Artificial Intelligence and then some...

Technology use leads us to lose some and gain some. In between there are constants. In the flurry of all the technological changes, one question surfaces: what makes us human?

Here's a story - back in the 90s, our grad professors from the Institute of Library Science made us read Toffler - nakakaloka at nakakaiyak. The assignment was given for us to understand the rise and fall of humanity's affair with technology. We were grappling with two things back then, one is the trend of computerizing and automating library operations and functions and two, the development of e-books, blogs, wikis and digital commons. We were afraid. Many librarians were insecure of being supplanted by machines and technology.

Three decades on, the LIS (library and information science) community realized three things: 1) upskilling and learning is lifelong and with tech, it can be complicated, risky but fun; 2) collaboration and community building are tools or systems of survival; 3) no machine or technology can ever replace the human touch and voice.

AI will change how we create but it is still too early to say it will supplant humans. The fear and the insecurity is valid. I am still asking myself how an AI can be cited as reference and source in a research paper.

I remember, one project we had for finals was to create a website for our libraries using HTML. That was in 1997. A lot of things have changed since then but one of the many take aways we took from the learning experience is that, we create the tech and the tech can, to some extent, create in us new ways and pathways of thinking.

Oh, and we love our prof who gave us that activity. She became our professional mentor and to this day, we still touch base on each other's personal and professional lives.

There is a New LIS College in Town

PPT: Be Heard! Be a Blogger!

Be Heard! Be a Blogger! v.2 from Zarah Gagatiga

Live Blogging: Be Heard! Be a Blogger Talk at the Uiniveristy of Perpetual Help

I am in the University of Perpetual Help, Binan. I am demonstrating a live blogging session as the participants take their "break". It has been a very fruitful morning: we played a game, watched videos, and listened to inputs - my own and feedback from some of the participants.

This talk, Be Heard! Be a Blogger is part of the university's Alternative Learning Classes.

I love participating in ALCs, because, I believe that ALC sessions enrich the formal learning experiences in the classroom. I have very young participants in the audience: students of Library and Information Science as well as Education majors. I will post more photos and insights in the coming days. Soon!

For now, I go back to my demo-lecture!

Love and Filipino Librarians

In February 2011, the blog had eight Filipino librarians write about their loves: books, reading, the profession in general, the career choice they made, librarians who inspired them to be. Here are the eight who dared bare their loves and "lovers" to the blogosphere.
 
Dean Igor Cabbab wrote a poem in Filipino on staying in love. He has kissed his bachelor days goodbye by marrying librarian and educator Iyra Buenrostro.

Darrel Marco was at the IFLA World Conference in Helinski last year. I have a feeling this Filipino Librarian will definitely stay on.

Fe Angela Verzosa climbed a mountain to celebrate her appointment as director of DLSU Taft Library. Spunky!

Peachy Limpinis the first president of PNULISSAA, the alumni association of PNU LIS. She's one good writer. I miss reading her blog entries.

Ann Grace Bansig had the opportunity to study in Belgium a few years ago. She came back to work in a school library at DLSZ. Together with Darrel Marco, they presented a paper on DLSZ Library's Book Mobile Project at Helinski last year.

Audrey Anday is back from her two year sojourn in Europe I still have to meet her for coffee to catch up on life and librarianship. More of her adventures in Europe in future posts.

Angelic Bautista is a school librarian who is very much proud of her chosen profession.

Micaella Gonzales reviewed a book affirming that librarians are readers, indeed!

This review is made in preparation for the monthly Filipino Librarian series of 2013.

Dealing With Reality

One blog post by a guest blogger in this blog got this remarkable response from Laughrarian, a Filipino Blograrian. The blogger critics the feel-good slant of Angelic Bautista's write up on the many roles librarians can portray. Or play. Choose your own word.

I find the critic smart and honest. But I had to give my own piece of mind. Read the quoted text below --

Dear Laughrarian, 

I like your arguments and reaction to the essay/write up of one librarian who graciously and generously shared her opinion and feelings towards her chosen profession in my blog. Indeed, you have a critical eye.

But may I suggest that you read the post again? Should you take a second read, may I request that you step away from your own plate just this once and attempt to see where the librarian who wrote the blog post is coming from.

