Ms Lisa Kane

What is it about libr* that I find exciting?
The detective work; the materials that I work with (includes original manuscripts); researchers (I especially learn from their topics of research; the satisfaction from researchers when they discover new things (includes tools that empower them in their research).

What is my earliest joyful/enjoyable memory related to libr*?
Probably not my earliest, but for me some of the most memorable: The exhibition of original composer manuscripts in the British Library (included Haendel's Messiah); viewing and 'handling' of Mozart manuscript at Christies in London prior to an auction; working with earlier printed editions for Haendel House in London prior to its opening.

What puzzles me about libr*?
Librarians feeding the misconception of libr*.

What angers me about libr*?
Sticky photocopiers and printers, and people that scratch in books (especially when it is in ink)!

"I wish attitudes and priorities (also for funding) towards libraries could be different."

I wish everyone could hear about the libr*: Those somehow involved in research and depending on the libr* without knowing it - wake up and smell the coffee!

Librarians Ahoy!

Found on a noticeboard...

New Participation from UJ Library

Hi everyone,

Myself (Pavlinka Kovatcheva) and Santha Raju from UJ, have been added recently to the list of participants. I'm quite excited after I saw the preliminary programme. I'm currently a subject librarian for 11 Sciences Departments @ UJ. I help students from their 1st year through their Postgraduate levels. I also support the academics and researchers for these Departments. It is a challenging job to balance and anticipate the needs of such a diverse scientific community. In the last few years I learned a new skills, such as to make use of Web 2.0 technologies. I adapted my traditional librarian skills to a new virtual skills and that "spiced" my services to users. Two years down the road, I have a single portal for my users to access subject related information. I make use of a wiki for a Sciences portal, blogs for current awareness and feedback, a twitter, a social bookmarking for "cataloguing or tagging" information, IM to chat with users, etc. My librarian life become exciting, but very busy.

For 2nd year now, I'm register for my Masters degree, but because of my "virtual developments" I have barely had time to make any progress. In practice writing a literature review or a chapter, become my nightmare (it is so much easier to explain the process to other researchers, than to do it yourself). I hope the research academy will help me build a strong research knowledge and skills, so I will be able to finish what I have started.

See you in 2 weeks time.

Blogger librarian

Research librarian, Blogging librarian, Virtual librarian and on and on we can go. The world of librarianship is ever increasing. The possibilities are huge. Do we have the time in our day to do it all?