Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Prezi.com

LEGEND OF VICTORIA REGIA

Career - LIBRARIAN

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION:

High School Subjects (Recommendations)
Grade 11
Grade 12

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • History
  • Business & Management
  • Computers
  • English
  • Literature
  • Communications & Media Studies
  • Mathematic
  • Economics/World Issues
  • History
  • Business & Management
  • Computers 

University
  • 3-4YRS - Bachelor's Degree
    • School Librarians: Bachelor's Degree in Education
  • 1-2 YRS - Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) or Master of Information Studies (MI/MIS) Degree
  • PhD  - University/High level directorial or managerial positions


DUTIES
  • Answer questions asked by patrons
  • Help people find informations on certain subjects
  • Make sure informations are found on reliable sources
  • Organize programs (ex. story time, book clubs, etc.)
  • Add new materials to the library catalogue
  • Manage the library's computer system 
  • Advertisement (ex. blogs, reading lists, readers' guides, etc.)

AVERAGE SALARY 
  • Entry-Level - $30,000 to $45, 000 per year
  • Years of Experience - $45,000 to $65,000 per year
  • Supervisory/Managerial positions - $80,000+ per year
Private Sectors
  • Entry-Level - $50, 000
  • Experienced special librarians - $60,000 to $84,000
  • Median salary - $70, 000 per year
  • Highest level positions - up to $100,000
Benefits (Full-time librarians)
  • Dental coverage
  • Paid vacation
  • Retirement benefits

LIKES/DISLIKES

Likes 
Dislikes
  • Being surrounded by books
  • Be able to chose which materials to add to the library catalogue
  • Organizing events like book clubs
  • Make new displays for the library
  • Patrons expecting you to know practically everything
  • Find ways to get people interested in the library
  • Have to follow new technology advancements so the library does not get 'outdated'
  • Facing the ridicules of other people about the library

MOST CHALLENGING/MOST REWARDING

I think that the most challenging thing this job faces is the advancements in technology. Recently, I have read an article that states that public libraries should be closed down because the number of people that are visiting the library is declining. While libraries are great place to find informations, the internet is easier and quicker to use. Also, as eBooks become more and more popular, less and less people come to the library to take out books. Now, as people sits at home, playing on their computer, librarians have to come up with ways to get people to come to the library and explore its' resources.
The most rewarding thing about this job would be that I get to be surrounded by books everyday. Despite things like eBooks and so on, I still prefer a real book. While eBooks are convenient and easy to access, real books are still better. If I manage to become a librarian, this would definitely be one of the things that I like most about this job because I know that by the end of the day, I would always have a good book to read. 


Thursday, March 29, 2012

Libraries in the News

LIBERAL WHINGERS ARE WRONG-WE SHOULD SHUT OUR LIBRARIES
1) I lasted visited the library on Monday (March 26,2012).
2) McTernan's debate: Reasons why he thinks we should close down libraries:
 - People rarely go to the library to find information any longer as technology began to advance.
 - Protesters are only protesting out of guilt and condescension.
 - Students no longer need to go to the library to study. They can just do that at home or at the school library.


LIBRARIES HAVE THRIVED DESPITE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1) Proof libraries are relevant today. Wong's reasons:
 - Libraries provide information that are hard to find on the Internet
 - Libraries provide information that may only be available to individuals for a fee when they look for it on the Internet
 - Libraries provide individuals with Internet access for people who do not have Internet at home
 - Help is given to individuals by Librarians
 - Libraries provide various programs for the community (ex. Conversation Circles, Homework help, Career Counselling, Reading programs)
2) Library Services:
 - Reading Programs          - Career Counselling
 - Conversation Circles      - Homework Help
3) I think what Wong meant when she said "Libraries are one of society's great equalizers" is that libraries is a place that gives people all equal rights. It does not matter if a person is poor or rich, smart or educationally challenged, people are all treated the same way in the library. The library is a place where people are be treated the same way as everybody else and no individual is judged.


LIBRARIES SHOULD REMAIN OPEN


Public libraries should not be shut down. The library is not just "an honorable tradition" and it is most definitely not over. McTernan's argues that since people rarely go to the library anymore because most information can be found on the Internet and that students no longer need to go to the library to study and do homework, public libraries should be closed down. My response to his reasons can be summed down into two words, "absolute stupidity." He may say that "with Abebooks and Alibris, almost all the second-hand bookshops in the world are available to search" and enables people to find the books they want without having to go to the library. But why would a person want to go to websites like Abebooks and Alibris and buy books instead of just going to the library and save some money? Buying books online is practically like dumping your money into the ocean since books bought online are mostly only going to read once. And while the statement that "fast, cheap computing had spread to most homes, and to our whizzy new mobile phones" may be true but what about the people that does not have access to these things due to money problems. It seems like McTernan only cares about the people that can afford these luxuries and completely ignored the people that cannot. Besides, not all the information on the Internet can be trusted. Take Wikipedia for an example. Wikipedia is a useful site which covers several subjects but the information posted can be written by anybody with a Wikipedia account. Therefore, these information cannot always be trusted. In the end, no matter what McTernan say, public libraries should not be closed down. 