Sadly, I could not help myself but tell you this — she is not speaking about herself as one librarian, but collectively about the work that librarians do. She was, on her part, likening librarianship to other professions as a statement that librarians are at par with lawyers, doctors, accountants, teachers, guidance counsellors, etc. The whole point of the paragraph is to show other readers, non-librarians especially, that the LIS profession has a lot to offer. Librarians can establish a niche in the LIS profession and by so doing, they develop a highly specialized set of skills and competencies that can change the learning communities the library serves.

That is the reason why her write up ended up in the blog.

Laughrarian says that the the profession has a lot of problems. That he is not running away. That he will deal with reality. I wonder, apart from blogging his objective views on the profession, how he will do it?

Love a Librarian: Pinoy Librarian Idol

Audrey Anday, librarian and independent researcher wrote about her librarian idol, Vilma Anday. This essay is more than a reflection on Audrey's great love. It is her homage to her mother who passed away a couple of years back due to cancer. 

Audrey Anday is completing a
scholarship grant in Europe (2010-2012)

Love transcends time and space. And yes, it conquers all. Even death.

What it means to rise above the rest...my librarian Idol?  

To some the word Idol may connote positive impressions and to some it may mean negatively since to have an idol is to have something or someone to worship. So as not to be confused, I searched online on the meaning that would set the tone for this essay. I choose this definition of Idol from all that was provided in http://www.dictionary.net/idol : "an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept" or a person or thing greatly loved or adored.  

When I was requested by my former classmate (MLIS, UP Diliman)  and good friend Zarah Gagatiga to write something for her blog, I had mixed emotions. This was not the first time she requested me to write something and be one of her guest contributors for her blog. I would always politely say, I will try but never made one for her, so now I hope to write one.

Choosing from among the "topics" she gave us, I was moved to write about this "librarian idol" whom I was blessed to know and love - my mama - Vilma Anday. 


She was a simple woman who had dreamt of finishing a good degree because she knew that education is the only treasure that can not be taken away from her. She did everything she could to achieve her dreams, even if that would mean living away from her family, being independent while living with her not so close relatives, sharing household chores and work  as student assistant to make both ends meet. She strived hard to reach her goal and yet remain grounded on her values and principles. She did not changed so much in terms of her attitude and view of how she should live her life.  

Vilma Anday with classmates from High School

From being a library student assistant, she rose among the ranks and attained the top level management position through hard work and perseverance. She always shared with me that you need to pass through every step of the ladder and such climb is not easy one. She has always believed in going through the proper process, no favoritism, no red tapes, just pure and sincere accomplishment of what is asked of her.  It is not mere luck that you are where you are, it is the sum of all that you have done, training that you have attended with the drive to complete the tasks at hand.   She was never afraid to learn new things. She was trained to become an educator but she became a professional librarian after being exempted from taking the Board Exam for Librarians. She continued her studies while juggling with her many roles as a mother, a teacher, a colleague, a friend, a sister and a daughter who served God during church services and remained an industrious student who had always been open to ideas and perspectives. She was not a techno-savy librarian but she read and wrote about many things about her expertise and has a good grasp of the core information she needed to explain how such techno related stuff should be done.  

And I saw her perform all those duties and responsibilities with such great poise and patience and grace.
 

Professionally, she had always exuded that aura of an "ideal" librarian who never came to work late, never wanted to be served, open to whatever her subordinates opinions and suggestions were. She never raised her voice in discussion, calm and level headed even during arguments. She was a good team player and a team leader. As a staff, I saw how she respected her supervisors and as a manager, I saw how she remained humble and rooted to that fact that, a top position is merely an icing on top of the cake and the important core is that she is a librarian who is expected to perform as one.

She was aware of her strengths and admitted her weakness and still valued contribution of others for the benefit of the whole group. Power had never been her weapon to look down on people and press them down, instead she used it to help people become better individuals by trusting them as her co-equal and believing in their own capabilities and talents.  

Audrey with Mom, Vilma

Personally, she has played her role as mother in the same manner she has played her role in the professional arena but with more compassion and the kindness of heart. She rarely scolded her children. She embraced them in spite of their imperfections and acknowledges the diversity their personalities. She cried with them during clashes of ideas and arguments but still loves them just the same. She tried her best to treat them fairly and equally and understood their diverse moods and sentiments.

