This post is written for Round 8 of the Library Day in the Life, a project started by Bobbi Newman, where librarians across the world share details of their daily activities. The is the 4th time I am participating. Here are my Round 5, Round 6 , and Round 7 blog posts.
I am the Research and Development Librarian at Kansas State University Libraries, and I work in the Office of Library Planning and Assessment.
Statistics class
The day began with an 8am statistics class…
I set aside a bit of time everyday just to read about everything and anything. Several articles today really interested me. One was this one about being a “connector”. And then there’s Malcolm Gladwell’s piece on the same topic from his book, The Tipping Point. There is an interesting “test” in his piece, so see how “connected” you are. I got about 50 points. Not nearly as high as some of the people he tested on. How “connected” are you?
I HAVE to talk about this: An article in the Guardian talks about being a 21st Century Librarian, and mentions the Library in the Day project!
Susan Cain_The Power of Introverts @ ALA Midwinter 2012
It seems that introverts are getting quite a bit of attention lately. (which is great, cause I am one, and we tend not to speak up that often!) When I was at ALA Midwinter, I attended a talk by Susan Cain, who has written a book on the power of introverts, called Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. It was a very enjoyable session. Today, I read another blog post on the HBR blog called The Introvert’s Guide to Networking, with many good tips.
Can introverts be Connectors? I’d like to think so, especially with online social networking. What do you think?
Virtual reference between 10-11am, and then lunch at Coco Bolo’s. I’m trying to get in shape, but when two of my favorite desserts join forces, there could only be one outcome:
Creme Brulee Cheesecake
In the afternoon, I worked with our fantastic marketing, graphic design, and web design people on my undergraduate diversity internship project – a program that introduces academic librarianship as a career to undergraduates who can bring diversity to our profession. It is a project that is close to my heart and it’s almost 2 years in the making. We are planning to hire two interns for the 2012-2013 academic year. The interns will do much more than regular student workers (and get paid more). They will receive reference training and work at the Help Desk. They will work with librarians on special projects. The assignment of projects will be based on their interests and skill sets. They will have mentors to guide them and educate them on librarianship as a career. We are very close to being ready to promote it to the rest of the university. I am truly excited about this project and can’t wait to get it started!
4pm – Stats homework… (will do it tomorrow).
The diversity project sounds quite fascinating!
I’m an introvert, and I think I’m a connector. That dessert looks so good!
Dear Leo, thank you for your post and references. I enjoyed the video of TED lecture by Susan Cain, it is so captivating! Maybe just because I’m an introvert as well.
Cheesecake looks very delicious! )
Leo, thanks a lot for this article! I wasn’t there, but as I can guess, that was great event and a great lecture. The pictures are great, especially that cake, yeah, so loved by the other commentators.
Thank you, Jade, Effie, and Gracie!