Ah, vacation, where are-est thou?
Today, I have managed to down-size my "To-Do" list to three items still not yet complete. I am taking an extended weekend break to not do anything library related except read my book that I got written by Sue Monk Kidd. Hooray for me.
New Position start date, 24 days and counting........
It has been a flurry of activity for me as it relates to pending work as the Reference/First Year Experience/Education Librarian. I am getting excited by the day. My future work has possible perks! YooWHO!.......:
Going to Hawaii for an AWESOME conference anyone?
http://www.sc.edu/fye/events/international/
Felicia and I both agreed that this would be an awesome experience being that both of our positions require First Year Experience Students and Outreach. The presentations being offered would justify our attendance.
University of Illinois: Undergraduate Library and the Division of Housing. Check out this creative collaboration between the Undergraduate Library and theDivision of Housing at the University of Illinois:http://tuxedo.housing.uiuc.edu/video/UGL/07UndergradLibrary.wmv
Excitement from I.R.I.S. (aka Reference Services):
The Reference area of Hesburgh is looking more modern these last couple of days....we have a new reference desk, and the cutest furniture that was delivered this week. "Library as AWESOME Collaborative work space" is looking up. I am concerned about it looking too cluttered, but changes/deletions/arrangements of the space is still happening. So any final opinions of the "newness of it all" is still pending from me. I actually would love to have the new green like chairs/loungers in my house (Smile).
May Institute redux...
Pat L. & I have partnered for 30 days to examine how we are going to incorporate May Institute tools into our everyday work. With that, I have agreed to "SOCK" her as a reminder to incorporate learned principles. She loved the socks I brought her this morning. Thanks also for the sound reflective tools of knowledge you gave me this morning Pat. I carried it with me in my work today.
REFLECTION FOR TODAY'S LEADERS:
The Phantom of the Opera is a classic example of how not to motivate others. Wanting love, the Phantom subverts his true talents, dons a mask, and lives in the underground, trying to motivate people through tricks, loud organ music, smoke, and other negative special effects. The end result is that people fear him and hunt him down. Only when the mask is ripped off does he receive an honest, sincere kiss from the lovely Christine. Do you operate like the Phantom, using half masks, closed doors, and whispers in smoke-filled rooms?
A Fact about the Human Condition:
People can handle the truth. In fact, they probably sense it already. When you are totally open with them, true collegiality and learning has begun. Jesus did not hide his tears or his fears. He was transparent before his people.
What are the obstacles that keep you from being a transparent leader?
Source: Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership (1994). Hyperion Books, New York; ISBN#0-7868-8241-7. This was a gift from my former boss, Sue Yowell at Christmas- 2000 during my transformational experiences at the University of Detroit Mercy.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
May 23, 2007
My long-term goal is to become a library dean and director of a university and or college library. But for right now, I want to focus my career aspirations on providing quality reference services to First Year undergraduate students, becoming a subject librarian of Education, getting published and presenting at conferences.
The last couple of weeks I've been focusing on what a "21st Century Academic Librarian" is in relation to my work at Notre Dame and the academic library community as a whole. I have opportunities to work on projects with academic colleagues across the country,the state of Indiana, as well as my work here @ ND. In other words, Collaborative projects are where I get my energy/enthusiasm from for the work I do. Which brings me to a deep regret I am currently "marinating on" this morning. I made the mistake of discussing my concerns about colleagues with other colleagues and unfortunately its taken on a life of its own. Basically, I broke my own rule......as Florida Evans from the 70's television comedy once said, "D**m, D**m, D**m.......AnyWHO, onward and upward.......
I got a lovely card from the librarians at Purdue University. Thanks ladies...it was my absolute pleasure to be your "Hostess" that afternoon. At our deparment meeting yesterday morning, I passed the card around of your appreciation and made sure that Nigel got the card as well. I look forward to seeing most of you again at our luncheon in July for our Diversity students who will be working this summer with us....Hugs.....
A wonderful quote from a book that I reference when I speak to mentoring groups: "Social Intelligence" by Karl Albrecht(2006):
"
Authenticity is about the desire and ability to let yourself be real, not phony or contrived.....It's how you connect with other people......It's a reliance on or a belief in yourself, so you can take real authorship and ownership of your space or place."
My long-term goal is to become a library dean and director of a university and or college library. But for right now, I want to focus my career aspirations on providing quality reference services to First Year undergraduate students, becoming a subject librarian of Education, getting published and presenting at conferences.
The last couple of weeks I've been focusing on what a "21st Century Academic Librarian" is in relation to my work at Notre Dame and the academic library community as a whole. I have opportunities to work on projects with academic colleagues across the country,the state of Indiana, as well as my work here @ ND. In other words, Collaborative projects are where I get my energy/enthusiasm from for the work I do. Which brings me to a deep regret I am currently "marinating on" this morning. I made the mistake of discussing my concerns about colleagues with other colleagues and unfortunately its taken on a life of its own. Basically, I broke my own rule......as Florida Evans from the 70's television comedy once said, "D**m, D**m, D**m.......AnyWHO, onward and upward.......
