JHU: Music to listen to while reading

I love making music mixes, but I've never posted one on this blog. Here is a short playlist of music from, about, or that reminds me of Baltimore.

JHU: Pinboard Linkroll

JHU: It's All Fun and Games

These entries have focused on the services and inner workings at the Eisenhower Library and the larger system of the Sheridan Libraries. I'm going to shift gears a little and take a look at the lighter side of things.

Gadgets! Comfy chairs! A student!

When the library was renovated last year, a lot of thought went into how it would be outfitted. Upon arriving at furniture, the library staff put it to a vote. A series of chairs was presented to the community and the winner of the contest was a 70s-era armchair vaguely reminiscent of Captain Picard's chair on the bridge of the Enterprise. The study cubbies have a more utilitarian desk chair, but these comfortable seats can be found throughout the library.

The U.S.S. Enterprise 1701-D

I've put up a picture of the digital screen which can be found in the library, but I have yet to talk about my favorite piece of gadgetry at the library. The wall-mounted projectors can be found in every study room and many of the strangely-shaped collaboration areas as well as on what would otherwise be blank walls (see above. No, not the Enterprise, the first picture). These projectors are available for any student to use with their own laptop or device, and they're often used for intensive projects. They can be found throughout the library as well as in study rooms.

The study rooms are set aside for groups and individual use, and each are outfitted with snazzy screens for the individuals and the projectors in larger collaboration rooms - both rooms have tables, chairs, and outlets. Some study rooms will become occupied for days at a time, and it's even permissible for students to write on the walls in order to work out problems.

Look closely for THE WRITING ON THE WALLS

The next-most-awesome thing I saw at Eisenhower was their study room. It's filled with tables and natural light, and against the wall is an exhibit by an artist, featuring artifacts displayed in a ginormous curio cabinet that takes up an entire wall. My pictures are pretty limited as I was trying to hide the fact that I was trying to pick my jaw up off the floor and not stare.

The Exhibit

The Graduate Reading Room

Me, the whole time in this room

It was a wonderful visit, and I would like to once again thank the amazing women who took time to speak with me about their library. Thanks to:

• Margaret Burri, Associate Library Director and Academic Liaison
• Dawn Hale, Head of Technical Services and Acquisitions
• Adriane Koenig, Sr. Academic Program Coordinator and Twitter, Blog, and Facebook guru
• Heidi Herr, Library Liaison for English and Philosophy, Special Collections Outreach Coordinator, and Tumblr guru

JHU: Complementary Services

In Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, there are two families whose "ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood make civil hands unclean." Between the prologue and the ultimate scene of reconciliation there is tragic bloodshed, betrayal, and other such wonderful things which run rampant through the Bard's work. This famous feud between the Montagues and Capulets is echoed in the current library world when it comes to the subject of print and digital. The future of the codex and the topic of content are heated topics at this time, and it seems that everyone has an opinion on which format will "win". At Johns Hopkins, it seems as if they've skipped the immature bloodshed and youthful passion that dominates much of the tragedy and skipped straight to the unrealized future of the young lovers' relationship: difficult compromises, communication, and teamwork.

Star Trek: Voyager's astrometrics lab

Both print and digital content thrives in the Eisenhower library. There are true stacks in the building, reaching for stories into the depths and encircling the heights of the library, and their e-book library consists of about a million items. Some other academic libraries have the feeling of being a step towards a more futuristic version of libraries, but Eisenhower has a feeling of gravity and depth to it which can't be replaced by any amount of smooth information interfaces or Majel Barrett-Roddenberry/Siri hybrids. Prospective purchases may be requested by students, faculty, and librarians, and each request is taken into consideration by the academic liaison. Electronic resources are purchased for as many campuses as is practical, and physical materials not in the building may be requested through interlibrary loan and from the off-site shelving facility.

Seeing this made my day

In order to maximize space, the librarians have reduced the purchasing of print books to about 25% of their total yearly acquisitions. There could be many reasons for a library to not make the jump to exclusively purchasing e-books, the reason given to me by Adriane Koenig (Sr. Academic Program Coordinator) was much simpler: many students still prefer print, and e-books don't always fit the needs of the reader. Different publishers have different rules for how their e-books can be used, and the learning curve of identifying these varying terms can be steep for students and faculty alike. Often it's easier to simply hunt through the stacks to find the trusty olde print copy.

