Info Career Trends Nov. 1, 2006 vol. 7, no. 6 ISSN 1532-0839 Published by LISjobs.com: http://www.lisjobs.com E-mail: editor@lisjobs.com Web: http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/ In This Issue (Becoming a 21st Century Librarian): 1) Editor's Note 2) Career Q&A From the Library Career People (following up on applications, moving from community colleges to four-year universities) 3) Librarian As Entrepreneur: A Blueprint For Transforming Our Future 4) Small Steps to the Future: Rural Librarianship in the 21st Century 5) Did You Know You Could Live a Second Life? 6) Becoming a 21st Century Librarian through Long Distance Collaboration 7) What's Online? Recommended Resources 8) But I Want To Hold It In My Hand! Reviews: Characteristics of the Successful Twenty-First Century Information Professional and Sacred Stacks: The Higher Purpose of Libraries and Librarianship. 9) Administrivia, Copyright, Subscription, and Removal Instructions ======== Editor's Note I have all sorts of things to tell you this month, so please bear with me. First, a special deal for ICT readers: Purchase Dennie Heye's Characteristics of the Successful 21st Century Information Professional (reviewed in this issue) by Dec. 31, 2006 to receive a 35% discount on the list price of $59.95. E-mail your order to info@chandospublishing.com with "Info Career Trends" in the subject line. More on the book at Chandos Publishing: http://www.chandospublishing.com/catalogue/record_detail.php?recordI D=81 OR http://digbig.com/4npdj . Then, for those of you who are job hunters, I figure that a 21st century job hunter should really use current tools. So, check out this new page of job sites offering RSS feeds at LISjobs.com: http://www.lisjobs.com/jobfeeds.htm . Access each individually or import one handy OPML file into your newsreader. Don't know what I'm talking about? Get started with "Bloglines for Librarians in Three (and a half) Easy Steps:" http://joy.mollprojects.com/myprojects/rss/quickrss.html , then come back to add in these job sites. Lastly, as I write this, I've just gotten back from the Internet Librarian 2006 conference, definitely the go-to event for 21st century professionals. Read everyone's blog posts at http://www.technorati.com/search/il2006 , or just enjoy people's photos at http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=il2006&w=all . As always, I'm also looking for people to write articles for upcoming issues: March 2007 ("getting involved in the profession") and May 2007 ("building balance"). Upcoming themes and contributor guidelines are at: http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/theme.htm , and send your queries to editor@lisjobs.com. - Rachel (editor@lisjobs.com) ======== *** GenX? Millennial? Managing people of a different generation than yourself? Check out The NextGen Librarian's Survival Guide! http://www.lisjobs.com/nextgen/ ======== Career Q&A From the Library Career People (librarycareerpeople@lisjobs.com) Q: I've heard that librarian search committees (especially in academia) do not appreciate follow-up calls from candidates. Is this true? SM: I wouldn't go so far as to say they are not appreciated. I will say, however, that follow-up phone calls (or e-mails) will most likely be futile; the committee will be reluctant to give out any information until the search is complete and a candidate has accepted the position. Further, follow-up phone calls, often encouraged in other professions as a way of showing your interest in a position, will not give you an edge in an academic librarian job search. It is no secret that academic librarian job searches can take a very long time. You may wait several months before being contacted for an interview, or you might not hear anything at all (unfortunate, but common). Let's say you were contacted by the committee for an interview. At the end of your interview, the search committee should give you some kind of timeline, or a general date of when you can expect to be contacted with the results of the search. If they do not, you should ask them (preferably before you leave) when you can expect to hear from them. Once you know the general timeline, you should not contact the committee before the given date, unless: 1) you have pertinent questions for the committee that you forgot to ask at the interview, 2) you have (genuinely) been offered a position elsewhere and would like to at least find out if you are "in the running" for this other position, or, 3) you have decided you are no longer interested or have accepted a position elsewhere, and you wish to withdraw from the search. If your purpose for contacting the committee is to promote yourself or to emphasize how much you want the job, don't do it. This type of contact (anytime during the search process) is not appreciated. If the interviews have been completed, the committee gave you a general timeline of two weeks, and it has now been three weeks, then you do have every right to contact them to find out the status of the search. Just don't expect to hear any real news - good or bad - until a candidate has accepted and the job search is officially over. I have headed up, and participated in, several academic search committees. I can attest to the fact that the committee, like the candidates, often spends a lot of time waiting - for interviews to finish, for input from relevant people (other than the search committee), for a final decision (hopefully a consensus) to be made, for paperwork to be completed, for reference letters or calls, for approval from Human Resources to move forward, for a candidate's decision once a job has been offered. Trust me, search committees do not enjoy waiting either. Ultimately, they want to finish the interview and selection process as quickly as possible and fill the open position with the best candidate possible. TA: As a personnel librarian, I would have to add that, should you have any questions, even just about the status of the search, you should be able to call the library's HR representative. We realize this is a long process, and that both the process and the time it takes can make candidates nervous. While you may not get specific information, you should be able to find out where we are in the search process - and, sometimes, just hearing a voice on the other end of the phone is comfort enough. Additional Information on the Academic Job Search "Academic Interview Process" by Nanako Kodaira http://www.ala.org/ala/nmrt/comm/process.htm "Surviving (and Even Impressing!) the Search Committee" by Karla J. Block http://www.liscareer.com/block_searchcommittees.htm "The Interviewing Process Broken Down" by Suzan Lee http://www.liscareer.com/lee_interviewing.htm "Do Academic Librarian Searches Take Too Long?" by Steven J. Bell http://acrlblog.org/2006/08/02/do-academic-librarian-searches-take- too-long/ OR http://digbig.com/4npdm "Endlesse Searche" by Todd Gilman http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2006/07/2006072701c/careers.html The Successful Academic Librarian: Winning Strategies From Library Leaders by Gwen Meyer Gregory http://books.infotoday.com/books/sucaclib.shtml Cornell University, Search Procedures for Academic Appointments http://www.library.cornell.edu/Adminops/libhumres/academic_searches. htm OR http://digbig.com/4npdn Q: Would there be any resources about making the move from a community college to a four-year college or university? I've found it exceedingly difficult myself. The question that arises, of course, is how to address the issue without offending those already at the four-year or university level, i.e., how not to accuse them of conforming to a stigma about CC librarians being "dangerously" unqualified to work for them. TA: Unfortunately, there is sometimes a perception that the gulf between community college libraries and university libraries may be too wide to bridge, so it's your job to address these concerns in your application materials. It will help to first identify and consider the differences between the two types of institutions. In her article "The Other Academic Library: Librarianship at the Community College" ( http://www.liscareer.com/arnold_commcoll.htm ), author Jennifer Arnold explores the differences between working at a community college library and at a four-year college or university library. The main difference is that community college faculty generally focus more on teaching and less on research. Faculty are generally not tenured, rather, they participate in what Arnold calls "tenure light." As she writes: "After a period of employment ranging from 3 to 5 years, a community college employee can move from a yearly, conditional contract to an extendible contract, which protects the employee against the termination of his or her contract outside of an act of gross misconduct, as defined by the college." There are also many differences between the students at the two types of institutions. Most significantly, Arnold points out the transient nature of the student population at community colleges: "With unique programs, and a significant amount of corporate/ continuing education, students also tend to flow in and out of the community college." All of these circumstances converge to create quite a different environment for libraries on the community college campus, who are generally involved in a number of activities. Instead of focusing strictly on public services or technical services, for example, community college librarians are frequently involved in all aspects of the library: working in technical services, serving on the reference desk, meeting with faculty, etc. Arnold refers to this as the "soup to nuts" aspect of community college librarianship. Community college librarians also face the challenges of getting faculty (who focus primarily on teaching rather than research) and students (who may commute from a distance for their specific program, and who are on campus for limited amounts of time) to use library materials and services. Some view these as challenges, where others see opportunities. These opportunities are what you want to focus on when applying for other positions. So, recognizing these differences, how do you make the switch? 1) Play up the strengths and the opportunities available in your community college position, especially the diversity of duties and the diversity of your clientele. This will show your ability to relate to people at all levels, and provide evidence of flexibility, creative thinking, and innovation. 2) Stay active professionally: publish, speak, attend conferences, and/or be an active (and responsible) participant on library lists. Join local or national associations, and work hard to establish yourself professionally by serving on committees or running for office. 