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Book Review: Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye




Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye (Psychic Eye Mystery; Bk. 1)
By Victoria Laurie
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Paranormal
Publisher: New York, NY: New American Library (Signet)
Release Date: December 2004
Description: 295p. ; 18cm; no special feature
Audience: General/Trade


Summary: Abby Cooper lives her life working as a psychic intuitive. She help people by using her unique talent and earns a decent income from it. Every day is the same as the one before but when one of her client turns up dead, things start to get wild. Dutch Rivers, Abby's potential boyfriend, turns out to be the one in charge of Abby's client case. The murderer thinks that Abby knows more than she really does and decided to stop her from talking. Now, instead of just dealing with Dutch and gathering clues, she also has to fight off this murderer as he/she attempts to take her life. 

Review: I enjoyed every second of the time that I spend on reading this book. It was fast-paced but still full of information and yet not overwhelming at the same time. This is absolutely the best book that I have ever read and would recommend it to people that likes mystery with a pinch of romance involved. 
My favourite part is when Abby gets questioned on her psychic power and when it starts to get on her nerve, she takes action. She would usually begin with a question and eventually goes into psychic mode, revealing details of the person's personal life. In the end, the person is left dumb-folded and confused. 
Though despite the fact that it is an awesome book, the way the crime was solved left more to be desired. It was rushed and lacked details. It would have been better if it was longer and there were more actions involved. 


P.S. This was the only video I can find on the book. 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Library Science Student

Considering I used to volunteered at the library last year, learning about the library system is kind of review form me. Though I did learn a few new things. For example, I learned how to create a blog and how to log-in to the library catalogue.
The thing I enjoy the most about being a Library Science student is that I get to go through the new books before it gets  put out. It gives me a head start to read new books that are added to the library collection. Also, I can't wait until we go bookshopping. That would be awesome!
The thing that I dislike is that I am the only student that has library science in this block. It gets boring at times because I have nobody to talk to but I guess I should look on the brighter side. I mean it's at least better than having someone that I don't like to be in my class.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Information Literacy- What??

1) Plagarism. What is it?
Quiz 1: 3/7
Quiz 2: 3/4
Quiz 3: 4/5
Quiz 4: no questions

Through these quizs, I learned quite a few things. For example, I learned about patchwriting and paraphrase. Patchwriting means you are using a majority of the same words used in the article/writing while paraphrase means you use the info provided and phrase it in a completely different sentence structure. Before I read about this, I thought the two things were the same and now I know different.
The thing I found most surprising is that you have to cite a source even when you are only using someone's idea as a base for your writing while you are explaining the idea in a whole different point of view. Though I guess when I really think about it, it can be plagarism.

3) Flickr and Compfight vs Google Images
  • Flickr - Online photo management and sharing application
    • It allows Flickr members to share their photos and videos online while still protecting their photo rights
  • Compfight - Flickr image search engine
    • Help people search for images online
  • Creative Commons - a not-profit website that allows people to share their photos while still protecting their photo rights
  • Google Images vs Flickr and Compfight
    • Google Images - It is a image search engine that finds images on the internet which fits with the requirement of the subject being searched.
    • Flickr and Compfight - They are applications that allows people to share photos and videos while still protecting their copyrights.
      • Compfight - designed spercifically to search for images uploaded on Flickr.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Harry's Quote

If minds are truly alive they will seek out books, for books are the human race recounting its memorable experiences, confronting its problems, searching for solutions, drawing the blueprints of it futures.
-Harry A. Overstreet

When I read this quote, it made me think about Social Studies. A teacher once told me that we learn about history to avoid making the same mistakes that our ancestors made in their life. Through books, we gain not only knowledge but also creativity and imagination. Books shows us how unlimited our imaginations can be and gives us a sense of what people believed in way back in history. Books are also things that can help shape out future. In a Social Studies textbook, we learn about the events that happened, the mistakes that were made and the solutions that were brought forth. In a science fiction novel, it shows us what can be and the infinite amount of impossiblities that can be conquered.
I think what this person is trying to tell us through his quote is that books can be the foundation of our future. It can shapa and rearrange, making people think towards the impossibilities and gives us a connection with our past. Books are an unlimited resource. It can be used to find solutions, escape realitites, enhance the imaginations and so much more. In the end, it all comes down to how we use the knowledge we gained.