Special Collections at the Eisenhower Library

While terms of use and physical access are both that students have had difficulty accessing their desired e-book, there is another barrier to access: formats. Adriane also noted that there are some "misperceptions surrounding the [electronic] resources, and that may be because there is no standard format." While Kindles may be able to download one type, Nooks download another, and iPads yet another. Apps can be downloaded and some middle ground discovered, but this massive and confusing venn diagram still leaves many out in the cold. On top of this, some e-books may be downloaded to computers, but the software used may not be cross-platform (for PCs, Apples, and *nix systems), which causes even more confusion for those who desire access. The solution the librarians have been tossing around casually is to have a kiosk where students can scan a QR code and print off the corresponding chapters, or tidbits from e-books regardless of format - but even this change of formats may not be allowed under fair use. Overall, their approach to the issue is matter-of-fact and straightforward: Until things are more accessible for our students, both e-books and print will continue to be purchased side by side.

JHU: The Wires

Let's talk tech. Choosing a library system is a difficult and harrowing task, and determining if or when to change is even harder. Current technology is beginning to move in a direction that favors a more integrated model, and choosing a web-scale discovery (WSD) model is quickly becoming a popular choice. The library's public interface team which includes representatives from all JHU libraries, concluded that seasoned researchers know what they're looking for and how to access it. However many undergraduate students don't know what they're looking for will be overwhelmed by the data and may not know how to compare and measure one source against another, so the team concluded that they needed a public interface tool guiding undergraduates to commonly used resources-- simple is sometimes best.

From Randall Munroe's xkcd.com

For the public interface, the library makes use of a combination of open source projects (Xerxes, Blacklight, Umlaut) implemented to power their public Catalyst search. Behind the scenes they use EBSCOHost to index articles and present an "article search" option to searchers. This proliferation of open source tools and complicated code is all run by dedicated programmers. When it comes to choosing resources, they make a point to vendor presentations and visit conferences in order to make a decision - which they do as a group. It's important to find the right resources for the faculty and students who may need it, and it's also important to be good stewards of your library's resources. Depending on the researcher or faculty member it's not uncommon for them to request a specific resource, so there are special considerations to be made on occasion.

ArticleSearch will undergo evaluation as the semester wears on. The services are measured by usage and feedback by the users - students can pass feedback through their program's liaison (who may have requested the service in the first place), and the library as a whole is measured byLibQual's survey. The baseline data gathered is used in considerations for change rather than ongoing evaluation so as to remove the rose-colored glasses of 'how things could be' and see realistically 'how things are'.

Before purchasing new eresources to make available to the JHU academic community, they have vendor presentations and selectors attend conferences. Also in making a decision, they do as a group. It's important to find the right resources for the faculty and students who may need it, and it's also important to be good stewards of your library's resources. Depending on the researcher or faculty member it's not uncommon for them to request a specific resource, so there are special considerations to be made on occasion. Also selectors often request a trial. If the trial expires without much feedback, the service is let go and life moves on. It was noted by Heidi that "If we don't have something and [the graduate students] need it, they will tell us." If this is the case, the service will be reconsidered the following semester.

LibGuides are used and moderated by the subject librarians and liaisons to complement the classes of the programs. However, as time has gone by, certain collections have warranted their own separate LibGuides independent of the classes which study the materials (Example: Africana studies). Every guide is kept up to date (almost all of them have been updated within the last year), and among the most popular ones is the one concerning e-books - but we'll talk about that more later.

Posted with Blogsy

JHU: What Would The Library Say?

When I asked the JHU librarians (I use the term here to refer to both the librarians and library-workers I spoke with) how they introduced students to the library, one of them jokingly replied with, "Facebook!" While at first I was taken aback, over the course of the conversation it was made clear to me what she meant. As with many libraries, the patrons use the facility regardless of formal invitation. The library is a place of community, discussion, and open doors (24/7, in the case of the Brody Learning Commons), and social media is a way to move beyond that into the digital world. Instead of trying to find the old "Comment Box" or finding the right flyer from the bulletin board, students can retweet, share, 'Like', and reblog as well as make suggestions and make inquiries. In this way, the library opens its virtual doors to spark conversation and interaction on a more personal level with students.

