Did you miss ALA? Want to see Pitt's Book Cart Drill Team?

Pitt's Book Cart Drill Team won 3rd place in the Book Cart Drill Team World Championships! The bronze book cart should be arriving in the IS Library any time now.

Here is the video of their performance at ALA Annual:

We're having waffles!

We are having a "Library Social" pancake and waffle lunch this Wednesday from 11am-2pm at the IS Library. They told us all about it, and now we're telling you! You should tell your friends, too!

I heard a rumor we're also having a SCALA meeting this week... Come by on Monday, July 27 at 5:15pm in IS502 for our final summer SCALA meeting!

Final Summer Meeting!

Our final SCALA Meeting of the summer will be held on Monday, July 27 at 5:15pm in IS502. Hope to see you all there!

Summary of today's panel discussion on Conference Etiquette

A BIG thank you to Roxanne for taking these notes!

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Professional Conference Etiquette for First-Timers Panel Discussion - PARAPHRASED MINUTES

Joe Prince - Student to Staff Representative at 2008 Anaheim ALA Conference

Dr. Kip Currier - 1996 ALA in New York City, 2000 ALA in Chicago -

Suzi Wackerbarth - 2003 ALA in Toronto (not highly attended because of SARS), 2004 ALA in Chicago, Public Library Association Conferences - Recommends smaller conferences if ALA is too overwhelming to you.

Weston River North 5:30 -7:30 Sunday July 12 SIS Alumni Reception

Kip - If there is a program you want to attend that requires registration, get there early before it fills up.

Suzi - It is very common for people to be in and out of programs. It is not considered rude to get up and leave for whatever reason. It may also be a good idea to pop into a random discussion or presentation, you may find something you enjoy that you didn't already know about. Be Flexible, it is okay to deviate from your plan. Go to at least one morning session and one evening session, but don't forget to check out CHICAGO!

Anita Riley: As a job seeker, what are your recommendations for what to have with you? attire?

Joe Prince - As a student, business casual is the best way to dress in the event that you stumble upon people looking to hire. Carry resumes and business cards.

Kip - Recommends getting business cards at Kinko's; it is okay to put "MLIS expected..."

Anita: What would you say is the most valuable type of event to attend? Workshops or Panel presentations, or poster sessions etc. What should we prioritize?

Joe: What interests you the most? Poster sessions can be overwhelming. Joe is a middle school librarian and recommends going to meet-and-greets with authors.

Suzi - If you want to attend a session that costs money for dinner, it is okay to show up after the dinner has ended to just view the presentation only.

Kip - Visit vendors to see new software, and workshops. He integrates information learned on the subjects he teaches to own personal topics into lectures. Tailor it to your intended career path. Who are the [famous] speakers?

Suzi - Do the exhibits!

Joe - There are fun things in the exhibits such as a conference-wide scavenger hunt. They are both informational and recreational.

Anita: Is it appropriate to wait around to speak with the presenters?

Suzi - Has done this. You can gauge by the size of the group wanting to speak with them whether to stay or not.

Kip - If it is an author or someone famous, they may be around later to speak with or sign autographs.

Anita: Do any of you have any experience with the Job Placement Center?

Kip: Has interviewed at ALA but outside of the Placement Center. This is why it is important to have your CV, Business Cards, a full suit(if you choose), etc. If you are going to ALA to have a pre-scheduled interview, do your homework beforehand. Employers want to see that you have looked at the website, know trends. Be friendly, open, and enthusiastic.

Anita: What was the most valuable experience that you have been to at a conference?

Joe: Consider your own weaknesses and what skill set you hope to develop. If there is something you feel wasn't addressed in any of your courses, find a workshop that covers that. Challenge yourself. The more you fortify yourself, the better your experience will be.

Kip: Conferences are a great opportunity to visit the great libraries such as New York Public Library.

Lisa Campbell: Question about Social Events/Networking at Conferences: Are happy hours great for social networking? How would you handle yourself if you don't know people there?

Kip: Left a happy hour with 25 business cards. He can't tell you enough how important it is to go to a happy hour. He continues to be in contact wit those he met here. Its not always easy, but go for it! Its is a worthwhile experience.

Wrap up, Final thoughts:

Suzi: They key is to go in knowing it is going to be a real experience. It is a HUGE experience. Just make sure you don't overwhelm yourself with events but DO HAVE A PLAN!

Joe: Hint for the exhibits: Bring an extra bag for SWAG. Advanced copies for books. Eat outside the conference center, it is cheap.

Suzi: You WILL get a bag(s). Have business cards including to enter drawings.

Kip: If you have a job interview be punctual. Be EXACTLY on time. Write thank you notes for interviews. Think about what kind of e-mail address you have, is it professional? Check social networking! Is your facebook acceptable?

Zack: How many business cards?

Kip: 50 to 100

Suzi: Bring your cellphone! Know everybody's numbers!

Volunteer Opportunity

Hey everybody, here's a great opportunity to help out a local library, and also release some stress via breaking stuff with hammers!

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I am looking for volunteers to help demolish the Children's room in
the Carnegie Library of Homestead. Don't worry ---- it's not
permanent. We are remodeling.

Here are the jobs that need to be done:

- carefully take existing paintings off the walls
- cover carpet with tarps
- take book cases off the walls and put in trash (unless a volunteer
would like the wood)
- put up scaffolding
- prep and paint the walls
- prep and paint the columns at the entrance way to the room
- prep and paint the ceiling

We will provide the paint, brushes, scaffolding, and some tools.
Please bring hammers, screw drivers, tarps, ladders, buckets, and any
other instruments you think we may need (put your name on whatever you
bring).

Demolition day is Monday July 6, 2009 at 8 am and will continue
throughout the week.

Please let me know if you are able to help. This would be a good
community service project.

Thank you!
--Paula Borsch
412-462-1257

Library Education

For those of you that don't receive emails from ALA, I thought I would pass along this message from Jim Rettig about ALA's Special Library Education Task Force.

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Dear colleagues:

In my travels to chapter conferences and other events this past year I have heard many ALA members talk about library education. I think that library education is somewhat analogous to the weather—everyone talks about it but nobody does anything about it. That is not the case with library education, especially not now.

In January a Special Library Education Task Force, chaired by Dr. Carla Hayden submitted its report to the ALA Executive Board.

The Task Force’s full report is available at http://tinyurl.com/r2nt25. The Task Force identified eight core competences that students in Master’s degree programs in library and information science should master. At the Midwinter Meeting in Denver this past January the ALA Council approved these competences (see Council Document #10.1 at http://tinyurl.com/qyn8nb).

The Task Force also made a set of recommendations related to accreditation of MLIS programs. I wrote about these recommendations in my May American Libraries column (see http://jimrettig.org/content/columns/documents/May2009PDF.pdf). The Committee on Accreditation (http://tinyurl.com/molhom) is reviewing these recommendations and seeks comment on them from ALA members and other stakeholders. It has set up a blog at http://www.oa.ala.org/accreditation/ to hear ideas from ALA members and others regarding the recommendations and the current Standards for Accreditation.

I encourage all ALA members with an interest in education for the MLIS to read the Task Force’s report, the competences document Council approved, and the Standards and to share their ideas with the Committee on Accreditation via the new blog. This is one time when talking about library education can be more than just talk.

Sincerely,

Jim Rettig
ALA President

General Meeting 6/29

Our June General meeting will be this coming Monday, June 29th at 5:00pm in IS 502. Hope to see everyone there!