Comments on: Not without the Web

By: Jason Puckett

Jason Puckett — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:47:17 +0000

More ways than I can think of, I’m sure, but the most recent and immediate thing is that it allowed me to go to library school.

I just graduated from the FSU distance ed MLIS program. The last library school in Atlanta closed a couple of years ago, and there’s only one program in Georgia (Valdosta, not accredited until about a year ago). My wife and I aren’t in a position to relocate, and thanks to the web we both able to get our master’s degrees this year.

By: effinglibrarian

effinglibrarian — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:15:59 +0000

For those who haven’t seen Meredith speak, I remember (maybe last year) how she once worried about her presentation skills (I think you had a video that you were criticizing)… well, she’s an excellent presenter (imo). I like to listen to people who are both excited about their material and comfortable enough with their knowledge that their speech sounds like normal conversation. It’s fluid, as if the whole audience is a single person; so it’s intimate, not like someone just reading their notes.
So I really enjoyed seeing her at SEFLIN. And meeting her. She’s so much taller in person. (!)

By: Meredith Farkas

Meredith Farkas — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:07:56 +0000

So to all of those people who says that the Internet makes people more isolated, I say look at all the people who commented on this post who have made personal connections and enriched their careers because of it. Awesome! Thanks for commenting everyone!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:47:42 +0000

Without the web — I couldn’t do the work I do from home… I wouldn’t have met my husband… I would know almost none of my library colleagues… I may not have written any books!

By: Michelle McLean

Michelle McLean — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:09:01 +0000

I live a lot on the web. My job is virtual services in my public library, I communicate through the web with other people more than by phone (and to a wider group of people), I do most of my bookings, organising, seeking information and contact with government, businesses etc through the web at least first.

My life would be totally different without the web.I don’t know if that’s all good, but I’m happy being a virtual girl. (I do still have a very good physical life too!)

By: Jenn

Jenn — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:28:39 +0000

Without the Web, I might not be a librarian.

After 8 years in the restaurant industry, I was burned out and used Google to help brainstorm possible new careers. With not much more to go on than “I like to do research,” I found articles, websites, listservs and, most useful, ALA.

While the Web helped me decided, it was also the Web that helped me do it– I got my MLS online through the University of Illinois’ LEEP program. With debt piled high from undergrad and a 4-year MFA, I needed the in-state tuition, but couldn’t move downstate. The online program not only solved these problems, but it got me thinking about the Web, the internet and new technologies in ways I never would have in a traditional classroom setting.

I love you, interGoogleWebnets.

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:19:53 +0000

Hi,
I’m 5 classes away from completing my Bachelor’s (online) and then moving on to complete my MLIS (also online). This is an opportunity that recently came my way, but given that I live in such a small town in the middle of nowhere, and have a family, and work full time–if it weren’t for online ed this would not be something I could do.
Other bits… I sold a lot of my old stuff a couple of years ago on eBay to fund a week+ trip to New York.
I’ve met all sorts of people from all over the world (literally! I have formed very close friendships with people in Italy, Prague and all over England) & some of these friends have made trips to my tiny corner of small town USA to come see me.
I sincerely love what the Web has done for me–the doors it has opened for me and the vast, wonderful resource it can be.

By: Rob H.

Rob H. — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:48:44 +0000

Great post Meredith! Like you I probably wouldn’t have a lot of what I have without the Web. The one main thing is my Library degree (Also from FSU -’04 ((could we have been in some classes at the same time??))) The web has enriched education tremendously. Blogs, facebook/myspace/etc, chat and virtual worlds are taking distance education to whole new levels. For that I am grateful and excited!

By: Terry

Terry — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:49:23 +0000

Without the web, I wouldn’t be a librarian. If it wasn’t for Distance Learning, I’d either be an associate (with a second job?) or would have left the field for something else.

Also, I have no idea how people developed collections before the Internet. Runes maybe?

It was really awesome hearing you speak and meeting you! And you should watch Black Books: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJg_WMw56Hw

By: Fiona

Fiona — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:01:32 +0000

I agree. I think you would have been noticed without the web, but in the past these things took longer or took a lot more work to maintain contacts or attend events.

For me the Internet is the leaping off point – I research something online and I network with someone who knows about it and arrange to meet.

My first website was a fan site for a tv show. I met my husband nearly 11 years ago online, through a newsgroup and he interviewed me about that website. And yes, online tools like Skype and IM let us stay in touch easily, since we lived on opposite sides of the country then, and again now while we are living on opposite sides of the world.

Given how much I travel, I am not sure I would travel so much if I didn’t have the web to make organising everything faster (if not easier – researching hotels and destinations still takes a long time).

I did my first library school degree face to face, but not the last two. Blogging helped to make contacts, which made me more confident to volunteer for other things.

I never underestimate how awesome it is to have a question and be able to get an answer as a blog comment or on Friendfeed/Twitter, or support from a friend on the other side of the world. I really wonder what involvement I would have had in the profession if I graduated two decades earlier.