Wow, I should prepare myself for the swarm of traffic I'll be getting to my site, thanks to the new post in ALA Techsource, On the 2.0 Job Description (Part 2): LIS Students in a 2.0 World. It was a pleasant surprise to be mentioned there and I welcome anybody who has clicked over from the post. I sent an email to Michael Stephens when he asked for input from current LIS students about whether current MLIS curriculum is up to par with what we'll need for Library 2.0. Well, you can read my email on ALA Techsource, but my experience with Wayne State is absolutely positive. Not just on the curriculum level, I do feel that I entered the program at Wayne State at exactly the right time for what I want to do with Library and Information Science, but also with how "user friendly" the whole program is.
I had my heart set on going to University of Michigan several years ago, but several years ago I was working in a very corporate atmosphere. Instead of reading library blogs I was reading web design and usability blogs (ok and a few library blogs mixed in), it's not that Michigan would have been the wrong choice, I just know that my sanity thanks me for choosing WSU. The biggest relief for me has been how easy it is to work a part time job and get some classes in. I'm not in a hurry to get my degree and I'm satisfied at my job, but the fact that I can go to school, work, and still have a life outside of both of those is a big deal to me. I think that was one of the major mental road blocks to committing to Michigan as my grad school choice, I knew that no matter what, school would be my life. My personal school to work ratio requires that I'm working more. My personal life to work to school ratio requires that I'm enjoying myself in the process, if the balance gets off kilter just a little bit then I feel inclined to make changes...so far these changes have not been necessary since starting school. My husband does go to Michigan and he loves it. I can't knock the school either because over 50% of our income comes from U of M ;) Although I think another part of me is relieved I didn't go there...that would be the OSU fan in me...yes I'm a Buckeye living in Ann Arbor, please forgive me...
I'm happy that Michael stressed one particular thing about my email though:
What strikes me most about her response is that she cites the most valuable experience is "from actually doing these things."
I don't think you can participate in Library or Web 2.0 without actually getting your hands dirty with this stuff. The name of the 2.0 game is participation. I know on some subconscious level I realized this years ago when I was blogging or trying out new services, but all of that playing around has paid off for me today. The whole purpose of my blog is to play! I don't have a whole lot to say to the world but I do have a lot of ideas and observations that need to come out somewhere. Just the fact that several months ago I was not using wikis and now I've already installed two on my own site and I'm using others gives me a huge feeling of accomplishment.
I did enjoy reading the other emails and contributions in the ALA Techsource post. I recently started tinkering with my MySpace page again. I don't visit it very much, when I first visited it I got email from a lot of weirdos that I ignored, but now I'm actually getting messages from people I used to go to high school with...I kinda think that's cool. I've even found that a lot of people that I already know from college have pages on MySpace. What this has put into perspective for me is that real people are using these things! People I already know, people in our own communities or people that we can go out and network with. My former co-worker used to refer to her offline life as her "real life", but I don't think you can do that anymore. Online or offline, we're talking to the same people and the boundaries are fading away fast. What a wonderful thing that is :)
technorati tags: ala_techsource, lis, mlis, library, information_science, wayne_state, wsu, university_of_michigan, u_of_m, library_2.0
Heidi,
You should attend the Best Practices Workshop that Wayne State's LISAA is presenting at my library on May 16th. I think I'm going to attend since I will just be getting off work.
http://www.dalnet.lib.mi.us/
Perhaps I'll see you there, if not before:)
Sarah, I think we have class! Unless you're not taking Intro to the Profession any more. Doesn't classes start May 9th on Tuesday evenings?
Yes, I know we have class. I was going to skip it that night. I know.....bad me. I figure missing one class won't kill me. I'm sure I'll be fine.
I think for me, it's worth it. :)
Looks like I'm going to have to go to class then...I'll have to take good notes for you ;)
I'm going to tell the instructor that I'll be missing that day ahead of time. At least it won't be unexpected.
You don't have to take notes for me. I'm sure she'll post things on Blackboard like most do. My co-worker had her for the same class so she pretty much informed me what to expect.
Thanks if you do! I won't turn them down:)
It does sound interesting. You'll have to keep me posted if your library does more cool stuff like that.
Now, I have to study now!!! :)