Something to be noted is that their motto is "one message, many platforms", so the subject matter of one blog post may be incorporated into another social network post but in a different way. Each network has its own voice, and keeping a professional standard can be difficult - it's a big responsibility. Adriane Koenig summed up their unique voices and consistent professionalism when she said that it helped her to envision the library as a person and imagine what it would say. This anthropomorphic view of the library can create a sense of personal stewardship for the contributors. You can see the JHU social media policy here and see how they approach their audiences, and I highly encourage everyone to visit - and browse/follow/'Like' the library's accounts - they're not just for students!

Twitter: @mselibrary

The Twitter account is, in a word, sparkling. Some professional accounts may be littered with too many retweets, more conversations than information, and an inconsistent voice. Here, there are four tweets a day during the semester (outside of the semester there are two tweets per day), their @ replies are kept to a minimum, and their retweets are from relevant sources or sharing a quirky article. The voice is conversational but not overly informal, occasionally including an emoticon or meme reference, meant more to listen than advertise.

While the Twitter account may link to the blog, the cross-postings are kept to a minimum. This means that there are no tweets saying "New blog post! Check it here: [Blog URL, etc here]". While they may link to the library's blog posts, the posts are not automated and the headline is a hook rather than the post's title taken straight from the blog. The account's aim is to entertain as much as it is to inform, and to give a home to the library's unique sense of humor.

Blog: http://blogs.library.jhu.edu/wordpress/

The blog is more scholarly and formal, often featuring a new acquisition or a recent news story which relates back to the library. The posts are short, lending themselves to be informative to casual readers as well as providing material for dedicated subscribers. The topics can range from daffodils to medieval manuscripts to current important women, and each post is peppered with humorous links, beautiful imagery, and advertised with a catchy headline.

As its purpose is to inform rather than to create a platform for discussion, the blog is a great place to tout the library's achievements. Recently, the Peabody library was cleaned from top to bottom, the lights replaced with energy efficient bulbs, and the library was returned to its students cleaned, polished, and shiny. This event was covered in a humorous post entitled "Dust Bunnies Beware". The blog is also a great place to advertise the library's workshops and issues affecting the library.

When the blog was first created, there was an occasional mandatory contribution for each librarian. This was to get each different area involved and get them thinking about what they had to say and share with the students. Having the requirement to be involved brought some librarians out of the woodwork and gave them a chance to be heard, and some even discovered that they really enjoyed blogging. Now the entries are contributed on a purely voluntary basis, and students are also invited to write a post every now and then. Having a blog post on the university's official blog is a point of pride for the students, and it's something which can be shared on other networks and name-dropped in possible job interviews.

Tumblr: PeabodyWunderKammer.tumblr.com

Baltimore is a city which prides itself on its devoted community. Baltimoreans put Texas Longhorns to shame when it comes to geographic loyalty. Festivals are held with frequency in the historic downtown district, and the Baltimore Book Festival is one of the most popular. It's a chance for libraries to set up a booth, answer questions and have an Italian ice while talking books with patrons. When JHU's Peabody library went one year, they found that they didn't have any literature or cards to hand to the curious festival-goers. Heidi Herr, the English and Philosophy library liaison, met this need by creating a Tumblr with a unique and memorable URL.

It's a more informal blog than the WordPress blog, and one that is used mostly to showcase things from the special collections which may not get much love in a day to day setting. It's updated on a more sporadic basis - sometimes once a month, sometimes more if Heidi finds wacky and interesting things to share. Some entries are sharing student projects, from a 360º panorama to items discovered during an Intercession research class in the library to the students' paper airplane competitions during the History of Aviation session.

The majority of the content is visual, which lends itself well to the Tumblr format of reblogging and sharing rather than conversing with readers. If the official blog is the face of the library, the Tumblr is its ever so slightly mischievous little brother.

JHU: Intro to Libraries (remixed)

In my academic history (which I consider relatively varied), each university I have attended has required students to take a one credit seminar on either research techniques, library resources, or something along similar lines. While this effort does help students understand the difference between keywords and subject headings, the material taught may fade quickly they realize that they don't remember a thing and that paper's due next week and who do they ask with questions. Johns Hopkins does things differently.

