Why did the library go to the psychologist? To get in touch with its inner shelf.
Beyond the Bullet Points: Sherlock Holmes
Here’s another joke I wrote for my presentation in Charleston. Enjoy the joke, or watch the Charleston screencast to find out what it says about language use in libraries:
Sherlock Holmes is called in to investigate a murder. After examining the scene Holmes announces that the killer was a librarian.
“How can you tell?” asks Dr Watson.
“Elementary my dear Watson. First the murderer not only alphabetized the victims books, but shelved them by genre.
“There is the fact that the murder itself was clearly inspired by a rare Victor Hugo novel recently acquired by the branch library down the street.
“However the real give away is that after the victim was killed the murderer dragged his body over to the toilet and wrote on the body ‘can you find the bathroom now?! can you find the bathroom now?!”
Charleston Keynote Now Streaming
Here you go:
New Librarianship
“New Librarianship” Keynote Charleston Conference 2009, Charleston, SC.
Abstract: The best days of librarianship are ahead of us. However, to get there the field must step back, refocus, and reexamine our core principles. We as a profession have become so focused on the trees of standards and process that we are now at risk from missing the larger forest of opportunities. This talk will present a view of a new librarianship, one focused on knowledge and action instead of artifacts and collection. The presentation will look beyond the trends of today’s technologies to a durable new librarianship that focuses on innovation, leadership, and service.
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2009/Charleston.pdf
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2009/charleston09.mp3
Screencast:
School Libraries and Participatory Librarianship
I wish I could hear the presentation that goes with the slides, because the slides are amazing. Check out the Unquiet Librarian’s presentation at AASL 2009:
Beyond the Bullet Points: Job Security
The director of the university library called together her staff. “I’m afraid I have bad news. Tuition revenue is down, fewer parents are sending their kids to our university, and there will have to be budget cuts.”
A few hours later the director decided to walk the building and get a sense of moral among her staff. In rare books area she saw a group of librarians busily scanning books. “What are you scanning all of those books?” the director asked.
“We’re trying to increase the digital collection of the library so we can put a lot of great content on the website and make it more appealing to potential students.”
The director went to the acquisition area and saw the librarians surfing Amazon. “What are you doing?” asked the director.
“We are looking to see if we can save money by buying directly from online retailers.”
Finally the director went to the first floor where se saw the reference librarians pulling books off the shelf, tearing off the covers, and then randomly replacing them.
“WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?” cried the director.
“Job security”
Longshots #191: The Power of Participatory Librarianship
Here is a podcast I did with Sarah Long. Check it out. She also has a bunch of other great podcasts to check out as well:
Sarah talks with Dr. R. David Lankes, Associate Professor and Director of the Information Institute of Syracuse School of Information Studies at Syracuse University about the concept of participatory librarianship. They also discuss the mission of a librarian, learning as conversation, and the four major ways of facilitating knowledge and information.
http://www.librarybeat.org/longshots/play/191
Knutpunkt 2009 Sweden Presentation Now Streaming
Inventing the Future of Librarianship
“Inventing the Future of Librarianship” Keynote Knutpunkt 2009, Linkoping, Sweden.
Abstract: This presentation examines work to redefine librarianship not as a set of functions, or skills, but as a deeper mission rooted in how people learn and use knowledge.
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2009/RealSweden.pdf
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2009/Sweden.mp3
Screencast:
Beyond the Bullet Points: Einstein Joke
OK, so you enjoyed the first joke so much, I’ve included another I made up for some earlier presentations:
So Albert Einstein goes to a party. The host is keen to show off the world-famous physicist to his friends so he escorts Einstein around, introducing him.
The first guest asks Einstein, “So what is it you do Albert?”
Einstein replies, “I seek to understand time.”
“Wow,” says the guest, “We’re in the same business. I sell watches.”
The host introduces him to the second guest who asks, “So Albert, what is it you do?”
Einstein, trying to impress, replies, “I seek to understand how all the planets and stars in heaven move about the universe.”
“Wow,” says the second guest, “We’re in the same line of work. I build telescopes.”
A third guest asks Einstein, “What is it you do?’
To which Einstein replies, “I have discovered that light, magnetism, and electricity are all the same force.”
“Wow,” says the third guest, “We’re in the same business. I repair TVs!”
The host takes a now depressed and exasperated Einstein to meet a fourth guest.
“What is it you do Albert?” asks the fourth guest.
Now completely deflated Einstein says, “Nothing. I don’t sell anything. I don’t build anything. I can’t even repair anything. I’m useless.”
“Wow,” says the fourth guest, “I’m a tenured professor too!”