Thoughts on Academic Library Mission

I was planning to write about how reading about the board of trustees duties this week coincided with the abrupt announcement of Dr. Bataille's departure... but I read a classmate's post that mentioned library and museum missions, and it sparked lots of thoughts!

When I first started my MS in library science in 2002, I didn't understand the academic library mission. Library missions tend to be more straightforward in public libraries than university libraries, probably for the same reasons that university missions themselves are complex and the subject of much debate!

At any academic library (meaning college & university libraries, not primary or secondary school libraries) there is definitely the preservation or "conserving knowledge" mission that Bogue/Aper describes. The weight of that mission varies from institution from institution--part of the variance is related to the institutional mission, part of it relates to individual library collections.

We're currently refashioning our UNT Libraries mission statement because it does not adequately express our vision of the libraries. We have a particularly rich preservation mission, because we have a number of unique collections in the UNT Archives (like university records and photographs), the Rare Books Room (old manuscripts, miniature books), the Music Library (LP's from the Library of Congress, jazz scores), etc. This is part of the "conservation of knowledge" mission that Bogue mentions, but it's also simply the physical preservation of old and valuable materials.

The "conservation of knowledge" portion is expressed in the UNT Digital Library, where all electronic theses/dissertations written by UNT students are kept; the same department is also working with university leaders on a digital repository to store faculty research and publications. The subject librarians for each department similarly work with their associated academic departments (for instance, mine is the Dept. of Philosophy and Religion Studies) to collect and preserve all publications by their faculty in that department, particulary print books.

But we have two more imperative missions. The first, perhaps most obvious, mission is to serve the students, staff, and faculty of UNT by providing the information that they need. This is done in all kinds of ways (reference question answering, workshops, collection purchasing, developing new services) and delivered in person, by phone, text message, IM, online chat software, email, fax--you get the idea, any format you want! This mission in large research universities tends to be focused more on support of faculty research, so that the books purchased are oriented more toward faculty needs than those of undergraduates needing term paper resources. Similarly in liberal arts colleges, the library collection tends to focus on general resources for undergraduates, and less in-depth materials that support faculty research (although this is often supported through services like Inter-Library Loan). UNT of course being a mixed-mission university, the libraries are similarly mixed in their collection and service focus.

Finally, the UNT Libraries have also been designated as a federal and state depository library. This is a designation that brings with it a broad collection of nearly one million documents produced by the government that our library is given for free, assuming we meet government regulations of a depository library. As a federal depository, for instance, we are by law required to serve any member of the public with our documents collection. This goes beyond merely helping people look up regulations on adoption or do-it-yourself divorce forms; our documents collection is rich with primary historic resources and many valuable maps and books that are worth thousands of dollars a piece. This is another key piece of keeping American democracy alive: providing the public free and permanent access to the documents that created our government and the documents that our government creates. It's all part of that famous quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson, the key to a democracy is having an informed citizenry.

So in a broad sense, our particular mission at the UNT Libraries is to preserve a variety of rich, unique collections, to support our university's students, staff, faculty, and to serve the general public. It's a thrilling mission to serve every day, let me tell you!!

I do have to mention that Bogue/Aper's comment on page 21 about digital library access pushed a few of my buttons. I'm a professed bibliophile, but I'm also a hugely geeky techie and love to play with technology--which comes in handy, since my title is Librarian for Digital Collections! One of my primary research interests is library support for distance learners, which goes far beyond mere email reference answers or e-book collections.

Bogue/Aper's statement about the future of libraries makes me feel conflicted, as this great debate in the library world always does. Page 21 says that "we are probably not far from that moment when we will not go to the library but simply purchase a computer disk or other information storage device... and take it home... and have every page of the library available at our intellectual disposal. Such convenience and power, however, may never replace the joy and wonder that comes from browsing the quiet and musty stacks of libraries."

