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610:501 Introduction to Library and Information Professions: What is New

What's New?

Check here to see if new material has been added since you last visited the 501 website.



March 2011

Student Blog

Written by Christina Steffy

I am so excited to be here studying for an MLIS. We're only in the second week of classes, really the first full week, and I'm already loving it. I don't know what else to say or how else to say it, but I love this program. It's challenging and it's already rewarding. I'm learning so much. I just love it. And I will be blogging about my experience: missionmlis.wordpress.com

Find a Library Job

Good morning Professors,

My name is Naomi House and I am a current student, anticipated May 2011 grad. Along with Elizabeth Leonard, a recent MLIS grad, I started a Facebook Library Jobs page and daily email free service back last October. It has become quite popular with over 615 members on FB and nearly 300 daily subscribers. It is called "I Need a Library Job" and was started in part to share jobs I received from listservs and found online with others since Elizabeth and I have both been fortunate enough to find jobs.

Link here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-need-a-Library-job/125220477532213?sk=wall

Naomi House

From Kevin Ewell:
SC& I Office of Student Services
Graduate Bulletin - March 2011

Dear School of Communication and Information Graduate Students:
We hope you are having a great semester. Below are some important announcements regarding your enrollment as a School of Communication and Information graduate student.

* The Rutgers University Commencement Ceremony and the SC&I Convocation Ceremony are currently scheduled for Sunday, May 15, 2011. Additional details will be announced within the next few weeks. In addition, we will post the updates on our SC&I website as soon as arrangements are finalized. Stay tuned.

* All graduate students who plan to graduate in May 2011 must complete a diploma application online at https://www.ugadmissions.rutgers.edu/DIPLOMA/Login.aspx by March 15, 2011. Students who previously applied for October 2010 or January 2011 and who did not graduate must file a new application if they intend to graduate in May. If you have additional questions, you may contact our SC&I Student Services office or contact the Graduate Registrar directly at gradreg@rci.rutgers.edu or (732) 445-3556.

* REMINDER: The Office of Student Services will host a LIVE CHAT for SC&I graduate students, TOMORROW (TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011) at 10:00AM. This virtual LIVE CHAT session will give current graduate students the opportunity to ask general questions about the academic programs and/or academic services. In order to participate in the LIVE CHAT session, you must visit the following website: http://rutgersdceo.na6.acrobat.com/scigradstudentadvising. If you have a general question, enter as a "Guest" and join the chat! Your questions will be answered by the graduate program advisors.

* Please visit the Scholarships and Awards link (http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/current-students/scholarships-and-awards.html) on the School of Communication and Information webpage to review the different graduate scholarships and eligibility requirements, and to download the scholarship applications forms, if required. Completed scholarship application forms and supporting documentation are due to the SC&I Office of Student Services by 5:00PM, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2011. If you have any questions, you may contact our office at (732) 932-7500 ext. 8150 or by email at scholarship@comminfo.rutgers.edu.

* DID YOU KNOW THAT.the digital board in the School of Communication and Information main lobby (2nd floor) is actually a computer kiosk. Students can use the computers to check and change their academic schedules, check their email, and explore other webpages of the School of Communication and Information, Rutgers University, and beyond.

* FOR ALL MLIS STUDENTS: If you do not have an advisor or don't remember who your advisor is, please let us know so we can assign you an advisor. Contact Prof. Kay Cassell or Stephanie Mikitish (Mikitish@eden.rutgers.edu) telling us what your areas of interest are. Advisement for the Fall 2011 semester starts March 21 so we would like to assign you an advisor before that date.

* FOR ALL MLIS STUDENTS: The RU Omicron Chapter of Beta Phi Mu, the National LIS Honor Society, is pleased to provide you with the opportunity to apply for their scholarships that will be awarded this spring. To apply, use this link to the 2011 BPM Scholarship application: http://betaphimuomicron.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/bpm-scholarshipapp20111. doc. Please be sure to follow the submission directions and also please note that the deadline to apply is April 8, 2011. If you have additional questions, contact Dr. Marie Radford, Faculty Advisor.