3) Last, but not least: Highlight transferable skills in your cover letter and resume, and show progressively responsible job duties or leadership opportunities (committee service, campus service, professional involvement). Yes, some do believe that those making the "leap" from a community college library to a four-year institution may be, in your words, "dangerously unqualified." Most institutions, though, are looking for applicants with demonstrated experience in leadership, creativity, innovation, outreach, and working with a diverse clientele, in addition to the specific technical duties of the position. Community college libraries are an excellent environment in which to gain some of these skills; seize these opportunities and make them work to your advantage when moving on to your next position. *** Have a question for the Library Career People? E-mail it to librarycareerpeople@lisjobs.com, and you could see it answered in an upcoming column. Sorry, we cannot provide personal responses. About the Authors Tiffany Allen is currently serving as the Assistant Personnel Librarian at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to her work in academic librarianship, Tiffany worked in a variety of libraries, including a small non-profit library and a large corporate research library. Susanne Markgren is the Systems/Electronic Resources Librarian at Purchase College, SUNY. Her career experience encompasses a variety of positions in different types of libraries, including public, special, and academic. ======== *** Wouldn't you like to see your ad here? http://www.lisjobs.com/ratecard.htm#newsletter ======== Librarian As Entrepreneur: A Blueprint For Transforming Our Future by Brian S. Mathews (Brian.Mathews@library.gatech.edu) There is some trepidation about the future of libraries; Google, Amazon, Wikipedia, and MySpace have become the go-to destinations for informational interactions. Understandably, librarians are worried. What role will we play in the dynamic landscape that is shifting away from our traditional enterprise? The way I see it, we have a great opportunity: the possibilities are more boundless than ever before. Faced with competition, this is our chance to be more innovative. Of course change is never easy, but I am optimistic. I've shared many conversations with recent MLS grads, and they have lots of good ideas. They are enthusiastic, eager to make changes, and not too predisposed about what libraries should be. We need to encourage them. Librarian as Entrepreneur I see the 21st Century Librarian as an entrepreneur: an individual who creates new ventures, embraces challenges, and looks to make improvements. An individual who sees the big picture and who can think and work outside the box. An individual who can identify and address needs, and who can implement, market, and assess initiatives. We've entered an age that requires an opportunistic workforce. Here are a few things I've picked up along the way that can help us get started: * Take risks. Nothing is sacred; everything is up for change or renegotiation. We should support responsible risk taking. Librarians often ask how I persuaded my administration to allow me to use online social networks for library outreach. My typical response is that I didn't ask. They don't observe my classroom instruction or my reference desk encounters, so why should they be involved with the extension of those interactions? This depends upon the culture at your library, but I hope to see us evolve into more flexible organizations that empower staff, rather than remaining dominated by policy and hierarchy. We should to have the freedom to act professionally and responsively, and to address patron needs in a quick and appropriate manner. * Initiate change. We can't always wait for others to do things; sometimes we have to make changes ourselves. If something is wrong, missing, or inefficient, let's not complain, but let's do something about it. I am inspired by the initiatives of two of my colleagues: Ross Singer, a web applications developer, was dissatisfied with many of the commercial products that we purchase, so he designed a value-added link resolver and is redeveloping the concept of "the library catalog." Bonnie Tijerina, an electronic resources librarian, recognized a gap in conference offerings and organized the Electronic Resources & Libraries Conference to address the need. We should take a solutions-based approach toward problems, and not settle simply for what is offered or for what has been traditionally accepted. * Break the silos. One of the biggest challenges, especially in large libraries, is that of the silo effect. It is easy to let our departmental identity define us; we rally around our "team," and strive to protect our interests. This is a terrible waste of our workforce. While it is easy to talk about the idea of collaboration, how can we make it happen? One way to start breaking down barriers is through social software tools: instant messaging, wikis, blogs, and networking sites. Let staff develop relationships that blend across personal and professional contexts. Opening the channels of communication encourages innovation that stretches across departments. When a problem or goal is identified, allow for the natural resolution process to occur, based upon respect and interest, rather than by title and authority. * Read