I am slowly completing the MLIS, with no specialization for far. In chronological order courses taken thus far include; Reference with the late and great Alan Smith, Information Organization with Candy Schwartz, Oral History with Gail Matthews DeNatale, Technology for Information Professionals with Michael Leach, Evaluation of Information Services with Peter Hernon, Fiscal Management with Ernest DiMattia, History of the Book with Sidney Berger, Corporate Libraries with James Matarazzo, Internship at CHS Law Library, and the Introduction to Archival Methods and Services with Ms. Danielle Kovacs
Previous education: Bsc. Philosophy and Economics at LSE, then M.A. Arts Critiscism at City University, London.
Previous experience: in terms of information management I work in the IT department of a law firm, but last autumn I completed a fascinating internship (LIS501) at the the William Munroe Special Collections in the Concord Free Public Library. I am also on the board of the Friends of the Somerville Public Library.
What brought you to GSLIS, to Simmons? Firstly it is highly regarded but also Simmons offers some evening/Saturday/online classes so accessible for a working person.
How does your experience at GSLIS compare to previous education or work experiences? The courses depend very much on the professor imho so speaking to other students about their experiences is key. Also important to know oneself though, as a professors teaching style may not fit others but will work for you (or vice versa).
Professional Goals, Personal interests, favorite thing about GSLIS, surprising GSLIS fact, anything else you would like them to know about you. My library interests are in public and rural libraries; their place in the community, the (still existent) issue of the digital divide, bookmobiles, reference and the marketing/fundraising issues that face libraries.
Have to admit I am feeling a little lift of pressure after this last semester. Final projects and papers can be tense and working collaboratively (online) adds another dimension that tests your time-management, in a good way. So now that most of us have finshed it is time to do something for your community, your [...]
I never understood the first line of Moby Dick, “Call me Ishmael.” Got it now though. The site Power Moby Dick doesn’t so much interpret Moby Dick but rather reveals the history and meaning of words in the text. Very helpful. You can make up your own mind on author’s intent. Plus they have links [...]
April 19, 2012 – 12:05 pm
You don’t have to subscribe to online newsletters, blogs, and tumblrs – but since you are reading this you are halfway there… Librarians were and are some of the most profilic bloggers around and there are reams of lists and feeds from which to choose. I am going to just suggest two; the technical/rural Jessamyn [...]
April 12, 2012 – 11:29 am
The Shawshank Redemption is a fantastic film, we can move past that point. But when discussing libraries (and marketing) I often remember Andy Dufresne’s persistance in writing a letter a week to the state house asking for funds to buy more books and supplies. It is a crystal clear example of inserting yourself into the [...]
Library recycle bin find. Copyright 1972. Patterns include a dog blanket, wall hanging to display blue ribbons, and a throw for your horse knitted with circular needles you made from that leaky hose in the backyard. -via rockstar Somerville librarian Cathy P.
Brought to you by the American Library Association, the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Service, and the Association of Rural and Small Libraries comes the (third?) annual National Bookmobile Day -April 11, 2010. Bookmobiles are currently one of the most expensive services of many public libraries so inevitably the first to be chopped when budgets [...]
Converted bakery trucks are fine, a restored International Harverster Metro would be neat, but how about Appalachian mountain riders as your bookmobile service? As a feature of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of the 1930′s that was the case. Thousands of people lived in the crooks and hollows of Kentucky’s mountains. Without newspapers, telephones, or [...]
Unless you are working full-time and taking 3 classes while commuting from Maine, I bet a lot of the readers are also volunteering in some kind of library-related function. “Friends of the Library” groups are great for this, and as a connected, energetic, knowledgable library student you are perfectly placed to led your enthusiasm to [...]
This brutal beauty of reinforced concrete and glass is a library for UC San Diego designed in 1970 by architect William Pereira. The library was originally called the “Central Library” until a renovation was completed and it was renamed the Geisel Library Building on December 1, 1995 in honor of Audrey and Theodor Geisel (Dr. [...]
February 23, 2012 – 11:18 am
Had not checked in on StoryCorps for a while… but since 2011 they have started animating some of the oral histories. Great idea. The circle is completed by featuring Studs Terkel, a godfather of the academic oral history tradition (at least in the US) who was one of the inspirations for StoryCorps in the first [...]
