Librarians Thread! (No buns, please)

[jedi_librarian]

Second story was that I was destined to be a cataloger. Recenty my mom wanted me to clean stuff out of my old bedroom and I ran across three books I purchased from the Scholastic book club. Each had had a pocket and card in the back and a little number on the spine! And I knew the difference between fiction and literature because the poetry book was labelled with an "8" and the Robert Louis Stevenson was labelled with an "F".

I used to play library!!!! My old books all have pockets in them with cards with my friends' names on them (they were my library patrons). If I remember well, I think I turned nasty when the items were overdue, too.

 

[jedi_librarian]

Another school librarian checking in, graduate of UW-Milw. SLIS, now long term subbing for a librarian out on maternity leave.

Since being laid off two years ago, I have spent time organizing my books, my DVDs, and (don't tell) my kitchen cupboards (veggies; green veggies; green beans; french cut).

DH says I have to get a *real* job soon, because he's afraid I'll be organizing his tools next!

I love to catalog, too, find it very soothing.

Terri the Yoopermom/librarian

HA! He should feel lucky if you organize his tools!

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Patron: "I am looking for a globe of the earth."

Librarian: "We have a table-top model over here."

Patron: "No, that's not good enough. Don't you have a life-size?"

Librarian: (pause) "Yes, but it's in use right now."

How many of you know about Unshelved (formerly Overdue). Hit and miss but some of it is hysterical. They're speaking at Oregon Library Assn next month. Can't wait.

 

[jedi_librarian]

I LOVE Unshelved! I've met them at ALA and I got DH to get a signed copy of their latest book at Comic Con in San Diego. I'm going to PLA (Public Library Association) in Boston so I'll get to see them there AND I'm also going to Comic Con this year. The comic is hilarious! This week's on blogging is pretty funny, I thought.
If anyone wants to check them out:
http://www.overduemedia.com

 

[whnim64]

I don't have a degree in library science, but I work in our local small-town (pop. 1500) library. It was something to do after my computer programming job ended. It's part-time and minimum wage and I love working here. I do a little bit of everything, shelve books, assist patrons, enter the new books/magazines into our local database, etc. We have our own children's librarian, but I refuse to do that, especially for the summer reading program. If I wasn't already 'over-the-hill', I'd consider going back to college for my degree. I have a sweater, no clip, very short hair and do wear glasses, no chain.

 

[DVCLiz]

and (don't tell) my kitchen cupboards (veggies; green veggies; green beans; french cut).

Terri the Yoopermom/librarian

Terri, I wonder how many people on the planet would find this as funny and true as I do???

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Must...keep...thread...from...dying...

I can't believe out of the thousands of DISers there's only 8 of us who work in libraries! Come on now folks, fess up!

So am I the only one going to New Orleans?

And many thanks to the supporters and wannabees who chimed in. However, I think there's more of you out there

 

[SeattleRedBear]

I am right in the middle of my cataloging class, and I just have to say that I LOVE it! To me, it's like a treasure hunt, to find the right classification, etc. I would love to be able to do that all day long. What a cool job!

I think that's what drew me to cataloging. It's intellectually stimulating and sort of puzzle-solving sometimes. I think the next big thing (which I hope you'll get exposed to at some point) is using catalog records in new and different ways online and on the web.

So do you all know about "Find a library" search on Google?

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

My DD works in a library, does that count??

She started volunteering at age 14 with the childrens librarian and story-time programs, then when she turned 16 and wanted a paying job, she got hired as a page (shelver) and has continued to work there part-time to now. (She's almost 21, junior in college) She is in art school, with no definite plans about the future, but she has mentioned from time to time going for a graduate program in library science. I'm thinking that sounds good, with her art background, maybe she could work in a college library or something.

But it's all just talk right now.

Our whole family LOVES the library.

 

[jedi_librarian]

SeattleRedBear - I'm wondering what attendance will be like in New Orleans. Remember the year ALA was in Toronto and it was the year of SARS? Speaking of ALA, when I was in library school, since I'm in Chicago, for my Public Relations class, we held class down at ALA in downtown. It was pretty neat to put faces to names and see the whole "operations"

SunFloridaDisney - with your DD's background, she could work in a museum library and be an archivist! That would be neat.

 

[Glynis]

I think that's what drew me to cataloging. It's intellectually stimulating and sort of puzzle-solving sometimes. I think the next big thing (which I hope you'll get exposed to at some point) is using catalog records in new and different ways online and on the web.

So do you all know about "Find a library" search on Google?

Please tell me more about the google thing. I love to find new and different things that will help me out.

I have a question that maybe someone will be able to answer for me. A friend is on the library committee for a new charter school in our area. They are trying to finalize a list of books for the new library, and one very vocal woman is making her feelings known about certain books that she absolutely DOES NOT want on the library shelves. My friend asked me if there is someplace online where there would be a suggested list for titles for a new school? This school will teach K-12. I haven't tried searching myself, but came straight here to see if anyone here has an answer.