outside the profession. There is too much echo in the library literature, and this includes blogs and lists. We keep busy by reinventing wheels. Personally, I learn a lot more from reading outside the professional literature, particularly in the areas of marketing, customer service, information technology, and architecture. If our goal is innovation, than we need to make sure that we're looking in the right direction. * Assess constantly. We need to remember that libraries are for patrons, and not for us. I'd like to see a true culture of assessment that looks beyond gate count, circulation stats, and reference questions and focuses more upon function and user satisfaction. We need to examine how collections, services, and physical space are used and how they can be used, and adjust accordingly. As we move toward redefining the concept of libraries, we need to ensure that the patron has a voice. And we need to make sure that they are not just telling us what we want to hear, but rather, are contributing toward the vision of what we can become. We do this by watching, listening, and interacting with our users, and by focusing on steady improvements. I'd prefer to aim for a culture of constant progress, rather than for one of proclaimed excellence. * Get involved. It's easy to be cynical; it's much more difficult to be passionate about making change. Libraries, particularly academics, often have a complex network of committees, task forces, and working groups that can hinder innovation. While it is tempting, and perhaps quicker, to develop projects outside the system, it's healthier to work from within the organization. Volunteer! Develop your reputation as someone who takes on tasks and projects. These contributions will open doors that can cut through the bureaucracy. Demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit by embracing a solutions- based approach toward problems and building a network of experiences with colleagues. Find ways to incorporate staff, including those without an MLS, from multiple departments; together you can gain genuine and effective influence. The future of libraries is yours. What are you going to do with it? Brian S. Mathews is a public services librarian at Georgia Tech. His blog is The Ubiquitous Librarian: http://theubiquitouslibrarian.typepad.com . ======== *** Need some encouragement on writing for publication? http://www.lisjobs.com/pub4lib/ ======== Small Steps to the Future: Rural Librarianship in the 21st Century by Daniel Sifton (dsifton@cariboord.bc.ca) When I leave my house in the morning, it takes me ten minutes to get to work. On foot. No commute, no traffic, and no long lines at the drive-through, anxious for a cup of coffee. But, it's not all fresh air and a choir of birdsong. Staying current while working in a large, isolated library system requires curiosity, dedication, and a sense of fearlessness in the face of change, as well as a willingness, perhaps even a desire, to be the architect of such change. These qualities are integral to any discussion about librarianship in the 21st century. They're especially critical in isolated locations where, over time, young professionals are presented with a stark choice: stagnation in the wilderness, or progress. For me, at least, the difficult road has always been the most rewarding one. I've been pursuing a multi-pronged approach for some time now, incorporating the following elements into my professional life: * I've seen your name before... I get to a conference at least once a year. Just recently, I began to notice that many of the faces in the hallways and lecture theatres were younger than mine, and they weren't just student representatives. Experience is only gained with time, but, as these youthful faces at conferences illustrate, curiosity, drive, and a desire for professional growth don't simply come with time; they require us to be actors. Not all conferences are equal, of course, but how will you know until you attend a few? Try out both large national events and smaller regional ones, where the faces may be fewer, but more familiar. I try to seek those faces out, if only to exchange a brief bit of shoptalk. For those reluctant to approach strangers, make an effort to attach faces to e-mail signatures by studying the sea of nametags before you; you'll soon find at least a few that you recognize. If you've ever needed an excuse to approach someone, this is a great opportunity to introduce yourself and strike up a conversation, while at the same time strengthening your ties to the library community. Chances are these contacts will be happy to introduce you to others, and in no time you'll feel more confident approaching the unknown. Who knows, strangers may soon be seeking you out. * You work in a library. Wow! You must like to read. The value of professional reading is so often overlooked. You may not be interested in publishing your own work, but that shouldn't stop you from reading others. Make a professional reading schedule and commit to it. If you can read just two articles a week, taking into account holidays and unexpected setbacks, you could read eighty articles in year. This won't give you expert knowledge, but your career, and maybe even your colleagues, will thank you. Best of all, with the growth of open access publishing, you don't need expensive journal subscriptions or database licenses. With