Similarly I saw how patient and submissive she was to her husband too. How she valued her husband as her partner, not wanting to rule over him in his absence in the home, how she remained contented with her achievement and not wanting to attain more to surpass every milestone except to see her family safe, well provided for and secured in their home. She had so many opportunities of landing a high paying job outside her workplace, but she choosed to live a simple life in the company of her family and colleagues. Looking back now, she was happy with her choices.

I remember when I was young, every time they found out I am related to her, I feel like I am an important person. Little did I know that until I grow up being related to her would land me in the same profession. Many have told me I must really have idolized her that I was following her footsteps. I sometimes find it hard to accept and believe because I had my own dreams, and I was trying to make my own path. I admit it was quite difficult to move out of her shadow and prove my own worth but looking back at how she has lived her life I am so blessed and privileged to be with my idol.

Given that chance to serve her, take care of her, talk to her and spend her last few moments with me, I came to that realization, no matter how I avoided things, I will be forever connected to her, and somehow I am 90% like her in every way since I came from her.  I am so blessed to have that intimate encounter with her where I get to know not only her mind but her heart as well. I thought I did not want to be like her because I knew for a fact that I am so much her opposite. But my involvement during her last few months showed me the most important lesson of my life, she has always thought of herself last, even if she needed to think of how she could recover and feel better, she was still performing her great passion, being of service to her family and her community...she remained my mother...our interests, our feelings and our concerns are always above hers.

Even if she was about to go, she was praying that God still extends her life for us. I saw how big her heart was to accommodate not only her family but so many other people more. I also saw how big her mind was, to understand and know which things should matter most in life.  She practiced what she has learned inside their home, applied lessons from her school and relationships and lived the faith she profess be it in her personal and professional life. She has always shared with me that no matter what field you play in, there will be forever struggles and intrigues, pains and sorrows and that one should not be disheartened. As long as you know yourself, you perform your role in the way you know and yet still open to suggestions for improvement, you will find that the passion to excel in all you do will not die down, instead it will lead you to where you should be.

I did not dream to be a librarian like my mother who did not really planned to be like one too. I realize we both wanted to be teachers but fate brought us where we should be. Now that she “graduated” from life, I feel bad not having around to confide my personal and professional thoughts with. But during such silent contemplation and reflection, her life truly serves as an inspiration for me to follow.

Vilma Anday with the
Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. BOT

Though I might not live to be like her even 1% of who she was and what she has attained, I know I learned a lot from her through the wisdom she has shared. She fought a good fight, lived a good life and until the end, silently and gracefully walked towards the light that led her to the final destination...the real home where nothing else matters but love and great love.  

To my Mama, who has been the greatest gift that I have received, thank you for showing me what it takes not only to be good person but exemplify how a true professional should think, act and stand in times of jubilation and in times of struggles and challenges. To some you are not a perfect embodiment of a person to admire or idolize but to me, you are one Pinoy Librarian Idol I am proud to say I shared many good memories and had close encounters with.

I love you Mama...

Love a Librarian: LOVErarian

It is bizarre for librarians not to love books and reading. Pity the community the library serves if it has in its midst, a librarian who does not READ at all.

Micaella Gonzales of the Filipinas Heritage Library shares her passion for books and the written word. This love triangle, books, librarian and reading, is an exciting romance that is much explored and yet, something that the world will never tire of ruminating. Yes, even in this age of e-reading, a librarian's genuine love for books and reading remains.

*ilovebooks* - my password for all social networking sites I have, once upon a time, heard about, become interested in, and am currently, actively, connected to. NO, I have not changed my password as of the moment you are reading this. So go ahead, try your hacking skills.

I love books, plainly and simply said. The gift was passed on to me by (yes, you guessed it right) my mother who is a book-lover herself.  She used to give me children’s books after children’s books which, fortunately, I managed not to wreck. I was careful with my books – a librarian in the making eh?

Turning point.

First year high school, I was given an 800+ page book to read.

Title: The Stand / Author: Stephen King

Stephen King is called the “Master of Horror”. He is known for thick-paged books laden with intricately depicted out of the world tales. He will make you experience the extraordinary in a vivid and rich story telling.

And I, Micaella, am a humble servant of the “Master of Horror”.

I am not going to say I don’t know why I love his books. This, I think, is all BS because there is always a reason why you love someone/something.

Horror – some hate it while others love it. I love it. The thrill and the suspense just make the story more intense and exciting. My love for horror transcends books, movies, and mere story telling with others. I do get scared after such an encounter with the scary. I am no “brave heart”. Lights remain on in the room. Lesser solo moments going to creepy places because, boy, my mind would imagine anything It could to scare myself!

