The Science Fiction Genre-The Handmaid's Tale by Maragaret Atwood

When I think of science fiction, I always think of aliens or futuristic worlds with mind boggling technology.  As a librarian, I know I shouldn't generalize a genre like that, and Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" is a great reminder that Science Fiction isn't always so far fetched.  The subject matter of this novel is actually a bit scary because it is so realistic! Here are some general characteristics of a science fiction novel:

-set in the future
-space travel
-technology
-parallel universe
-aliens
-paranormal

An important thing to note is that Science Fiction and Fantasy are different.  Science Fiction is usually based on a turn of events that could actually happen in reality based upon science, while Fantasy is not. I know that is still up for interpretation, but The Handmaid's Tale is a perfect example of science fiction.  Atwood's title focuses on a society that has collapsed and been reconstructed by an extremist group.  Here is my review:

 The world as we know it is gone.  There was once a society just like ours in the past, but the government has been overthrown and the President and Congress have been murdered.  The infiltration of a new regime has been secretly set up over time, and that makes it easier for them to begin a new society that is based literally on the bible. Gilead is a place where women have no rights, there is no money, and children are scarce due to toxins and chemicals that have been released due to war.  Because of the lack of children, one of the positions for women of child bearing age is to be a handmaid.  Handmaids are issued to married couples of stature and their only job is to procreate so Gilead can go on.  Offred (handmaids are named by the man they work for, i.e., “of Fred”) is a handmaid who details her existence in this story.  She remembers the past, her old life (where she worked in a library!), her husband, daughter, mother and friends.  This is Offred’s third post being a handmaid, and also her last.  If she doesn't succeed this time she will be sent to “the colonies,” where women who have no use go and live in extreme poverty cleaning up the toxins of war.  Offred starts out following the rules as she should, but Fred breaks the rules one night and she begins to risk everything for the possibility of change in her life.

This book is set in the future, in what I would call a twisted dystopian society.  There aren't too many technical or scientific details included in this book, but we know money is no longer used, reading and writing is not allowed and that there is heavy chemical use in the warfare.  Women are subordinated and are only worth something if they can get pregnant. 

This book really freaked me out because I feel like something like this could happen! I would hope that it never would, but the overthrowing of modern society was done quietly so that no one knew what was happening and by the time it was over, there was no way to fight it.  It also made me realize how much I appreciate having freedom and rights, and not to take that for granted, especially because there are women in other areas of the world who don’t.

I think readers of literary fiction, dystopian fiction like the “our strange world” sub-genre  and even horror fans who like more a psychological read would enjoy this title.

To find out more about Science Fiction and recommended books check out these sites:
Online Science Fiction Directory
The Universe of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Locus - The Magazine of the Science Fiction Field
The Science Fact and Fiction Concatenation

Assignment 3:Evaluative Report; an INF506 OLJ Entry

Evaluative Statement

The journey through INF506, Social Networking for Information Professionals, has been an informative one that has allowed me to immerse myself in a multitude of social media and networking platforms throughout the semester.  This has introduced me to all kinds of new ways I can introduce social networking into my professional, educational and personal lives to make the tasks I do every day easier and more fun.  I've also learned how librarians and libraries can use these many Web 2.0 tools effectively to build up patronage and advertise services.  “The truth is that in today's over-informed digital business world, where bloated data moves at the speed of thought, it is not who you know that really counts, but who knows you. Professional online social networking tools are invaluable in creating personal brand equity and raising awareness about who you are” (Steckerl, 2007, para.2).  It’s important for library professionals to be on the cutting edge of technology in order for libraries to remain relevant, and this class has allowed me to not only learn these technologies my self but has allowed me to pass them on to my co-workers and the patrons I serve.  While I've studied a lot about social networking this semester, I am going to focus on three topics that I've written about in this online journal over the semester that I believe reflect the core learning objectives of this class.