very little effort you can find something of interest at E-LIS ( http://eprints.rclis.org ), DLIST ( http://dlist.sir.arizona.edu ), or the University of Michigan's OAIster ( http://oaister.umdl.umich.edu/o/oaister/ ). As the weeks go by, look back on the ideas you examined, share them at the meeting table, or, even better, use them as a catalyst for your own projects. * The times, they are a changing... Take note of the 2.0 revolution, and become a soldier for the cause. We all have ideas and expertise of some kind, so why not throw down some text at a place like LISwiki ( liswiki.org )? There's room for all voices, shy or boisterous. Subscribe to a few RSS feeds; they can save you a great deal of time in your reading schedule. Spend some time poking around in the blogosphere, or share bookmarks among the reference staff. If you find these tools to be interesting and productive, why not try them out from the back end? Not every library has a place for every new development, but with a bit of exploration and creativity you're sure to find a place for one or two of them. For example, every library has new books, even small public libraries with even smaller budgets; why not make a series of RSS feeds to showcase new titles? Regardless of your location or your budget, once you have an understanding of the new tools available, you can build to suit. * You must accept the terms of the agreement... Every time I hear of - or more often read about - a new idea, I make a note to look into it. Libraries are, after all, the place where people come when they need information. Why should it be any different for those behind the scenes? Sometimes, my investigation is simply a quick reference question, while at other times it becomes an idea to chase as a short-term research interest or a topic to explore in my readings. I try to extend this exploration to software as well. It's great to read about new technology, but as those who audit courses find out, there's no substitute for getting your hands dirty. You can get demo versions of most software these days. Sometimes a demo version is all you need to find out whether a particular tool is right for you and your library, and sometimes a demo is more than enough to complete your particular project. * Have you tried this..? When I know I can't do it alone, I ask. Being open to suggestions - and soliciting them when necessary - is integral to success in a changing environment. It's been my experience that, in the library community, you don't have to go very far for expertise and assistance. You do, however, need to be willing to ask. The answers aren't always on a list, or the other end of the telephone, but help often is. These connections help us grow professionally, while at the same time they strengthen the links between us, and ultimately the community itself. In time, of course, the queries will come to you, but regardless of your level of experience you're certain to need help now and again throughout your professional life. * Where do you see yourself in... There are multiple paths to success, but many of the signposts are the same. I'm not convinced that every librarian needs a blog, or that every library needs to create a wiki, or that installing Greasemonkey is practical in every location. Being aware of and understanding the possible applications of new technologies, though, is necessary if you want to stay abreast of the wave. It's not all about machines, though. Change has been the keyword for sometime now, and with that we need to be adaptable, willing leaders, with both "macro" and "micro" vision. Libraries and librarians in isolated locations need to be aware that, despite their distance from urban centers, patrons are increasingly expecting the "high-tech" standard of library service that they find in cities. Sooner or later we'll have to give it to them. Why not sooner? Daniel Sifton graduated in 2003 with an MLIS from Dalhousie University and is currently the Coordinator of Support Services for the Cariboo Regional District Library in Williams Lake, British Columbia. He can be reached at dsifton@cariboord.bc.ca. ======== *** Love the newsletter? Make a PayPal donation to its upkeep: https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=rachel%40lisjobs.com ======== Did You Know You Could Live a Second Life? by Lori Bell (lbell927@yahoo.com) I thought one life was enough for me. I have a demanding and fun full-time job as Director of Innovation at Alliance Library System and two kids to taxi around. However, I now also have a "second life," which is sucking a lot of time and energy from my first life - both work and personal. Last April, I decided to check out the virtual world Second Life ( http://www.secondlife.com ), and became fascinated with the world itself and the possibilities for libraries there. Second Life is a 3D virtual world for adults 18 and over, where one can create an "avatar" or "persona" and interact with others in a variety of different settings. (There is also a Teen Second Life for teens ages 14-18, where no adults are allowed.) Second Life is exciting - addictive - and fun! This world gives you a chance to look however you want, whether that is a robot, a harem girl, or an animal. It gives you an opportunity to be whomever you want, whether that is you or someone else... and the occasion to explore interactive virtual places like