Past midnight (when almost everyone else is sleeping, except for the others like me who enjoy the solitude of the hours between 12am to 4am), is my favorite reading time. That is when I zone in, no interruptions, no “commercial breaks”, except for the vocabulary breaks when I check my pocket dictionary to get to know a word for future use.

Mama has a pretty good collection of Stephen King books, aside from the hundreds she also owns. I remember her bringing me to book sales which I used to hate as a kid because of the long time it usually took her to browse the store’s collection. I never thought I would grow up to be just like her, a sucker for book sales. In college, one of my favorite spots in UP was the AS Walk where book stalls stood (not sure if they are still there).

My quiet place and my reward place, those are books stores to me. A weird habit I had in college was passing by the book stalls at the AS Walk before a report or exam in class if the room is just nearby. Surprisingly, the nerves dissipate. And when it feels like I have done something worth giving a reward, a book is top of the list.

So, ever since graduating from elementary and from children’s books filled with awe-inspiring pictures and from big lettered paperbacks, my fascination in life has taken on, not a different road, but a different ride on the road. My love for books was kindred by children’s books (I still very much enjoy them) and it continuously grows, unfaltering. That is love, is it not?

Love a Librarian: Loving the LIS Profession in Many Ways

Today's Love a Librarian feature is Ms. Angelic Bautista. She describes herself as a subversive school librarian, book enthusiast, a reading advocate who runs around with stilettos by day and a coffee drinker by night. She sharpens her pencil in between.

She reflects on the many roles librarians play and how, by loving the profession, love is shown in many ways.

The new era librarians have taken the information world by storm! We succeeded drastically in changing the way people look at us. We surprise people when we introduce ourselves as librarians. “Really, you are a librarian? You don’t seem to look like one!” Have you heard that? Sound like music to our ears, right?. 

We librarians could play a long list of professions. To name a few, We are like pharmacist when we provide what our users asked for. Like doctors, we do follow ups. Lawyers, when we give justice to the materials that we provide. IT professionals, when we are becoming more and more computer literate. Accountants, when we determine our library’s assets and liabilities. Statisticians, in the way we generate our user’s statistics. Guidance counselors, in the way we handle bibliotherapy. We are also like teachers the way we do our storytelling and library instruction program. Not having to mention our artistic skills in library marketing. All these rolled in one with our curiosity, wide-ranging knowledge, good memory, organization and analytical aptitude, and discretion. 

We radically change as the world change. The best part of it, we can change the lives of many individual through this craft of reaching to them either through the dust or the mouse. We take part in the success of the many and though they don’t know our real value, we always take venture to our own desire to instill the love of reading.  We do not build libraries, we make one. 

This is what I am and will always be proud of.

Love a Librarian: Pinay Librarian in the Land of Auss

Today's Love a Librarian feature is Mrs. Placida Socorro Lim-Limpin. Known to friends and colleagues as Peachy, she is based in Melbourne, Australia working as librarian at a training institute for adult learners. Before Melbourne, she has notable accomplishments in Philippine librarianship. She earned a spot in the Top 10 Licensure Exam for Librarians; was part of the group that organized and founded PNU LISSAA, the alumni association of Library and Information Science students of PNU; wrote a regular article on technology in the Manila Bulletin to mention a few. Peachy has recently been to the country for a paper presentation on cataloging during the 4th Rizal Library International Library and Information Science conference at the Ateneo de Manila University. She may be physically in Australia but the Philippines is in the heart.

For this blog carnival, Peachy preferred to answer all the questions sent to her instead of taking up one and developing it in an essay or reflection. Nonetheless, the result is heartfelt and sincere, like a sister or a dear friend, confiding and sharing life's lessons learned through experience and the living of each meaningful moment.

In response to Zarah’s request, where she sent a list of questions for me to answer, here are some things I don’t mind sharing with you.

What made me stay in the LIS profession and why

I’m a “been there and back again librarian”, having left the confines of a library to teach in an actual classroom and at university at that. But what made me go back to the librarianship was the basic fact that I don’t get to bring home work with me! And that in itself is a great relief.

I tried my hand at writing as well but didn’t want to go full time because it meant long nights and plenty of travels, which I wouldn’t mind if I had no kids to look after. So, yes, the routines of being a librarian, the work that goes with it, and especially the privilege of reading a new book first are my main reasons for staying a librarian.

