The Monday Mash

In case you missed it, some links about the DOPA Hoopla.

What a great idea: create your own downloadable library toolbar.

Library Technology NOW: If you're looking for a cool source for library tech news, reviews, a blog, and a social networking site for librarians, check out my profile. (Once again, all the above is thanks to LiB.)

I was informed today that I've been elected to Library Assembly--hooray!

Going Mobile

I haven't had time before now to mention the great OCLS "webinar" a number of us attended on Wednesday about Mobile Reference.

My wiki notes pretty much say it all, but we were really excited by the thought of:

• approaching patrons where they need help--in the stacks!
• using hands-free communicators to call others (or security)
• using PPCs or small laptops to perform catalog queries in the stacks
• creating a taller reference desk: see patrons eye-to-eye

Another Awesome Blog Post

Now, this is the kind of title I'm talking about (look in the browser title bar).

Thanks, Mark!

No, Not That Kind of Cookie

Thanks to Jessamyn West for pointing to "No Cookies in the Library."
You can't get better than Muppets, a nerve-wracked librarian, and a title that's now an effective techie pun.

And in the "coolest job ever" category, a comics librarian. (thanks for the link, Nathan!)

Reviewing Your Opportunities

Did you know that the Journal of Web Librarianship is seeking book reviewers? And that they heartily encourage current LIS students and recent graduates to apply?

Drat, I knew I shouldn't have told you guys--now I'm up against some stiff competition. But I've already sent off my resume and writing samples. The current book awaiting a reviewer sounds fantastically interesting: Digital Libraries: Integrating Content and Systems. Okay, well, it sounds interesting to the uber-geeky librarians among us. Like yours truly.

Oh, and I recently updated my ePortfolio. The main page looks a little different, and it's got an updated resume/info about my current position. Enjoy!

Library Walkabout

Does anyone else feel uncomfortable about walking patrons to the stacks? I don't mean in a security sense--I mean in the sense of finding a good walking speed and position in relation to the patron.

I tend to walk rather briskly, particularly in the stacks, and find that many times patrons just meander behind me. But if I slow down to their pace, they often slow even further--they usually seem more comfortable following, rather than walking side-by-side. This can make me self-conscious, and as a result, I tend to be acutely aware of my walking while in the stacks.

Am I just overthinking this? Or is the perfection of walking speed/position something imperative to good user service?

Surveying the Possibilities

If you've ever used the UNT Libraries (whether as student, alumni, faculty, staff, retiree, or visitor), check out this brief, 5-question survey concerning instant-messaging (IM) reference. We're trying to track the interest and potential use of an IM reference service, to determine if it's a feasible service to test this fall.

In the meantime, if you're a librarian who wants to discuss ideas, or a library user who needs some help, I'm on YahooIM as geekyartistlibrarian.