1.  Delicious, a Social Bookmarking Tool-For class this semester I used many social networking sites such as Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and LinkedIn, but the one I found most useful was Delicious, a social bookmarking site.  I had never used Delicious before and my experience with it was not easy at first because of technological difficulties with the website when trying to "follow" others.  However, I think this first experience was helpful because one of the main points I think people need to keep in mind when using new social sites is to have patience.  When problems arise, it allows users to evaluate the site they are using to determine if it can be used effectively and easily by new users.  The problem with Delicious was resolved after contacting the site's administrators, showing that users and website administrators can work together to fix the issues that arise.  Good customer service is important when trying to determine if a particular social networking tool should be used in an organization. 

As for using Delicious as a social bookmarking tool, the website is very effective.  I was able to add websites, articles and videos to my Delicious account as I browsed the web or completed readings for class.  This helped me build a list of helpful resources to use for my research project and for other work related projects in the library.  Delicious also allows users to use folksonomies, or tags to flag articles with terms that are relevant, making it easier to group items together in your account.   As Rosenfeld (2006) mentions in his blog on folksonomies, this is a way of cataloging, something we know librarians love to do!  “As sites like Flickr and delicious successfully utilize informal tags developed by communities of users, it's easy to say that the social networkers have figured out what the librarians haven't: a way to make metadata work in widely distributed and heretofore disconnected content collections” (Rosenfeld, 2006, para.1). In addition, users can 'follow' other people and see what they are adding and tagging to their accounts.  If there is something relevant, we can add it to our own list of items.  

It is extremely helpful to have one place where I can access and categorize all the resources, readings and even posts from other social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook all in one place of my choosing.  I think this website is an accessible tool for professionals and students alike, making it easy to build lists of resources for purposes such as annotated bibliographies or other research assignments.

Delicious allowed me to learn a new technology and to analyze it's functionality for personal use but also as an information professional in a library setting.

2.  A to Z of Social Networking In Libraries-  AnnaLaura Brown’s (2010)  blog article "A to Z of Social Networking in Libraries" was an extremely helpful one when it comes to analyzing social networking in libraries.  As information professionals, we are always trying to evaluate services to make sure we are meeting the needs of our community in the library.  We should also have a set of guidelines to evaluate our virtual services, and this article allows libraries to do so.  With an informative list of evaluative tips and ways to analyze the library's social networking presence, this blog is something I believe all library professionals should read.  If a particular library is not using social media yet, it is a great list to get ideas from and start setting social networking goals.  If your library is using social media, it helps evaluate how effectively the library is doing so and if you have met some of the criteria already, move onto new goals.  If a library has met all or most of the criteria, they know they are successfully providing important digital services to their users.

Evaluation should be an ongoing exercise in libraries in order to make sure the library is meeting users and employee needs and providing the best quality service possible.  The "A to Z of Social Networking In Libraries" is an excellent tool to measure virtual services, a difficult task if you don't know where to start.  In addition, keep in mind there are many free tools out there to start with.  In a 2006 Library Journal article, Casey and Savastinuk (2010) state, “When thinking about ways to work toward Library 2.0, consider what services your library already offers that could be improved as well as new things that can be added. This includes both technology-based and nontechnology services” (para. 23).  This is another example of how librarians can continue to brainstorm what services they want to add or change.

3.  The Digital Shift and Information Policy-While we all know the world has changed dramatically since we've gone "digital," we don't always think of what else has changed with it.  Now that we are reading e-books in stead of print books, watching videos on YouTube instead of on television and texting instead of talking on the phone, how has this digital shift changed our lives? While there are rules and etiquette we follow in our daily lives, what are the rules we follow online? The idea of information policy, or the rules we follow when we exchange and receive information, are being adapted to fit into this virtual world.  For example, while there are set laws for print copyright, electronic copyright is a bit of a grey issue that publishers have recently been trying to work out.  Also, when providing Internet use in libraries to patrons, libraries must create their own policies for patrons to follow regarding acceptable use, time limits and availability.  There are many example of how information policy must change and adapt with the digital shift, and I believe information professionals must learn about how the library must adapt to these changes and consider the many of the social and ethical management issues that come along with being a digitized learning institution.  This class has prepared me for planning and thinking about the ways libraries need to tackle these issues.  The state library of NSW has compiled a helpful document, “Information for developing social media policies for public libraries” that can help managers begin crafting their own information policies.

