So today was the last day for three of my five classes and it was honestly a little sad. I enjoyed my classes this semester and have been very lucky to find I'm going through the MLS program with some amazing people!
That being said, the last class of the evening, 505 (for which this blog was created), featured a panel discussion with several folks currently employed as librarians. I'm very happy to say I'll be working with one of them next semester (Joe Gerken from the law library) and I'm really looking forward to that.
What really struck me about the conversation was the job hunting process. The librarians caution that there can be more than a six month turn around on academic jobs. Doing the math, as a I stated in a previous post, I should start looking now. There are a couple of promising options (jobs at UNLV and Baltimore), but I'm going to save thinking about those for Monday. I still have one more class tomorrow.
In other news, I received the latest Law Library Journal and AALL Spectrum just in time to have time to read them. The last Spectrum had an interesting article on second life which seems like it has potential to be an efficient tool for distance education and perhaps virtual or ereference. Ah, the changing face of your local librarian!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Job hunting
I've been told by multiple people that you have to expect the turn around on academic jobs to be 6 months. Given that I'm graduating in May, and it's just ticked over into December, I suppose that means I need to start considering this now.
For those of you who are not aware, Law Librarians tend to work in one of three place:
-Academic Law Libraries
-Court Libraries
-Law Firm Libraries
One of the librarians I work with has begun sending me job postings, which is really neat, but also a little overwhelming! My goal is to work reference at and Academic law library. Often times, Law librarians teach legal research, which is also something I'm excited to do.
What I'm not excited about is getting started on the process! I mean, I AM excited about the potential of finding a job I enjoy since I discovered during law school that lawyering wasn't for me, but I'm already getting butterflies just thinking about going out on these interviews... and worrying about if my resume (which should be converted to a CV I suppose) is formatted properly and all that. Then there's doing a presentation during said interviews if you're lucky enough to get one.
Hrm... I think it's time to scour the internet for tips and tricks about the interview no? If I find anything good, I'll post it here!
For those of you who are not aware, Law Librarians tend to work in one of three place:
-Academic Law Libraries
-Court Libraries
-Law Firm Libraries
One of the librarians I work with has begun sending me job postings, which is really neat, but also a little overwhelming! My goal is to work reference at and Academic law library. Often times, Law librarians teach legal research, which is also something I'm excited to do.
What I'm not excited about is getting started on the process! I mean, I AM excited about the potential of finding a job I enjoy since I discovered during law school that lawyering wasn't for me, but I'm already getting butterflies just thinking about going out on these interviews... and worrying about if my resume (which should be converted to a CV I suppose) is formatted properly and all that. Then there's doing a presentation during said interviews if you're lucky enough to get one.
Hrm... I think it's time to scour the internet for tips and tricks about the interview no? If I find anything good, I'll post it here!
Internet Resource Limitations
It's funny (and maybe a little sad) that we seem to have grown so reliant on the internet for all our needs. Specifically, in my case, the internet as it's offered through UB.
See, for the last near decade, I've been happily playing the role of career student, earning (by May '08) a trio of different degrees. For the first 7 years of that existence, I lived in on campus housing, contently using the internet as provided by UB, doing my last minute research without a care for the power of the databases provided to me.
Then reality struck this morning.
I was busily blogging when a question occurred to me. Just as I had done many times before, I set about to research the answer. I went over to heinonline.org which is a terrific resource for legal research as they put up PDFs of a large number of Law Journals.
To my horror, I couldn't log in.
What the heck happened?
What should I do?
Then it hit me. Hein's expensive. The University pays for it. This was the first time I had logged on from a non UB connected computer.
It may me sad.
But what it really did was drive home the reality that these fantastic resources that university students take for granted are not always readily available! Enjoy them while you have them and make the best of them!
See, for the last near decade, I've been happily playing the role of career student, earning (by May '08) a trio of different degrees. For the first 7 years of that existence, I lived in on campus housing, contently using the internet as provided by UB, doing my last minute research without a care for the power of the databases provided to me.
Then reality struck this morning.
I was busily blogging when a question occurred to me. Just as I had done many times before, I set about to research the answer. I went over to heinonline.org which is a terrific resource for legal research as they put up PDFs of a large number of Law Journals.
To my horror, I couldn't log in.
What the heck happened?
What should I do?
Then it hit me. Hein's expensive. The University pays for it. This was the first time I had logged on from a non UB connected computer.
It may me sad.
But what it really did was drive home the reality that these fantastic resources that university students take for granted are not always readily available! Enjoy them while you have them and make the best of them!
