“Seriously though. How many MLIS-learned skills do you feel like you’re actually applying in your jobs?” I was recently reconnecting with a couple lovely MLIS (Master of Library and Information Sciences) grads. We were all talking about our shiny new jobs when one of them asked that question. My instinctual response was “Yes, of course I… Read More How does an MLIS transfer to the real world?
Weeding. Ever since my first job as a library page in 2007 I’ve been hearing about weeding. I’ve seen librarians pull carts of books off the shelf, and painstakingly consider each item. I’ve seen them create piles. I’ve seen them cringe. In library school I learned about it. I studied the CREW weeding manual, and… Read More 6 Things I Love About Weeding
This month as I begin my career as a public librarian at two different libraries, I’m doing a few things. I’m moving to a new city and buying a car. I’m memorizing piles of important information about the different systems. I’m meeting dozens of new (amazing) coworkers. I’m trying to master the “neat” bun hairstyle.… Read More 3 Best Librarian Characters in Fiction
It’s been a crazy month, filled with travel, adventures, and of course new music, shows, and books. One of my favourite things about librarianship is the spirit of curiosity. All the librarians (and future librarians) I know are always on the look out for new media to consume and new adventures to experience; and we’re… Read More What I Loved This Month #4: Sandman, Orphan Black, New Brunswick, and July Talk
As a former student of Rhetoric, and an avid satirical news writer and reader myself, I am fascinated by the information literacy issue surrounding fake news. Fake news aims to achieve three things: to entertain the reader, to provide commentary on a social or political issue, and to force readers to think critically about the… Read More Information Literacy Lesson: Evaluating Fake News Headlines
Don’t worry: This post contains no explicit spoilers. Out of the 7 books I took with me on vacation to New Brunswick, The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker gripped me deepest. Forget beaches: I’ve read this book on foggy interstate highways, in a hotel room beside Mount Washington, on a dock overlooking the harbor,… Read More Implicit Spoilers and Readers’ Advisory
harrypottercharacterreadalikes.wordpress.com I created a coping mechanism for muggles in denial: a Harry Potter Reading Map. I wanted to create a reading map that was as universally appealing as possible, so I decided to choose the most widely read contemporary series I could think of: Harry Potter. This story/character driven series appeals to readers of all… Read More My Latest Readers’ Advisory Tool: Harry Potter Secondary Characters Reading Map
“In order to be really good as a librarian, everything counts towards your work, every play you go see, every concert you hear, every trip you take, everything you read, everything you know. I don’t know of another occupation like that. The more you know, the better you’re going to be.” ― Allen Smith I… Read More Librarians and “Experience Advisory”
flash mob: a large public gathering at which people perform an unusual or seemingly random act and then disperse. Can be used to raise awareness of a cause, to showcase talent, or simply to build community in a fun way. In the past few years, I’ve become a whole-hearted Flash Mob lover. Whether it’s participating in… Read More Flash Mobs In The Library? Tips for Success
I created a “Gateway Graphic Novels” display that will guide new teen graphic novel readers towards highly engaging items, and will likely spark a further interest in the genre. The target audience of my display is teens aged 15-19, however, many younger teens and adults will also benefit from it. Graphic novel collections are becoming… Read More Gateway Graphic Novels for Teens – The Creation of a Virtual Display
Ontarian Librarian 