museums or the Globe Theater, to hear concerts, and to take classes. Art museums, shopping malls, churches, movie theaters, different cultures, and libraries, just as in real life, are now part of the Second Life experience. Some people choose for their avatar to look like their real-life self. Not me. I am 45, but my avatar looks 25. She doesn't have that middle-aged spread, and she is much better dressed than I am. She also has the long thick hair I have always wanted. (Better than that, I have both brunette and blonde avatars!) Not a Gamer, But... Although I love technology and the Internet, I have never been a gamer. For the past two years, my thirteen-year-old daughter has been playing the Sims, a CD-based game where you create a person or a family. You then have to take care of them, making sure they eat and use the restroom, get a job to support themselves, and take care of their children. This is fun, but I easily gave it up after the novelty wore off. (My ten-year-old son, of course, plays Star Wars, science fiction, and adventure type games on the Internet.) Last spring, though, I attended the Computers in Libraries conference for the first time, and I just loved it! All the topics focused on technology, the Internet, new gadgets, new ways of doing things, and better ways of doing things, and it was hard to choose programs to attend. I attended a program on virtual realities and the things educators are doing in virtual realities. Earlier in the year, I had read about the Gaming in Libraries Symposium ( http://gaminginlibraries.com )put on by Jenny Levine, the Shifted Librarian, and about a virtual world called Second Life and what people were doing in there. I had also read about a Minnesota university that had its journalism students do a simulation in the game of Never Winter Nights, where they had to interact with various community agencies to write a story about a city disaster. In 2005, the Alliance Library System had submitted a grant on gaming on behalf of some of our libraries as a way to try and keep teens interested in the library. It was not funded, but the process encouraged me to start to read about gaming as a teaching tool and how it can help kids learn in a fun and more engaging way. I began wondering what we could do that might be effective. The Roots of Second Life Library In April 2006, Alliance Library System started the Second Life Library Project ( http://infoisland.org ). We started with a rental space, then bought a plot of land and soon got an island (a very nice large space) donated to us. We knew education was moving rapidly into Second Life, but our main question was: would residents want a library in Second Life? The answer to that question has been a resounding and overwhelming "yes!" Another exciting factor which helped us grow so quickly is that we rapidly received offers of volunteer help for the library from all over the world, from librarians and others fascinated with what we were doing. We have been growing and building for six months, and in October 2006 we held our grand opening ceremony. Soon, we will have three islands: Info island I, which has two main fairly traditional libraries divided by subject area, contains resources from the web and some books. Info Island I also hosts Mystery Manor, a gothic castle to promote mystery reading and book discussions, the Talis Science Fiction and Fantasy Gallery, which will do the same for science fiction, an art gallery, an open auditorium, and some neat places for searching the Internet, Amazon, and a few other in-world sources. Info Island 2, which we obtained in August 2006, has a beautiful movie theater, a display building for promotion of digital collections and exhibits from the Library of Congress American Memory section, a Science Center, an Ancient Mayan exhibit, and space for two libraries with which we are working. Healthinfo Island, which we obtained through a grant project in October 2006. This island will house the medical library and a consumer health library, and will offer training and services to medical support groups and professionals. We also have a nineteenth-century library in an area where people dress in Victorian clothing, and buildings and manners are of the period. Get a Second Life What has been most amazing to me has been the opportunity to meet and work with people from all over the world, who I probably never would have met if not for this project. Our medical librarian, for instance, is from the Netherlands. I am also working with a group of librarians, led by Matt Gullett and Kelly Czarnecki, on a library for Teen Second Life. I have also been surprised by the really aggressive entrepreneurs and developers that are in Second Life, because they believe that this is the future. It is so important for libraries to have a presence in virtual spaces where people interact with information differently than I did growing up. This doesn't just apply to young people, either - one of the gentlemen actively involved in the science center is 82 years old. Libraries need to be in on providing services, working with the development of information distribution, and included in the social interaction. There is so much we have to offer, and we are currently getting more demands for service than we are able to handle with our current growth rate. If you want action and adventure, but don't have an addictive