"Nothing Contributes so Much to Tranquilize the Mind"

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

"Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose."

Mary Shelley 

Rare Book Collection After resolving the issues of the database last week, this week I spent my time correctly uploading images as their own records. As of today, I have uploaded 1,980 images representing 100 books. Not quite halfway, but close. I also decided to add author portraits so that users can put a face to a name. 

A coworker is currently compiling a bibliography of the entire collection, so when she is finished I’ll be able to simply paste the author biographies into the database. She is also writing summaries on the importance of the book itself which can then be added to the database as well. 

Airtable’s layout is not conducive to fields with long text. Long titles, author biographies, and summaries are shown in part and include an ellipsis to indicate to the user that not all the information is visible. However, Airtable does allow for expanded records. When a user clicks on a tile, the expanded view will show all the information contained within the fields. Because of this feature, I am considering creating cover images that include the complete book title so users can quickly find books of interest. 

For the public gallery, the fields that will be visible to users are: Book Title, Author, Author Portrait, Birth-Death Date, Author Biography, Year Published, Publisher, Book Importance, Subject, Language, and Book Images. 

Rare Book Exhibit Last week, my boss told me and a coworker that we would have a meeting later in September to discuss ideas on creating a virtual exhibit. During normal (non-COVID) times, the library partners with a staff member to create an exhibit highlighting the importance of the rare book collection. The presentation usually focuses on a few books important in their field and that have had an impact on staff’s research and projects. Because many staff are still working-from-home, we are brainstorming ideas to bring a virtual experience to those not on campus.

I did a quick Google search of virtual exhibits and found that they run the gamut. Museums and exhibits in Google Arts & Culture are very well done. These are usually very well-known institutions. Then, there are other exhibits that are created with website platforms such as Squarespace and WordPress. Still others are a simple text-and-image webpage, no fancy scripts included. With everyone having to think creatively, there are many inspirations to draw from. 

One that particularly caught my attention was a YouTube video tutorial on how to get your students to create an interactive presentation using Google Slides. It was so cool! I played around with PowerPoint and found that the same idea could be applied. I have created a demo presentation for our meeting. Though the interactive PDF might not be selected for the final presentation, I’m thrilled to have learned a new tool for creating more interesting presentations. 

"Without Work One Finishes Nothing"

"Without work, one finishes nothing." 
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Scopus Certification After six weeks of video tutorials, modules, and quizzes, I have completed my Scopus Certification. Yay! I dabbled in Scopus before the course so that I could create video tutorials, however, the course did help put realistic scenarios into context. For example, I knew that Scopus allowed one to compare sources but being able to concretely say that one can decide where to publish by comparing sources is a more specific example of use. I also liked that Scopus provided one-sheets for various audiences. Though some of the audiences aren’t relevant to SwRI, it still helps to see examples of outcomes that can be tailored to specific users. The course was very helpful overall. I was only slightly disappointed that the API module wasn’t more detailed but I know that they are a beast in their own right. It wouldn’t be fair to expect everyone taking the course to have the background knowledge of APIs to dive deeply into them. The course gave great examples of API use and even highlighted developer tutorials and examples for further research. 

LibGuides Analytics SwRI has its own special fiscal calendar with subperiods that I won’t claim to understand but that I liken to broadcast calendars. August 28th was the end of another month which means that this week I ran my LibGuides asset statistics. Each video tutorial I create gets uploaded to LibGuides as an asset along with the transcripts. At the end of each month, I run a report to see which tutorials were viewed the most during the month. This month, the featured video tutorial was How to Save Searches & Set Alerts in Google Scholar so it’s probably no surprise that it had the most views. My Getting Started with ASTM Compass video was approved, so that was also uploaded to LibGuides this week. 

1:1 Meeting My boss and I had our 1:1 meeting on Tuesday where we discussed course expectations, project updates, and any other issues or concerns. She mentioned that we will have a meeting later in September to discuss ways to showcase a virtual rare book exhibit. Brainstorming activated.

Rare Book Database I worked on the database side of the Rare Book Collection this week. I am using Airtable to catalog and showcase the Rare Book Collection. While looking through the gallery, I noticed that the images were not in the correct order. I want users to get as close to a “real” experience as possible so I want the images to display spine, front cover, pages front to back, then the back cover. However, the images were not correctly ordered in the database. I started to manually rearrange the images but quickly decided that there had to be an easier way of automating the task. After some Googling, I saw that unordered uploading was a common problem in Airtable. However, someone had created a script that could be run to automatically sort the image field. On the discussion thread, I noticed that someone mentioned it was bad practice to upload multiple images to one record. They stated that all images should be its own record and should then be linked to the relevant record. At first, I didn’t think this practice relevant to our purposes for the database but upon further reflection, I came to the conclusion that the user had a valid point. 

By uploading each image as its own record and then linking it to a relevant record, all records (and the data within them) would be more organized. Also, by uploading each image as its own record - new collections could be created easily without having to reupload the same image. For example, to get the database up and running I want to link all of a book’s images to the Book Title table. But if we ever wanted to create a new collection (such as Scientific Illustrations), all we would need to do is link the image record that is already in the database to a new parent record. 

