Author of The Hummingbird’s Daughter Speaking at PCC

The Author of the City of Pasadena’s One City, One Story selection this year, The Hummingbird’s Daughter, will be speaking on campus in Harbeson Hall on Friday, April 3rd, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Please come and welcome Luis Alberto Urrea to the campus.

Free tickets available at the Shatford Library Reference Desk or at the door.


Here is a summary that I “borrowed” from Pasadena Now:

The Hummingbird’s Daughter is the story of Teresita, a distant relative of Urrea, who comes to terms with her destiny with the power of faith. It is the tale of a father discovering what true love is and a daughter recognizing that sometimes true love requires true sacrifice. It is full of cowboys and outlaws, Indian warriors, cantina beauties, silly men who drink too much and desert women who in their dreams travel to the seashore. Urrea completed two decades of research and writing for this fictional history.



Urrea was a 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist for nonfiction and is member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame. He is a prolific and acclaimed writer who uses his dual-culture life experiences to explore themes of love, loss and triumph. The critically acclaimed author of 11 books, Urrea is an award-winning poet and essayist who has published extensively in all the major genres.

Born in Tijuana, Mexico, to a Mexican father and an American mother, Urrea attended the University of California at San Diego, earning an undergraduate degree in writing, and did his graduate studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder. A professor of creative writing at the University of Illinois-Chicago, he lives in Naperville, Ill., with his family

Tell you friends and the fiscally despondent that this is a good opportunity to reconnect with the literature world.

If they can't make the morning session there is another discussion about the religious aspects of the book at Fuller Theological later that afternoon and for those have a 9 t0 5 you can check Mr. Urrea at the Pasadena Convention Center Ballroom. From 3 to 5pm on Saturday, April 5th.

Library Technician Dialog - When 2 LT's Blog

It is a good day when I find an active library technician/assistant blog. From Canada, Library Technician Dialog contains posts from two LT's, Brenda who has interests in professional development and Karen who works in a law firm library.


I'm liking what I see here; Karen writes about adding value to her library job by showing her firm what a library assistant can really do for the firm. There is a joint post on how both of them apply that idea into reality.

There is a post on how Twitter can be more than just a time waste, it is a way to make or maintain contact with people in your profession. Brenda writes about the need for storytelling and public speaking skills (Yes, you do need them! No, you can't hide behind the stacks and hope people will go away.) She also writes about Wikis and a few Wiki options.

For those of you that asked for more relevant LT/LA information that matches what you are learning or what you might experience on the job, here you go. Make time to visit, it is worth it.

Ohio State University Cartoon Library and Museum

I do like cartoons. I like libraries. In a perfect world there would be a cartoon library. Fortunately, even in an imperfect world there is a cartoon library. The Ohio State University Cartoon Library and Museum has been in existence since 1977.


According the the About Us page its mission is to:

...develop a comprehensive research collection documenting American printed cartoon art, to organize the materials, and to provide access to these resources.
The scope of the collection includes:

• editorial cartoons
• comic strips
• comic books
• graphic novels
• sports cartoons
• magazine cartoons

There is a database to locate a certain artist or work:
You can search by creator, type of publication, type of market, the name of the cartoon or the format that the cartoon or graphic novel was published. Not all comics are represented but you do get to search for some of the early work in the topic.

You can view some of the collection online in galleries and albums:


This is a great example of a specialized library and a library/museum partnerships.

Volunteer Opportunities at Pasadena (CA) Central Library

The main branch needs volunteer assistance with the Pasadena Community Calendar and the online database AccessPasadena.net

What is involved:

• Data entry,
  
• Online research and verification,
• Customer service.

Provides an opportunity to gain inside knowledge of the various facets of public libraries.

Required skills:

• Effective computer skills: software, browser and typing;
• Effective communication skills: telephone and e-mail.
  

Recommended preparation

• Completion of: LIB 1, 10A, Bit25/CIS 1, LIB 102 (Reference) and LIB 105A (Cataloging)
  

Requirements:

• 5 hours per week, Monday- Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm. Flexible schedule.
  
• Minimum commitment of 4 months.

To apply, contact:

Aracely Sustaita
Technology & Information Systems
Pasadena Public Library / Glendale Public Library
626.744.4254 - phone
626.449.2165 - fax

COLT - Is It Too Late? Can We Offer Assistance?

I feel very odd about writing this. I've earned my certificate but I am unable to find a paraprofessional job that would provide for my living and continued educational expenses. In my day job I use some of my skills. My writing and other activities also draw upon all what I have learned in the program.

I haven't worked in a actual library in many years. I'd love too but no one could have predicted this financial insanity that is before us. I have kept the Counsel of Library Technicians Listserv active to keep an eye out for positions and to find out what folks are talking about in the profession.

Let me cut to the chase; there will not be a professional association if library workers, clerks and paraprofessionals and interested others don't step up and lend a hand. I think there are a number of things that could help the situation. But I am not a member.

It might not be appropriate for me to stick my two cents in but sometimes an outside perspective can help. I don't have magic up my sleeve. This is my opinion, not the LT program, the library or anyone associated with PCC.

