Later, as a newly minted liaison librarian, I relied heavily on subject guides in my work. While learning the ropes of the reference desk, I spent time between questions scouring the guides relevant to my subjects. I found this to be an incredibly useful way to discover the various resources my library had access to and how these resources could be used to research different subjects. When giving information literacy sessions in classes, the guides helped me choose which resources to recommend, and in almost every presentation I showed how to reach the appropriate subject guide, in the hopes that students would go there when researching their assignments. But no matter how much I promoted subject guides, students coming to the reference desk still seemed unaware of their existence.

Of course, there are some resources that only a librarian could love, and librarians sometimes foist these upon students because we believe they need them, without considering whether they will actually use them once they’ve left the reference desk. A good example would be old school Dialog-style search interfaces that require advanced search skills; some librarians still believe that we should train all students to use these databases so they can perform the most efficient searches possible. While some disciplines may require somewhat more structured searching, I think the typical undergraduate student will end up doing better research by learning to perform relatively simple searches in the appropriate modern databases, as they will be more likely to retain what they’ve learned and less likely to resort to plagiarism or a Google-only strategy. So is it possible that subject guides are great for librarians but not for students? Should we take them off our public websites altogether, and focus on other methods of getting the word out about resources, such as through information literacy sessions? Based on the interactions I’ve had with students, I still have hope for subject guides. Once they’re aware that the guides exist, students seem to appreciate being able to find all the best resources listed on a single page, and they usually indicate that they will use them in the future. So they still have potential, but there’s clearly work to be done to make them as usable and discoverable as possible.

Other libraries seem to be struggling with the same issues, and I am always interested to learn how other institutions are attempting to connect their students with subject guides. Today I noticed the following tweet from the libraries at Seneca College in Toronto (@senecalibraries):

I thought this was a great way to solicit feedback from students while also reminding them that the subject guides are available. What do you think about subject guides? How can we make them live up to their potential? Or should we get rid of them altogether? Let me know in the comments.

an edifice or apartment destined for holding a considerable number of books placed regularly on shelves ; or , the books themselves lodged in it.

We can all agree that libraries have come a long way since being simply buildings full of books, but here’s the part that really had me rolling on the floor:

In Edinburgh there is a good library belonging to the university, well furnished with books ; which are kept in good order, and cloistered up with wire-doors, that none but the keeper can open, and are now lent out only upon consignation of the price ; a method much more commodious than the multitude of chains used in other libraries.

Still, I think this would be an appropriate tagline even today:

Libraries: disseminating information through the most commodious methods for centuries

Both EndNote and Zotero have been improved tremendously since I wrote that post three years ago, and I try to keep up with the new features. One feature of Zotero I find particularly useful when dealing with print books is the ability to import an item by ISBN. By clicking the magic wand icon, you can enter the ISBN of a book, either by typing it in or by scanning the barcode, and Zotero will import the metadata from WorldCat. Now, this feature is actually not new, but there’s a new option for anyone who doesn’t have access to a library barcode scanner (or for when you’ve left yours at home). Scanner for Zotero is an Android app that allows you to scan a book’s barcode using the camera on your Android device and then sends the record straight to your Zotero library. The app costs $2 from the Android Market, but if you really don’t want to pay, you can download the code, which has an open source license, and then compile it yourself (personally, I was happy enough to pay the toonie).

I’ve been using the app for a few weeks now, so I thought I would share my thoughts. In general, I am quite impressed; it’s a simple app without any bells or whistles that only does one thing but does it very well. I hit a small snag when setting it up, but the developer responded promptly to my email and walked me through it (thanks, John!). Scanning a barcode is reasonably quick, though not as fast as the dedicated barcode scanner I have at work, and adding an item to your Zotero library is straightforward (the simple interface does not provide an option for saving an item to a collection within your library, but this hasn’t bothered me). One of the only options available is to choose whether to use WorldCat or Google Books to retrieve the metadata. As one would hope, the records are more or less the same regardless of the source; however, there are some slight differences. What surprised me the most was that there were differences between records imported using the magic wand (which makes use of WorldCat) and ones imported using the app when instructing it to use WorldCat. Here’s what I found when using the three different methods:

Magic wand (WorldCat):

• Language field blank
• No page numbers
• Editors show up in Author field without any indication they are actually editors
• Only the first author is listed

Scanner for Zotero with WorldCat:

• Language appears correctly as three letter code: eng, fre, etc.
• No page numbers
• Editor shows up in Author field preceded by “Edited by”
• Multiple authors or editors show up in a single Author field

Scanner for Zotero with Google Books:

• Language appears correctly as two letter code: en, fr, etc.
• Number of pages appears correctly
• Editors show up in Author field without any indication they are actually editors
• Multiple authors or editors show up in separate Author fields

Both Scanner for Zotero options clearly produce better metadata than the built-in magic wand, but each of the three has its own quirks, presumably due largely to quirks in the structure of WorldCat and Google Books. I would recommend the app to any Zotero user with an Android device. Even if you don’t have a stack of books you’ve been waiting to add to your Zotero library, it’s fun to be able to zap the barcode of anything with an ISBN. Surely if you’ve read all the way to the end of this post, you must agree with my definition of fun.

From Back to the Beginning by Laura Sanders, AKA @laurainthelib:

Many students work part time through the year. However, because Montreal is a bilingual city, it can be tough to find work if you don’t speak French. That said, McGill has a Work Study program where you can find a job at one of the campus’ many libraries, and French is not required for these positions. Work Study is also a good option for international students, who may not be able to work off campus because of visa restrictions. (On that note, I should add that McGill’s program has a large number of American students. Although international tuition fees are higher than those paid by Quebec or Canadian students, they are still much lower than the tuition fees of many American library schools.)

• Share your opinions with your employers and colleagues
• You still have a lot to learn, and these people can help you along the way.  But more importantly, these people want to know your opinions, too.  You may be new and green, but to a lot of people, you represent vast potential because you can bring different and new ideas to the table.  You shouldn’t ever take over a meeting with your opinions and antics, but you should definitely speak up and be heard.  Remember: you won’t be hired to be a bump on a log, so make sure your contribute to your library and your team.

For the most part, I agree with all of his advice. Of course, he acknowledges that “nothing is ever 100% or complete in this world,” and I would slap a big YMMV sticker on the following:

• Don’t shoot for the moon
• Once you land a job, you may be so full of enthusiasm that you’ll want to tackle everything at once.  Don’t do this.  Prioritize what needs to be done against the library’s timelines, your schedule, and also against your own learning curve.  Taking on too much will burn you out and potentially let others down.  Instead, create a schedule with your supervisors or mentors, and return to it regularly to adjust it up or down.  This shows foresight: they’ll appreciate that you’re balancing your duties and also keeping them in the loop.

True, many (if not most) first library gigs involve an overwhelming workload. And yes, piling on projects until you risk burning out is a bad idea. But I would never discourage anyone from shooting for the moon – you just need to be realistic about it. Do you have a great idea you want to try out, but you’re not sure whether you have time for it? Talk to your supervisor, and see how you can fit it in. But by all means, prioritize, create schedules, and only take on what you can handle.

I think in additional to the workload of the position, another important variable is the personality of the individual. There are certainly some new librarians who are afraid to say no, and this can lead to burning out, so these people should avoid shooting for the moon. However, there are also librarians who avoid volunteering for additional projects because they want to focus on their core responsibilities. Sometimes this makes sense, but the additional projects can be the most interesting ones, and I would hate for anyone to miss out on enjoyable endeavours because they want to put 110% into their main duties. It’s okay to only put in 100%, and use the extra 10% elsewhere!

It may sound less catchy, but here’s my advice: shoot for the moon, but only after you have considered your situation and consulted with your supervisor.