Reflective Statement

Social Networking for Informational Professionals has taught me many new technologies and the issues that come along with them.  As a library professional, I believe this class has played a crucial role in my social networking knowledge and development.  This class has allowed me to learn new social networking tools, teaching me to examine those tools as a library professional so that I can determine how they will be used in a library organization, and how to evaluate those tools critically for the value and use they can provide to the library staff and community.  This includes troubleshooting and remaining open to new technologies from a managerial perspective.  As Partridge, Lee and Munro (2010) reinforce, more and more is expected of librarians as Web 2.0 professionals.  A list of expected tasks “included how to write and post to a blog; create, upload, and edit photos, short videos, podcasts and screen casts; edit an avatar's appearance; and, know how to pick up a new device and figure out how to use it” (Partridge, Lee & Munro, 2010, p.2).  It is extremely important to remain open and excited to new technologies in the workplace, as managers set the tone for the rest of the organization, but are also responsible for creating guidelines and information policies.  Social networking should be an interactive way to extend services to the library community and staff support is the first step along the way.  I will take away knowledge of many new technologies, in particular my case study on implementing a Facebook page for teens at the Ames Free Library, and put them to active use.  In addition, I now have tools to implement other new technologies by passing my knowledge on to my co-workers and the community that I serve.  I have tools to evaluate new technologies that we try, and I know that these services must have polices attached to them in order to successfully use them for educational purposes in the library.  This class has been an invaluable learning experience in social networking and will allow me to continue to navigate the Web 2.0 world with a better understanding, an open attitude and an awareness of the issues.

 References

Brown, AnnaLaura. (2010). "A to Z of Social Networking for Libraries |." Social Networking Librarian. Retrieved from http://socialnetworkinglibrarian.com/2010/01/22/a-to-z-of-social-networking-for-libraries/.

Casey, M. & Savastinuk, L. (2006). Library 2.0: Service for the next-generation library, Library Journal, 1 September. Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html.

Partridge, H., Lee, J., & Munro, C. (2010). Becoming "Librarian 2.0": The Skills, Knowledge, and Attributes Required by Library and Information Science Professionals in a Web 2.0 World (and Beyond). Library Trends,59(1-2), 315-335.

Rosenfeld, Louis.  (2006).  "Bloug: Folksonomies? How about Metadata Ecologies?" Retrieved from http://www.louisrosenfeld.com/home/bloug_archive/000330.html.

State Library of NSW.  (2008). “Information for developing social media policies for public libraries.”

Steckerl, S. (2007). Survival guide: Online social networking.FUMSI, (September). Retrieved from http://web.fumsi.com/go/article/use/2346.

Interview with a Reader's Advisory Librarian

This past semester, I visited the Brockton Public Library (my hometown library) once again.  The Brockton Public Library serves a large, diverse city population of 94,316 people. I was pleasantly surprised to find the library has a Reader’s Advisory Librarian on duty full time.  I met and interviewed Reader's Advisory Librarian, Paula, who holds a wealth of knowledge regarding Reader’s Advisory.

Paula sits at a desk right across from the new adult fiction, making it easy for patrons to approach her with questions and for recommendations.  Paula’s desk is clearly labeled “Reader’s Advisory” and she even has a sign that says “Please interrupt me!” Paula uses many traditional professional magazines when selecting books, such as Library Journal and Booklist but also relies on other electronic resources like blogs.  Two of her favorite websites she uses when conducting Reader’s Advisory are www.stopyourekillingme.com, a popular mystery and thriller website and www.fantasticfiction.co.uk, a site that has recommendations for several popular genres such as romance, fantasy, thrillers and more.  