I got a lovely card from the librarians at Purdue University. Thanks ladies...it was my absolute pleasure to be your "Hostess" that afternoon. At our deparment meeting yesterday morning, I passed the card around of your appreciation and made sure that Nigel got the card as well. I look forward to seeing most of you again at our luncheon in July for our Diversity students who will be working this summer with us....Hugs.....
A wonderful quote from a book that I reference when I speak to mentoring groups: "Social Intelligence" by Karl Albrecht(2006):
"
Authenticity is about the desire and ability to let yourself be real, not phony or contrived.....It's how you connect with other people......It's a reliance on or a belief in yourself, so you can take real authorship and ownership of your space or place."
Monday, May 14, 2007
May 14, 2007
Last week at work ended on a positive note. I was treated to lunch by one of my favorite people within University Libraries and I joined Cheri Smith and Julianne C. Turner, Associate Professor of Psychology at Starbucks here on campus. To date, I have met two Education faculty of which I can provide library service to them and their students.
I also had the distinct opportunity to meet Michael Lorenzen, Head of Reference Services at Central Michigan University. He is also the author of a website I first learned about in library school and today utilize in my work as an instruction librarian: http://www.librarianinstruction.com It is always a great opportunity to put one's work with a face. He was visiting our campus as part of a group here to interview Fr. Hesburgh.
Last week at work ended on a positive note. I was treated to lunch by one of my favorite people within University Libraries and I joined Cheri Smith and Julianne C. Turner, Associate Professor of Psychology at Starbucks here on campus. To date, I have met two Education faculty of which I can provide library service to them and their students.
I also had the distinct opportunity to meet Michael Lorenzen, Head of Reference Services at Central Michigan University. He is also the author of a website I first learned about in library school and today utilize in my work as an instruction librarian: http://www.librarianinstruction.com It is always a great opportunity to put one's work with a face. He was visiting our campus as part of a group here to interview Fr. Hesburgh.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
May 1, 2007
I am officially working on overdrive; I got to get my final edits done for the book I am working on. I am bringing closure to my "Mobile Librarian" project by Monday May 6th, I have two articles to finish for consideration of publication, my work office looks like a "war-zone", I may have missed a serious deadline of a project I am working on, I've been invited to consider another speaking engagement, and, and, and, the list goes on and on and on......
All of these things to do before my new position begins on 01 July 2007! It's all good...(as my daughter tells me every so often). Somewhere in the midst of this, there is quiet contemplation. I am at peace knowing that I will get it all done, and still come out on top of my "game". I joined a couple of listservs recently and man, do I have a lot more messages to respond to. The discussions are insightful and I am finding that they are giving me ideas as to what I can incorporate in the Fall as the new "First Year Experience" Librarian.
I found the following articles/blogs helpful in compiling my Bibliography for one of the articles I am working on:
http://weblogs.swarthmore.edu/burke/?p=63
Change is not always as good as a rest: How college faculty deal with changes in higher education
By Alan Clements
Times Higher Education Supplement 0049-3929
July 5, 2002, 545, p20 (1).
New Tech for the Virtual Classroom by Matthew Scnittman
BizEd., Vol. 6 (1), (2007), pg.56.
I am officially working on overdrive; I got to get my final edits done for the book I am working on. I am bringing closure to my "Mobile Librarian" project by Monday May 6th, I have two articles to finish for consideration of publication, my work office looks like a "war-zone", I may have missed a serious deadline of a project I am working on, I've been invited to consider another speaking engagement, and, and, and, the list goes on and on and on......
All of these things to do before my new position begins on 01 July 2007! It's all good...(as my daughter tells me every so often). Somewhere in the midst of this, there is quiet contemplation. I am at peace knowing that I will get it all done, and still come out on top of my "game". I joined a couple of listservs recently and man, do I have a lot more messages to respond to. The discussions are insightful and I am finding that they are giving me ideas as to what I can incorporate in the Fall as the new "First Year Experience" Librarian.
I found the following articles/blogs helpful in compiling my Bibliography for one of the articles I am working on:
Easily Distracted: Culture, Politics, Academia and Other Shiny Objects (Blog)
"A Thing I've Learned about Teaching"http://weblogs.swarthmore.edu/burke/?p=63
Change is not always as good as a rest: How college faculty deal with changes in higher education
By Alan Clements
Times Higher Education Supplement 0049-3929
July 5, 2002, 545, p20 (1).
New Tech for the Virtual Classroom by Matthew Scnittman
BizEd., Vol. 6 (1), (2007), pg.56.
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