Pages

Thursday, January 27, 2011

January is National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month

by Stephanie (Sara Leah) Gross, MSLIS
Chair, Mentoring Committee
Association of Jewish Libraries

NEW! For all members of the NY Librarians Meetup: We, too, now have mentors! Please see this link on our meetup page. I'm introducing this new feature in the hopes that it will enable our members to get more out of our valuable collective expertise. If you're interested in either being a mentor or getting one, please contact me for more information. Use the comment space below to weigh-in on the value of mentoring and what you might wish to find in such a program.


(Photo credit: Basic Research with Jen Lee Blog)

Revised post:

January is National Mentoring Month
I just returned from an innervating session with 40 council members at the annual mid-winter conference. Of course, there were the usual deliberations about budget, convention expenditures and ratifications of past minutes. However, there were some much-awaited proposals for innovations to increase our membership as well as make AJL a more-valuable resource to its members.

Michelle Chesner, RAS Secretary, pushed for more inclusion of library science students, including free membership for them. She related how her internship at NYU’s dual-master’s program with a qualified mentor shaped her future in the profession. I have long been involved with library students, from my early days in the New York Library Club, and most recently with my own networking group (NY Librarians Meetup Group). Now, I was finally hearing multiple voices who wished to propel this idea into action. Although still in its infancy, I was given to understand that there will be collaboration among at least a few committees: the Task Force, RAS, SSC and Mentoring.

• Professional development and continuing education: To be honest, such collaboration will be a challenge for our organization, where many members have been out of library school for considerable time. Not to worry, there are great plans for professional development and continuing education, including podcasts, webinars and wikis. I requested that any members who had a desire to include mentorship in their work contact me so that we may get down to business as soon as possible.

• Internships and grants: Michelle also described possible initiatives concerning student internships as well as IMLS(Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grants. The former will certainly help draw new members as well as the much needed “fresh blood” to maintain our momentum.

• We were given a preview of the new web site which is scheduled for its roll-out February 1st. In addition to being able to edit our committee pages more easily than in the past, members will be able to set up their profiles, included headshots and social media links. For those interested in networking and establishing appropriate visibility, these improvements will be a boon, especially to our new members.

• I hope to sponsor a Mentor Mingle at the Montreal convention, but must remind all chapters and divisions that mentoring is a processes that is mutually beneficial to those involved, from the individuals to the association itself. It is a perk of membership that is at times under-used, and we must be vigilant that we do not lose sight of our mission as educators to share, support and encourage newcomers to our group and to our organization.

• As Chair of the Mentoring Committee, I’m hoping that my committee will be more effective to members in “far-flung” corners of the world where access to Judaica librarians is challenging. I hope to use my space on the web for telecommunication, such as Skype, Instant Messaging, and perhaps even group events on social media such as Facebook or Second Life. If there are individuals out there who would like to be included in this initiative, please contact me at AJLMentoringATgmail.com. Until that time, do make a point of visiting my page on the AJL wiki dedicated to social media for librarians. Look it over and please send me feed-back. We will all benefit from that.


New Book on Mentoring: Now, onto a special “shout-out” for a new book on mentoring by ALA. The title is aptly, Mentoring in the Library: Building for the Future by Marta K. Lee. I must say that it certainly met my expectations from the first peek at the Introduction. I learned of this book through an ALA newsletter alert on new publications and immediately purchased it online (ISBN 9780838935934 ; $50.) It arrived in the mail just today, and I thought “How marvelous! Just in time for my blog post! The book itself is a mere 122 pages, replete with chapters devoted to enumerating the kind of skills a mentor should have, with techniques for successful development, education and training. Also included are guidelines for establishing formal and informal mentoring arrangements, with a chapter devoted to mentoring librarians electronically. The book flap boasts “In this useful book, Lee shows librarians how mentoring can be both personally satisfying and a path to career development.” Besides the requisite bibliography and index, this handbook includes appendices with forms for requests, proposals, and promotion review timetable . Of interest, too, are the case studies from two academic institutions. However, both volunteers and school librarians are given space, so those who are not planning mentorship in RAS will still wish to give this volume and careful read. Finally, the book jacket suggests other related titles, such as Coaching in the Library: A management Strategy for achieving excellence 2nd ed. By Ruth F. Metz and Succession planning in the library: Developing leaders, managing change by Paul M Singer with Gail Griffith. These books may be order at www.alastore.ala.org or 866.746.7252!