personality - or, even if you do! - join us in Second Life. We need help, and we need a variety of expertise to provide the services, programs, and materials necessary. Second Life is fun, rewarding, and something great to put on your resume. Lori Bell is Director of Innovation at the Alliance Library System in East Peoria, Illinois. ======== *** Have technology responsibilities in your library? Check out The Accidental Systems Librarian! http://www.lisjobs.com/tasl/ . ======== Becoming a 21st Century Librarian Through Long Distance Collaboration By Pam Harland (pharland@pemi-baker.sau48.k12.nh.us) and Pam Carr (pcarr@orcsd.org) Libraries are no longer housed in old brick buildings, with a shushing stereotype of a librarian seated behind the desk. Libraries are gateways to information from all around the world, and the 21st century librarian must keep up as partnerships and collaborators move from the desk around the corner to the other side of the globe. We know that we do our best work when we have others to share both ideas and the workload. Work is fun and easy when you work well with someone. But, what if that person moves across the country? Can you continue to work together as effectively as if that person were still in the same building? We believe that you can - and must - learn how to collaborate with whoever lights your fire and keeps your creative spark burning. The business world focuses on balancing effectiveness and efficiency. In libraries, we frequently focus on our books or our patrons, forgetting that there are wonderful tools that can make our jobs easier and more fun. Whether you are creating new library policies, establishing a school-wide research procedure, or writing an article for publication, when professionals collaborate, the results are astonishing. The Basics E-mail is obvious and the most basic method of collaborating over a distance. But everyone interested in long-distance collaboration now needs an instant messaging (IM) account, too. Google, AOL, Yahoo, ICM - the tool doesn't matter - as long as you and your partner(s) can communicate. We sometimes need immediate feedback, and this is how we do it. A special note about instant messaging: Some public institutions like town buildings and schools prohibit the use of IM services. If this occurs in your institution, make sure you bring your case to the people in charge, either the Information Technology Department or your immediate supervisor. This is an easy fix, and a very useful tool. Share Documents We adore using Zoho Writer ( http://www.zohowriter.com ) which allows you to access a document from anywhere and share your ideas with multiple users. Using a product like this ensures you are always working with the most current version of a document. When e- mailing attachments back and forth, it is easy to get confused about versions. Zoho Writer will even change the language of your document when collaborating with people from around the world. We are also happy that it offers word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software options. Whatever you are working on, you can share it, and each person can give input and make changes to the document either by saving over the original or by creating a new version. Share Online Resources Try an online bookmark service, which is free and easy to use. We like SiteJot ( http://www.sitejot.com ), because it allows you to create a categorized list of web sites which you can access from any computer; you can also make it public for collaboration purposes. Work in Groups Perhaps you are on a team that finds it difficult, if not impossible, to meet in person. We also recommend sharing resources by establishing an online group. We have created a Yahoo! group where we can store files, links, and images, and can easily comment and respond to each other. We have found that a group works best when working with more than one other person; establishing an online group for only two people is just too cumbersome. In addition to Yahoo! groups, try Google or MSN, or even establish MySpace accounts and create a group there. (It's not just for teenagers anymore!) Share Timelines Create a calendar, schedule meetings, and enforce deadlines. Google has a great new calendar tool ( http://www.google.com/calendar ) that you can use to publish and share with partners. Make sure you stick to the schedule and encourage each other. When you have a new policy to create or an idea for a new research unit, create and share your deadlines with your partner so that the work gets done. When you are working with someone, you will be more motivated to meet these established deadlines. Blog Set up a blog to share your ideas with your partner - and the world. People interested in your work will be able to read what you have written and comment on what you have done. We use Blogger ( http://www.blogger.com ), a free service that allows you to publish your thoughts and get immediate feedback from readers. All of these ideas foster spontaneous and mutual sharing of information, without a lot of interruption. Also, all of the resources are free - which is of vital importance to librarians everywhere. These ideas are not limited to long-distance collaboration: Share documents online with the teacher down the hall, or the librarian who is tied to the reference desk. Stay in touch with the people with whom you