The list of professional blogs that was included in our project outline was slightly out of date, but I did find a couple of blogs that I found interesting. I've also chosen to include a blog that I follow faithfully, that is partially the work of a former librarian and is very relevant to my line of work.
The first blog that I am going to review is DIY Librarian which is maintained by Tara Murray. I tried to find information about her on the blog, but I couldn't find an "about me" section. I didn't find all of her posts relatable, but I did enjoy some of her topics. Of specific interest to me are her posts on copyright including her most recent post about Microsoft, and her post titled Do Creative Commons licenses work for creators?. I am always interested in learning about copyright and how the laws and limitations affect my work in the library. I was especially interested to see her opinion on Creative Commons licenses because Ms. Murray is both an author and a librarian so she can see both sides of the copyright issue.
The second blog that I am going to discuss is the newly redesigned Public Libraries Online. I am actually going to be writing for this blog, and before my first blog is published I decided to start reading the site to see what the tone of the blog was, and what topics have been covered. I actually really like this site, the blogs are short and to the point. The blogs are all written for use by public librarians, so I find many of them relevant. I've especially enjoyed the posts about giving romance books their due (even if I am not a big fan of them), and the post about a child's first visit to the library. There was also a post about the 80/20 rule and how that can help boost circulation.
Another blog I love, and had to include, is Forever Young Adult. This blog is awesome! They review books, movies, and TV all related to teen literature. They also bring out nostalgic posts like their Childhood Relics Cover Story There are author interviews, in fact one of the major contributors to the blog is author Brain Katchor. This blog helps me keep up with TV shows that I should know about, but don't/can't watch since I do not have cable at home. While this blog may not be considered a professional blog, one of the owners is a former librarian, and these women are obviously dedicated to young adult literature.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Revisiting Assumptions
At the start of the semester we had to introduce ourselves and give some of our assumptions/beliefs on librarianship. I love my job, and if you look at my assertions from earlier in the semester you can see that. Something I've struggled with, and didn't mention earlier though is the fear that my beloved profession might not be relevant in the next 5-10 years (or even sooner). You hear a lot about the downfall of the library, and how libraries are no longer needed in today's technological world, but over this semester I've learned that that isn't true.
Libraries aren't only "the place where the books live" (as describe on Buffy the Vampire Slayer), they are the placed where learning is fascilitated. Yes, children and teens go to school to learn, and teachers are there to teach them and give them information, but librarians continue that job and we expand upon it. There will always be people that need help learning. People who need help with resumes, choosing books to read, and having a place to socialize. Libraries aren't going to die, they are going to evolve. The libraries we have today aren't very similar to the original libraries, aside from being places where information is stored. So, who are we to think that just because libraries are changing now means that they won't exist anymore?
I still feel the same way about my job as I did before, except that after this semester I am more confident that my job will be around when I am older. That the library will survive, it may look different than it did when I started (almost a decade ago?!), but it will still be standing.
Libraries aren't only "the place where the books live" (as describe on Buffy the Vampire Slayer), they are the placed where learning is fascilitated. Yes, children and teens go to school to learn, and teachers are there to teach them and give them information, but librarians continue that job and we expand upon it. There will always be people that need help learning. People who need help with resumes, choosing books to read, and having a place to socialize. Libraries aren't going to die, they are going to evolve. The libraries we have today aren't very similar to the original libraries, aside from being places where information is stored. So, who are we to think that just because libraries are changing now means that they won't exist anymore?
I still feel the same way about my job as I did before, except that after this semester I am more confident that my job will be around when I am older. That the library will survive, it may look different than it did when I started (almost a decade ago?!), but it will still be standing.
Comparative Analysis of Professional Journals
The two journals that I've chosen to compare are: VOYA (Voices of Youth Advocates) and School Library Journal. VOYA was an easy choice for me, since it is my most used library related publication, but then I had a hard time finding a second source that doesn't directly tie into what I am studying. I chose School Library Journal, because I do read it on occasion, and I do get some good information in the journal, but I am not planning to work within a school library, so the journal is not specifically focused on what type of librarian I am.
The intended audience for both journals is librarians who work with youth. VOYA has a smaller demographic because it is for librarians who work with middle, junior, and high school aged children, while School Library Journal is for librarians who work with children in grades K-12.
Both journals publish book reviews. VOYA breaks their reviews down into Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror, Non-Fiction, and Professional books. School Library Journal has their reviews separated by age group, and then by media because School Library Journal also reviews audio books and videos. VOYA also includes articles with book lists, or that deal with technology topics, and programming information. School Library Journal includes more legal information, like questions about copyright infringement, and information about upcoming technology and how it will change the teaching landscape. Both journals focus on children/teens and literature, but VOYA is focused on the more casual side of this topic, wheres School Library Journal is for the academic side.
I don't believe either journal is peer-reviewed, although both do have an editorial staff. VOYA does offer to have teens write review of books that are then published in the journal, but each teen review must be accompanied by a librarian review as well.
VOYA is very approachable. It is one of the first journals I used frequently when I started working at the library. The style is conversational, and there is a very positive tone to the articles and editorials. I've been able to relate to most of the articles, even though I work in a small library with a very limited budget. I rely on this journal the most for reviews and it is the one that most influences my book purchasing. School Library Journal on the other hand has help me learn about new technology to be aware of, and it has helped me understand copyright issues when dealing with in-library (or in-school) displays. I don't rely on this journal nearly as much as I do VOYA, but the information that I have used from it has been important.
The intended audience for both journals is librarians who work with youth. VOYA has a smaller demographic because it is for librarians who work with middle, junior, and high school aged children, while School Library Journal is for librarians who work with children in grades K-12.
Both journals publish book reviews. VOYA breaks their reviews down into Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror, Non-Fiction, and Professional books. School Library Journal has their reviews separated by age group, and then by media because School Library Journal also reviews audio books and videos. VOYA also includes articles with book lists, or that deal with technology topics, and programming information. School Library Journal includes more legal information, like questions about copyright infringement, and information about upcoming technology and how it will change the teaching landscape. Both journals focus on children/teens and literature, but VOYA is focused on the more casual side of this topic, wheres School Library Journal is for the academic side.
I don't believe either journal is peer-reviewed, although both do have an editorial staff. VOYA does offer to have teens write review of books that are then published in the journal, but each teen review must be accompanied by a librarian review as well.
VOYA is very approachable. It is one of the first journals I used frequently when I started working at the library. The style is conversational, and there is a very positive tone to the articles and editorials. I've been able to relate to most of the articles, even though I work in a small library with a very limited budget. I rely on this journal the most for reviews and it is the one that most influences my book purchasing. School Library Journal on the other hand has help me learn about new technology to be aware of, and it has helped me understand copyright issues when dealing with in-library (or in-school) displays. I don't rely on this journal nearly as much as I do VOYA, but the information that I have used from it has been important.
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