January 12th (yesterday) I took that long journey back to Buffalo to begin classes for another semester. The line up this 15 week stretch is looking a little better than the last. Work wise it appears to be a little more challenging, however, considering content this semester should be interesting. I'm taking: Public libraries, Intellectual Freedom, Services for Children and Management of Library and Informational agencies.
I made a New Year's resolution to keep up on this blog (even though I do not have any readers) to improve upon my blogging skills (or get some blogging skills). So, I guess we'll se how this goes.
Cheers
January 13, 2010
January 10, 2010
School...
Okay, four weeks on break and not a single blog post. Recap of the entire fall semester in 500 words or less. GO!
Introduction to Library and Information Science (LIS 505). Overall a wonderful class. There was a little talk on censorship, intellectual freedom, some mention of what can be done with a degree in LIS, and a lot of PDF articles (a few too many if you ask me). Professor was great, I'm taking another class with her this coming semester, Intellectual Freedom.
Introduction to Information Technology (LIS 506). This one didn't go so well. Professor was hard to understand. Work with HTML, XML, Dreamweaver, and a plethora of other complicated computer things was quick accompanied by poor direction. This one would have been better if it was splint into two sections taken over two semesters. The work would have been easier, slower, and hopefully better explained.
Reference Services (LIS 518). I took this one online and I didn't learn anything. The professor had three beyond simple projects that took me a combined time of 4 hours to do (that's 4 hours for all projects combined) and I got an A-. The "-" was mainly because I didn't take the time to participate in discussion boards. But don't judge me, because if you had to write an interesting and original post that brought better understanding to the class about the meaning of your name (that's right I had to look up the meaning of my name and then talk about it) after 77 other students had already done so you wouldn't have done it either. Overall, lame class and a waste of money. I am going to read the book (that she assigned readings out of but told us not to buy) this semester and probably learn a whole lot more.
Cataloging (LIS 571). Made me want to be a cataloger...or at least a freelance cataloger. This one was interesting, slow paced, and easily laid out. Cataloging is an involved subject, however, the professor did a wonderful job of explaining MARC records, classification systems, and a bunch of other cataloging things. The book was pretty good too!
That's it. I'll try to keep up to date on blogging about the classes as they are happening so I'll remember exactly what is going on. Hope this post finds you well. As always...May The Library Be With You!
Introduction to Library and Information Science (LIS 505). Overall a wonderful class. There was a little talk on censorship, intellectual freedom, some mention of what can be done with a degree in LIS, and a lot of PDF articles (a few too many if you ask me). Professor was great, I'm taking another class with her this coming semester, Intellectual Freedom.
Introduction to Information Technology (LIS 506). This one didn't go so well. Professor was hard to understand. Work with HTML, XML, Dreamweaver, and a plethora of other complicated computer things was quick accompanied by poor direction. This one would have been better if it was splint into two sections taken over two semesters. The work would have been easier, slower, and hopefully better explained.
Reference Services (LIS 518). I took this one online and I didn't learn anything. The professor had three beyond simple projects that took me a combined time of 4 hours to do (that's 4 hours for all projects combined) and I got an A-. The "-" was mainly because I didn't take the time to participate in discussion boards. But don't judge me, because if you had to write an interesting and original post that brought better understanding to the class about the meaning of your name (that's right I had to look up the meaning of my name and then talk about it) after 77 other students had already done so you wouldn't have done it either. Overall, lame class and a waste of money. I am going to read the book (that she assigned readings out of but told us not to buy) this semester and probably learn a whole lot more.
Cataloging (LIS 571). Made me want to be a cataloger...or at least a freelance cataloger. This one was interesting, slow paced, and easily laid out. Cataloging is an involved subject, however, the professor did a wonderful job of explaining MARC records, classification systems, and a bunch of other cataloging things. The book was pretty good too!
That's it. I'll try to keep up to date on blogging about the classes as they are happening so I'll remember exactly what is going on. Hope this post finds you well. As always...May The Library Be With You!
