At the Ref Desk (12/13/17): Last shift of the year! [more...]
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Leo Klein's blog

Current Cites for Sept. 2016

Submitted by Leo Klein on Sat, 10/1/16 (10:55am)

go to Current Cites
Current Cites for Sept. 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended a helpful article from the Journal of Web Librarianship that discussed the use of Google Analytics to improve library website design.

First Saturday of the New School Year 2016

Submitted by Leo Klein on Mon, 9/12/16 (10:40pm)

Annual photo with Jim from Access Services.

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First Seven Jobs

Submitted by Leo Klein on Mon, 8/22/16 (10:09am)

Okay, since everyone's doing it:

  1. Sales Assistant (Radio Shack, Chicago) - 16 yrs old.
  2. Print Shop / Mimeograph Machine (Small indy business selling mailing lists on magnetic tape*, Playboy Tower, Chicago) - High School.
  3. Customer Service, Credit Dept. (Carson, Pirie, Scott, Downtown Chicago) - College.
  4. English Teacher (Year Abroad Program, Paris) - Post-College.
  5. Manager, Hot Dog Stand (Fullerton Ave. Beach, Chicago).
  6. English Teacher (Rome, later West Berlin).
  7. Construction/Rehab Worker (West Berlin).

*Computer storage 70s style [source]:
magnetic_tape_1970s.jpg

Current Cites for July 2016

Submitted by Leo Klein on Tue, 8/2/16 (6:37pm)

go to Current Cites
Current Cites for July 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended an article describing an innovative 'beacon-based' navigation system which opened with this excellent piece of advice, "...as with other technologies before it, usefulness does not magically emerge from implementing new technology; rather, it is the culmination of a comprehensive plan for merging technical know-how with business knowledge or user-generated content."

Chicago FestWeekend

Submitted by Leo Klein on Sat, 6/11/16 (8:32pm)

Three days of incredible events:

  • RibFest on Friday, 6/10
  • LitFest on Saturday, 6/11
  • Blues Fest on Sunday, 6/12
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Depaul University 'Library All-Star' Award

Submitted by Leo Klein on Sat, 6/4/16 (3:25pm)

University Librarian Scott Walker biked over with the "Library All-Star" Award for me on Saturday. Thanks, everyone!

From the Awards page:

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Logical Next Step

Submitted by Leo Klein on Mon, 5/16/16 (11:18pm)

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

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Current Cites for April 2016

Submitted by Leo Klein on Fri, 4/29/16 (1:36pm)

go to Current Cites
Current Cites for April 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended a rather enjoyable research article that looked at focus groups involving college students and their searching habits -- a situation rather familiar to those of us fortunate enough to work in public service. Included were lines like, "few students were aware of what a 'subject librarian' was".

Job Description : Part-time Reference Librarian

Submitted by Leo Klein on Sat, 4/16/16 (2:31pm)

Just got a request to describe my activities as a part-time reference librarian. Here's my response:

Basically the part time job is totally reference (i.e. public service) work. Questions run from 'where is the copier/bathroom/color-printer' to 'I'm writing a research paper on advances in chemistry in the 18th Century and need to find some research articles'.

Am I an expert on advances in chemistry in the 18th Century? No, but I know where to get the student started and I can also show the student how to find articles and, equally as important, how to evaluate search results so that they branch out into even better material. I also know, finally, what the limits are and who and when to refer them to other people.

That's pretty much what I do.

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The Post App Internet

Submitted by Leo Klein on Tue, 4/12/16 (3:47pm)

Yet another bad idea bites the dust:

At the same time, it is clear that, apart from a shortlist of popular apps, most people just aren’t downloading a lot of apps anymore. Any given person spends 80% of her mobile time using her favorite three apps, according to ComScore. And few people go looking for new ones these days.*

Ya mean, I don't need to download a separate piece of software for every website I visit on my smartphone?
________________
* Jessi Hempel, "Facebook Believes Messenger Will Anchor a Post-App Internet", Wired (4/12/2016).

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