Library school: if you have the time/money to find a school that “fits” you, then by all means. However, it’s completely OK to just pick the in-state/cheapest option. A library school is a library school is a library school.

I usually wouldn’t put it that bluntly, but it’s a fair point. People often ask me whether I think McGill offers a “good” MLIS program, and truthfully I don’t believe there is a significant variation in quality among schools (at least in Canada). If one program offers a certain specialization that others lack, feel free to choose accordingly, but at the end of the day, when it comes to finding a job, what matters is that you’ve (a) received the degree, and (b) accumulated some work experience along the way.

The only point I completely disagree with is #2:

If you have not worked in a library before attending  library school, why are you making such as a large financial commitment for a career that you have no experience in? A “love” of books and “I like to read” won’t cut it.

I don’t believe that anyone who has done some research and decided to become a librarian should feel they must first job hunt for a library assistant position and then work in it for a year before applying to library school. Certainly, a love of books and reading doesn’t necessarily mean you will enjoy a career as a librarian, but if you put in the research and talk to some people in the field, you can make the decision with no previous experience. The important thing is having library experience on your CV before you graduate, but you can acquire this during your studies.

I will also comment on the final point:

Don’t blame library school if you cannot find a professional job. You are an information professional. Did you not research the state of the job market?

I hope no one believes that earning an MLIS is the most challenging part of starting a library career; on graduation day, there will be no line-up of employers begging you to work for them. This is not your school’s fault. It is simply the way the job market works (as is the case with most careers). But I also hope no one is discouraged from starting an MLIS because of what they’ve heard about the library job market. As long as you’re willing to put in the extra effort (and often patience), you will find an appropriate job eventually.

In fact, many of Mr. Dude’s points are the same ones I’ve made before (don’t neglect to read the comments on his post for even more tips). Gain experience while studying, find a mentor, and don’t be shy about marketing yourself.

If you’re looking for a variety of perspectives on various programs, I suggest you check out Hack Library School. They have a series of posts called Hack Your Program, where students provide both facts and commentary about the programs they attend. The majority of the programs are in the United States, though the latest one is from Israel.

Of course, there’s more to HLS than just Hack Your Program; much like the ILSS, the blog covers a variety of topics of interest to library school students (e.g., getting involved with student organizations, which continues to be a surprisingly tough sell). And if you’re a student looking to become more involved with the community, here’s your chance:

HackLibSchool is seeking more contributors. We need students who are new to LIS programs! We need museum studies and archivist students! We need students that represent the diversity of the field! Where are you all??

What are you waiting for? Go join in!

I remember writing my first cover letters for professional library positions – it was terrifying! How long should it be? What kind of language should I use? And the worst part was that people kept answering these questions with “it depends.” And of course that’s the only appropriate answer anyone can give, so it makes a lot of sense to look through some real life examples. Even if you’re not applying for exactly the positions that these cover letters are for, you can learn a lot about style and content by reading through a few. I highly recommend it to anyone who will be writing a cover letter in the reasonably near future.

when i grow up i wanna be like…

since then, i have found myself a group of mentors. some i work with, most i don’t. what’s most important is that i went out and built a network for myself – a network of people that i admire, and want to be like “when i grow up”. these are librarylanders with drive, ambition, perseverance, awesome ideas, and the guts to go for it when the haters are in full-on hate mode. these people? these are the ones i turn to for advice, comfort, comiseration, or a good kick in the ass. i also will eternally have their backs, as they have mine. some of them might not even realize they are mentors to me, but they are. (and for you mentors who don’t like it… sukkit. <3 jambina.)

While I’m at it, allow me to also plug the session I will be convening: Technology Lightning Strikes! on Saturday, May 28 at 8:30 am. We have a fantastic group of tech experts who will be giving pithy talks, and afterwards everyone will have the chance to discuss in break-out groups. I assure you it will be worth waking up early for this one.

You may also be interested in my new post at the Re:Generations blog.