by a librarian who wasn’t comfortable with websites, at least somewhat familiar with Netflix**, and willing to explore something new. This is who our patrons are, and we need to be ready for them.
**And for the record, I don’t use Netflix myself. I mean, come on; I work in a public library… every movie I’d ever want to see, and no little red envelopes.
I recently received this announcement in email. Free to public libraries, this is a Federally-produced citizen toolkit, geared to immigrants working towards American citizenship.
September 12, 2007
To: Public Libraries serving New Immigrants/Newcomer PopulationsThe Task Force on New Americans, a federal interagency effort to help immigrants learn English has developed The Civics and Citizenship Toolkit. This free toolkit is designed to serve as a self-study resource for immigrants but can also be useful for librarians and adult educators in a classroom or community literacy setting. Included in the kit are guides in English and Spanish, Welcome to the United States, that contain a wide range of practical information as well as basic civics information introducing newcomers to the U.S. system of government. Also included are Civics Flash cards for individual study or instructional use and Learn about the United States: Quick Civics lessons. In addition, the kit includes a Citizen’s Almanac and Pocket size Declaration of Independence, copy of the U.S. Constitution and a DVD covering an introduction to U.S. History and Civics.
Interested? Please go to http://www.citizenshiptoolkit.gov/ and register for a FREE copy of the Civics and Citizenship Toolkit.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Registration limited to PUBLIC LIBRARIES ONLY.
- Please DO NOT REGISTER IF YOUR LIBRARY IS PART OF THE FEDERAL DEPOSITORY LIBRARY PROGRAM (FDLP)*. Registration is subject to review to ensure eligibility.
- If eligible, registrants will receive a copy of the Toolkit on a first come, first served basis.
- Resources are limited. Registrants will receive one Toolkit at no charge.
- Registration for the toolkit is now open and will be available while supplies last.
The Toolkit is a joint effort of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the U.S. Government Printing Office.
All questions about the toolkit should be directed to the federal office at the above website.
Hiya. My name is Brian Herzog, and I am, among other things, a reference librarian at a public library in MA, USA. more about me...
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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I am not sure about the former.
- Albert Einstein
