Library DIY infrastructure has been open sourced!

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Library DIY infrastructure has been open sourced!hi

by Meredith Farkas on 2/28/2014 with 7 comments

I wanted to let everyone know that we have just open sourced the Drupal-based Library DIY infrastructure. You can find it at https://github.com/pdxlibrary/Library-DIY We have documentation on how to get it installed on a server, how to get started using the system, and how to add/organize content. Unfortunately, we do not have the staff time …

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Don’t go it alone. On the benefits of collaboration.

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Don’t go it alone. On the benefits of collaboration.free the information!, instruction, librarianship, libraries, Work

by Meredith Farkas on 1/31/2014 with 5 comments

I don’t have all the answers. There, I said it! I’m a pretty smart person who did well in school and has been relatively successful in her career, but I don’t consider myself an “expert” in anything. However, when you teach, write a column for a major magazine in your profession, or even express yourself …

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Aloha Hawaii Library Association!

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Aloha Hawaii Library Association!speaking

by Meredith Farkas on 11/7/2013 with 3 comments

This week I’m in stunning Oahu speaking at the Hawaii Library Association. I’m super thrilled to have been invited to this amazing place and to have been lucky enough to bring my family along. Mahalo HLA!!! This post contains my presentation slides and links to the things I mentioned in my presentations. I hope these …

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Opening up knowledge on the tenure track

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Opening up knowledge on the tenure trackfree the information!, librarianship, libraries, open access, research, tenure track, writing

by Meredith Farkas on 10/23/2013 with 10 comments

I’m not a hero. I’m not an open access warrior. I’m not one of those people who would risk their career on the cross of Open Access. I’m not a badass who makes demands of publishers. I ask nicely. I’m on the tenure track and the idea of walking away from an opportunity to publish …

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Understanding why errors happen is more important than spotting them

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Understanding why errors happen is more important than spotting themassessment, instruction, librarianship, libraries

by Meredith Farkas on 9/10/2013 with 13 comments

People incorrectly using “big words” has always been one of my pet peeves. When I see a fancy word used incorrectly in a cover letter (and I have seen way too many… we’re librarians people!!!), I cringe. There’s something about it that rubs me the wrong way; like someone is trying to be something they’re …

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Good for what? Considering context in building learning objects.

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Good for what? Considering context in building learning objects.hi, instruction, librarianship, libraries, reference, tech trends, Work

by Meredith Farkas on 8/19/2013 with 12 comments

I’m working with a colleague of mine (Amy Hofer of Threshold Concepts fame) to create a suite of tutorials that are going to be integrated into online University Studies (think General Education) classes. One of the learning objects we plan to create is envisioned as being called “good for what?” Students tend to look at …

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MediaWiki-Based Research Guides

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MediaWiki-Based Research Guides

by Meredith Farkas on 8/2/2013 with 0 comment

When I started work at Norwich, we had some subject-focused pages with extremely out-of-date lists of Internet resources. These were out-of-date because the subject librarians didn’t have any access to the web server or any HTML skills. With a budget of $0 I was looking for a free and easy-to-maintain tool that allowed individuals with …

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Online Library Portal for Distance Learners

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Online Library Portal for Distance Learners

by Meredith Farkas on 8/2/2013 with 0 comment

Norwich University has a large population of online Masters degree students; they make up nearly half of the student population. Consequently, the library puts a lot of energy into designing services for their unique needs. The online programs are very much focused on integrating everything into the Learning Management System (LMS); from bill-paying to the …

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Writing

by Meredith Farkas on 8/1/2013 with 3 comments

Writing and research are great pleasures of mine and my work has been cited in hundreds of scholarly and professional publications, used as required readings in graduate-level library and education classes, and reviewed in many major library science publications. You can view selected publications that have cited my writing in my Google Scholar profile. Books …

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Speaking

by Meredith Farkas on 8/1/2013 with 0 comment

I have given over 100 presentations to small local audiences, mid-sized regional groups, and large national and international audiences. I have presented both face-to-face and online using just about every popular webinar software platform (Elluminate, Blackboard Collaborate, Adobe Connect, WebEx, GoToWebinar/GoToMeeting, etc.) Below, are several recorded presentations I have given. There is also a listing of …

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Our new model for Freshman instruction and how it went

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Our new model for Freshman instruction and how it wentinstruction, librarianship, management

by Meredith Farkas on 7/17/2013 with 5 comments

One year ago, I became our General Education Instruction Coordinator, which meant that I was in charge of our instruction to Freshman Inquiry and Sophomore Inquiry (our first and second year general education courses), 100 and 200-level writing classes, Speech classes, and the Intensive English Language Program. Last summer, I wrote about the new model …

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Library DIY: Unmediated point-of-need support

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Library DIY: Unmediated point-of-need supportinstruction, librarianship, libraries, management, MPOW, our digital future, reference, tech trends, Work

by Meredith Farkas on 7/2/2013 with 18 comments

I recently realized that while I write about a lot of things, I do not often write about the work I’m doing at Portland State and through the Oregon Library Association. I think it comes partly from a desire not to toot my own horn, but it also reflects my nervousness about writing about work …

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DIY vs. Startup, or false dichotomies and labels

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DIY vs. Startup, or false dichotomies and labelsfree the information!, Inspiring Stuff, librarianship, management, Work

by Meredith Farkas on 4/24/2013 with 12 comments

ACRL was a terrific conference experience for me. Not only did I get to see a lot of good friends and have a lot of deep conversations with other instruction coordinators, but I got so much out of the vast majority of sessions I went to. I will freely admit that the conference was overly …

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