 Paula allows patrons to request items for purchase and has a “Recommend a Book” form which is found on hand at the library but also on the website.  The form can be sent in by email through the site for the convenience of the patron.  When purchasing new books, Paula keeps her largest patron groups in mind, such as the elderly and African Americans.  The library has two outreach programs for the elderly where they deliver books to home bound residents.  Paula leads book clubs for these residents, each at a different housing complex.  The patrons agree on a book, mostly fiction but occasionally nonfiction titles as well.  The two current choices they are reading are The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly.  Paula orders a lot of large type, fiction and nonfiction based upon these patrons’ interests. 

            

The library’s website, www.brocktonpubliclibrary.org, contains a plethora of information for Reader’s Advisory.  There is a “Novel Suggestions” part of the site with links to helpful websites such as www.baystatera.com, a local reader’s advisory blog, a Staff Picks section, links to Oprah’s book club selections, African American authors, New York Times Best Sellers, reviews from Barnes and Noble and more! The library also uses an RSS feed on their website which visually displays all the new books at the library, with links to place holds on the books through the online catalog.  As Paula and I wrapped up our interview, I noticed lots of comfortable areas to sit, eye-catching displays of new fiction and nonfiction and, of course, Paula’s welcoming desk. 

To sum up, here are some main points from my interview with Paula:

• Know your community-Paula pays attention to her community's needs, dislikes and likes.  This makes it easier to purchase and recommend books they will enjoy.
• Identify weaknesses-While Paula's position is geared to Adult Services, she is also asked for recommendations by teens.  Because the the Brockton Public Library doesn't have a teen librarian, she is trying to learn more about YA titles that are popular in order to better serve this population.
• Have an arsenal to back you up-Paula relies on particular databases and print resources in order to aid her in her job.  She also uses her experience in Reader's Advisory to create handouts for patrons, opening doors to new authors and titles for them.  In addition, the library website contains a plethora of Reader's Advisory material including websites and lists built by librarians.

Helpful Reader's Advisory Sites:

• Library Journal 
• Booklist
• Stop Your Killing Me
• Fantastic Fiction
• Bay State Reader's Advisory:suggestions from a Massachusetts Librarian
• Killer Books
• Brockton Public Library Novel Suggestions
• Oprah's Book Club
• African American Authors
• Whodunit in new England
• New York Times Bestsellers

 I'd love to know what tools you are using for Reader's Advisory and, as always, I want to know what you are reading!

Did You Know 4.0-The Digital Shift and Information Policy: an INF506 OLJ Blog Entry

The video, "Did You Know 4.0" looks at how our world has changed since the introduction of modern digital technology.  When we look at how we use technology everyday for personal, professional or educational purposes, what are the guidelines we use? Are there guidelines?  In fact, there are rules when it comes to the technological world, but some have yet to be developed and some are still evolving.  These rules are called "information policy."

 "Information policy is the set of all public laws, regulations and policies that encourage, discourage or regulate the creation, use, storage and communication of information" (Weingarten, 1989). 

 When we make comments on Facebook, update our Twitter feeds, send emails and search the web, what rules do we follow? How are our physical interactions different than our virtual ones?
After watching this video, I noticed 5 changes in our society that can be defined as "shifts" based upon changes of the digital world that so many of us now depend on.

1 & 2.  Digital Literacy and Copyright-Not only do less people read and purchase newspapers, we now access information differently.  Instead of using print books to find answers, we browse the web.  In libraries specifically, we rely heavily on the use of databases instead of large reference books and we now offer e-books in addition to regular print books.  While there are definitely benefits to digitization, there are problems that arise.  If library patrons are going to use the Internet instead of books to get the information they need, it is the librarian's job to make sure patrons are trained in how to tell if something is trustworthy information.  By providing databases on the library website, the library is selecting reputable sources that patrons can search with confidence, thereby promoting "digital literacy."  In addition, offering e-books at libraries has been a controversial topic because of copyright issues.  When a library buys a print copy of a book, it has unlimited circulation.  With e-books, there is a limit to how many times a book can be checked out without renewing the license.  These types of problems can be addressed with proper information policies, something many e-book lenders have been trying to fine tune this past year as e-books have become more and more popular.