On the book that changed my life

It’s really nothing profound, but the book that has changed not exactly my life, but my perspective of life is “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki.

Who is my librarian idol and why

I don’t exactly idolize any librarian but I do have a list of librarians I have high regards for but so as not to offend and risk the relationships I have with those NOT on my list, they shall remain nameless but can be shared privately on request. I know, it’s cheeky! J. Buh, humbug!

 Advise to LIS students especially those who are about to graduate

After graduation and on your first job, you’ll realize that much of the things you’ll find out at work you weren’t taught in library school. Sure you’ve done well in school doesn’t mean you’ll do well at work, too. Because the measures by which you were evaluated at school are so much different to the measures you will be evaluated at work. So start learning to build relationships and to keep these relationships because in the long run, these relationships you have built overtime will be the foundations of a rewarding career and a fruitful life.

Love a Librarian: This is NOT Acrostic (aka Hindi Ako Beauty Queen)

It's Valentines Day. To celebrate this day of love, the blog will feature five librarians who answered my call to share their feelings and passion towards the LIS (Library and Information Science) profession. In an email I sent two weeks ago to more than fourteen LIS professionals, only five found the courage to write and express their inner most feelings and openly share it to the public. 


It's an interesting revelation how strong and ardent their feelings are towards the practice of LIS; how one librarian could make a great influence to another person; how, in practicing LIS, one has found meaning in life. Beginning today and the next four more, readers of the blog will be treated to essays, reflections and yes, poetry by librarians on one of their many loves -- being a librarian and loving it.


Dean Igor Cabbab of the University of the Philippines School of Library and Information Studies has cut first blood. Here he shares a poem written in Filipino on staying on in the LIS profession, and how, for many years, he has wandered away only to find himself drawn back again. Love is lovelier the second time around, indeed!

10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Igor Cabbab is (or once was) a guitarist, a drummer, a singer, a rapper, a martial artist, a skill toy and yoyo professional, a fire-breather, an ethnic woven-cloth painter (weird, I know, I painted paisley patterns on cloth for export), a poet, a writer, an editor, a comic book professional, an events photographer, a theater tech director, a graphic artist, a website designer, and many more. For some unknown reason he's also a college professor and the Dean of the UP School of Library and Information Science (UP SLIS, celebrating its 50th year, *uber-shameless plug*)


This is NOT Acrostic
(aka Hindi Ako Beauty Queen)
by Igor Cabbab

Kumakahol ang tuta
Ng kapit-bahay ngayong gabi
Nakakainis na nakaka-awa
Baka naje-jebs o nawi-wiwi
Ilang pagkakataon, Ilang ulit
Ilang beses inisip
Kung bakit umalis
At kung bakit bumalik
Ewan ko ba
Kung ano ang dahilan
Ilang beses ko na nga ba
Ito pinag-isipan
Institusyon ba
O mga tao?
Mga Istudyante?
Mga katrabaho?
Klase, computer
Istudyanteng umiiyak
Thesis, test paper
Pedicab na di-padyak
Lecture dito, seminar doon
Hands-on na madugo
Workshop sa kung saan
"...and Beyond..." patungo
Sandamukal na libro
Alikabok ang nasisinghot
Pasaway na istudyante
Rason ba kung ba't ako'y nakasimangot?

Ewan... (Dunno...)

Basta... (Just Because...)

Nandito lang ako... (I'm here... To stay...)

^_^

-30-

Librarians Read Series: The Reading Librarian

From November 8-12, 2010, the blog will feature one librarian per day and their list of books read as a teen. Yes, it's a spill over of Teen Read Week 2010!

This is what I got for having invited readers to join in the Teen Read Week list mania. No regrets! The more the merrier!

The five Filipino librarians who replied to my call for participation in this blog's Teen Read Week list mania is a very small percentage of the big group of  Filipino librarians out there who read. I've often met people from outside the profession who complain that librarians do not READ. Shame it is to hear and know about this. A librarian who does not read should re-examine his or her career path. Librarians MUST be models of the reading habit especially in the community of learners that they belong to. It is not a requirement to read every book there is in the vast collection of the library or online resources but, it is essential that the librarian is a READER.

Now I imagine teaching LIS (Library and Information Science) in college. If I were, I would ask the college applicant these two questions: Do you read? What have you read recently?