have shared success via long distance collaboration. Good collaborations will almost always result in exciting ideas, renewed energy for a project, and improved library services. Pam Harland received her MLS from Drexel University in 1994. She is the Library Media Specialist and Research Integrator at the Plymouth Regional High School in Plymouth, NH. Pam is the Technology Chair of the New Hampshire Educational Media Association, and lives in Rumney, NH with her husband and two boxers. She can be reached at pharland@pemi-baker.sau48.k12.nh.us. Pam Carr received her Master of Science in Business Education in 1992. She is a computer science teacher at Oyster River High School in Durham, NH. In addition to her teaching responsibilities she is also co-adviser of the school's National Honor Society. She lives in Brentwood, NH with her husband and daughter, and can be reached at pcarr@orcsd.org. ======== *** Visit The Liminal Librarian: http://www.lisjobs.com/liminal/ ======== What's Online? Recommended Resources On Becoming a 21st Century Librarian Learning 2.0/23 Things http://plcmclearning.blogspot.com LibraryLand Skills for Any Century http://freerangelibrarian.com/2006/07/libraryland_skills_for_any_cen .php OR http://digbig.com/4npdr Skills for the 21st-Century Librarian http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/07/17/skills- for-the-21st-century-librarian/ OR http://digbig.com/4npds (see also: The 21st-Century Librarian, Further Thoughts and Your Comments: http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/07/20/the- 21st-century-librarian-further-thoughts-and-your-comments/ OR http://digbig.com/4npdt ) The 21st Century Library http://freerangelibrarian.com/2006/02/the_21st_century_library.php Why Be a Librarian in the 21st Century? http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~hblack/whylibrarian.htm ======== Management Responsibilities? Check out The Accidental Library Manager: http://www.lisjobs.com/talm/ . ======== But I Want To Hold It In My Hand! Book Reviews Heye, Dennie. Characteristics of the Successful Twenty-First Century Information Professional. Oxford: Chandos Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1- 84334-145-X. $59.95. This book is probably the closest thing to a printed pep talk or rally that I have ever seen. With chapter titles like "You show leadership," "You can manage a project," and "You have effective presentation skills," the author provides a positive, upbeat manner with which to approach the skills and characteristics needed by any information professional in today's marketplace. Not only does he provide key skills needed, but he attempts to excite and push the reader to feel and know that he or she already possesses these skills. Visualizing, daydreaming, and post-it power brainstorming are just some of the cheerleading techniques used throughout the book, and the "You can speak the technical jargon" chapter provides an alphabetical listing of major acronyms and technologies currently available in the information environment. Heye takes a somewhat different approach from the typical "here's what you need to know, and here's how you go and get it." (ICT readers receive a special discount on this title through Dec. 31; see "Editor's Note" for details) Bradford Lee Eden, Ph.D., is Associate University Librarian for Technical Services and Scholarly Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He can be reached at eden@library.ucsb.edu. --- Maxwell, Nancy Kalikow. Sacred Stacks: The Higher Purpose of Libraries and Librarianship. Chicago: American Library Association, 2006. ISBN 0838909175. Price $32.00. Purchase from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0838909175/librarisjobsearc/ Is a library heaven on earth? Nancy Kalikow Maxwell explores the religious and spiritual aspects of that most public of institutions, the library, through its history. The first keepers of books were monks, and ever since, books and libraries have frequently been associated with religious life and high ideals. Some of the analogies between religion and libraries/librarianship are excellent and provide insight into current and attitudes and expectations regarding libraries from both the public viewpoint and that of librarians. Others, at times, feel like an effort to add yet another comparison. For Maxwell, the future of the library as an institution is dependent on its ability, as a sacred place, to provide solace, knowledge, and inspiration. Sacred Stacks is recommended for any librarian interested in the history of librarianship or seeking a reminder of the higher purpose of the profession as they go about their daily work. Loretta Dunne received a MSLIS from Drexel University in September of 2005. She also has a background in English and Computer Science. She currently works as a software manager for Computer Sciences Corporation. ======== Info Career Trends is copyright Lisjobs.com and Rachel Singer Gordon. Permission is granted to forward this newsletter in its entirety as long as the contents remain unchanged and this copyright message is included. For permission to reprint articles in this newsletter, contact the individual authors. If no author is listed, contact editor@lisjobs.com. If you find this newsletter useful, please consider becoming a voluntary subscriber for $10(USD)/year. 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