Call for Articles "It's Academic" column, PaLA Bulletin

Are you doing something new and innovative at your academic library? Have you recently researched a new and exciting trend in the academic library world? Are you looking for an opportunity to be published in the library literature?

If so, please consider submitting an article to the “It's Academic” column of the PaLA Bulletin. This publication is indexed in the Library Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA) database. Articles generally range in length from 1,000 to 1,500 words and should report on an issue that is relevant to academic librarians working in Pennsylvania.

Please send inquiry e-mails to both of the co-editors of the "It's Academic!" column:

--Rachel Masilamani: rpm18@psu.edu (Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus)

--Larissa Gordon: gordonl@arcadia.edu (Arcadia University)

PaLA CRD Webinar: User Assessment and User Studies

Dates & Time: December 15 from 2-4pm AND December 16 from 2-4pm (Webinar format is two 2-hour sessions)

Instructor: Erin Mayhood, Head, Music Library at University of Virginia

Description: In this workshop participants will learn how to transition their libraries into institutions that embrace assessment and user centered design. Specifically, we will learn how to:

1. incorporate users' expectations and needs into the program design process
   
2. understand and employ the basic methods of gathering user requirements data, including surveys, card sorts, focus groups, and usability testing
   
3. employ user requirements data in decision making and planning processes
   
4. keep up to date with ever-changing user demographics 5. incorporate user requirements data into library assessment programs

Cost: No cost to attend! The College & Research Division is able to provide this webinar through LSTA funds. Transportation cost to the webinar location is not included.

To Register: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGNlZy1OVDVSb0M4bjNTWi1RbHd0THc6MQ

Questions? Contact: Bonnie Oldham at bonnie.oldham@scranton.edu

This workshop has been fully funded with Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries and would not have been possible without the help of the College and Research Division of PaLA. Show your appreciation by becoming a member of PaLA! And if you are a member – thank you!

Blogging to Develop Your Digital Identity: Crafting Your Personal Brand

This was a session from the 2010 Annual PaLA Conference held Sunday, October 24, 2010 - Wednesday, October 27, 2010 in Lancaster PA. 

A panel of four librarians, Erin Dorney, Peter Coyl, Amy Pajewski, and Tara Murrary shared their insights for using blogging as a way to extend one's personal brand and provide a strong digital presence.  Each had different experiences and advice.

Peter Coyl started the panel discussion off.  Peter is currently a librarian at the Hsinchu International School in Taiwan.  He is a 2010 MLIS Drexel graduate, where he was awarded the Doris Keller Hossler endowed Fellowship.  His blog is called Adventures of a Guybrarian.  Peter started blogging back in 2004 and his current blog he started in 2009.  He started his blog primarily to be his digital portfolio.  He feels blogging is a great way to stay connected, especially since he is a librarian in another country.  Some other blogs he follows include Will Unwound, The Unquiet Librarian, Library Grits, and Dear Librarian.

Next up was Erin Dorney, a Syracuse graduate and Millersville University Outreach librarian, whose blog is called Library Scenester, which she began in 2007.  She addresses the 'would anyone really read it' thought with "If you are passionate about what you write, people will follow you."  She see blogging as an doorway for many opportunities, such as involvement in professional organizations, requests for more writings and publications, networking, friendship, and support.  She also offered some great advice:

• tie the physical to the virtual (don't silo yourself)
• be genuine and be professional
• monitor the conversation
• leverage social networking

Amy Pajewski followed Erin.  Amy is currently finishing her MLS at Clarion University.  She is a single mom and a full-time debt collector, but is actively seeking employment in the library field.  Her blog is called Adventures of a LIS Student, which she started in March of 2010.  She blogs primarily on things such as being a student, job searching, and her thoughts on things she read or learned about in the library literature.  She sees a blog as an opportunity to go beyond your traditional CV (Curriculum Vitae).  She sees two very positive benefits to blogging as always having a ready writing sample to offer and as a great way to establish relationships.

Last, but certainly not least for the panel presentation, was Tara Murray, the Director of Information Services at the American Philatelic Research Library (located in Bellefonte, PA).  Tara not only has a personal blog, DIY Librarian, but also participates in several group blogs.  She was very fortunate as blogging actually helped her get her job as the library wanted to start a new blog and she already had that kind of experience.  Some blogs that she followed early on (and still) include Jessamyn West's blog, librarian.net, and Meredith Farkas' blog Information Just Wants to be Free.  Tara's two main pieces of advice are to be yourself and to imagine that your boss, patrons, or mom are reading the post before you actually make it public.

The panel left time for Q&A and there were many questions, such as how to get started, how to find time, what to write about, etc.  The panel provided a very informed presentation on blogging and many left this session motivated to start!