Change in tune towards E-book devices

From this article by Brad Stone and Motoko Rich in the New York Times it's interesting to hear the slow change in tune towards E-books readers as the technology improves & the market expands. Has anyone implemented E-book devices into their library services?

Librarian of the week award goes to Josie Parker

Most impressive skills displayed chasing after a thief see CNN for more

Closing dates for the MLIS in 2009

The closing date for the 2009 MLIS program at VUW has been extended until the 1 December, from Brenda Chawner [LIM Programmes Director]:

We will begin assessing completed applications in early December, and expect to let applicants know the outcome before Christmas. If places are still available after that, late applications may be accepted in the New Year.

Therefore, it's not too late!
If you're thinking about it, I thoroughly recommend the MLIS as a flexible learning option. Maybe if you are unsure, you can tentively take the first step by just doing a COP [Certificate of Proficiency] for a topic you are interested in to see if its for you.

Jessamyn West is the Best

Ah hell, my favourite librarian blog site is by Jessamyn West. About nine years ago she managed to score the librarian.net domain name. She's very cool and she may be coming to (not speaking at, just visiting) the ALIA New Librarians Symposium in Melbourne on the 5th-6th of December! Sorry I tried for the LIANZA conference but it was too late-a-notice. She's popular I tells ya!

Now get back to your study!

L for Legend - Sandy Bergman

heard of Sandy Bergman? Well if you haven't, now's your chance. A legendary cataloguer in the US, campaigner of changes in LC subject headings and making things more intuitively accessible, for example, suggesting that LC change "water closet" to "toilet". Rather logical dude I think. Anyway, sadly, I learnt about him through another posting on my favourite blog site.

Libraryland folk with vocal cords and instruments...

Found a video that I thought you readers would like - something to get you in the mood again... Librarians rocking out wooyeah!
[courtesy of Jessamyn]

Hacker runs up a big phone bill

Paranoid about phone or computer safety? Read this article about a hacker who cost a public library US$15,000 - ouch!

Librarian by Haunted Love

This song is spookily good - check out their MySpace if you haven't already :)

Online course boom

This is an interesting article about the boom in online course enrolment due to the cost of travelling to and from class in the U.S. It would be interesting to see if Universities/Polytechs in New Zealand who offer online/extramural courses are seeing the same statistics.

I guess an interesting study would be to explore the reasons why people chose to study online over the next few years - and the ramifications for distance services from a librarians point of view.

New quote for the week...

kia ora koutou

I just found an interesting reflective-type quote from a list-serv (web4lib) that I subscribe to:

The summary of the ALA session seems to suggest that individual libraries and librarians can somehow act ("need to move forward") now in order to save their own business. I think that is to underestimate the long term change. People who used to run small independent bookstores weren't stupid. It's not their individual fault that so many of
them have been replaced. The automobile is not the horses' fault.

- Lars Aronsson (lars@aronsson.se)
Aronsson Datateknik

The guy is talking about

this article. My favourite part is the bit about the automobile. Makes you go, "... yeah, yeah you're right".

Thoughts?
na H

Open Polytechnic Cross Credits

Reminder of final chance to qualify for cross credits from the New Zealand Library Studies Certificate! The folk at the Open Polytechnic advise that:

The Open Polytechnic has offered cross credits from the New Zealand Library Studies Certificate since 1999. As we update our courses to follow developments in the wider information industry, the content of these courses is now significantly different to that of the Certificate. Consequently, we will not offer cross credits for specific courses after 2008.

If you need any further information, the webpage is
http://tinyurl.com/yr9gc4

Back to blogging from Dunedin

Hi everybody! I had a brief hiatus from the internet while I moved down to Dunedin and re-organised my life. But now I'm hooked up at home again my internet withdrawal symptoms should soon disapate. My new job in the mornings at the Otago district law society's library - which hopefully will allow me to make up all the time I lost whilst moving to work on my research project in the afternoons. Being in a sole charge position is a bit of a change, but it's great to be learning about a different sector of the library world...in between moments of panic at how much there is to learn. The ODLS library has a lovely historic collection which is housed in the Dunedin law courts building which is great, because I've been an 'electronic' librarian for the last few years...so when people say "Oh you're a librarian, must be nice working with books" I can now say "well.. yes it is" :)

How is everyone else doing with their library studies thus far this year?