Well... yes and no. Certainly our library catalog can be accessed online, as can many of the e-books, online gov documents, and databases that allow us to access the majority of our journal articles electronically. And that's fantastic--even working in the library, I love being able to email myself articles instead of walk down four floors to make a photocopy. But no, the printed matter isn't going anywhere soon. Full-text searching of our digital collections is a vast improvement on searching a paper index, but talk to any art student about trying to find a certain visual reference for a sketch, and that's much more easily accomplished by visually browsing tangible books than searching using a textbox online. And those unique collections at UNT libraries? We're digitizing them, but researchers will always want to look at the originals, to mine more information from the "real thing," and to touch the actual objects that past giants touched.

Bogue/Aper do acknowledge some of the physical pleasures of books in the "joy and wonder" part of that statement... but as a librarian I have to huffily protest the stereotypical image of "quiet and musty stacks!" My guess is that my personal appearance wouldn't fit into their standard definition of "librarian," either... but that's a conversation for another time and another class.

Hmm. Didn't mean to provide such a wordy post; the words "library" and "democracy" tend to get me very excited!

Dallas Library News

You've just got to love your local NPR affiliate, don't you? Well, I do--not only do they keep me up to date while entertaining me on my daily two-hour commute, but Dallas's KERA also provides a blog with updates for artsy, cultural happenings in the DFW area.

And this week they posted not one, but two library-related updates on that blog:

• Dallas Public Library opens a branch location in NorthPark Mall
• DPL also updated their website and OPAC (now with book cover images!)

What more can you ask from a group that endorses libraries, infuses news with perspective and humor, and provides personalities like Terry Gross and Garrison Keillor?

LE@D Video Shoot (aka Goofy Librarian Skilz)

I used to work for the Center for Distributed Learning at UNT, back before I thought it was a grand idea to both attend school full-time and work full-time. In any case, they were a grand crew of people who had the amusing pleasure of finding out lots of my previously-hidden geeky secrets. Thus, I soon gave up my pretense of being a dignified young professional and acted more like my goofy self in their company.

Thus, when their LE@D (Lifelong Education at Desktop) program needed to shoot a video starring a goofy librarian... I was the first person they thought of.



So yesterday, I spent the morning over-acting my goofy heart out, while being followed around the third floor of the library by a mass of professional-looking camera equipment. The video's scenario is that I'm a librarian trying to take an online LE@D course, but I can't find the time to take it--I'm being interrupted at the reference desk, circulation, public computers, the breakroom, and finally make my escape to a stall in the women's restroom to finish. (I'll post a link here when the video's done on April 1st--both because you all deserve a good laugh and because I'm making a habit of humiliating myself online as much as possible.)

I'll say one thing--I now understand why, in addition to needing a script and camera, it's so important to have a director. You can read, "Starr looks up at patron and seems mildly frustrated by the interruption," and it seems simple, but when it comes to actual expression, body language, etc.... it's surprisingly complex.

So, er, I won't be running off to La-La Land anytime soon to pursue an acting career. But it was certainly an enjoyable experience, and Dr. Arlita Harris, the visionary behind the whole project, not only made it fun but graciously sent me flowers afterward. A big thanks to the CDL folks for thinking of me!

My Beef with the Press

Ah, the great love/hate relationship of... any organization, I'll bet... with the press. They promote us, they're necessary--and yet often they misquote, misconstrue, or as in this example, completely twist the headline to not match the story, but purely for the shock value (and therefore snagging themselves more readers).

The title of this article, which I found on the front page of Yahoo News?
"Despite demand, libraries won't add PCs."

Yes, the article goes on to explain that many public libraries don't have the facilities (either the room, the outlets, or the power grid) or the budget to support additional computers. But is that what the headline connotes to you? Doesn't it rather sound like libraries are uncaring, irrelevant institutions? Wouldn't that make you, as a potential patron, mad?

Well, it made me mad just to read it, as a librarian. I'm really steamed that this is the instant message that the Associated Press is sending out to our patrons. Thanks, AP, thanks.

Guerrilla Blogging

...Not in the combative sense (except that I'm fighting for time to blog), but certainly in the irregular sense.