If you are a college freshman and is considering taking LIS as a major course (and brave enough to reply to this post), hit the comment button and share your reading list!

Happy reading!

Basic Teacher-Librarians Workshop

I was invited by the Rizal Library and Pathways To Higher Education for a talk on school library reading programs last month. The one hour lecture is part of the Basic Teacher-Librarians Workshop organized by the Rizal Library to re-orient and start off the teacher librarians who will run and manage the libraries in their schools.

For my talk, I gave the participants an overview of Reading. In planning and implementing library reading programs, the librarian (for this context it is the teacher-librarians who are concerned) needs to see the bigger picture of Reading. This would help him/her in organizing relevant and meaningful literacy activities for students in particular and the school community in general. I included an array of reading activities that teacher-librarians can do. The activities range from individual to group and community wide initiatives. Lastly, I presented a framework for them to use when planning the proposal for a library reading program.



This initiative may seem to run opposite the ideals of RA 9246. But one has to see the bigger picture. Due to the dearth of licensed librarians as well as work items for librarians in the public school system, most school administrations resort to assigning teachers to man the school library. On top of their teaching loads, teachers become officers-in-charge of the school library.

The need to apply and implement this law is great, indeed.

Dear Librarian: SLIA's REPLY for Making the Right Decion

Here's my take on Confused Freshman's dilemma. Prof. Cabbab gave his piece of advice in a previous post.

Dear Confused Freshman,

LIS was not my first choice of a college degree. I wanted to major in English under the Bachelor of Secondary Education program at the Philippine Normal University. It was my mother who convinced me to take up LIS instead because, very few major in the discipline. It meant that I have little competition and bigger chances to get a job. She was right.

I love books. I love reading. I love being and socializing with people. If you, like me, have an affinity for all three – books, reading and people, then that’s a good start to base your choice in transferring to LIS. Other than these, LIS could offer you the following jobs or possibilities after graduation.

a. You can work as a librarian in a school, college, university, corporate and/or government agency.
b. You can take on a job as an IT specialist.
c. You can be a content developer.
d. You can work in a publishing house as indexer, abstracter or a subject specialist who prepares bibliographies and thesauri.
e. You can be an archivist and work along side historians and researchers

The good thing is, you can be anyone of the afore mentioned professionals here or abroad. Yes, LIS professionals are WANTED in the Philippines and the world.

As for your study habits, I think this is an area you need to improve on. I further suggest that you take some test on your learning styles and modalities so that you would know how to conquer your weakness of late submissions. If you’re succeeding in your sibling’s outsourcing project, there must be something about it that gives you constant and automatic motivation. Know what it is and use it to help you survive college and life in general. It would do you a lot of good if you seek your college’s guidance counselor especially with your academic history.

I’m all for a college degree, but you know, if a four year course is not for you, then there are options. I know of successful people who took TESDA (skills) courses and they’re happy, financially and personally. The important thing is that you know who you are, what you want and how to get it. Your confusion is a good start to self-discovery. Don’t quickly jump into another course. Instead, reflect on where you are at the moment and plan a strategy. You are not young forever. Time waits for no one, besides.

The good thing is, you are blessed with free will. Use it well. You’re free to follow the advice I gave you and that of Prof. Cabbab’s. At the end of the day, however, it’s what your heart’s desire that matters.

Do you know your heart’s desire? Do you know your passion? *Follow what it is and life will reward you!

Good luck and God bless,

Ms. Zarah

*From General Iroh of the Fire Nation, Avatar the Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender

Dear Librarian: Making The Right Decision

As I have mentioned in a previous post, Dear Librarian will be a new feature of this blog. In time for the blog's 5th blogversary, the first letter sender is featured bellow. The translation follows after. My response and a guest blogger's will be posted in the next few days.

Dear Ms. Zarah,

I came upon your blog via my friend. LIS major sya at malapit na syang grumaduate. 3rd year iregular sya pero, mukhang sa 2011, may diploma na sya. As for me, 3 taon ng freshman. Terrible, I know. Ewan ko ba, lito talaga ako since kumuha ako ng Psych. Tapos, lumipat ako sa Educ. Then, nagtransfer ako sa Tourism. Ngayon, di pa rin ako satisfied.

