Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science and how they might apply to comics by Dave Carter former Internet Public Library superstar. Click here if you are asking Rangawho? There’s a good Rangnathan blurb over on It’s all Good this week too.
Month: May 2005
librarian shortage, some hard facts from Library Journal
Meredith points to a Library Journal article with actual facts about the job market for new librarians. Upshot? While there is still a need for librarians in some geographical and skill areas, these authors do not believe in the “librarian shortage” that has been getting so much press over the last five years.
While there is an intense, ongoing campaign to recruit new MLS students, there is no concerted effort to hire them once they’ve graduated. It is unreasonable to invite an influx of new colleagues into the profession without making room for them. It is unfortunate that those entering the profession are being told that there is a current shortage of library workers, since this is not entirely true.
They also discuss some of the expectations of the profession that can make it difficult for less-experienced job seekers to prove their worthiness.
To paraphrase one new professional, librarianship is a profession that focuses obsessively on past accomplishments and not on future potential…. New professionals have a lot to offer: we are eager, full of new ideas, have yet to be poisoned by burnout, and—through our newly earned education—are up-to-date on the latest technologies and trends. Our potential is exactly what should be sought out by employers. The profession needs us as much as we need it.
presentations without powerpoint, how I do it
I give many of my talks using a very basic HTML template that creates the illusion of slides. It has a few advantages
- it’s free
- it works on any browser and any OS
- my talks take up very little space, file-size-wise
- I’m not using someone else’s proprietary software or the same old clip art you’ve seen a million times before
- talks are available in the same format online and off
- easy print option with extra space for hidden notes [new!]
There are a few downsides as well
- it’s not totally standards compliant. If you need total compliance, use S5, it’s great.
- you do need to know a little HTML to make it work for you
- Since you’re not using PowerPoint, you may tend towards wordiness.
People have been asking about it, so I’ve decided to make a blank presentation with all the stylesheets and whatnot, available for downloading. It’s just a basic HTML page, two stylesheets, a sample image or two, and a styleswitcher. Try it out, tweak it, let me know what you think.
wireless at ALA, for all
This just in over the ALA Council newswire. Wireless connectivity, which had previously been available only to ALA Councilors, will be available to all ALA Conference attendees in Chicago. Keith Michael Fiels, ALA Executive Director says the connnectivity will be available “at a highly discounted rate.” Of course, “discounted from what?” is the question here, since Councilors get their connections for free, but look forward to being able to be wireless at ALA in June.
public library tossed out books, dumpstered book pix on internet
Minneapolis Public Library tosses books in dumpster. Enterprising blogger/reporter takes pictures. I dropped the library a note to see what they have to say about it. I got my favorite multi-volume set of the OED from a library dumpster on a good tip from a friendly librarian. [lisnews]