When I put the survey out, I hoped to get more responses than last time. Two years ago, I got somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 responses. I’ve been amazed to watch the number of responses grow and grow each day for the past two weeks. Right now, 750 people have filled out the survey; …
How can a library school teach their students to be user-focused if they model the exact opposite behaviors? Check out the assertive (and admirable) way that Jennifer tried to confront the issues she and other students had with the distance learning program at the Information and Library Science Department at Southern Connecticut State University. I …
I read Emily Clasper’s post yesterday about overachievers, underachievers and motivation and found that some of what she wrote made me very uncomfortable. I wasn’t quite sure how to articulate my feelings until I read Jennifer Macaulay’s rebuttal. Jennifer thinks she’s “odd” for not believing in absolutes and thinking that there isn’t any one definition …
In August of 2005, I conducted a survey of people in the library and information science profession who blog to get some sense of the demographic characteristics of bibliobloggers. The results of the first Survey of the Biblioblogosphere can be found here. After two years, it doesn’t take a survey to see that the library …
I’ve found a lot of great career and work-related posts over the past month or so that I’ve wanted to share with others. Being a librarian requires much more than we’re ever taught in library school. We’re rarely taught how to promote ourselves, how to deal with supervisors (or how to be supervisors), how to …
Way to go Gary Price for getting the electronic and non-book resources libraries offer the attention they deserve in the mainstream tech media! “Steal This Book? Don’t Bother”: Libraries are offering more free search services, database access, articles, photos, eBooks, audiobooks, music and museum passes than ever. Chances are you are buying, subscribing to, or …
When I find a post or article interesting and think I might want to comment on it, it goes into the “to blog” folder. That folder is getting pretty darn full, and I think it’s time I accept that I’m not going to blog all of these things and maybe should just point to some …
I had a nice, sparse, mellow speaking schedule all set for Fall, and then I got a few offers I couldn’t refuse, which turned my Fall into another disaster. Add to that the fact that I’ll be developing a semester-long online course at the same time and teaching two sections of my InfoPeople course (they …
You’re A People’s History of the United States! by Howard Zinn After years of listening to other peoples’ lies, you decided you’ve had enough. Now you’re out to tell it like it is, with all the gory details and nothing left out. Instead of respecting leaders, you want to know what the common people have …
Whenever I go on Twitter, it seems like Michelle is at a meeting or on her way to another meeting. It’s amazing the girl gets anything done with all those meetings! So I can completely understand her intense dislike for in-person meetings. I think everyone has been to meetings where they feel like they just …
Remember last week when I posted about wanting to teach a class on social software for library school students? Well, it looks like I may have gotten my wish. More details will be forthcoming, but suffice it to say, I will be crazy-busy over the next several months. I’m so excited!!! Paul Pival asked me …
Adam and I have gotten into a new show on A&E called Confessions of a Matchmaker, which follows a matchmaker in Buffalo, NY in her attempts to find love for people who have some pretty big issues. This weekend, one of the people looking for love was a former professional wrestler who was too scared …
Over the next week, I need to write my column for September’s American Libraries magazine. I’ve already decided that I want to write something about libraries and Flickr, but I’m not sure which library (or perhaps 2 libraries) to focus on. I have a few ideas, but I thought I’d put it out to my …
About a week ago, I was interviewed by Kara Jesella who was writing a story for the New York Times. She told me she was writing about how librarians are becoming more tech-savvy and how they are using technology in libraries. While talking to her, it became clear to me that she wasn’t particularly interested …
I answered an e-mail from a reader of my blog today who asked a question that I think is one of the most difficult to answer: I work for a rather large consortium in _______ and wondered if you have any advice on navigating around issues of privacy and professionalism when writing your blog? What …
Oh Meredith, why can’t you just write a nice, short, concise post? I really don’t know what happens! I start writing and my fingers just seem to take over. This is what happens when my husband goes away and leaves me alone with my thoughts. Sorry folks! Something I frequently think about when I go …
My book is available through Amazon! Originally uploaded by librarianmer I’m almost afraid to mention this for fear that I’ll jinx it, but it looks like my book is finally available through Amazon.com! It says “In Stock” and everything! Huzzah! Thanks to Rob and the rest of the folks at Information Today for helping to …
When I was asked to be one of the Top Tech Trend experts, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to attend the actual panel session this year, because I was slotted to be on another panel at the same time. I knew I’d at least post something to the LITA Blog, but I …
I’m kicking myself for having turned down the opportunity to take part in this, but I was (and am) way too swamped to take on anything else. My delightfully subversive friends Michelle Boule, Jason Griffey and Karen Coombs have come up with a brilliant reinvention of the conference session, which makes it possible to benefit …
I’m really excited about ALA and I can’t believe it’s coming up so soon! I’m giving three talks and have to do signings and appearances at the exhibits on Saturday, so I don’t have a lot of time to see DC or to go to sessions other than my own. Still, it’s going to be …