Worried na ang parents ko, pati na ang friend ko na LIS major. Kaya naman, super help sya sa akin na magtransfer sa LIS. Maganda naman ang mga grades ko. Pero, problem ko ang pagmeet ng deadlines. Nakakawili kase ang FB at internet. Working student din ako sa isang outsourcing project ng kapatid ko. Alam ko na mahalaga ang isang degree, pero, confused ako kung lilipat ba ako sa LIS dept. ng university o titgil na lang sa pag-aaral. Mukhang happy ang friend ko sa LIS course nya. At sa dating ng blog mo, panalo! Parang happy ka din maging librarian.

Bigyan mo naman ako ng payo o clue kung ang LIS nga ay para sa akin.

Salamat and more power to your blog!

Confused Freshman

Translation:

Dear Miss Zarah,

I came upon your blog via my friend who is a LIS (Library and Information Science) major. My friend will soon graduate from college. She's in junior year, irregular, but it seems that she will finish by 2011. As for me, I have been a freshman for three years now. Terrible, I know. I don't really know what college course to take since I started Psychology. Then I transferred to Education. Now I am taking Tourism.

My parents are very worried as well as my friend. That's why she's convincing me and helping me transfer to LIS. My grades are good. But I'm very bad at meeting deadlines. I'm an netizen and a frequent FB user. I also sideline for my sibling who runs outsourcing projects. I know a college degree is very important but I'm confused whether to transfer in LIS or give up college entirely. My friend is happy taking up LIS and judging from your blog posts, it seems that you are satisfied at being a librarian.

Kindly give me an advice if LIS is really the course for me.

Thank you and more power to your blog!

Confused Freshman

PLAI-NCRC Lecture on Social Networking & Library Promotions

My lecture at the National Library this morning was attended by a small group of the PLAI-NCRC. Nonetheless, the "big names" in Philippine Librarianship were there: Cora Nera, Nora Claravall, Atty. Antonio Santos, Porf. Sally Arlante and Prof. Rod Tarlit of the University of the Philippines.

While most of the participants are frequent FB users, the library they work in neither has a blog or an account in a social networking site. Here's hoping that they will start one as an off shoot of my talk/lecture.

Social Networking & Promotion of Library Services

View more presentations from eruannie.

Write An Essay & Get A Gift Check Contest

I want to know what you think of blogs, blogging librarians and their impact to the Library and Information Science (LIS) profession.

For the details and context of the contest, read the post about the LIBSpeak 2009 highlights. Blogs of the "featured" blograrians can be checked using the link.

Blog It! The Impact of the Blogging Phenomenon to the Field of Library & Information Science

The title of this essay has three important key words namely: impact, blogging, and library and information science (LIS). In librarian lingo, blogging is not a new word. Blogs and blogging has been around since 2000 so if you miss this “phenomenal” word, you must have been living under a rock. As for LIS, you have to be a worm not to know what it is all about. Put them all together in one nifty title and a host of images, contexts and meaning arise. Among these key words, it is the word impact that has caught my attention.

I suppose it is the same key word that organizers of the UP FLIPP seminar thought about in awhile otherwise they could have concocted another title.

What is the impact of blogging to LIS? Believe me, I have pondered on this for weeks. It seems that, blogging has something philosophical and profound that it affect librarians and the profession at large. Or perhaps, there is a scarcity of literature, scholarly or not, on the effects of blogging to LIS be it in an online environment or a printed format that we, in the LIS field must talk about and conduct discussions on. If this is the case, then blogging has indeed become a serious topic for LIS practitioners and students alike.

Growing Organisms

Walter Crawford has recently published a book, Liblog Landscapes. Between 2007-2008, 600+ liblogs has mushroomed in the WWW. Crawford has been studying blogs by librarians and about libraries since 2006. Judit Bar-Ilan of Isarel conducted a content analysis of library and librarian blogs from 2003 to 2005. There had been a 15-20 percent increase in the two-year period of the study. Several websites like the International Association of School Libraries Online contain a directory of blogs by school librarians and libraries. The list grows longer every year that it is already categorized by themes and topics.

Liblogs are multiplying in the speed of bytes and broadband, indeed! But we go back to the same question. What force attracts LIS professionals from blogging?