Happy Mentoring! Remember to send your stories, lessons learned, and feedback to be shared with others. Look for me, too, on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. I often post to AJL, but have my own Twitter account (NYLibrarians). Other contact information: ajlmentoring AT gmail.com. Skype: Stephanie.L.Gross. Best of luck to you all in 2011! I plan to be at the convention in June, so do send me ideas for sessions or general ideas for PR and outreach. You need not be a library student, and librarians in transition as well as newly-minted librarians are warmly encouraged to become involved.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Future Ready 365 | Are You Ready Today?

Future Ready 365 | Are You Ready Today?

Are you "Future Ready"?



Join SLA 2011 President, Cindy Romaine, on Monday, February 7th at Baruch College (151 East 25th Street, NYC), as we embark on a journey to prepare ourselves, our colleagues and the information industry to be “Future Ready”.



What is Future Ready? It’s a focus on preparing for emerging opportunities in the information industry through: 1) Collaboration to accelerate the availability of useful information; 2) An adaptable skill set that anticipates and responds to the evolving marketplace; 3) Alignment with the language and values of the community you serve and 4) Building a community that connects stakeholders in mutually beneficial relationships.



Cindy will share her vision for 2011 as SLA President along with her plan to get us all Future Ready.





5:30 – 6:30 pm Refreshments

6:30 – 7:30 pm Program





Registrations must be received before Noon on Sunday, February 6.



Learn more about Future Ready at the Future Ready 365 blog!



There is no charge to attend.





CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wikileaks & The Archives & Records Profession: A Panel Discussion





Wikileaks & The Archives & Records Profession: A Panel Discussion

The Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York and the ARMA Metro NYC Chapter cordially invite SLA NY members to attend a provocative panel discussion of our professional perspectives on WikiLeaks and the ramifications for the archives and records profession. Please refer to the attached invite for details of the program and how to register.


WIKILEAKS & THE ARCHIVES & RECORDS PROFESSION: A PANEL DISCUSSION

Please join the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York and the Metro NYC Chapter of ARMA for a provocative discussion of our professional perspectives on WikiLeaks and the ramifications for the archives and records profession.

Do WikiLeaks and its complex, attendant issues shift our conceptualization of our roles as information professionals? How might WikiLeaks change the public's views on usage of and access to archives and records? To what extent is the most recent release of diplomatic cables a product of information mismanagement?

Addressing these and many more questions, our confirmed speakers include Trudy Peterson, former Acting Archivist of the United States (1993-1995) and current representative for the Society of American Archivists on the Department of State's Historical Advisory Committee; Fred Pulzello, Solutions Architect in the Information Governance practice at MicroLink LLC; Jim Fortmuller, Manager of Systems Security at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP in Washington, DC; Mark Matienzo, Digital Archivist in Manuscripts and Archives at Yale University Library; and Derek Bambauer, Associate Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School. The panel will be moderated by Peter Wosh, Director of the Archives/Public History Program and Clinical Associate Professor of History at New York University.

Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Place: Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street, Manhattan
Entrance on 16th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues

Time: 5:15 PM - Recommended arrival time
5:30 - 7:30 PM - Panel - Auditorium
7:30 - 8:30 PM - Refreshments - Grand Hall

Subway Directions: 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, and W trains to the 14th Street and Union Square station. F, V, L,
and PATH trains to the 14th Street and 6th Avenue station. 1, 2, and 3 trains to the 14th Street and 7th Avenue station.

Fee: Admission for ART and ARMA members is $5. Admission for all others is $10.

RSVP: To Jennifer Anna by Monday, January 17th at veepATnycarchivists.org. No exceptions.
Within the body of your message please provide your first and last name and specify if you are a member of ART and/or the Metro NYC Chapter of ARMA or if you are unaffiliated with these organizations. Please be sure you can attend before responding. Space is limited. This event may be video-recorded; in attending, you automatically consent to being recorded.