This new system of organization meant that I had ended up deleting a table and creating a new one called Edited Images. The table, Public Book Gallery is now linked to the tables Edited Images and Author Info. By linking in this manner, any changes made to the Author Info table gets automatically updated in the Public Book Gallery. And by having the Edit Images table, at any point in the future, a new table can be created and easily linked to the images for a new gallery. 

With one problem solved, I then set about uploading all the images I had previously deleted to the newly created Edited Images table. However, when I started linking them I noticed that I had problems in my original naming convention. I have been naming images Book Title page number or identifier (e.g. Micromagentics p4; Micromagnetics title page). This created problems because the title page usually ends up being the last image when sorted alphabetically. To remedy this, I looked up ways in which I could quickly and easily sequentially rename all files in a folder. I found an easy way to perform the task in Windows. However, the task meant that all images would be renamed to the same title and a sequential number would be added to the end (e.g. Micromagnetics 1; Micromagentics 2). Renaming all of the images in this manner would make uploading to Airtable quick and easy. 

However, renaming the images in this way would make it more difficult for staff to find appropriate photos. Though my original naming convention can use some work, staff can search the folder for keywords (e.g. text, figures, plate). I feel that being able to search for features of the images is an important component of the collection. This means that the sequential renaming shortcut would not work in the situation. To solve the problem I have renamed the image with a digit leader (e.g. 01 - Micromagnetics title page; 02 - Micromagentics p4). This naming convention is not the prettiest but will allow the images to be sorted numerically so that they end up showing in the order I want them to. 

Thankfully, Airtable allows the primary field to be a formula. With some Googling, I applied a formula to the primary field that keeps the imported image name. Grouped by a feature (such as book title) and then sorted alphabetically, the images can be linked in the appropriate order. And because the original name also contains features of the image, one can search the database with a keyword and will still be able to yield relevant results.

"The Secret to Getting Ahead is Getting Started"

"The secret to getting ahead is getting started." 
-Mark Twain

Rare Book Collection As the rare book repository is my Practicum project, I have been making increased efforts to complete photographing all the rare books so I can then edit them in Photoshop and upload them to Airtable. This week I am happy to say that I finished one whole section. 

On-Demand Tutorials Because I like to have multiple projects to work on, I also completed another video tutorial this week: Getting Started with ASTM Compass. The tutorial is an introductory video to the ASTM Compass platform, which includes a section on conducting a basic standards search. Upon approval, I will then upload the video, transcript, and a still image to our LibGuides for staff to view.

Open Access Webinar During the week, I also attended a webinar on Open Access presented by Elsevier’s Researcher Academy. Through the presentation, I learned the difference between Gold and Green Open Access and the work Elsevier is doing on acquiring more Open Access content.

EBSCO CM Meeting My boss also invited me to sit in on a meeting with a representative from EBSCO Collection Manager. I very much appreciate the invitation to meetings that deal with the running of the library and the process of researching and selecting which platform may benefit staff the most. Because I am new to the profession in general, there are a lot of platforms I have not heard of, EBSCO Collection Manager being one of them. The layout seems easy-to-use and their ebook collection seems rather extensive.

NASIG Mentee

 

Back in June, I was matched with a mentor through the NASIG Mentorship program. I had applied to the program in May because I understand the value of having mentors in the profession. Especially when one is coming from a completely different background, like me. I had a wonderful mentor when I started my video work right after high school and I had a great mentor towards the end of obtaining my Bachelor's degree that helped me apply to graduate school and even wrote a letter of recommendation. I still talk to both these mentors and they have been extraordinary in helping me get to where I am today. Good mentors are invaluable and can help newcomers feel more at ease with the new terrain they will be navigating, can help lessen imposter syndrome when describing the scope of work one already has, and is just a great sounding board for questions, comments, and concerns. 

This past Friday my mentor and I spoke for the first time via Zoom. It was so nice to meet her. She works at a university in Kentucky and has been in the library science field for years. She was ever so nice and helpful. 

The prompt for our first conversation was "What have you learned/did you learn in library school that seems the most useful? What do you wish you had learned/was available in library school but wasn't offered?"

Like many careers, libraries have changed dramatically. My mentor stated that getting a degree in library science is great for the theoretical issues that arise. However, it's always best to put them into practice with work experience. Though I am just starting my third semester, I found this to be true. There are many issues I learn about in school that I wouldn't necessarily know how to put into practice at my job currently. However, there are many issues I've faced at work that have shaped the way I attempt or think about assignments in class. 

I'm excited I was considered for the program and can't wait to see what else we can teach each other throughout the year. 

"The Beginning is Always Today"

"The beginning is always today." 
-Mary Shelley

Practicum Introduction Today is the first day of the Fall Semester and thus my first official day in the Practicum. Though I am now officially considered a graduate intern through the University of North Texas, I have been interning full-time since March 30th at Southwest Research Institute. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is a nonprofit organization focused on innovations in science, technology, and engineering. Contracted by government and industry clients, staff work to provide research and development solutions in areas including automation, space science, transportation, and more.  