One important role of LIS professionals is to extend public awareness and appreciation of information availability (Bar-Ilan, 2005). There are many ways to actualize this role. Library newsletter and bulletin boards are examples. With the advent of blogging technology, blogs are becoming ideal tools. Aside from this, blogs are avenues where librarians can promote and market the library’s collection, services and programs. Online directories and book reviews can be published. Announcement of library activities and calendar of events can be disseminated via blogs. Even job vacancies and applicant requirements are uploaded in blogs! The campaign for library awareness and its importance can be expressed through blogs.

The advocacy of uplifting the image of a pro-active LIS professional is another reason for blogging. More so, scholarly papers, essays, networking and linkages, collaborative projects by librarians with in and with others are contents of many liblogs. These online readings help a lot in the professional growth of librarians.

Such things are possible through blogs and blogging. Just like libraries, it is a free enterprise. For as long as you have the time, the technology, the skills to thrive in an online environment, and something relevant to communicate with an audience, blogging can be a worthwhile and liberating experience. So no wonder blogs, like libraries are growing organisms!

Blog It!

Let us now go over these blogs by librarians and libraries to further understand its impact to the discipline. Allow me to begin with our very own, homegrown blogs.

1. School Librarian In Action
2. Filipino Librarian
3. Arnold Digital
4. Baratillo@Cubao
5. Mindanao Librarian
6. PLAI-STRLC
7. PLAI NCR
8. Weekly Job Notices

Let’s look at the following blogs of librarians in other parts of the world .

1. The Shifted Librarian
2. Peter Scott’s Library Blog
3. Deep Thinking
4. The Rambling Librarian
5. Knowbodies
6. Library Grits
7. Library Profession
8. Judging the Books

With the continuous growth and development of IT, libraries and librarians can do a lot more with blogs. I would not be surprised if blogging becomes a requirement in library school. The challenge now for us in the LIS field is two fold. One would be the creative way in which we can increase blog readership. And two, the internal motivation librarians must possess to continue blogging about the profession and LIS related issues.

Highlights from LibSpeak 2009

The day after LibSpeak 2009 bolted me up to reality.

It felt good to be back in UP Diliman after three semesters gone AWOL. Sorry po, tao lang (I am only human). The morning conference went well with such inspiring words from Dir. Sally Arlante and Dean Vyva Cruz. Wala pa ring kupas si Ma'am Arlante. She remains to be sharp, smart and sophisticated even to this day when retirement beckons like an old friend. Professors of the UP SLIS were present as well as librarians from the Main Library. The conference was a UP FLIPP initiative and the school gave its one hundred percent support. No wonder the UP FLIPPers were in smart casual attire. Other participants in the conference were high school students who were participants in the LIS Wizard Contest that afternoon. A contingent from Cebu Normal University was able to make it in time for the lecture of Prof. Von Totanes.

Von Totanes gave a substantial and realistic presentation on the future of LIS (Library and Information Science) graduates and the qualities needed for fresh graduates to succeed in the field. I hope he posts his lecture as it is essential for other readers of his blog to understand movements and changes in the LIS profession.

As for my presentation, I will post the essay in the next couple of days. For now, I would like to hammer on the contest which I launched during my talk to the UP FLIPPers, colleagues in the profession, mentors and students.

Instructions to the contest are as follows:

1. Write an essay, at least five paragraphs long, based on these two questions:
What is the effect of blogging to LIS professionals?
What forces do blogs wield upon libraries, librarians and information professionals?
2. The blogs used as examples in the talk/essay Blog It! The Impact of the Blogging Phenomenon to the Field of Library and Information Science must be read and cited as examples.
3. Send essays to zarah.gagatiga@gmail.com
4. The best essay will be posted in SLIA (School Librarian In Action) and its writer will get a gift check as token.
5. Deadline for the submission of entries is on March 25, 2009.

Here now are the criteria.

1. Content - 40%
2. Organization and Composition - 30%
3. Relevance to the LIS issue in question - 30%

Happy writing and good luck!

Storytelling 101 for Librarians* @ The LIS Congress 2009

*This is the abstract/description of my presentation for the LIS Congress on February 28, 2009 at the UP Diliman.

Storytelling is a proven technique to motivate children from coming to the library and for them to use its resources. In general, it is an effective marketing tool to promote the library. Through storytelling, the librarian’s role as an active player in literacy development is emphasized.

The paper discusses the nature of storytelling, its purpose and appropriate practice in library services for children and young adults. Simple ways to tell a story like reading aloud, oral telling and use of props and puppets will be demonstrated. A storytelling program that identifies the use of age-appropriate books for children is also included.