Thanks. By the way, I'm so happy to have this thread to come to for help!

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Please tell me more about the google thing. I love to find new and different things that will help me out.

OK, I got the phrase wrong. It's not "Find a library" but "Find in a library"

OCLC has opened up parts of WorldCat/FirstSearch to the Google harvester. So if you're looking for a book, if you see a link that includes the phrase 'Find in a library' that link is actually the results from a FirstSearch search (OCLC is calling this service Open WorldCat). If you include the quoted phrase "Find in a library" in a google search, it will specifically search WorldCat.

From the Open WorldCat display, you can specify a zip code or state/province and it will list all the libraries in that geographic area that have the book. Clicking on a link under one of the holdings libraries will take you to that librarys' catalog and execute an OCLC # search.

*** So one way for you to see if a library in your area has a book you're looking for is to do a google search for the book and include the quoted phrase "Find in a library" Try it and see!

Unfortunately, Google has not harvested the entire OCLC database and each library needs to turn this feature in order for the search link to be created in the search results, but it's at least a first step towards better access to library collections through Google.

 

[Glynis]

OK, I got the phrase wrong. It's not "Find a library" but "Find in a library"

OCLC has opened up parts of WorldCat/FirstSearch to the Google harvester. So if you're looking for a book, if you see a link that includes the phrase 'Find in a library' that link is actually the results from a FirstSearch search (OCLC is calling this service Open WorldCat). If you include the quoted phrase "Find in a library" in a google search, it will specifically search WorldCat.

From the Open WorldCat display, you can specify a zip code or state/province and it will list all the libraries in that geographic area that have the book. Clicking on a link under one of the holdings libraries will take you to that librarys' catalog and execute an OCLC # search.

*** So one way for you to see if a library in your area has a book you're looking for is to do a google search for the book and include the quoted phrase "Find in a library" Try it and see!

Unfortunately, Google has not harvested the entire OCLC database and each library needs to turn this feature in order for the search link to be created in the search results, but it's at least a first step towards better access to library collections through Google.

Wow! That is really cool! Do you think that most libraries will go along with this?

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Wow! That is really cool! Do you think that most libraries will go along with this?

I think more will as they realize that libraries must have a larger presence on the Web. I don't remember the specifics of setting it up, but it is pretty straightforward. More info at: http://www.oclc.org/worldcat/open/default.htm

 

[Glynis]

I think more will as they realize that libraries must have a larger presence on the Web. I don't remember the specifics of setting it up, but it is pretty straightforward. More info at: http://www.oclc.org/worldcat/open/default.htm

Thanks for the link. I can't wait to check it out! I'm going to forward this on to my classmates, if you don't mind.

I love all the new information I'm getting from all of you. Keep it up! I may make it as a librarian, yet!

 

[Crankyshank]

Not a librarian but plan on going for my MLS and also hopefully a certificate in curatorship. Eventually I want to work for special collections at either the University I currently work at or a museum.

My books aren't too organized at home except for my antique books. Those are organized by year published and edition number

 

[jedi_librarian]

Crankysnank -

Seattle and Glynis - Google is actually presenting a couple of programs at PLA. I was surprised to see that. Also, I saw that Amazon.com is having a booth at the exhibits. Interesting to see these companies now trying to team with libraries! It makes sense though. I think it's a win win for both sides..

 

[whnim64]

Crankysnank -

Seattle and Glynis - Google is actually presenting a couple of programs at PLA. I was surprised to see that. Also, I saw that Amazon.com is having a booth at the exhibits. Interesting to see these companies now trying to team with libraries! It makes sense though. I think it's a win win for both sides..

I use Amazon.com at the library to look up info for our patrons. Our Horizon database isn't very user friendly in looking up a series' order, i.e. Alex Cross series by James Patterson, so I go to Amazon.com. I also use it to find out when a book that is on our high demand list's release date is set if it hasn't been published. I haven't used Google, but might give it a try. We've just started using OCLC to obtain materials for our patrons.

 

[Glynis]

Not to sound ignorant, but what is OCLC? I'm just getting started and I've never heard that term before. Anyone? Thanks.

 

[whnim64]

Not to sound ignorant, but what is OCLC? I'm just getting started and I've never heard that term before. Anyone? Thanks.

From the OCLC website:
'Founded in 1967, OCLC Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. More than 53,548 libraries in 96 countries and territories around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials.

Researchers, students, faculty, scholars, professional librarians and other information seekers use OCLC services to obtain bibliographic, abstract and full-text information when and where they need it.

OCLC and its member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat—the OCLC Online Union Catalog.'