New to this space!

Hello to all fellow Library and Info students

I work at Tai Poutini Polytechnic Library, in Greymouth, with one other staff member. I've been here for the past 4 years (wow, time flies when you're having fun!), and had worked at the Grey District Library for over 7 years after leaving school. In 'those days' I wasn't encouraged at all to do any formal study, but loved the job and grew in confidence and capability over that time.

I am working on the Level 6 Diploma of Information and Library Studies, currently 'Information Issues', with the Open Polytechnic. My manangers are really supportive (both financially and professional development time), and have encouraged me to continue from the L5 Diploma... who knows how long it will take to get my degree, but I am working on it - just one paper at a time is enough when working full-time.

I look forward to reading your posts - and maybe putting in my penny's worth every now and then!

Daphne

Study options for 2008

Planning to make the leap into Library and Information studies this year? Here are some options for study in New Zealand.

The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand
The Open Polytechnic have a range of undergrad programmes from Degrees such as the BA Information & Library Studies Major to the ever popular Diplomas in Information & Library Studies (Level 5) and (Level 6).

The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand is government-owned and funded, delivering courses throughout New Zealand and internationally.

All courses meet rigorous and transparent quality standards. They are either accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority or approved by the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality (ITPQuality).

The Open Polytechnic courses may be a good option for busy people who like the flexibility of Open and Distance Learning.

Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, School of Information Management.
There are a number of postgrad degrees to choose at the Vic Uni from the Certificate / Diploma in Archives and Records Management (Cert/Dip ArcRec) and Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) and Master of Information Management (MIM).
You can either study on campus or some courses such as the MLIS offer distance study through Internet conferencing software. You can take your time with the MLIS as well and complete it over 1-4 years.

Te Wānanga o Raukawa
Two options are available from Te Wānanga o Raukawa which offers specialised Māori and Information Management programs.
Diploma in Māori and Information Management, DipMIM
Bachelor of Māori and Information Management, BMIM
If anyone has taken one of these courses, it would be great to hear about your experiences.

Why should distance MLIS students at VUW have to pay for Student Services?

Hi everyone,
I've just got my Fees Statement for my 2008 studies for my MLIS at VUW and once again I've been charged for student services. I've got a problem with this as a distance student. How, exactly, are student services supposed to be useful to me? Why should I pay for them? I've been through a list of the main student services and other things that I can find and don't think that many of them are relevant to us distance students.

Accommodation Service - only of use in Wellington
Career Development & Employment Service - most of us doing an MLIS know what career we want to be working in. Also don't think they offer a distance service.
Counselling Service - only of use to on-campus students
Creches - only of use to on-campus students
Disability Support Services - OK, this is probably fair, but I don't need their services
Financial Support & Advice - as distance students are studying part time and working part time, we shouldn't need these students. Also don't think they offer a distance service.
Health Service - only of use to on-campus students
Student Learning Services - apart from a few pamphlets handed out at the Orientation for the MLIS, all courses etc. seem to be on-campus only with no support for distance students.
VIC OE - irrelevant to distance students as you must be a full-time student
Salient Magazine - unavailable to distance students (Has any distance student ever even seen a copy?)
Student Job Search - irrelevant to distance students who are already working; unlikely to offer library or information management type positions
Class Reps; Funding of Clubs; Sporting Events; Entertainment activities - only of use to on-campus students

Sure, I'm really happy to pay for the distance student service of the library and for the LIM orientations. These are both things that are of great value to distance students.

But why should we be paying for the rest?