* REMINDER: The School of Communication and Information is hosting its 1st annual video game conference titled "The Game Behind the Video Game: Business, Regulation, and Society in the Gaming Industry", scheduled for April 8 -9, 2011 at The Heldrich in New Brunswick, NJ. For more information about this exciting conference, including the program, the speakers, and the vendors, please visit the conference website at http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/conferences/game-behind-the-game/.

* Graduate students are encouraged to contact Graduate Student Services Coordinators, Ms. Faye Brown-Barclift (fdbrown@rutgers.edu) or Ms. Joan Chabrak (joan.chabrak@rutgers.edu) if you have any questions. You may also visit the SC&I Office of Student Services located on the main level of the SC&I Building (Room 214).

In closing, we wish you continued success this semester. If you have any questions, we invite you to contact our Office of Student Services at (732) 932-7500 (press 3 @ prompt) or visit us in the SC&I Building, Room 214.

Sincerely,
Kevin J. Ewell



January 2011

New from the American Libray Association:
See http://joblist.ala.org/jobseekerfeatures.cfm and below:

From joblist@ala.org Fri Jan 7 18:11:43 2011
Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 22:18:45 -0000
From: JobLIST Direct
Subject: ALA JobLIST Direct - January 7, 2011


ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS
Welcome to JobLIST Direct!
ALA JobLIST Placement Center this weekend
Create and manage your professional online identity
Free webinar next week!
An e-newsletter from ALA JobLIST - January 7, 2011

Announcing JobLIST Direct!ALA JobLIST Direct masthead Welcome to the premiere issue of JobLIST Direct, the free bi-weekly e-newsletter from ALA JobLIST! JobLIST Direct will be bringing you selected articles highlighting job search strategies and career advice, as well as ALA news relevant to job seekers and employers in Library & Information Science & Technology. Content may include announcements about ALA JobLIST Placement Centers at selected conferences, new publications, professional development offerings, and opportunities to connect and network with your peers in meaningful ways through the American Library Association.

To ensure that you continue receiving it, please take a few seconds to subscribe to JobLIST Direct (only your email address is needed) and add joblist@ala.org to your address book or whitelist. You can opt-out of this newsletter at any time. Feedback regarding JobLIST Direct or any of ALA JobLIST's services is always welcome at joblist@ala.org.

ALA JobLIST Placement Center features career counseling, Open House[joblist_placementcntr_logo_400x150.jpg]
This weekend's ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego, will again feature a placement center to provide opportunities for employers and job seekers to meet, network, and achieve success in reaching their employment goals. The center will will host an Open House from 10:30 a.m. - noon on Sunday, January 9, to provide conference attendees with the opportunity to meet representatives from various libraries and library-related companies and learn about their individual work environments as well as activities in and around their institutions.
.... Ten simple steps to create and manage your professional online identity "Do you have a professional online identity? Do you maintain a professional portfolio and a current resume? . . . Librarians, perhaps more than other professionals, should understand the power of online information and the influence it can have over our careers." Digital Services Librarian Susanne Markgren offers tips on how to maintain and make use of portfolios and profiles in the digital age. Source: C&RL News, January 2011

Dr. Caitlin Williams Free webinar offers seven steps to get your career moving in the right direction Can't make it to participate in the ALA JobLIST Placement Center at the Midwinter Meeting? You'll still have an opportunity to benefit from the career counseling experience of Dr. Caitlin Williams virtually, through the ALA JobLIST Placement Center's free Webinar next Tuesday, January 11, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. EST. This idea-packed Webinar will clearly lay out the key strategies for choosing your next career move and the best ways for getting there - starting right now. In its continuing efforts to help job seekers retool their skills and prepare for job searches, the ALA JobLIST Placement Center is offering this webinar at no cost to participants. Register for the free Webinar and reserve your spot today!

