For those of you who are job searching, I just noticed that HigherEdJobs.com has added an RSS feed for each job category.

A hint for those interested in jobs within art libraries or museums… add both the Libraries category and the Museum & Arts Administration category.  Visual Resources Curator positions and the like seem to be posted in the latter. (One wonders whether this is because University HR folks see these as Museum jobs more than librarian positions.)

If you haven’t visited them yet, get yourself over to LISJobs.com and check out the new discussion forums. This month, there’s even some added incentive to participate…

From the Liminal Librarian:

Get active on the LISjobs.com online discussion forums during March, and win big! OK, “big” may be a relative term. But here’s the deal: Anyone who writes a post on the LISjobs.com online discussion forums during the month of March will be entered into a drawing to win, what else — books! Keep them, give them away, donate them to your library, or make book art out of them, but you could win:

1. A brand-new copy of FRBR: A guide for the perplexed, by Robert L. Maxwell.
2. Signed copies of ANY two books I ever wrote.
3. Three, count em, three paperback/ARC supernatural romances.
4. A whole darn box of random (yet recent) computer guides, for yourself or your library.

(Forum moderators are ineligible for this contest, sorry!) The four winners will be chosen in a random drawing from registered users who post on the LISjobs.com forums in March 2008.

A few months ago, I was informed that my proposal for a “session” for the 2008 ARLIS/NA conference was approved.  I put session in quotes here because what I proposed doesn’t really fit into the definition of a  traditional conference session or workshop.  I’ll explain what I proposed, but first I’ll explain a bit about where my proposal came from.

Two years ago, I attended my first ARLIS/NA conference.  Thanks to the generosity of the DC/MD/VA chapter, who awarded me a scholarship, I was able to travel to Banff, AB (in the Canadian Rockies) for a few days of networking and learning about the current issues in art libraries.  I enjoyed my time, and I enjoyed many of the sessions, but I left with a definite awareness that there was very little mention of technology and technological innovations.   When technology was mentioned, it seemed to come from the academic librarians who were engaged with the library colleagues in using blogs, wikis, and RSS as instructional tools.  The art librarians I encountered from smaller institutions and museums on the other hand (with some exceptions, of course), seemed to be unfamiliar with these tools.

The disparity between those who were in the “Web 2.0″ know and those who weren’t probably shouldn’t be surprising.  Many cultural institutions are lucky to have a single/solo librarian who is responsible for acquisitions, cataloging, reference, preservation, stacks maintenance, facilities, etc.  With a job description like that, it’s hard to work in time for professional development.  These folks weren’t going to ACRL, ALA, or Computers in Libraries.  Their engagement with the greater profession was through ARLIS… and ARLIS (at least it seemed to me) wasn’t talking about web or library 2.0.

So, last year, Rebecca Price and I co-moderated a Hot Topics session for the ARLIS/NA conference in Atlanta.  And we ran into a dilemma.  What would be considered a “hot topic” for technologically-savvy ARLIS members would be far beyond what many members could really be engaged with.  Asking a panel member to talk about the next generation of the STEVE museum tagging project, for example, wouldn’t reach members who still didn’t understand the concept of relevance of tagging.  And those unfamiliar with the concept wouldn’t be likely to attend the session at all.  So, Rebecca and I took a risk, and created a session that provided a more basic introduction to the topics that are being widely discussed in a more advanced way in the greater library community.  Our panelists talked about blogs, RSS, tagging, and Second Life, and why they are relevant to the future of art libraries.  In doing so, we hoped to start to bridge the gap between the more technologically-savvy members of ARLIS and those who hadn’t jumped on the 2.0 bandwagon yet (and were about to be left behind).

