Maker/Create/Collaborativespace pre-conference – #RUSA #ALAMW14

I was fortunate to get off the waiting list for the RUSA MARS/RSS pre-conference and see what public and academic librarians think about the maker/create/collaborate space trend. The overwhelming message was the "maker/createspace" was not just about 3D and Audino, it was anything that isn't reference or readers advisory.  You don't need to be a…

Not as smart as I look…

For a variety of reasons, people seem to think I'm smarter than the average bear.  Maybe it's because I come from an academic family, or because I skipped first grade (betcha didn't know people did that!), or because I went to a private school and then a liberal arts college.  Or because I know a…

Minor Musings

Books, Reading, Etc. Just discovered Go Book Yourself.  Might be interesting to try to emulate for school, but definitely I'm recommending this to friends and students! If you missed this Atlantic article on how Tablets Make It Nearly Impossible for Kids to get Lost in a Story, go read it now. School Stuff We did…

I’m looking through you… or maybe not

"Transparency" is one of those terms that's tossed around a whole lot these days, particularly when it comes to governance.  There's a lot to be said for it, and most of all when a governing body makes some sort of change.  As Karen says in her brilliant take on ALA's new Code of Conduct, some…

The missing piece

Just after my school went on Winter Break I headed off to my former school (easier to see everyone in one place!).  They, like several schools I know, are struggling with the question of going 1:1 with some device, as well as the question of if they do, what device should it be?  Since my…

Where does the money go?

In November I had to prepare my AY15 budget. Yes, you read that correctly: November 2013.  The budget won't be finalized for several months yet, but it was an instructive exercize to consider what I'd be spending the school's money on from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.  What was the proper amount for…

My year in reading

This year saw some major changes in my life (new job, new town/state, new house) take away from my time reading, so rather than a book a day, it was a book every 1.12 days (325 completed).  In 2012 I spent a lot of time reading YA Nonfiction for YALSA, while in 2013 I started…