35th Annual NASIG Conference

I was so appreciative that NASIG was able, with its sponsors, to offer a free virtual conference for students. I would not have been able to attend the conference otherwise and therefore wouldn't have been able to see first-hand what NASIG is all about. Prior to the conference, I wasn't familiar with NASIG but the conference presentations really gave a feel for what issues and subjects NASIG focuses on. 

As I watched the webinars, I took some notes which I've pasted below.  

Mapping Domain Knowledge for Leading and Managing Change

"Just because you said you're a leader, doesn't mean that you were giving the leadership that was needed." 

This quote really resonated with me. It's so true. I've worked for, or worked with, people who see themselves as leaders but who were in fact...not. Calling yourself a leader does not automatically make you a good one, a nice one, an efficient one. Leading is hard and many people are not born leaders. The information provided in this presentation was very helpful. 

Practical Approaches to Linked Data

This is interesting. I don't even know what linked data is specifically but it is definitely something that I want to look into further. Wikidata? Wikimedia? Further study is needed on this. 

Access to Supplemental Journal Article Materials 

This is something that I've never really thought of before. I never really needed SJAMs when working in undergrad and never realized how difficult they might be to access. If researchers build off of other research(ers), then why isn't there a universal way to send/receive all the pertinent information? 

COUNTER 5: Lessons Learned and New Insights Achieved 

Interning at SwRI was the first time I'd ever heard of COUNTER. I think the concept is really interesting for insights into what kind of content patrons are using. I like that they are all standardized and that they can be downloaded and pulled without much hassle across various platforms. 

Knowledge Bases: The Heart of Resource Management 

A very thorough and easy-to-understand explanation of what a knowledge base is and how important they are to the library. I haven't come across the term in school yet but will now have a sense of what the term means if I ever do. 

Transforming Library Collections and Support Student Learning with Collection Mapping

I loved this presentation. This is something that I would absolutely love to do. The fact that you have to set these goals but you're also utilizing data from many different areas to figure out what your goals should be is amazing. As someone currently going through graduate school and as I am unsure of what type of position I want in the future, this presentation brought me joy. I love that it's interdepartmental and that faculty were consulted with regards to weeding and purchasing. I love that whole degree plans and single elective classes were taken into consideration for what should be kept, weeded, added to.