November 17, 2009
Fall '09 Semester and Unshelved Answers
So, yeah, a blog that I started over the summer...I kind of forgot about it didn't I. Well in short I'm sorry. I have always gotten annoyed with bloggers that start a blog and just let it go after a couple of weeks (I have become what I hate the most). But anyway I am back and ready to give this another go. SO, today's post comes in two parts...
Part one - I am still in library school. As semester one comes to a close I think of the original excitement I had when entering the university for the first time. I had thought I was going to learn some unknown knowledge that I would be able to come back to my library and share my intellectual gain. Unfortunately, I have not been able to do this. As a whole I am enjoying my time at UB, however, I feel like I could be learning so much more. Following my completion of this semester I plan to have a review of all of my classes and I will have my own personal critique on them explaining what I liked, disliked and assignments I had to complete. I will also talk about some extra reading material that helped me get through the semester.
Part two - Unshelved Answers. These guys have yet again outdone their selves. On the website unshelved.com Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum have started an "Unshelved Answers" section where professionals and paraprofessionals can ask questions and get feedback from the library community. Their description says:
The public ask librarians for help. Who do librarians ask for help? Other librarians, of course. At work and, increasingly, on the Internet, using listservs, message boards, Twitter, etc. Your question may even have been asked before. The problem is finding it, sorting through the answers, and telling the good from the bad.
Introducing Unshelved® Answers, a place to share your expertise about libraries and everything in them: reference resources, reader's advisory, customer service, cataloging, administration, or anything else. Already people have asked:
What CMS does your library use?
How do you get rid of pushy vendors?
What are great graphic novels for early readers?
What are some ideas for displays for young adults?
What's that one book I read in the early 80's?
... and much more!
We've got an easy and effective system for grading both questions and answers so that you can quickly and easily solve your problem and help others solve theirs. Every time your work is voted up you gain more reputation, which unlocks more functionality of the site for you. Eventually our most prized contributors become de-facto moderators. The site is really run by you, for you.
We hope this will become a useful tool for the library community (and anyone else, including booksellers and individuals). Visit Unshelved® Answers today to share your expertise!
I have not answered or asked any questions yet but I'm sure I will. I link to it in the side bar, check it out.
Part one - I am still in library school. As semester one comes to a close I think of the original excitement I had when entering the university for the first time. I had thought I was going to learn some unknown knowledge that I would be able to come back to my library and share my intellectual gain. Unfortunately, I have not been able to do this. As a whole I am enjoying my time at UB, however, I feel like I could be learning so much more. Following my completion of this semester I plan to have a review of all of my classes and I will have my own personal critique on them explaining what I liked, disliked and assignments I had to complete. I will also talk about some extra reading material that helped me get through the semester.
Part two - Unshelved Answers. These guys have yet again outdone their selves. On the website unshelved.com Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum have started an "Unshelved Answers" section where professionals and paraprofessionals can ask questions and get feedback from the library community. Their description says:
The public ask librarians for help. Who do librarians ask for help? Other librarians, of course. At work and, increasingly, on the Internet, using listservs, message boards, Twitter, etc. Your question may even have been asked before. The problem is finding it, sorting through the answers, and telling the good from the bad.
Introducing Unshelved® Answers, a place to share your expertise about libraries and everything in them: reference resources, reader's advisory, customer service, cataloging, administration, or anything else. Already people have asked:
What CMS does your library use?
How do you get rid of pushy vendors?
What are great graphic novels for early readers?
What are some ideas for displays for young adults?
What's that one book I read in the early 80's?
... and much more!
We've got an easy and effective system for grading both questions and answers so that you can quickly and easily solve your problem and help others solve theirs. Every time your work is voted up you gain more reputation, which unlocks more functionality of the site for you. Eventually our most prized contributors become de-facto moderators. The site is really run by you, for you.
We hope this will become a useful tool for the library community (and anyone else, including booksellers and individuals). Visit Unshelved® Answers today to share your expertise!
I have not answered or asked any questions yet but I'm sure I will. I link to it in the side bar, check it out.
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