January 7, 2011 Public Library Financing

Here is an illustration of the kind of advocacy for libraries that is possible through professional organizations. All states, or at least regions of the U.S., have associations such as the New Jersey Library Association (NJLA). Pat Tumulty is the executive director.

From ptumulty@njla.org Fri Jan 7 14:07:53 2011
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 14:05:46 -0500
From: Patricia Tumulty
To: updates@njla.org
Subject: Legislative Updates

Assembly Bill 2679 is now ready for a vote by the full Assembly. This Bill, passed previously in the Senate, makes municipal library funding a dedicated line on the tax bill and therefore removes it from the municipal tax cap.
Removing libraries from the municipal tax cap has been an important part of our legislative agenda. We believe this Bill will pass with little opposition, as it did in the Senate. However, as insurance, we encourage NJLA members to take a moment today, or Monday, to call your local Assembly office and ask for their support of A2679. We don't know for sure when this will come up for a vote but we expect it to be soon and will keep you all informed of its progress. Once passed by the Assembly this Bill must be reconciled with the version passed in the Senate before moving on to the Governor's office.

NJLA Scolarships

From murrayjeannem@yahoo.com Fri Jan 7 10:06:49 2011
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 07:06:06 -0800 (PST)
From: Jeanne Murray
To: comminfo_lissa@EMAIL.rutgers.edu
Subject: [Comminfo_lissa] Scholarships for 2011-2012 LIS students

To all LIS students:
Just a reminder to get your scholarship applications in soon!
The New Jersey Library Association's Scholarship Committee will be accepting scholarship applications for the academic year 2011-2012 from master's and doctoral candidates in library and information science.
For information, please visit the NJLA Web site at:
http://njla.pbworks.com/w/page/12189925/Scholarship
The direct link to the application and instructions is:
https://files.pbworks.com/download/wLAWjPQihC/njla/32930226/ScholApp_2011-2012.pdf
The deadline is February 15, 2011. Any candidate who is selected for an interview must agree to be available to meet with the committee on Friday, March 25, 2011 in New Brunswick, NJ. Candidates must live in NJ or attend school here, or be employed at a New Jersey library.
We look forward to reading your applications.
Best of luck,
Jeanne Murray
Chair, NJLA Scholarship Committee

May 2010

From sbriant@haddonfieldlibrary.org Wed May 5 15:27:41 2010
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 15:27:27 -0400 (EDT)
From: Susan Briant
Subject: News from the President of the New Jersey Library Association

Summary of Crisis

Gov. Christie's budget calls for a 74% decrease in funding for statewide library services. This cut includes the elimination of all statewide library programs and services. This will affect all types of libraries in New Jersey. Once state funding is eliminated, NJ will lose $4.5 million in federal funding. What does this mean to NJ residents? Once state and federal funding are lost the impact will be felt by all residents:

1. Access to electronic databases such as RefUSA and EBSCO will cease
2. Statewide interlibrary loan and delivery of library materials will cease
3. Libraries will lose 50% of state aid at a time when demand for services is increasing dramatically
4. More than half of public libraries will lose access to the Internet
5. Many libraries will lose email service
6. Many libraries will lose their websites or access to them
7. The Talking Book and Braille Center (known as the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped) will close
8. Group contracts which bring down the cost of other electronic resources purchased by libraries will cease

At the same time the state is eliminating funding for library programs. Assemblyman John DiMaio has introduced A2555 which eliminates the minimum local funding requirement for municipal public libraries. Local library funding targeted in A2555 typically represents less than 3% of local property taxes. NJLA's position is to recommend that funding for municipal libraries be listed as a dedicated tax, as is the case with county libraries and open space.

The $10 million in library programs cut from the Governor's budget represent little more than $1.19 per capita in state funds.