I started work in the Tom Slick Library in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore have not seen more than 50 people in the library. Though the pandemic has changed workflows, I think beginning a new job during the transition from on-campus to working-from-home worked well in that I was able to focus on aspects of the job without many interruptions. 

On-Demand Tutorials My major tasks at work include creating a collection of on-demand video tutorials to support staff as they learn how library platforms integrate with each other. As of today, I’ve created a total of 22 videos that cover the basics of services such as Primo, Google Scholar, and Scopus, as well as explanatory videos on interlibrary loan and RightFind. 

Cataloging in koha To gain cataloging experience, I was also tasked with cataloging our subscription of IHS Engineering Workbench standards into our integrated library system, Koha. Once in Koha, our discovery system, Primo, would be able to retrieve the standards records and produce them in search results for our staff. Though staff still need to access the standards through the IHS Engineering Workbench platform, the addition of these records in Primo creates a more user-friendly experience by creating a single access point for staff to locate materials. 

I love learning new software, especially those as complex as Koha. While cataloging the standards, I utilized video tutorials and the Koha Wiki page to create a bibliographic framework. The bibliographic framework cut down on my cataloging time as I was able to stipulate which MARC fields and subfields I wanted to input. Once I learned how to input default values in the framework, my cataloging time was cut in half. 

Rare Book Repository My major project for the Practicum is to create a digital repository of the library’s 200 or so rare books. This entails photographing the rare books, uploading the photos to an online system, and putting in relevant metadata so that staff can virtually access the collection while off-campus. Currently, I have input all the metadata into an online database and have photographed about 50 items. The goal is to have the complete repository up and available for viewing by the end of November. 

Daily Duties Some other duties that my job entails include: scanning articles for document delivery, checking books in and out, staff reference assistance, and ensuring that staff who are leaving the organization are cleared from the library.

I'm a UNT LISSA Officer

I joined the UNT student organization Library & Information Science Student Association (LISSA) as the Director of Membership & Communication. I was very active in the Canvas "classroom" last semester and loved that they updated students about conferences, organizations, and the virtual happy hours they hosted with LIS professionals. 

Though the fall semester hasn't officially started, we had our first meeting a few weeks ago. It was nice to get to "meet" everyone via Zoom and see what goals the organization has for the year ahead. 

I absolutely love digital organization so I suggested we move platforms from Google to Airtable. I was having such issues logging into the LISSA Gmail account. With Airtable we have everything we need in one place and I don't have to worry about signing into and out of various accounts. I probably sound like a spokesperson for the service but Airtable is one of the best services I've found...probably ever. It's so customizable. I've used it for so many different processes for work, school, and home. 

So we're in the process of moving everything over. I've already started a Membership Directory that will be updated once the fall semester starts. I also created a survey so that members and potential members can submit their degree information, areas of interest, and comments. With the survey, we'll be able to see what kind of topics students are interested in and we'll be able to connect students with other members of the same degree. 

Hopefully my work on the Airtable will make processes go smoother in the semesters to come. 

ALA Virtual 2020

With the uptick in COVID cases, the ALA annual meeting was virtual this year. This ended up working well for me since I wouldn't have been able to attend the in-person event. However, I was able to watch a lot of the webinars and felt like it was still a well-done event. 

My favorite presentation was Using “SIFT” to Teach Digital Literacy in a Democratic Society. It was a really well-done and very interesting presentation. Information literacy is something that I am very passionate about and I think that this new method is superior to the CRAPP method so often taught. The basic premise is teaching users how to use the internet to check the internet. So for instance, doing a reverse image search, checking well-known fact-checking sites like Snopes, and checking Google News. These are all really easy things that can be done to help users (though in the presentation they specifically talk about students) realize that not everything on the internet is reliable. 

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. 

News Literacy & Social Emotional Learning

I read this article, News Literacy Must Include Social Emotional Learning by Jennifer LaGarde and Darren Hudgins in the School Library Journal that turned on a lightbulb for me in relation to information literacy. 

The article discusses the importance of talking about social-emotional learning (SEL) in the context of news literacy. Both SEL and information literacy are important topics, but when you couple them together it seems to help drive home the important fact that many "news" articles aren't actually correct or informative. What most people usually react to isn't the information in the article or post - what they tend to react to is the way the article makes them feel. Diving into the reasons so many people reflexively click and share inaccurate information is an important component to becoming information literate. Understanding that words can evoke emotions can help people, old and young, master information literacy.

The Backfire Bias

Having taken psychology courses in undergrad, I'm aware of biases and how we all fall prey to them. In an on-demand training I took called Overcoming Bias there was a section devoted to the backfire bias. The backfire bias is when people who already hold a strong belief, double down in their belief even when shown evidence to the contrary. Because I am very passionate about information literacy, I was interested in hearing ways to help overcome this bias. Dr. Michael Shermer, author and narrator of the training, gave six steps that may help when talking to people about difficult subjects. 

1. Keep emotions out of it. 
2. Discuss - don't attack. 
3. Listen carefully so that you can tell their belief back to them. 
4. Show respect. 
5. Acknowledge that you understand why someone might believe that. 
6. Try to show that changing facts does not mean changing their entire view of something else.