This is a extract from a post:

It's great that you've been a member for over 10 years, but I must comment that this is the first time I've seen a posting from you. So - if the end result of the unwanted posting is to get people commenting, I find that a good thing.

The COLT web site is still active, but I just tried it also and couldn't connect. Possibly where it's being housed is down. The COLT Board will look into it. (It seems to be ok now.) I'm going to take this opportunity as a last communication before our July Board meeting to state COLT's needs.

Basically, we need a Board -
a.. Vice/President/ President
b.. Secretary
c.. Treasurer
d.. Members' Registrar
e.. & 5 Regional Directors
The current Board has stayed on for an extra year trying to work on things. We've asked for input from the membership and have received NOTHING. Tricia, that's was annoys me - the continual silence we've received. I can tell by your response that not hearing anything didn't sit well with you either. Yes - we've received messages about how it would be a shame for COLT to end, but it cannot keep going without members getting involved.

The current Board recognizes that for COLT to be viable, changes to its mission and way of doing things need restructuring. We need members who will take on the challenge. COLT will be holding a Board meeting in Chicago on July 10. ALA hasn't assigned our room yet, but when they do, we will post it to the list. This meeting is open to all. If you are going to be in Chicago, please attend and give us your ideas, your minds, your bodies!!! Keep posting to the list,

Jackie Lakatos
COLT Past President
Members' Registrar

I know how hard it is to find resources pertaining to library paraprofessionals and library workers. It is an old/new concept. From Pages, to Clerks to ??? who are we and what is our identity?

Many of us would like to be full time librarians but some of us would be happy pushing carts and sniffing book dust. What if we would like to just help out? Is there a place for us at COLT?

When I look at the listserve it is mainly job listings. I don't get a sense of community. Every once in a while a question will pop up or an announcement of interest but I don't know the members of COLT or have the same sense of community like I can get from the INFOLIT or FARLTR listservs. Those folks ask questions, pass on information and have wonderful discussions.

The community, not the technology sets that kind of engagement. Where is the Southern California library paraprofessional community? The national or international community? Outside of our LT program I don't know.

I do know about burnout. You can't keep asking the same people to pull the wagon and do the work without support. I've had that experience and it is not fun. Obligation will only take you so far.

What Can Be Done About It?

Yeah, I'd thought that might come up as a question. Well I'm going to take a risk here. I am going to ask a question on Twitter and some of the other social networking sites to see if there would be an interest in keeping COLT or being a part of it. I'm going to ask if there is or isn't a value could they drop a comment in the comments.

Not sure that I will get any responses. But if there are I'd like to know what they would want from an organization, what do they expect and what could the contribute? Not necessarily money.

I know one thing I'd change is the look of that COLT web site. No disrespect intended but it is so 1997 -ish. I bet it is hard to change information and have folks contribute if they don't know HTML. There are probably other constrictions as well.

I am bias, I think a monitored blog format works well for groups and it allows for updates when needed and not when the IT person can find the time to do them. A well designed web site could allow for easy uploading and changing of information as well.

Anyway, we'll see what does and does not happen. I certainly will pass on any comments to the organization. Feel free to put in your ideas as well.

Library Associates Companies (LAC) Needs Library Technicians

This is an re-post of an e-mail from Krista Goguen about two positions via Library Associates. Check out the details and prepare for action. Each position would be 20 hours per week. The Technician will provide library support services to clients located in Century City and/or Downtown Los Angeles.

Primary Responsibilities

• Process and route mail;
• Enter data into library integrated library system (ILS);
• Label, barcode, shelve and process materials;
• Perform filing as needed;
• Process library invoices and claims;
• Oversee Interlibrary loan;
• Perform library maintenance including shelving, shifting, weeding; older collection as needed / directed;
• Perform light and “ready reference” duties as needed.

Qualifications

• Library Technician Certificate, plus one year of library experience OR three years of library experience mandatory;
• Previous experience in a law library preferred;
• Bachelor's degree strongly preferred;
• Experience with mail sorting and maintenance strongly preferred;
• Familiarity with ILS systems strongly preferred;
• Excellent customer service and reliability, professional and friendly demeanor mandatory;
• Must be able to maintain strong attention to detail over the course of a full workday;
• Must be able to lift 25 - 30 pounds and move boxes and other materials on a regular basis;

To Apply

• Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@libraryassociates.com, and please specify the location you are interested in or both.
• Please use "Law Library Asst #1177" as the subject line of your email.
• If applying for both positions, must have reliable means of transportation

If you would like more information or would like to check out the other opportunities available via Library Associates visit the web site at www.libraryassociates.com

Save the Date - 4th Annual Interview and Job Search Clinic

All PCC Library Technology Program students and alumni are invited to attend:
Interview and Job Search Clinic
Saturday May 9, 2009
11:30a.m.-3 p.m.
Shatford Library Terrace Room.
The event will include a light lunch, speakers, resume review, information about types of jobs in various types of libraries and practice interview sessions.
More details and reservation information will be available in April.
Krista Goguen, Library Technology Program Coordinator
kfgoguen@pasadena.edu
626-585-7832