June 22, 2010

An opinion piece in the the April 2010 issue of American Libraries points out that there are conservative as well as liberal arguments that library advocates can make: http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/my-mind/our-conservative-ideals

January 19, 2010

Check out Competency Index for the Library Field: http://www.webjunction.org/competencies

January 3, 2010

A good example of an e-portfolio, created by one of our online MLIS students: http://redfrn.weebly.com/

August 4,2009

From: Nanette Perez
To: ifaction@ala.org, ala-ifc@ala.org, ifrt-b@ala.org
Subject: [ifaction] Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights Update

http://www.oif.ala.org/oif/?p=508

In preparation of the 8th Edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual, the Intellectual Freedom Committee revised several Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights, which were adopted as amended by the ALA Council. The Committee also proposed three new interpretations to the Library Bill of Rights: "Importance of Education to Intellectual Freedom," "Minors and Internet Interactivity," and "Services to Persons with Disabilities." "Services to Persons with Disabilities" was adopted by ALA Council during the 2009 Midwinter Meeting in Denver, CO. "Importance of Education to Intellectual Freedom" and "Minors and Internet Interactivity" were adopted by the ALA Council during the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.

All the revised and new Interpretations will be available in the 8th Edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual. Publication of the Manual is scheduled to coincide with the 2010 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC. They are also available on our Web page, Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights.

Nanette Perez, Program Officer, American Library Association, Office for Intellectual Freedom, 50 E Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4225 Fax: (312) 280-4227-- Find out more about Banned Books Week at www.ala.org/bbooks

December 22, 2008

"Library Student Bill of Rights" in the December issue of Library Journal calls for "a more practical, realistic library education." See http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6618863.html?

July 30, 2006

Advice for Students in the School Library Track

Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2006 10:02:20 -040
From: Linda Murray
To: SCILS_LISSA@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU
Subject: To all ED MEDIA MLIS students -Paving the way to a successful career

Dear Ed Media MLIS candidates,
As the past co-president of RASL, I would like to leave you with a few final thoughts. While there is a need for great school librarians, there is most definitely competition for positions. The more experience and contacts you have, the easier the job search will be. Here are my suggestions for making to road to success a little easier.

1. Work with your advisor, Dr. Ross Todd. He will guide you through SCILS.
2. JOIN RASL, the listserv, and refer to the website at http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~rasl/. There are links to the library cooperatives, and professionals and job sites. To quote a classmate of mine, "RASL saved my life." Talk with your fellow students and RASL officers about scheduling, internship etc.
3. Attend RASL meetings and workshops: The guest speakers for RASL are working professionals who are tops in their field. I learned invaluable skills for resume writing and interviewing at our April workshop.
4. Network. Know your fellow students as they will be you professional colleagues.
5. Attend the NJASL conference. Almost every library media specialist in the state of NJ attends this conference. You will need to find opportunities for internship (592) and for a job. In addition, the experience and professional ideas you garner from the guest speakers are invaluable. Join NJASL (student price) http://www.njasl.org and receive the newsletter for current information.
6. Join ALA and AASL http://ala.org/ala/membership/index.cfm. You will receive magazines and emails that keep you informed on happenings in the library world.
7. Get a part time job. If you have never worked in a library, you should pursue a part-time job. It's hard to get a job without some sort of paid experieince. Salary scale is based on experience. And finally, support your RASL officers. Your new co-presidents for RASL are:April Bochino aprilteacher@comcast.net & Mike Bobish bobish@eden.rutgers.edu. I know they will do a great job carrying on the RASL association. Best of luck to everyone. Feel free to email me off line if you have any questions. Please put RASL in the Subject line.
Linda Wien Murray, MLIS May '06

September 27, 2005

Feed Your Head: Keeping Up by Using RSS -- Roy Tennant's take on the technology of keeping up in Library Journal (5/15/2003)

Beyond the Answer Sheet: Academic Success for International Students by William Badke. Under International Students you can preview this handy guide to manuevering academic life in the United States.