All in all, I think Rebecca and I were successful, to a degree.  But I also know that there are still ARLIS members out there who don’t know or understand these increasingly relevant tools, and who stayed away from our session because it was technology-focused.  And, although we tried to provide a forum for bridging the technology gap, the gap itself was extremely pronounced in terms of conference programming.  In 2007, certainly more than the previous year, the ARLIS conference had a number of sessions that focused on advanced technological innovations, such as Next-Gen OPACs, portals, etc., it was still easy for conference-goers to stick to thematic sessions that talked about regional art and artists, historical topics, and the like.  While I’d like to believe that every conference goer took the opportunity to attend both types of sessions, I think that the reality is that there are two types of ARLIS members emerging–those who are engaged with the future of technology as it pertains to art libraries and the services they offer, and those who are not engaged (perhaps due to lack of opportunity, interest, or a feeling that the chance to learn about these new tools has passed them by).

And so we come to the 2008 conference of ARLIS/NA and my proposal.  For this year, I knew that once again the conference would feature sessions discussing advanced applications of web 2.0 technologies.  But I still felt like as an organization, we should be committed to catching the tail-end of the web 2.0 wagon.  A full-on session didn’t seem appropriate as an introductory venue.  I imagined that those still needing an introduction to these technologies might be shy about admitting it in a group setting, or might be the type that would attend, go home, and never actually engage themselves with a blog, wiki, etc.  And so, I came up with a new concept that I hope will be a success — a Tech Kiosk.

The Tech Kiosk will be positioned in the exhibits hall, and will be a walk-up service point where ARLIS members can chat with staffers about a variety of web 2.0 tools.  The staffers will be able to give a very brief introduction to a single tool of the visitor’s choosing, and then actually guide the person through using that tool for the first time.  Visitors interested in blogs will walk away with their own blogger account.  Visitors interested in tagging will walk away with a flickr account.  Visitors interested in RSS will walk away with a Google Reader or Bloglines account populated with art and library related feeds.  Each person, then, walks away having (hopefully) broken through the initial fear of engaging with a new technology, and with a useful tool/account that they have already begun to build and use.

While the details of the Tech Kiosk (and the staff list) have yet to be worked out, this is a project I’m really excited about.  In many ways, the development of the Tech Kiosk mirrors my own philosophies about library instruction.  First, it’s moving out of the classroom and into the space where the users are (in this case, the exhibits hall).  Second, it’s meeting individual needs instead of attempting to reach everyone with a blanket presentation.  Third, it engages those who learn in a hands-on way and who might not retain information from a standard PowerPoint presentation.  And finally, it presents skills in a manner that are immediately relevant and applicable to the learner.  Visitors to the Tech Kiosk don’t walk away saying “wow, maybe I should look into having a blog”, they walk away with a fully operational blog which they can revisit after the conference.

It’s hard to predict whether the Tech Kiosk will be a hit or not.  As a new type of conference offering, it comes with some risks.  Maybe no one will show up.  Or maybe fifty people will arrive at once, which will be too many to allow for the one-on-one interaction I’m aiming for.  Whatever happens, though, I think that the Tech Kiosk will be a grand experiment… and hopefully one that will bring the membership of ARLIS closer in sync in terms of technological know-how so that no one will be left out as art libraries move forward in the computer age.

For the class I’m taking on Web 2.0, our newest assignment is to write a proposal for implementing a web 2.0 technology in our library, and to share it in our blog.  So, here goes…

For my library, I’d like to propose the use of a blog.  Blogs, or weblogs, are a web publishing platform that allows for the easy distribution of news.  Updates display in a reverse chronological order, so the newest news always rises to the top, ensuring that a visitor to the website is met with the most up-to-date content first.  Blogs can also be used to post images, videos, podcasts, and other formats of information.  They are sometimes used in tandem with tagging or RSS feeds to allow users to sort and receive information in the most efficient manner.

In my library, I’d like to create a blog to announce new acquisitions.  My library has an active acquisitions program for collecting rare materials related to the American Revolution.  A blog could be used to alert patrons to new items in the collection by providing a photograph and description of the item.