• State-tris (Tetris with state shapes; great for teaching kids where the continental US states are, or for educating yourself--I never remember where Ohio is.)
• "Steal this Book? Don't Bother" (article on C|NET news that promotes using your local public library to obtain content.)

So, let me briefly... er... de-brief you on all the things that are currently keeping me too busy to blog:

• preparing for my new boss, Suzanne Sears, who starts work next Wednesday
• ...one item of above includes moving my office
• usual duties--digital collections, liaison collection development, reference, supervising two student assistants, etc.
• helping a professor update an online art history course
• applying to the Higher Ed PhD program here at UNT
• adding content to the new library CMS
• adding content to the new library newsletter CMS (which I'll be managing)
• learning the ropes for the ALA GODORT Web Admin position
• preparing for the 2008 Denton Reads program
• working on the NDIIPP Web at Risk project
• preparing one-two presentation proposal(s) and one article proposal
• writing a second book review
• still processing material/information from ALA Annual

At least I have decent excuses, right? Right?!

So, as far as the second item on that list goes, I'm all moved, but my floor is covered in file folders. Why? Because the folders are legal-sized... and my new file cabinets are letter-sized. Doh! And honestly, I'd rather change folder sizes than exchange file cabinets--they are heavy, and there are five of them. And the new ones have easier-to-open drawers.

Ah, ridiculous vanity, thy name is librarian!

Quick and Dirty

• Still trying to recover from work stacked up before ALA.
• Getting my feet wet as Web Admin for ALA GODORT.
• Madly slapping content onto our new library website (go check it out!).
• Interview with Gene Ambaum of Unshelved to read.
• Moving offices this week to make space for new boss (yay!) in less than two weeks.
• Did I mention the work from before ALA? Okay, I'll go work on that.

Update: dangit, I knew I'd post the wrong link. Okay, the new library website link now works.

Brain-Dead at the Reference Desk

Ah, the joys of returning to work after a long absence and an insomnia-filled night.

I've got lots more content to post about Sunday and Monday at ALA, stories to tell, new Facebook friends to mention, photos to edit/post, and wiki notes to type and link to... but first, I have to get through six days of email.

If you'd cue the "Jaws" music now, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Oh, and since I put my name/blog link on the ALA wiki for blogging about ALA, and then just linked to all the content on my personal blog instead... I'll probably re-post those original posts here, too. (My apologies to those of you who spend time reading both of my blogs.)

Putting the "Social" in Software

I met Meredith Farkas today--woot!

Like, in person and stuff. It's crazy--you read a person's blog for awhile, you give an online presentation for one of their projects, you become their Facebook friend... and then you meet them in person.

This is just continuing this ALA's theme of everyone now meeting their Facebook/Flickr/insert-social-software-of-choice friends in person. Such fun!

No, I have no photo for you of me with Meredith. I was too geek-shy to ask, dangit.

• For the rest of my day (as well as why I am not, sadly, attending the Facebook party this evening), go here.
• For notes from today's ALA sessions, go here.
• For today's photos (once I upload them), go here.
• And... isn't it great that I'm writing about social software... on my blog... linking to flickr... and my wiki. I [heart] Web 2.0.
  

Thoughts on a Drizzly Morning

I just discovered that NPR's "Selected Shorts" show is available online for free. If you love books, libraries, or librarians, or are just a fan of Audrey Niffenegger's work (The Time Traveler's Wife), check out this episode, which includes a reading of her fantastic short story, "The Night Bookmobile" (you can also read an excerpt here).

While classifying reports for the CRS Reports Archive this morning, I ran across several dealing with broadband service and the FCC. If you live in a rural area like myself and have had frustrations trying to get DSL or other broadband service, you might want to stay current with these issues. I'll be uploading some more current reports next week; you should be able to find them using the same linked search above.

Also, my husband sent me this great article on DRM (Digital Rights Management) and why it won't work. If you're a big geek like us, you'll get a kick out of the references to Star Trek engineers, recurring danger to redshirts, and South Park's Underpants Gnomes model of business. The DRM-adjusted version of this business model is as follows:

• Step 1: Create a DRM system.
• Step 2: ???
• Step 3: Profit!

