Why do we need librarians

One of my class-mates (BF) posted this on the DB, I thought it was interesting.

Delta sucks

Not so long ago I saw a web page dedicated to bad customer service from Delta Airlines and what do you know, last Friday everything described on that site happened to my mom. Her flight was delayed for 4 hours, then she and other passengers were placed in a Ramada Inn Hotel in New York. Not only Delta Airlines staff didn't help anyone with carrying luggage to the bus, but they also issued fake food vouchers, which hotel did not accept. So, my mom and bunch of other moms from Ukraine were pretty much starving through the night.

Follow up on GWLA response

One of my colleages passed this along: Momentum for Open Access Reseacrh

Back to School

I can't believe that summer is done and I am back to school this week. My new job is fun, a lot of details. Something new I learned: CONSER. and also FRBR

GWLA

I thought THIS was interesting. Also, was wandering why our University didn't sign it, since we are members?
Today I got a call from my Ukrainian Embassy for more documentation to change my last name. The good news my passport is ready, but I have to fly to San Francisco to pick it up:( This means I have to take a vacation day, which I try to save, because my mom comes to visit in September, plus I hate flying.

More on blogging

I really like this blogging thing: at first I was posting my threads just because of the requirements of LIS 2600, but now I am sucked in:) Wish there was a job which required you to read other people blogs, I'd apply in a second. Also I wished I read the blogs earlier: there are so many good ones out there. New info for me this week: Michele, who posts all kind of interesting info(recent death and biography of OCLC founder) or Amy, who was talking about a book by Douglas Preston, which I checked out at our library and read with great pleasure.

Last breath

I am on my lst breath: we supposed to discuss our last book review and I can't think of anything. There are 4 people from my group who posted reviews and I saw Andrew wandering if the rest of the group is boycotting the discussion. I don't, I am just so out of any intelligent thoughts. Sorry!!!

Sunday post

I can't get into Student Services, so I am taking a break and posting here. It's a nice relief to know that on Monday I do not have any more homework until end of August!!! So, I can concentrate on other things: like getting all my papers for the Ukrainian embassy to change my name. You won't believe how much paperwork they require to submit just to change your last name on the passport. Changing name on driving license and green card was easy and a breeze. Now, you get to the Ukrainian Embassy site and freeze in horror: all the paperwork have to be translated into Ukrainian and then certified.

Cathedral of Learning

I meant to post a thread regarding Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh. When I first saw that magnificent building I knew it reminded me of something: The Moscow University Building , the first tallest educational building and one of the places of higher education where it is almost impossible to get in. You have to have really good connections to be accepted. I printed the information and sent it to my mom: she is going to get a kick out of it!
Today is the second day as my daughter is gone to the ocean and I miss her badly! My in-laws called yesterday and told us that she collapsed and was sleeping soundly after everything she had done. Too bad she doesn't talk much, she is 20 months old, and can't tell us how was her trip.

Catching up

I am looking forward to this weekend: this is the first time my little daughter is going to go away with my in-laws. They are going to spend a weekend by the ocean, so that should be fun. Me and my husband are going to have some time together:))) and then he is off on a fishing trip and I can catch up with my girlfriend on the latest mall/shopping trip. I also have more free time and was able to finally read other people blogs and leave comments. I read Robyn's blog and she said that she is posting while ar work. Well...if my boss is reading.. Gabe, I am doing this on my lunch time as a part of work - related research project!

Tuesday post

I think the heat wave is going down here in Los Angeles and our air conditioner at work seems to finally work(keep my fingers crossed for tomorrow). Writing discussion thread was tough tonight: I couldn't get excited about economic values of the libraries, found tons of information about public and school libraries, but when it came to academic - nothing!

