by R.C. Miessler, Head Editor, INALJ Indiana Support Open Access Week (All Year ‘Round)! Open Access Week was October 21-27 this year, but it’s not too late to get involved. If you’re new to the idea of OA, there are numerous open access resources available for librarians; the Open Education Database has a two-part list of resources,…
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Articles
The Best Not Quite Free Apps for Reference
by Fallon Zschiegner-Bleich, Head Editor, INALJ Arkansas The Best Not Quite Free Apps for Reference We’ve all seen the lists of free apps out there (I cannot say enough great things about the 40 free apps presentation I went to at Annual this year), but what about those that are fabulous apps but aren’t free?…
Articles
The Many Sides of Reference: Special Collections versus Academic Libraries
by Courtney Butler, Head Editor, INALJ Idaho The Many Sides of Reference: Special Collections versus Academic Libraries I recently accepted two different part-time positions that both require that I man the reference desk for a significant portion of each shift I work. One position is in a special collections department within a public library and…
Articles
Beyond Basic Tech Programs for Libraries
by Brad McNally, Head Editor, INALJ Ohio Beyond Basic Tech Programs for Libraries In recent months, I’ve worked with a large number of people regarding technology in the library. While it is absolutely wonderful that libraries can offer basic computer skills courses, there are patrons that would like to go beyond that and explore deeper…
Articles
Success! (On Program Planning)
by Scottie Kapel, Head Editor, INALJ Oregon Success! Last month I wrote an article about my worries as a first-time program planner. If you’ll recall, the event was Teen Read Week, and I’m back today to recap the week’s events and address if my concerns came to fruition. What events should we schedule? While planning…
Articles
Local vs. National Conferences
by Sara Dixon, Head Editor, INALJ Kansas Local vs. National Conferences Last weekend, I attended the Kansas Library Association Annual Conference, my first conference as a gainfully employed public librarian. And. It. Was. Awesome. It was great to meet so many librarians in situations similar to mine. I found out that my “small” town library…
Articles
Cover Letters – Best Practices
by Mary-Michelle Moore, Head Editor, INALJ Vermont Cover Letters – Best Practices Your cover letter may be as important, if not more important, than your resume in a hiring packet. It is an initial writing sample as well as your introduction to the search committee. Many people create a boilerplate cover letter to send out…
Articles
One Librarian’s Holiday Reading List
by Kristen Jaques, Head Editor, INALJ Maine One Librarian’s Holiday Reading List It is said that some dedicated professionals have a hard time learning not to “bring their work home with them.” As a public librarian and book hoarder, I am no exception. While my lovable, zany patrons will not be getting my home address…
Articles
Illicit Activity in the Library – the PORN!
by Shayna Monnens, Head Editor, INALJ South Dakota Illicit Activity in the Library – the PORN! And it happens…again! There is always someone, without fail, who just seems to not understand the concept of (please choose one of the choices listed: decency, privacy, common sense, propriety, FREE WI-FI IS NOT FOR PORN VIEWAGE). I honestly…
Articles
New York ComicCon: A Rewarding Experience for Librarians
by Leigh Milligan, Head Editor, INALJ Wisconsin New York Comic Con: A Rewarding Experience for Librarians On October 10th, I attended New York Comic Con (NYCC) for the first time. I have always heard about it and wanted to go, but never had an opportunity to until this year. NYCC includes pop culture related vendors and artists, as…
Articles
The Association of Research Libraries’ Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for …
by Emma Pinault, Head Editor, INALJ Delaware The Association of Research Libraries’ Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries Confused about fair use and how it applies to your library? Academic librarians, especially, often find themselves setting guidelines on what is a fair use of the library’s copyrighted materials, or…
Articles
Unplug and Recharge
by Ryan Nitz, Head Editor, INALJ Alaska Unplug and Recharge As a result of the recent government shutdown, I’ve had the opportunity to step away from technology throughout the day a bit more than I usually would. I’ve noticed that not having to be in front of a screen for a significant part of the…
Articles
Become More Marketable: Learn Spanish
by Sarah Porter, Head Editor, INALJ California Become More Marketable: Learn Spanish Sadly, “No hablo Espanol. Un momento por favor” is about the extent that I can speak Spanish to library patrons. Furthermore, when I apply for jobs, many California job postings state “bilingual preferred” or even “bilingual (English/Spanish) required”. If you are in the…
Articles
Seminars and Webinars and Online Courses—Oh My!