Heh, heh.

Putting the "Social" in Social Software

I would be remiss if I didn't give a hearty "Thanks!" to Libraryman for graciously gifting my Pro Flickr Account. Now I'm all afire to borrow our Digital Project Lab's Canon Rebel to take more photos for the 365 Library Days Project!

The Library Mall and Other News

I promised a few pals that I'd take photographs of the newly-renovated Library Mall, so here they are. The improved space and addition of many benches has encouraged greater numbers of students to use the space--I see them eating lunch, reading, and talking in the area all the time now. The main changes were the addition of two long fountains and the front fountain with the waterfall, the replacement of much of the old concrete with brick walkways, the addition of the tan stone, and the addition and more trees and benches. (See more photos.)

I had to record our great environmental display tie-in (for the Denton Reads program in April) in the GovDocs department. One of our staff members and several of our students gathered documents and colored printouts of animal masks (from some Texas documents) and really spruced up our area (see more photos)!

A new albino squirrel has arrived!! K.T. Shiue, who took all the photographs of "Baby" the albino squirrel for the calendar we've mounted in the Albino Squirrel Memorial area of our Cyber Cafe, recently caught sight of a new baby albino squirrel at Maple Hall, very close to the library (see more of his albino squirrel photos).


Today was the wrap-up lunch for Denton Reads, graciously hosted and catered by the TWU Library (see more photos). We're quite pleased with our success, and will get together in a couple of weeks to begin organizing the 2008 program (which will be held in October of 2008). With 18 months to plan, compared to the 6 months we had this year (and how well it came off despite that), we think 2008 can be spectacular!

When It Rains.... (You Know the Rest)

aka: "A Sluggish Network Isn't My Biggest Problem..."

(This may be a tad bit of a personal post, but it concerns the library.)

Our library network has been sluggish since Saturday. On Saturday, when I attempted to copy thirty of the Denton Reads photos onto my hard-drive, I was informed that it would take 30 minutes... and then it crashed. On Sunday, I was able to copy two photos at time within 3 minutes. Today, I got all fifty or so transferred in about 15 minutes... until the network slogged again, and now I can barely open a folder. Or a text file.

About half an hour ago, the power went out. It was only 30 seconds, but as I fumbled for the flashlight we keep at the desk, it felt like a lifetime. And indeed, it took about a lifetime to reboot the computer once the power came back on--that only angered the network.

Curious about the weather, a staff member and I went to look out one of the windows on our floor--and were flabbergasted at the sight you see in this post. The sunken fountain area in front of our library, several steps deep, is completely filled with water. It's over people's knees. One of the library stairwells has been closed, because apparently the area behind the library is rapidly filling with water, as well. Oh, and what's one of the rooms on the ground floor that's flooding? The server room.

This will teach me not to laugh at those flash flood warnings!

We've had weather alerts off and on since around noon today--severe thunderstorms, hail, tornados--but by the time we were alerted, it was already too bad for me to drive home. I'm scheduled until 9pm tonight, and at this point it seems like a good thing, because maybe it will have blown over by then.

That is, of course, assuming that the library parking lot isn't already flooded.

What a great day to wear my new leather sneakers.

Update: A staff member who just got home called me to let me know that they are closing down streets all across Denton. Hope I can get home...

Some Idle Chatter

I'm currently logged into the OPAL room for my presentation on wikis with Chad Boeninger, and am just waiting around for it to start... in half an hour. I've got some time to kill, for once.

Today was the last class in the five-week Human Resources course on Supervisory Skills, and I got a nifty certificate. The handbook for that class has already come in handy; it's a great resource. One of the main HR trainers, Melissa Ozuna, presented most of the course. I've had her before, and she's always fun and informative. I'd like to form those kinds of presentation skills.