Another post

I didn't realize I posted only few sentences in the previous posting:(( After coming back from Pittsburgh it's really hard to concentrate on home work assignments, especially last book review. I had to write mine on Sunday night and it was an effort trying to connect all four books to library environment: my heart wasn't in it. May be it was also all the work which was waiting for me at USC and all the emails I had to read. Unbearable heat didn't help either: at work our air conditioning doesn't work or barely works this week and at home we blast it every day, so I am not looking forward to getting a bill at the end of the month:((I also missed Pittsburgh and now looking forward to going back in October. With tons of work due in July visit I was able to sneak ride on the incline and visit Carnegie Library and Museum.

Back from Pittsburgh

I just came back from Pittsburgh and I had a great time there! All the greenery around the city is fantastic and so are the super-friendly people. Oh, and the pace of life is not as hectic as here in LA. I am looking forward to the next visit in October.

Is it end of semester yet??

I haven't posted anything last week, so I have to redeem myself by catching up next week. My third book review came back and it lifted my spirits: it was generously graded by Sue who said that I did a "fine job". After my second book review, by a different reviewer, I thought I was going to be kicked out of the program:((
LIS 2600 quiz was done on Wednesday and I decided to do it after work and after everyone in the family went to bed. Bad, bad decision. By the time we had dinner my daughter was somehow very much awake and it took me and my husband some time to put her to bed. So, when I finally got to do the test I was falling asleep and I think I missed couple questions. I can only keep my fingers crossed....

First Web page

I took a complete day off from my computer, because I needed a break and because I needed to let my best friend know that I am live and sane. AS a result we spent almost two hours on the phone, which was great. End of August and end of classes is not near enough. I learned few lessons for the next semester: do my reading early and try to write down something for the future book reviews; if I'll have extra time I am planning to work ahead on future assignments.

Trying to catch up

This week have been crazy! I finally finished my 1500 words book review number three and posted a discussion on OSS and finished creating two tag clouds. Whew!! Of, course by July 2nd I have to create a web page and judging by the amount of technical questions on the discussion board it's not going to be easy. I copied and pasted "helpful hints" in MS office, so I can read on the train and hopefully avoid the mistakes made. Once again, thank God for discussion board!

Can't get into My Portal

I have to post a discussion thread by tomorrow and I can't log in into My Portal. This is so frustrating: I am used to logging in at night and doing my homework, with my daughter gone to bed and my husband watching TV or working on his boat. It's very convenient to jump between discussion board and an actual assignment to see what kind of obstacles are there and how to troubleshoot.

Wiki

I am relieved that I work in the library and can apply some of the suggestions at school right away. On ILLiad(Interlibrary Loan management till) list serve we received an email from Katie from University of Illinois, at Urbana-Champaign with a web site for ILL borrowing wiki (see links) That's a terrific idea: you can post all the training documents for the office, instead of keeping them in paper or in somebody's folder. This is just one of the examples how new technologies work. We were also discussing RSS feed and I do not believe our library has it?? I checked UCLA and their home page lists RSS feeds and podcats in nice and bright orange.
Since I am done with delico and Scout Portal I was able to catch up on my reading. "Content is not the King" article is really discouraging especially if you compare it with "Leonard's Laptop", which inspire you to invest in learning.

Plugging away

I feel like computer gradually becomes my best friend: when I come home from work I get on it and post tags or post discussion topics or listen to podcasts or catch up on announcements. Somebody on discussion board suggested to take a day off for relaxation. Great idea! I read a paperback murder/romance novel and felt my mind clearing up. I am all up and ready for the 1500 words review of three books. Two of them I really liked: Social life of information and Leonardo's Laptop. The laws of the web seemed to be to full of mathematical formulas and not so easy to read for me.

Overwhelmed

I am finally done with delicio and half way connotea. The good news again is that Scout Portal is due this Friday. Of course I also had to post a discussion topic on the group page and write a book review due on Monday. This is insane, there is so much information to digest, but this is also very exciting: to be able to learn all the new trends: RSS, blogs etc. This entry again is going to be short since I have to rush and work on SP.