VERY IMPORTANT:
Please note an attendee list will be provided to the security staff; your name must
be on the list in order to enter the building. Guests will be required to pass through a security screening.

If you are a person with a disability and require reasonable accommodations to attend this program, please contact Rachel Miller at rcmiller@cjh.org or 212-294-8301 x1054 at least 7 days in advance so that we can make appropriate arrangements. CJH’s accessibility details can be found here: http://www.cjh.org/p/114.

This meeting is also made possible with generous financial support from MetLife.

Assistant Curator for South Asia Collection (1-year position): Yale University, New Haven, CT

Assistant Curator for South Asia Collection (1-year position): Yale University, New Haven, CT

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 12:27 PM PST

Assistant Curator for South Asia Collection
South Asia Collection


Sterling Memorial Library
Yale University
New Haven, CT
Rank: Librarian I-II
http://www.yale.edu/jobs


Fixed Duration: One (1) year from date of hire

Schedule: Full-time (37.5 hours per week); Standard Work Week (M-F, 8:30-5:00)

Yale University offers exciting opportunities for achievement and growth in New Haven, Connecticut. Conveniently located between Boston and New York, New Haven is the creative capital of Connecticut with cultural resources that include two major art museums, a critically-acclaimed repertory theater, state-of-the-art concert hall, and world-renowned schools of Architecture, Art, Drama, and Music.

THE UNIVERSITY AND THE LIBRARY

One of the world's leading research libraries, Yale University Library is a full partner in teaching, research, and learning at Yale and is visited by scholars from around the world. A distinctive strength is its rich spectrum of resources, including approximately thirteen million volumes and information in all media, ranging from ancient papyri to early printed books to electronic databases. The Library is engaging in numerous projects to expand access to its physical and digital collections. Housed in twenty-two buildings including the Sterling Memorial Library, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the new Bass Library, it employs a dynamic and diverse staff of nearly six hundred who offer innovative and flexible services to library readers. To learn more about Yale University Library and its collections and services, visit http://www.library.yale.edu/.

SOUTH ASIA COLLECTION

The South Asia Collection is made of monographs, and serials, as well as visual, archival and manuscript collections that can be found throughout the Yale University Library system. Holding libraries include the Sterling Memorial Library, the Social Science Library, the Divinity Library, Manuscripts and Archives Department as well as the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. The Library’s strongest holdings of material on South Asia are in the English language and for the following disciplines: the history of western involvement in South Asia, modern India (from 1947), literature in English, and religion (especially Buddhism and Christianity). The South Asia Collection’s holdings in Sanskrit and the classical languages of South Asia contain some of the oldest printed holdings among North American libraries. Current South Asian language collections include literature, linguistics and humanities material in Hindi, Tamil, and Urdu.

Concerted and combined library collecting and research service efforts over the past 10 years have been conducted to support the graduate and undergraduate teaching and research needs of the faculty and students affiliated with the South Asian Studies Council of the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies its current India Initiative (see: http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/southasia/flash.htm) . The South Asia Collection’s assistant curator’s acquisitions and cataloging efforts are supported with one full-time dedicated acquisitions and copy cataloging assistant position whose offices will be housed in the Sterling Memorial Library.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Curator of the South and Southeast Asia Collections, the Assistant Curator for South Asia Collection serves as the subject specialist responsible for library support of research and teaching about South Asia-related topics at Yale. The Assistant Curator for the South Asia Collection develops strong working relationships with faculty, students, and affiliated scholars conducting research in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka across departments and programs, taking initiative to identify and meet their expectations for collections and services. Provides reference, research education, research guides and web pages, and consultation on the effective application of new technologies.

The Assistant Curator for the South Asia Collection partners with departments and programs on projects that further teaching and scholarship, such as digitization, web publishing, workshops, and other initiatives that enhance the academic mission. Provides public services for the South Asia Collection, serves as a member of the South Asian Studies Council of the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies, and seeks ways to enhance support for Hindi, Tamil, and Urdu language special collections across the Yale University Library.



RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Curator for the South Asia Collection is responsible for selection of materials for the South Asia Collection, including fund management, reporting, and management of the acquisitions and cataloging processes. Supervises and works closely with the South Asia Collection Acquisitions and Cataloging Assistant to insure the effective acquisition, processing, and copy-cataloging of materials in all formats, and interacts with staff in the Preservation department in support of preservation efforts for brittle out-of-print materials in the collection. Provides proactive outreach with the South Asian Studies Council, South Asian Studies faculty, research fellows, language lecturers and students, and collaboration with other library colleagues in relevant departments for selection in this area. Seeks ways to collaborate with South Asia collection colleagues at other institutions to leverage resources and to pursue efforts in cooperative collection development efforts.


The Assistant Curator contributes to goal-setting and strategic planning and manages projects in the South and Southeast Asia Collections as assigned. Seeks opportunities to contribute to the Yale University Library through participation in committees, task forces, working groups, and programs. Expected to be active professionally in organizations such as the Committee on South Asian Libraries and Documentation, the North American professional organization for South Asian Studies librarians.

Engages actively with professional organizations and literature; keeps abreast of subject matter trends and developments. Participates in and contributes to library long-term planning and serves on various committees and task forces. May be required to participate with disaster recovery efforts. May be assigned to work at West Campus location in West Haven, CT.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program for library and information science (preferred) and/or graduate degree in a South Asian Studies-related field. Appointment to the rank of Librarian II requires a minimum of two years of professional experience and demonstrated professional accomplishments appropriate to the rank. Experience teaching in a library or academic setting. Experience creating content for web pages (for use in creating a new South Asia Collection page). Experience with public services, reference, and/or collection development.


Excellent communication skills (reading, writing, and speaking) in Hindi, Tamil, or Urdu; Preferred: Ability to read Sanskrit at a high level of proficiency. Ability to communicate in English (reading, writing, and speaking). Broad knowledge of South Asian cultures; Familiarity with the history of and current trends in scholarly research related to South Asian Studies. Knowledge of South Asian book trade is critical. Familiarity with the major bibliographic tools and research methods for South Asian Studies. Familiarity with the sources and approaches in teaching South Asia-related research methods and bibliographic instruction courses. Demonstrated ability to succeed in a collaborative, team-based environment. Demonstrated ability to work collegially and cooperatively within and across organizations. Knowledge of trends in electronic resources and networked access to information, citation management (such as Refworks, EndNote, or Zotero, etc.), and other technologies used by readers and libraries to facilitate information access and management. Demonstrated online outreach skills using key social media sites including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and WordPress.

Preferred: Supervisory experience. Experience providing training in technical services areas including acquisitions or cataloging software. Demonstrated skills in web site development, RSS, video and audio production, and graphics software; Ability to plan, manage, and coordinate complex projects; demonstrated record of devising and bringing projects to a conclusion in a timely fashion.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

We invite you to discover the excitement, diversity, rewards and excellence of a career at Yale University. One of the country's great workplaces, Yale University offers exciting opportunities for meaningful accomplishment and true growth. Our benefits package is among the best anywhere, with a wide variety of insurance choices, liberal paid time off, fantastic family and educational benefits, a variety of retirement benefits, extensive recreational facilities, and much more.

Applications consisting of a cover letter, resume, and the names of three professional references should be sent by creating an account and applying online at www.yale.edu/jobs for immediate consideration - the STARS req ID for this position is 11999BR. Please be sure to reference #11999BR in your cover letter.BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENTS

All external candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent on successful completion of a background check. Please visit www.yale.edu/hronline/careers/screening/faqs.html for additional information on the background check requirements and process.

Yale University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Yale values diversity in its faculty, staff, and students and strongly encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented minority groups.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Join Us for a Book Club Meeting Next Month!

Hi, All-

I’m writing to extend an invitation to join us for the next meeting of our New York Librarians Book Club. Although we’re happy to have returning attendees, the group is open to anyone who wants to drop in for occasional discussions. Our upcoming meeting will be held at a member’s apartment in Chelsea on Tuesday, February 15th at 6:30 PM. We welcome you to join us for a casual book discussion with other librarians and library students, a light meal, and some post-Valentine’s Day candy!