3 & 4.  The Digital Divide and Library Internet Use- President Obama was able to raise more money than John McCain in the 2008 election because he used social media to boost his campaign.  With 69% of adults using social media, Obama was able to reach many more people through digital media than McCain was the traditional way.   Advertising on a social networks is going to reach a lot of people, mainly those who are familiar with the Internet.  However, let us not forget that there are people out there who don't have access to the Internet and those people should not be discounted.  Perhaps if the Internet was free and available to all, this issue of the "digital divide" could be addressed.  By providing free Internet and computer use at the library, libraries work to promote online literacy and skills, hoping to close the digital divide.  However, in order to provide fair and equal opportunities to all,  libraries must create policies for acceptable use for this service to run smoothly.

5.  Social (Networking) Etiquette- With so many people using social networking sites, what is the etiquette or policy we follow? Many people keep their Facebook pages private, but some aren't very careful.  This video uses an example of an employee talking negatively of her boss on her Facebook page, and he sees her post because he is her Facebook friend! We need to remember to remain professional if we are going to open up our virtual lives for all to see.  We need to act as if we would in person when we are on social networks, and sometimes people forget that.  Even though we can access so  information on the go on our cell phones, there are situations when it's acceptable and when it's not.  For example, when we are out to dinner in public or at work in a meeting we should be focused on the people or the task at hand, not texting or updating our Twitter status in 140 characters or less.

Information policy is reflected in our physical  interactions every day, and it should be in our digital lives too.  Check out the video yourself and see what shifts you can identify!

The Essentials of Being an Information Professional in a Web 2.0 World: an INF506 OLJ Entry

After reading and watching some of the assigned articles and videos this week, I have been thinking a lot about what skills librarians need in order to successfully introduce Web 2.0 into the library.  If you'd like to view these materials, here are the links:

Stephen Abram's Web 2.0, Library 2.0, and Librarian 2.0: Preparing for the 2.0 World

Missy Harvey's What does it mean to be a Science Librarian 2.0?

2008 ALIA New Librarians Symposium- Comments on Library 2.0/Librarian Web 2.0

Laura Cohen's A Librarian's 2.0 Manifesto

Many of these sources discuss the importance of Web 2.0 in the library as a way of staying current and up to date in a technology based world.  While this is key, I also believe being able to adopt social networking in the library requires much more common sense; a positive attitude.  Here are some attributes I believe librarians need in order to introduce the world of Web 2.0 to their patrons, staff and their library:

• Be open-Embrace change and the unknown! If you hear about a new technology or how a library is using a new social networking tool, check it out, don't be afraid.  Social media can be helpful in many ways for educational and business purposes, but it's fun too!
• Encourage Staff-If you are in  a position to decide on what social networking tool your library is going to use, talk to your staff, encourage them to try them out at work and ask them for their input.
• Communication-Ask other librarians, patrons and staff what they use, like, know and then brainstorm how specific tools can be used in the library setting.

These points are all connected to one another and a positive attitude is key when adopting anything new in an organization.  Set an example by showing excitement for new ways libraries can use social networking tools, and other people will pick up on that.  After following the above points, it's also important to be able to be able to critically asses how web 2.0 can benefit your library specifically.  Think about the needs of users, staff and the library itself.  The communication part is extremely helpful in this area...and don't forget to have fun!

A to Z of Social Networking for Libraries: an INF506 OLJ Blog Entry



After reading AnnaLaura's blog article "A to Z of Social Networking for Libraries," I was excited to find that the Ames Free Library, where I am the Assistant Youth Services Librarian, has accomplished many of the social networking tasks that are so important for libraries utilizing web 2.0.  For example, we have several Active (for the letter A) web 2.0 platforms we use including Twitter, Flickr, Facebook (the letter F!), Pinterest and three Blogs (the letter B!).  The majority of our staff actively use these social networking sites with Zeal (the letter Z) and we are constantly trying to think of fun new ways we can use them to benefit the library.  However, there were a few areas where we could use improvement.  They are:

