Dear future librarians...

So you want to be a librarian. You cannot pass these ted talk videos:

(1) What to expect from libraries in the 21st century:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa6ERdxyYdo

(2) Changing the conversation about librarians:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IniFUB7worY&t=260s

(3) Libraries: Innovative spaces to dream, think, and create:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhKAAVWrmRA

(4) The evolution of a librarian:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omsggt8M8Us

(5) Librarians of the future:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya7qVSWz01c&t=10s

(6) The library of the future:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B13qfU-9Cf8

(7) Libraries bridging the digital divide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J198u5HK0pY

(8) Collaboratories and bubbles of shush:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHdlWQ28gE8

(9) The dangerous myth about libraries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdQwrhxw8LM

(10) Libraries can be loud:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmwRpvUd9t0

It does matter WHO you know

I heard from NPR the other day advising job seekers how to land a job. However, in my experience it DOES NOT matter what you know and how good you are in your field. The most important part is... at least in most cases people landed a job because WHO they know. It is sad but that is the reality.

It's just the beginning... just wait and see

It is on this afternoon's news: CNN, New York Times, Los Angeles  Times, Politico are excluded.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/02/24/white-house-blocks-cnn-new-york-times-from-press-briefing-hours-after-trump-slams-media/?utm_term=.b199bde6fe50

School of Library Information Stuuides became "iSchool" - Name change!

University of Wisconsin, School of Library and Information Studies changed its name to "iSchool"!

https://slis.wisc.edu/alumni/futuredirections/

Statements of support for the name change:

https://slis.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Statements-of-Support-0928.pdf

Taking out the "library" from library school:
https://hacklibraryschool.com/2015/09/21/taking-the-library-out-of-library-school/

Library school and lawsuits

Just discovered these information: "sigh!" - Oh Boy!

http://www.kvoe.com/newsedit/11371-second-slim-professor-files-federal-lawsuit-against-esu

https://twitter.com/marchonemporia?lang=en

https://www.scribd.com/doc/290431606/Dr-Rajesh-Singh-sues-Emporia-State-University-ESU-Leaders-for-discrimination-retaliation-and-due-process-in-Kansas-federal-court

Health insurance

Yesterday I listened to NPR Moth Radio. One of the speakers mentioned his own experience with the American broken health system.

He was robbed and beaten up in New York City. He was in the hospital unconscious for a few days. When he came around a few days later, the nurse asked him the health insurance card. As soon as the hospital found out that he did not have heath insurance, he was asked to leave with broken bones. - He was self-employed at that time. As a self-employed person, you do not work you do not have income. He was unable to pay the rent and was thrown out of his apartment - homeless with a broken body.

The speaker couldn't hold his tears when he spoke. I can feel his sadness and frustration via his voice even though that was a couple years ago incident.

What kinds of health system in this country? What's wrong with us?

Librarians in the 21st century?

The evolution of "libraries and librarians"!

One thing I surely notice is that the ALA core librarianship competencies are very different from the one I learned in the library school in the year of 1998. Many words/phrases were "disappeared" from the current ALA core librarianship competencies such as "innovation", "lifelong learning", "collaborations", "partnerships", ...etc.

In addition to the "core competencies", in my own experience, you do need other "professional competencies" such as:
(1) A "referee" for library patrons who had disagreements/arguments in using the library computers;
(2) Dealing with an unsurprised kid who climbs up the bookshelf like a monkey;
(3) Clean the men's room when the custodian is not available
(4) Serve as a "peacemaker" for your staff and the library board members

Trumpian graffiti @ public library?

I read this article via the online Library Journal titled, "Ambiguous Trumpian Graffiti @ your library" - the graffiti was found in the library's bathroom. My first reaction is ... What's the point to put the graffiti in the bathroom? How many people would see/notice?).

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/blogs/annoyedlibrarian/2017/01/26/ambiguous-trumpian-graffiti-your-library/

Graffiti in library is not uncommon.  I worked a the branch manager at a public library for 6 years and I found "all kinds of graffiti" in the library. It is not the worst "vandalism" in the library. I have seen so many worst than that including "used" underwear in the stacks, MacDonald's leftover was put in the outside book drop (it took hours to clean the returning library materials!)

Pope Francis and Super Bowl 2017

Pope Francis calls Super Bowl a sign of peace, friendship, and solidarity.

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/02/06/pope-francis-sends-video-message-to-super-bowl/

Digital version of ourselves

In the past week, I have heard a few times from NPR about the "digital version of ourselves". Many people concern about what happen to the "death" face book accounts. There are pros and cons opinions. The positive side is that after you are "GONE" for years, your family particularly your grandchildren would be able to see your life without searching binders and binders of albums. The negative side is that the face book page would upset those who is survived. Apparently there is no good answers for that.