This would certainly fill a need in our library.  At the moment, our library catalog is not searchable online.  While there is a description of our holdings online, there is no real way to get a feeling for the scope and/or depth of our collections.  By featuring new acquisitions in a blog, our library could provide information about the collections to patrons interested in the American Revolution and the art of war in the 18th century.

Similar blogs exist for other libraries and special collections, which suggests that this kind of promotional blog about the collections can be successful in drumming up interest among patrons.  A few examples of these are:

- The Northern Illinois University Rare Books and Special Collections Blog 

- The Rare Books Library at the University of Seville 

-  Tutt library Special Collections at Colorado College 

- The Boston Athenaeum 

We typically purchase 20-30 new rare items each month, so the blog would be updated nearly monthly, ensuring fresh content on a regular basis to keep the reader engaged.   For our particular group of users, who are more apt to appreciate history than technology, I would also recommend not naming the site in a manner that promotes it’s format as a blog.  Calling the site simply “Recent Acquisitions” instead of “Acquisitions Blog” will relieve the user of any need to understand or learn what a “blog” is, or how to interact with one.  I do, however, think that the interactive aspect of a blog could be an interesting part of this site.  The primary users of the library collections are scholars, who might want to post comments about a new acquisition (either about it’s possible relevance to pre-existing scholarship, or about similar documents in other collections, etc.).  In some ways, this would become a virtual vertical file about the item–a collection of relevant thoughts and scholarly/research connections.  However, this would have to be tested on a trial basis to ensure that comments would remain topical and not be overrun with spam.  Commenting also opens up issues as far as policy, in terms of whether anonymous comments would be permitted, whether comments would be monitored, etc.

It would also be important to track statistics regarding how many people were visiting the site or harnessing the blog’s RSS feed.  This would be one way to judge the success/interest of the site.  As with all projects, it would be advisable to review the blog in terms of its success as a publicity tool on a regular basis to determine whether the format or content should be tweaked, or whether the project should be discontinued, altered, or moved to a more advanced stage.

I enjoy flickr as a way to share photos.  I especially enjoy the “groups” capability, which allows me to share images with my friends and colleagues over at ArLiSNAP.

If you like, you can check out my flickr profile at www.flickr.com/people/r-cooper

My Web 2.0 class has moved on to discussing RSS. So, I wanted to share some blogs that I subscribe to.

LisNews - Everything from intellectual property to funny library anecdotes. A good source for what’s going on in the library world.

LisJobs - Even if you’re not looking, it’s always wise to know what employers are looking for.

SearchEngineWatch Blog - The cutting edge of search technology

NY Times Arts Section - Arts and entertainment news from around the world

ArLiSNAP - The students and young professionals blog of ARLIS/NA

I’m taking Meredith Farkas‘ class, “Web 2.0: Connecting with the Community Using Social Software”.  We’ll be discussing a lot of issues around the subject of how social software can benefit libraries.  As part of the class, we’re asked to blog.  Since I already try to discuss library issues here, it seems like these assignments should fit right in.  I look forward to being able to share my reflections from the class with everyone!

From the article in Library Journal.com

On September 10, librarians are asked to “Slam the Boards!” by visiting online “answer sites” such as Yahoo! Answers, Ask MetaFilter, Wikipedia Reference Desk, or Amazon’s Askville, fielding as many questions as possible, and making it clear that the service was provided by a librarian. What began as a word-of-mouth idea has grown into an international effort, as librarians from the U.K., New Zealand, and beyond have joined the grass-roots effort in the U.S. to raise the profile of librarians and libraries that offer virtual reference services by doing what libraries do best—providing answers from authoritative resources.

I think this is a great idea, and I’m planning to participate.  Beyond making it clear that the information came from a librarian, though, I think it would also be great to include a statement about how many libraries offer online reference through chat, email, etc.  If someone is searching using Askville, they’re clearly comfortable seeking information in an online environment.  Unless we communicate to them that they can get better information in the same convenient manner, we’re unlikely to convince them to choose a librarian the next time.  So, when I write my answers, you’d better bet I’ll be plugging virtual reference services!