1. D-Direction-We have recently discussed how we can strategically use the web 2.0 platforms that staff manages.  It's easy for libraries to adopt new technologies, but how will they be used? Until this recent discussing, we were kind of aimlessly tweeting, posting and pinning.  Staff has read up on ways to use these technologies and we have come up with a basic game plan.  The library will use Twitter to represent the library publishing and marketing world.  Facebook will be used to advertise and connect with our patron group.  Pinterest is being used as a reader's advisory site.  This is all in the beginning stages, and we will evaluate how these strategies are working as time goes on.
2. E-E-Books - The library lends e-books through the library consortium but many people don't know about them.  We need to think of ways to advertise this service better.  We also lend e-readers like kindles and nooks, and these devices can be used as a way to promote e-books.
3. O-Open source- I hadn't heard of open source programs such as Joomla or Koha until I read this article.  It would be interesting to find out how implementing these open source programs can help blend social networking with the library website and card catalog.
4. R-Reference- While we currently offer reference service in person and through email we don't use social networks for answering reference questions.  I think adding this service to these sites would help promote more people to ask questions!
5. Y-Youth- As the Assistant Youth Services Librarian, I have been brainstorming ways to better reach out to youth through our social networking sites.  I would like to create a blog just for teens and a Facebook page where teens and the library can directly interact for fun programs like a virtual book club!

As you can see, the A-Z guide is a great way to evaluate library services and think of innovative ways to implement social networking into the library!

Using Delicious: a Social Bookmarking Tool (an INF506 OLJ entry)

What is Social Bookmarking?

As I mentioned in my previous post, students enrolled in INF506, Social Networking for Information Professionals, are required to create accounts on Delicious, a social bookmarking website.  So, what is social bookmarking? It's actually quite convenient.  Delicious allows users to take information from the web (articles, pictures, videos, etc.) and save them all in one place.  Users can also upload favorite articles and posts  from other social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to their Delicious account for easy access and organizing.  From a librarian's point of view, I find it similar to classification and cataloging.  For example, as I read the articles and watch the videos for class, I simply add the ones I find relevant to me to my Delicious account.  When I add something, I am able to "tag" the item, or classify it using a  folksonomy system, with a descriptive word such as "social networking" or "Facebook", allowing me to easily search and find the information I've saved so I can  refer back to it later.  Here is an example of what tags look like:

When I click on the tags, other documents will be retrieved so that I can find even more relevant information on the subject I'm searching for.  This also allows Delicious users to view what others have posted, enabling people to find users who have similar interests.  Delicious allows users to follow each other, so that when someone I follow posts something new I am able to view it in my feed and decide if I want to bookmark it myself.  So what's the point? All of this is a great way to group information together that I've found on the web and that I've been introduced to by other members.  I am then able to group items together by type through tagging for my own reference.

How is Social Bookmarking Helpful?

Using Delicious is helpful in many ways.  Right now, I am using it for educational and professional purposes.  I am bookmarking websites that will be helpful to me for class assignments and projects.  This is basically allowing me to build my reference list for these larger projects and allows easy, quick access to the information I need. This is a great way for all students to build lists of works that they can use for assignments, and librarians can refer students to this site and offer tutorials.

 I am also bookmarking articles relevant to my profession in library Youth Services, to be able to access ideas and other helpful tips on programming and services that I'd like to implement in the future.  Professionals in all fields will find organizing relevant information helpful using Delicious because it is a great way to collaborate on projects and share a variety of resources, ideas and media from a number of online places.

What are the Downsides?

For the most part, my experience using Delicious has been a positive one.  I love when social networking sites can help make my life easier.  Delicious allows me to organize and group similar information.  This is incredibly helpful for my projects in school and at work.  However, one thing to keep in mind is that technology doesn't always run smoothly.  Many classmates and I repeatedly got an error message every time we tried to follow someone on Delicious, making it difficult to find other users in order to share interesting and helpful information. After contacting Delicious, this problem has been resolved. This is a great example of users experimenting with social networking sites and trying to improve user experience.  Hopefully Delicious will use this feedback to address the issue and improve service.