Audio Visual is a good time
As I mentioned in my first post, I work up at the Audio Visual Center at UB's Law Library. This has been a neat semester equipment wise as we've (well, the people running the place, anywho) been able to acquire nice new equipment.
Among the new toys erm.. ah.. they're not toys... equipment at Koren are:
A new real, brand name Elmo! No, not the fuzzy thing. An Elmo is a fancy visualizer.
A brand new Eiki, which is a projector.
New monitors for all the user computers because the old ones were, well, old (and from what I hear, UB is trying to make sure there are no more beige monitors/desktops on campus)
And most importantly (for my sanity and no other reason) a brand new fiche reader which we've dubbed "Michael." (Like the archangel, because if you know what it's like to work with a couple decades old fiche reader, you'll understand why we've given the new guy such a delightful title)
It's been really interesting to see, even over the course of one semester, how much the demand for technology in the classrooms has gone up. There are definitely days where we're close to not having the equipment to match the need (though I don't believe that has actually happened yet!) It seems it's high time for the university to start looking into making all classrooms tech classrooms though, judging from the poor treatment the screens in some of the tech rooms have received, I can understand the hesitation on the University's end.
Among the new toys erm.. ah.. they're not toys... equipment at Koren are:
A new real, brand name Elmo! No, not the fuzzy thing. An Elmo is a fancy visualizer.
A brand new Eiki, which is a projector.
New monitors for all the user computers because the old ones were, well, old (and from what I hear, UB is trying to make sure there are no more beige monitors/desktops on campus)
And most importantly (for my sanity and no other reason) a brand new fiche reader which we've dubbed "Michael." (Like the archangel, because if you know what it's like to work with a couple decades old fiche reader, you'll understand why we've given the new guy such a delightful title)
It's been really interesting to see, even over the course of one semester, how much the demand for technology in the classrooms has gone up. There are definitely days where we're close to not having the equipment to match the need (though I don't believe that has actually happened yet!) It seems it's high time for the university to start looking into making all classrooms tech classrooms though, judging from the poor treatment the screens in some of the tech rooms have received, I can understand the hesitation on the University's end.
It's all been done...
Woo hoo hoo. (anyone catch the Bare Naked Ladies reference? Anyone?)
Anyways, it always seems in this vast world of the internet that it's hard to come up with something new and truly unique. So, allow me to point you to a resource that's far better developed than mine, but which I hope to use on occasion to bring interesting points to your attention.
www.lawlibtech.com
Cindy Chick, who is the owner of this blog, frequently writes about emerging technologies of which I'm often unaware. Definitely check out her blog if you're interested in tech in law libraries!
Her pictures definitely made me wish I had gone to librarian 2.0
And actually, thinking of conferences, I strongly urge you all to make sure you get out to the big professional networking style ones but on by your library association of choice. I attended the ALLUNY (Association of Law Libraries of Upstate New York) conference this past October and it was a really good time. Can't wait to hit up the AALL (American Association of Law Libraries) Conference in Portland in July! It's all about the networking, kids!
Anyways, it always seems in this vast world of the internet that it's hard to come up with something new and truly unique. So, allow me to point you to a resource that's far better developed than mine, but which I hope to use on occasion to bring interesting points to your attention.
www.lawlibtech.com
Cindy Chick, who is the owner of this blog, frequently writes about emerging technologies of which I'm often unaware. Definitely check out her blog if you're interested in tech in law libraries!
Her pictures definitely made me wish I had gone to librarian 2.0
And actually, thinking of conferences, I strongly urge you all to make sure you get out to the big professional networking style ones but on by your library association of choice. I attended the ALLUNY (Association of Law Libraries of Upstate New York) conference this past October and it was a really good time. Can't wait to hit up the AALL (American Association of Law Libraries) Conference in Portland in July! It's all about the networking, kids!
Welcome! Welcome!
Howdy all! The purpose of this blog is to discuss two things. First, I hope to address technology as it effects law libraries. Many libraries, not just the law ones, are currently wrestling with the concept and integration of e-reference. Also, there are other factors to consider as well, such as distance learning and increased availability of material on line.
The other thing I'll post here from time to time is my experience as a student worker in the University at Buffalo Law library. I've been there since May of this year working in two departments; Acquisitions and Audio Visual. Starting in January, I'll also be at Reference. Definitely excited about that!
So please feel free to read around and comment and all that good stuff. Thanks for dropping by!
The other thing I'll post here from time to time is my experience as a student worker in the University at Buffalo Law library. I've been there since May of this year working in two departments; Acquisitions and Audio Visual. Starting in January, I'll also be at Reference. Definitely excited about that!
So please feel free to read around and comment and all that good stuff. Thanks for dropping by!
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