April 25, 2010 · 5:50 pm

Organization

I was wondering through a Barnes and Noble the last night, killing time before dinner reservations at the Clubhouse in Oak Brook ( I highly recommend the Clubhouse).  B&N is not my favorite place to shop, I prefer to shop with local companies, but how else would you expect a librarian to kill time.

In any event, I picked up a book called “Getting Organized in the Google Era” written by Douglas C. Merrill (former chief information officer at Google).

The book is actually very good, and has some great pointers, many of which I have used for some time.  Many of you know that I am busy — like super busy.  Between a full-time job, doctoral coursework, adjunct teaching, co-running an emerging organization (Chicago Deskset plug!!!), having a rewarding social life, and a newly minted relationship, I am always on the go.  Besides the fact that I would recommend this book, it got me to thinking.

Librarians are the BEST organizers on the planet!!!  We should be writing these books, and teaching classes on organization.  Why not, as Pauline Atherton Cochran would say.  I mean seriously, why are we not doing this.  I have seen us use a variety of social media and organizers to keep us on track.  We should totally teach these skills to our patrons!

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April 23, 2010 · 6:23 am

Words of hope for libraries

Tonight I cannot help but be reminded of the words of Sir Winston Churchill.  There seems to be an all out war on libraries.  We are attacked on many fronts.  The sacrifice that we are asked to take during these economic hardships are unbalanced.  Libraries are in a “long series of fierce battles, now on this front, now on that, fighting” on many fronts at once.

“How long it will be, how long it will last depends upon the exertions which we make on our island” of knowledge. “An effort, the like of which has never been seen in our records, is now being made. Work is proceeding night and day. Sundays and week days.”  We have taken to the streets, to the air waves, and through all communication channels available to us.  For we realize that our voice, a single and collective voice, is our weapon.

We are thankful for the many thousands and tens of thousands whom have risen up in defensive of public libraries.  They have made sacrifice in time, money and hard work.

“We shall not flag nor fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in” in the streets “and on the seas and oceans; we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength” through social media and collective action. “We shall defend our island” of knowledge “whatever the cost may be; we shall fight on” on the steps of the capital, at the ballot box, and in the boards . “We shall never surrender and even if, which I do not for the moment believe, this island” of knowledge “or a large part of it were subjugated” and librarians “starving, then our” colleagues beyond the seas, armed” with knowledge “and guarded by” the principles of democracy and an informed citizenry, “will carry on the struggle until in God’s good time the New World with all its power and might, sets forth to the liberation and rescue of the Old.”

How these words give me hope.  Hope to continue to fight.  Hope to continue until the hour in which libraries are liberated from budget cuts.  Hope that we will continue until libraries everywhere vanish.

This is our call.  It is our choice to answer.

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April 22, 2010 · 10:16 pm

Chicago Deskset Event

Hey Gang,

Here are the details for the next Chicago Deskset event:

Friends of the Chicago Deskset,

Because of your support, the first event at The Grafton Pub was a huge success. Everyone involved had a great time! The book drive for incarcerated teens collected over 350 books for residents at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. We also had the opportunity to meet colleagues and plant seeds for future Deskset events.

Chicago Deskset’s goals of promoting civic librarianship and networking opportunities through charitable events could not be successful without the overwhelming support that you continue to contribute. Our focus on developing a local community of librarians, bibliophiles, and other supporters is rewarding and fun.

Our thanks goes out to all of the people who have shown support by attending the first event, as well as people who have written the numerous emails which we have received gearing up for the next event.

The next Chicago Deskset event is scheduled for:

Sunday, May 23 at 6:30pm
Clark Street Ale House
742 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654

This event will benefit a local organization called Open Books. Please bring $5 (or more!) to donate to the charity. You can make personal checks out to Open Books or just bring cash.

We will also be recruiting people for Graphic design, Charity liaisons and Professional development coordinators. These opportunities were listed on the survey at our last event.

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