Things on my to-do list:

• fill out travel forms for April (TLA and DLC)
• check calendar for LITA and DLC fall dates
  
• more updates for the Denton Reads website
• meet with printer about Denton Reads poster
• look at the A-Z Digitization documentation to consider writing an article
• get total uploaded CRS Reports to 10,000 by June (ALA!)
• start getting material together for my first performance review

That's of course just the tip of the iceberg that is my To-Do List, but it will do for a start.

In the good news category, two of my dear librarian friends recently found positions that they're perfect for. I wish them all the best in their new positions... even though they're both now several states away. (Meet up in DC in June, anyone?)

Doing A Doctoral Double-Take

Oh, how I hate to eat my words.

For any of you who read my previous post on "Debating the Doctorate," well... I still am. The longer I work in this position, the more I become interested in an administrative career. Particularly since my responsibilities have become a bit broader after my previous boss's departure.

So I'll add a few more points to that discussion: yes, I still believe that if you're not looking for an administrative position, there's little reason to while away your money and time on a doctorate. But if you're looking toward the admin office, it's pretty much a requirement. I'm tempted by UNT's IS-Doc program, both for its library birthplace and its intense interdisciplinary nature. But I have a friend in the Educational Administration / Higher Education PhD program, and it sounds extremely practical, as well as interesting.

So... consider my mind re-opened on this point.

Unrelated Banter:
I've been listening to stories on SMU's tiff about the Bush Presidential Library via NPR, and now it looks like the story's hit FGI. It seems a little silly to me--I'd think that most people would be intelligent enough to disassociate W's politics from SMU as an institution--but then again, I don't know that I'd want those associations resting in my backyard, either.

Today, my new student assistant started work and jumped right into creating metadata for CRS reports. Between that and dealing with enough email to weed it down to 18 messages in my inbox, it's been a nicely productive day (this despite the fact that a flat tire cost me three hours this morning).

We're about to start two new digital projects this (or possibly next) week... I can't wait!

DFW Young Librarians Group

Calling all DFW NextGen librarians!

I want to call attention to a new group for young librarians in the DFW Metroplex. All librarians and library support staff under the age of 35 are encouraged to join for discussion, socialization, etc. You can join on MySpace at http://groups.myspace.com/dfwyounglibrarians/ or you can email the moderator, Katy, at dfwyounglibrarians@hotmail.com

I look forward to seeing you there!

Just Like a Librarian

There’s nothing like four hours or so of office re-organization. I feel like the cobwebs of my mind have been cleared, as well—just wish that I could reorganize my whole home in the same amount of time it takes to do one office. (And that’s also considering only six months or so of office artifacts, versus six years of objects settling into the strata-like layers of my house.)

Luckily, I chose to do it all today. The past two days were a madhouse of catching up, and next week the chaos begins as students return, courses begin, and our service desk opens again. Today was intensely quiet and miraculously interruption-free, perfect for labeling file folders and overflowing my paper recycle bin.

Going through my papers, I found my “$100 folder.” I started it when I read this blog post by Steven Cohen last June. This is going to be a great resource when PAC (Personnel Affairs Committee review) time comes around at the UNT-L. I print out particularly pleased patron responses to email reference answers, photos of any library displays I’ve worked on, and examples of applied ideas and accomplishments (with specific number comparing before/after, if possible). For instance, before vacation my former boss changed our online comment form to direct all email to me. Two days before Christmas vacation, I got 35 messages in a row, all of which were spam. I requested that one of our LAN guys add a CAPTCHA feature to the form to verify human vs. computer entries. Since he implemented it, I’ve received just 6 emails, none of which were spam. Success!

Just to Tide You Over Through Thanksgiving...

• The One Laptop Per Child laptops shipped: here are pictures!
• I'm not so fond of Berry's division between liberal and conservative librarians, but ah well.
• Tips on writing efficiently--and prolifically.

Also... I've blogged about my trip to DC for the Federal Depository Library Conference over at my personal blog. There's not too much there that's business-related instead of personal stuff, but it's also got links to some photos from the trip. I'm also still in the process of putting my notes online, but the FDLP page has all the proceedings posted.