Our first club selection was This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save the World by Marilyn Johnson, followed by Sinclair Lewis’ Nobel Prize-winning small town satire Main Street, in which the protagonist, Carol Milford, spends her pre-marriage years as a public librarian in the Twin Cities. Our next title is the member-suggested The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr.

If you’d like to participate in online discussions, post ideas for future group reads, or message other book clubbers, please check out (and join!) our Goodreads group, here: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/38703.The_New_York_Librarians_Book_Club

You can RSVP for the book club meeting on MeetUp; we hope to see you there!

Happy Reading!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Job Announcement: 6 Month Project Archivist, Weeksville Heritage Center: Brooklyn, NY

A friend's mother (who is a librarian) passed along this job announcement. It looks like a good opportunity!

Happy New Year!

Larissa

***

Posted on behalf of the hiring staff at Weeksville Heritage Center. Please use contact information in the announcement below to apply. Thank you.

Job Announcement: Project Archivist

In Pursuit of Freedom, a collaborative project between Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn Historical Society, and Irondale Ensemble Project in Brooklyn, NY seeks a skilled candidate for the temporary, part-time, grant-funded position of Project Archivist. The successful candidate will report to the Collections Manager and the Director of Research at Weeksville Heritage Center. The appointment is scheduled for a 6 month period to begin in January 2011.


Primary responsibilities:


The Project Archivist is responsible for processing select archives of Weeksville Heritage Center (WHC). WHC’s mission is to document, preserve and interpret the history of free African American communities in Weeksville, Brooklyn and beyond, and to create and inspire innovative, contemporary uses of African American history through education, the arts, and civic engagement. Founded in 1970, WHC is based at the site of the historic Hunterfly Road Houses in the Weeksville section of Brooklyn.


The project, In Pursuit of Freedom, documents the story of abolitionism and the Underground Railroad in Brooklyn. Designed and implemented by the three collaborating organizations, In Pursuit of Freedom will provide new resources for understanding Brooklyn’s leading role in the abolitionist movement through exhibitions, a website, historic markers, walking tours, a commissioned outdoor public art work, an original theater piece, an educational curriculum that will be distributed nationally, and a scholarly symposium. The Project Archivist’s principal work location will be at the Weeksville Heritage Center.


Required Qualifications:


· Masters in Library and Information Science, or equivalent degree, with a specialization in archival management.

· Professional experience processing archival collections, including an understanding of pragmatic and efficient processing procedures.

· Demonstrated understanding of the principles of arrangement and description, and familiarity with archival standards, particularly with DACS.

· Ability to recognize archival preservation issues and to apply basic preservation techniques.

· Knowledge of African American history preferred.

· Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

· Strong organization and time-management skills; attention to accuracy and detail is essential.

· Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.

· The ability to lift boxes of materials weighing up to 40 lbs, and to climb a ladder and bend over to retrieve materials.


Compensation:


Compensation is $20.00 per hour with no benefits. The successful candidate will work 25-30 hours per week, Monday-Friday. This position will not be extended beyond the 6 month grant-funded period.


To Apply:


Applications should be submitted via e-mail to Emily Bibb, Collections Manager, at collections@weeksville.org. The subject line of the email should read: Project Archivist Application [your last name]. Please include the following in the application:

· A cover letter that includes a complete statement of the candidate’s qualifications.

· A full resume outlining the candidate’s education and relevant experience.

· A sample archival finding aid completed by the candidate.

· The names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s qualifications for this position.

December 2010


o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The ARCHIVES & ARCHIVISTS (A&A) LIST is sponsored by the Society of American Archivists. The opinions expressed on the A&A List do not necessarily represent those of SAA and are not endorsed by the Society.

To post to the list, send messages to archives@forums.archivists.org .

To unsubscribe or to modify your subscription settings, log in at:
http://www.archivists.org/ listservs/change.asp

To read the list archives:
September 2006 to Present: http://forums.archivists.org/ read/?forum=archives
April 1993 to September 2006: http://listserv.muohio.edu/ archives/archives.html

To view the A&A List Terms of Participation, visit:
http://www.archivists.org/ listservs/arch_listserv_terms. asp

A&A List Coordinator:
Meghan Petersen
mpetersen@archivists.org