by Amanda Viana, Head Editor, INALJ Massachusetts Seminars and Webinars and Online Courses—Oh My! I’m insatiably curious; a committed lifelong learner. I think of it as one of my greatest strengths and one of my main motivators in working to make public libraries centers of lifelong learning. Since graduating in late 2012, I’ve been trying…
Articles
Library Jobs in North Carolina: Key Statistics
by Rebekah Kati, Head Editor, INALJ North Carolina Library Jobs in North Carolina: Key Statistics Over the past six months, I have collected data on the type, title, and location of jobs that I post to the INALJ North Carolina page. At first this was an effort to cut back on the number of duplicates…
Interviews
Transitioning to Management: Q&A with Anna Jensen
This interview is over 1 year old and may no longer be up to date or reflect the interviewee/interviewees’ positions by Caitlin Moen, Head Editor, INALJ Louisiana Transitioning to Management: Q&A with Anna Jensen Caitlin: What has been the greatest challenge for you in moving into a management role? Anna: Moving into a library with…
Articles
The Slide
by Shelley Macon, Head Editor, INALJ Florida The Slide A couple of weeks ago I was at one of my children’s extracurricular activities. And, as usual, the parents were congregated in one area chatting. Most of these parents are acquaintances, not what I would label “friends.” So, normally the conversation consists of talking about our…
Articles
5 Tips for Attending your First Conference
by Courtney Baron, Head Editor, INALJ Georgia 5 Tips for Attending your First Conference I just got back from my first library conference last week! It was a great learning experience and I’m excited to share my tips with other library students and first time attendees. I can’t stress enough how important it is to…
Articles
Halloween Book Round-Up
by Emily Guier, Head Editor, INALJ Wyoming Halloween Book Round-Up In the spirit of the season, I’ve rounded up a list of spooky(ish) reads to get you in the mood for October. I will note that these are mostly YA, and chosen because I’ve read them (Forever YA, anyone?) and can offer an opinion. Beautiful…
Articles
How Being a Researcher Has Made Me a Better Archivist
by Gabrielle Spiers, Head Editor, INALJ Montana How Being a Researcher Has Made Me a Better Archivist I do research for a living, more specifically I do historical research with primary sources – mostly military history with some genealogy as well as anything else that comes my way. As with many things in life, I…
Articles
How Many Jobs Should You Apply For?
by Tiffany Newton, Head Editor, INALJ Missouri How Many Jobs Should You Apply For? I’ve been without a job for several months now. I had a student position while getting my MLS, and when I graduated, I lost my job. That’s just how student positions go. I was recently talking to a colleague and I…
Articles
Finding Common Ground: Publishers and the Libraries
by Nicole Usiondek, Head Editor, INALJ Michigan Finding Common Ground: Publishers and the Libraries eBooks, publishers, and the library were all much talked about topics in 2012. eBooks have become a staple in the lives of many and so it was only natural that more and more patrons began looking to their local libraries to…
Articles
Authors Advocating for Libraries
by Elinor Crosby, Head Editor, INALJ Nova Scotia Authors Advocating for Libraries “I see libraries and librarians as frontline soldiers in the war against illiteracy and the lack of imagination.” – Neil Gaiman Who out there besides librarians, library staff, and patrons are advocating for libraries? Authors, that’s who. Many authors love libraries, grew up…
Articles
The Replacement
by Ashley Crace, Head Editor, INALJ West Virginia The Replacement It is so exciting to take on a new job! Sometimes, it is easy to forget that someone else was doing that job before you (unless it is a new position, of course). Though you may wonder under what circumstances the previous person left the…
Articles
Don’t Get Lost on Your Job Search!
by Sarah Deringer, Head Editor, INALJ Mississippi Don’t Get Lost on Your Job Search! Getting lost in the job search can be very easy without a plan. Before beginning a job search (or after getting lost), take a moment to breathe and reflect. It’s easy to rush around trying to apply to every job out…