At JHU, there is no core curriculum, so the responsibility is on the students to take the initiative to seek help. Heidi Herr and Adriane Koenig were kind enough to speak with me about how students learn library resources. Each program has a library liaison (Heidi is the liaison for the university's Philosophy and English programs) who joins the students for their programs' research labs to offer help and answer immediate questions. This gives the students the opportunity to learn when they need it rather than prematurely. The program liaisons also have time when the students can make appointments or come individually to ask questions, allowing for more intense research sessions. While the librarians answer about 2,100 questions in the Research Consultations Office, they answer about 3,000 follow-up questions during their office hours.

In addition to program liaisons, Hopkins offers other unique ways for students to learn. During a three-week period in January, they hold an Intersession - a time during which students can voluntarily take seminars outside of their field of study. As of this January, the library decided to take party by offering library classes. This past Intersession they offered an Intro to Special Collections as well as a Research & Social Science Engineering seminar. Each program's librarian also creates and moderates their LibGuides, providing resources remotely and at need.

A recurring theme throughout my visit was that Hopkins does things differently. Their patrons are unique, and consequently so is their library. Their practices may not work for any other university, but it certainly seems to work for them. The librarians aren't afraid to try new things or do tweak something they've done for years. All four of the librarians I spoke to were excited about their field and the library without any of the disconnect that sometimes occurs. They are involved with their students and faculty, always looking to make the next step forward. The university is making strides in the world and so are they.

JHU: First Impressions

The Eisenhower Library (top), and the Brody Learning Commons (bottom)

Johns Hopkins University is home to several libraries, many of them specialized research libraries that are used for groundbreaking medical researchers. This being the case, they use a balance of physical and electronic materials to meet the needs of their patrons. They have found that many students prefer the physical print book to the electronic e-book, so their main building still holds the air of a traditional academic library with its labyrinthine stacks, but their recent addition has brought a distinctly modern lift to the architecture. The library is largely open and has areas that contain natural light as well as providing students darker and more secluded areas for long-term studying - these even feature natural cell phone signal blockage to promote concentration (yes, these spots are underground).

Near the front doors to the campus is a large digital screen with a Microsoft Kinect perched on the top, which students can use to play a round of games while waiting for their friends to arrive (when I was there they were playing a Tron game), and when there are no students in front it shows library news and updates. This integration of technology is seen repeatedly in the building, from digital displays on the walls to special projectors which project onto white walls in the collaboration rooms for students to connect to their computers and share their work.

The entire library has robust wifi throughout, and almost every table I saw sported a surge protector for students to charge electronic devices, and there are many pockets set up for collaborative learning. One of the first things I noticed in the library was that it was packed full of students. Some were in the stacks, others had their books and laptops spread out on tables, and others were puzzling over intense problems which floated on the walls like something from the future. For all the flash and dazzle, though, the students seem remarkably at home with their laptops and coffee cups. It's a building that invites a long study session as well as social interaction, a lifeline to knowledge as well as the thrill of independent discovery.

preparation for an on-site visit

Several months ago I began to brainstorm libraries I wanted to visit. One if my first choices was Johns Hopkins Library. As both an academic library as well as a research library, I was incredibly curious. For one of my classes I completed an assignment that involved comparing library web portals, and upon looking at the JHU library, I was struck by their... openness. Many academic libraries I've seen online tend to lean towards campus accessibility rather than public transparency, but JHU had social media out the ears, and each one met their high standards and uplifted their reputation. At this point, I thought that maybe I could talk to their person in charge of social media or outreach and talk with their electronic services librarian to knock out this assignment at the same time, so I sent an email to their general inquiries email address.

Within a few days I had an email which gave me three names to contact, and their responses were swift, polite, and enquiring. As we emailed back and forth, I supplied the assignment questions to give them a more specific idea of what I was hoping to learn. I was invited to visit the campus on March 8th and speak with a few librarians and the women who ran their social media accounts, and I eagerly accepted.

I want to take a moment and reflect on the fact that four women who work at a prestigious library took the time out of their busy schedules near midterms to speak with a student from a different university. This humbles me deeply and makes me so grateful for the kindness that seems to run through the library community. There have been many instances where I've experienced it, and it's both encouraging and inspiring to know that I'm beginning a career in which I may be surrounded by people of this sort. Hopefully we'll all adopt their characteristics and practice them daily.