Time is money, right? So why waste it by spending hours researching and getting nowhere? That’s where the librarian comes into the picture. Hopefully you know that you can always come to the Reference Desk and ask for assistance, considering we drill that into your heads from the very beginning in New Student Seminar and English 102.
But did you know that you could also make an appointment with a librarian to get one-on-one attention specifically focusing on what YOU need? It’s getting to that time of year when you have research papers and group projects to work on and you might not have the slightest clue where to look. That’s the perfect opportunity to set up a time with the librarian in your subject area to get personalized help. Not sure who to talk to? Just contact the Reference Desk (either in person, by phone at 262.472.1032, or e-mail) and we can figure that out for you. Don’t be shy - librarians are good people.
The documentary about the image of librarians debuted this past week at the American Libraries Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The Hollywood Librarian seeks to shatter misperceptions about the modern career that is librarianship. The trailer for the movie was featured here on the Library’s blog back in May (link to the original post). The Washington Post wrote a review of the premiere of the movie, saying that “men in tuxes and women in gowns smartly walk the red carpet at the Washington Convention Center, to the “woo-hoo!” of adoring fans.” And yes, they were talking about librarians.
My favorite quote from the article has to be the following, as I’m not from Wisconsin, but I can still relate:
Laughing at themselves is something librarians are very good at… They have to be, they say, when the profession is so misunderstood. One librarian from Wisconsin recalled a friend asking — seriously — whether the MLS degree took so long because librarians first had to read all the books. As in, all of them.
link to the full article on washingtonpost.com
Well, at least the future of librarianship is hot. Don’t believe me? Just ask US News & World Report. They listed Librarian as one of the top careers for 2007. As they point out, “it’s an underrated career… help researchers plumb the oceans of information available in books and digital records… go on shopping sprees… put on performances…” Read the full report on their website.
Still don’t believe me? I’ve got more. Parade Magazine listed Corporate Librarian as one of the hottest careers for college graduates. As a side note, I was just at the Special Libraries Association conference in Denver with a bunch of corporate librarians, and let me tell you - they know how to have fun.
As if you still needed more evidence, Kiplinger.com, which publishes Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, included Librarian on their list of seven great careers for 2007. With keen observation, the author notes that “today’s librarian is a high-tech information sleuth, a master of mining cool databases (well beyond Google) to unearth the desired nuggets.”
Source: SLA Connections newsletter, May 2007
You may be asking yourself, “Why does the Library need a blog?” The answer is that the blog will serve as a way to let the campus community and beyond know what we’re doing. In addition to checking out books to you or helping you find information for your research, we do lots of other things.
For instance, we purchase books for the collection. As of right now, we don’t have a way to highlight the items we buy except by checking the New Books section or browsing the New Book Island on the second floor. Sometimes, we find books that we just want to share with the whole world. Check out the New Releases category to the right for more information.
What about things going on around campus? The University sponsors tons of events from lectures to cultural celebrations and much more. The Library has materials that relate to these events and we want you to know about them. Check the Campus Connection category to the right.
These are just a few examples of what this blog will feature. If you have any comments or suggestions, let us know!