In a time of war, there is loss of life. There is also loss of culture.

Dr. Saad Eskander, the director of the National Archives in Iraq, has been fighting to preserve the cultural history of his country since 2003. On any given day, his task is a difficult (and perhaps losing) battle. An email circulating on various archives listservs today suggests that his fight is getting harder. Please, spread the word to archivists, librarians, and especially politicians that we will not accept this kind of casualty in wartime.

From the archives-L listserv:

Dear …

I hope this message finds well.
I would like to inform you that the unruly national guards are continuing
their aggression against the INLA and its staff.
This morning, (8 August), a group of Iraqi national guards has broken into
the National Library and Archive’s main building.
By this action, the national guards have violated the instructions of the
Council of Ministers, which clearly assert that Iraqi security and armed
forces cannot enter any state-run institution without a prior approval of
the government and the concerned authorities.
The national guards took their action without consulting or asking me; they
simply entered the building by force. As the government declared 4-day
curfew period, I was not able to go the INLA to be with the INLA’s guards,
who did not know what to do. Therefore, I talked to the commander of the
national guards by phone, asking him politely to leave the building
immediately. He refused to consider the idea of evacuating the building,
claiming that he had orders from his superiors and the Americans to occupy
the NILA. He justified his action by claiming that the national guards
wanted to protect Shi’i visitors of the holy shrines of al-Kadhimiyah, which
is 30 km away from the INLA!!

I would also like to draw your attention to the fact on Monday (6 August), a
US military patrol entered the INLA’s main building without my permission.
The commander of the patrol interrogated the INLA’s guards and ordered them
to show their IDs. Please note, this was not the first time in which US
patrols entered the INLA without my permission. In July, US soldiers entered
the INLA three times. It seems clear to me that the actions of US soldiers’
have encouraged Iraqi national guards to do the same, i.e. entering and then
occupying the building by force.

By the way, US army units and the national guards have their own bases in
the same old building of the Ministry of Defense, where they coordinate
their security efforts. The old building of the Ministry of Defense is just
opposite the INLA.

I contacted US authorities In Baghdad indirectly, hoping to stop the
violations and the unlawful actions of both US soldiers and Iraqi national
guards against the INLA and its staff. They showed no interest whatsoever.

As you and others are fully aware, my staff and I have spent a lot of time
and efforts on the reconstruction of the INLA, after it was destroyed in
mid-April 2003. The reckless actions of US Army and the Iraqi National
Guards will put the INLA’s staff and library and archival collections in
real danger. I hold both US Army and the Iraqi National Guards responsible
for all future material damages, cultural losses and human casualties.

I need your support and that of your colleagues
I will ask some of my friends in Europe to support us whatever the means
I will not cease my efforts to expose the wrong doings of the national
guards and those who are behind them

As Ever
Saad Eskander

Meredith Farkas has a great post about why taking risks can bring great rewards.

For a recent library school graduate like myself, this is very inspiring. I’ve done a lot of volunteering for committees and organizations, which has given me the opportunity to learn from my colleagues and discover new things that I enjoy about this career. In many ways, volunteering was a risk for me, because it meant taking on new tasks or roles with which I was unfamiliar. But in each of these cases, the risk I took was determined by an opportunity that presented itself.

Meredith’s ode-to-risk-taking goes beyond this, incorporating the act of creating an opportunity where none existed. I’ve done this on a small scale before, but never in a life-altering, career-changing way. It brings to mind what Walt Crawford is doing over at his site, where he’s essentially inviting applications from organizations that might be interested in benefiting from his expertise and energy.

I’ve met with a lot of skepticism when I tell people what I want to get out of my career. “A job is a job”, they say. But people like Meredith and Walt remind me that with a good bit of energy, some hard work, and–yes–some risk-taking, it can become much more than that.