Not with my cataloging. NEVER!
For the last few weeks, when I wake up, rather than practicing Yoga or Pilates or going for a walk, I've been brewing a cup of coffee and toasting a slice or two of whole wheat bread. Then I sit on the sofa and watch the birds at the feeder and listen to the waterfall on the very little pond we've constructed near the house.
But as cozy as that scene is, I'm noticing that I feel stiffer and I'm not sleeping as well at night (although that could be caused by the suddenly hot and humid weather). So this morning (Monday is always a good day to begin good habits) I put on one of the easier Yoga audio tapes and spent 45 minutes stretching and breathing.
Then I brewed a cup of coffee and toasted 2 slices of whole wheat bread.
My perpetually changing schedule makes it difficult for me to get into a routine of exercising, but that's something I really need to work on. Last week I started my new project at MassCat cleaning up that database. I'm finding possible duplicate bibliographic records, determining if they really are duplicates, and merging all of the libraries' holdings onto one. I'm also upgrading skimpy records that were imported from other systems when the library joined MassCat. It's tedious work, but very gratifying. MassCat will have a squeeky clean database when I'm finished with it.
Cataloging for the private O'More Library is nearly complete so I only have to make one or two more trips to Cambridge.
And I need to start seriously preparing for LIS415. Now that I've re-energized my exercise program, can that be far behind?
Monday, July 18, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Librarian Chic
"For people my age, being a Librarian is the thing to do. It's very chic." So said a twenty-something library staff member at a retirement party I attended recently.
I didn't know that, but it explains why so many people are enrolled in the Simmons GSLIS programs - both east (Boston) and west (Mt. Holyoke College). Until I actually worked in a library (at UMass/Amherst) I didn't know there was such a thing as a Masters degree in Library Science. I wonder how the profession became so hip. I guess all the PR over the years has finally begun to have an effect.
Given the current state of financial support for libraries, one might consider getting a Library degree to be a little risky. But I firmly believe that attending Library School helps develop some valuable skills that will come in handy in the future regardless of where you work. And there are a lot of library-related occupations out there where people can earn a living without working in a traditional library setting.
Right now, I'm doing okay as a contract cataloger working for libraries that have projects but don't want to hire staff. Even though I don't get benefits like health insurance and vacation time, I have flexible hours and I really enjoy the variety of going to different places and using different software. If nothing else, it keeps my brain nimble and I get to meet lots of interesting people.
So I'm glad being a Librarian is now the "in" thing to do. If only we made more money, too!
I didn't know that, but it explains why so many people are enrolled in the Simmons GSLIS programs - both east (Boston) and west (Mt. Holyoke College). Until I actually worked in a library (at UMass/Amherst) I didn't know there was such a thing as a Masters degree in Library Science. I wonder how the profession became so hip. I guess all the PR over the years has finally begun to have an effect.
Given the current state of financial support for libraries, one might consider getting a Library degree to be a little risky. But I firmly believe that attending Library School helps develop some valuable skills that will come in handy in the future regardless of where you work. And there are a lot of library-related occupations out there where people can earn a living without working in a traditional library setting.
Right now, I'm doing okay as a contract cataloger working for libraries that have projects but don't want to hire staff. Even though I don't get benefits like health insurance and vacation time, I have flexible hours and I really enjoy the variety of going to different places and using different software. If nothing else, it keeps my brain nimble and I get to meet lots of interesting people.
So I'm glad being a Librarian is now the "in" thing to do. If only we made more money, too!
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