THE RIGHTS OF THE READER by Daniel Pennac

Pennac, Daniel, Quentin Blake, and Sarah Hamp Adams. The Rights of the Reader. London: Walker, 2006.
Image courtesy: Marwa Elnaggar



Extract from Marta Morrison @ Amazon:

1. The right to read. I liked this right because even though I am a reader there are times when I don't read because life has gotten to me. I remember a real sparse time after the birth of both of my kids. I didn't crack a book for about nine months.
2. The right to skip.
3. The right not to finish a book. This hit home with me, too. I always felt guilty when I didn't finish a book for a book club, but I have the right not to finish a book whenever I don't like it.
4. The right to read it again - Harry Potter, here I come!
5. The right to read anything.
6. The right to mistake a book for real life.
7. The right to read anywhere. This applies to me since I have read many times in Disneyland - and I have pictures to prove it.
8. The right to dip in.
9. The right to read out loud.
10. The right to be quiet and not discuss the book with anyone.

Behind the Scenes: A (Very) Quick Look at Library Acquisitions

Gloria Dingwall, Andrew Waller, Heather D'Amour Libraries and Cultural Resources Extract:
Ever wondered how that invaluable book or journal you are using in your research found its way into the library collection? Under the umbrella of Libraries and Cultural Resources, Collections and Technical Services Department, the Acquisitions Unit is responsible for acquiring print material while the Electronic Resources Unit in Collections Services is responsible for acquiring e-resources. Here some quick facts on how the acquisitions processes work. continue reading
On the same shelf:

Area Studies Collections at Virginia: A Comparative Data Set: Part 1: pdf | Excel : Complete Monographic Collections Comparison Data (74 Research Libraries); Part 2: pdf | Excel: LC Subject Comparison Data for Monographic Collections

Reading now: How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ 2/E

How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ 2/E, by Brad Schepp and, Debra Schepp; McGraw-Hill; 2 edition (2012)
A reviewer's comment relating to the previous edition (2009): "Most employers check for an online presence for prospective employees. These social networking experts show job hunters how to use these sites to market themselves effectively and impress employers." -- Library Journal 2/1/2010, Vol. 135 Issue 2, p32-34.

The Second Edition:
Finding your dream job the old way just doesn’t happen anymore. If you want to move up in today’s ultracompetitive job market, you have to master the most useful tools out there—social networks.
How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, Second Edition, helps you take full advantage of the bounty of opportunities found on the most popular sites. Online job-search experts Brad and Debra Schepp take you step-by-step through the process of joining networks, creating effective online profiles, and leveraging the job-search features of the most popular sites, including:
LinkedIn's InMaps—Get a complete visual of your network for a faster, more efficient job search
Facebook's BranchOut—Learn more about your friends’ careers, so you can help them—and they can help you
Twitter's Lists—Build a customized list of users to discover opportunities you might otherwise miss
Google+'s Circles—Get the most relevant information about yourself into the hands of the right people

Table of Contents (Ten chapters in two parts):
Part 1 Getting Linkedln 1-174 --includes Advantages / benefits (p.8);
Part 2 Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ 175-246

See also on the same shelf:

Creativity overrated in online profiles: Three never-use job-hunting buzzwords, by Vanessa Lu, Toronto Star Extract: "LinkedIn has compiled list of commonly used words used by Canadians to describe themselves: If you’re looking to get noticed by a potential employer, don’t use words like creative, effective or motivated...Instead, people need to speak to specific accomplishments and passions...Top 10 overused buzzwords: Creative; Effective; Organizational; Motivated; Analytical; Interpersonal; Problem solving; Extensive experience; Innovative; Communication Skills; LinkedIn Canada."

Corruption in Wikiland? Paid PR scandal erupts at Wikipedia

Extract: A Wikipedia trustee and a Wikipedian In Residence have been editing the online encyclopedia on behalf of PR clients. Add the discovery of an SEO business run on the side, and this tempest is out of its teapot. continue reading
Why not Wikipedia
USE THIS LIBGUIDE for an Assignment, but NOT Wiki!

Reading now: Describing Electronic, Digital, and Other Media Using AACR and RDA

While there are a number of books that help in resource discovery (aka cataloging / cataloguing), this book has more hands-on and how-to-do in dealing with both AACR2 and (RDA)

Describing Electronic, Digital, and Other Media Using AACR and RDA: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians (How-to-Do-It Manuals), by Mary Beth Weber, Fay Austin, Facet Publishing and Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.; Pap/Cdr edition (2011) Extract:
Catalogers hungry for hard-to-find answers regarding the best way to insure access to diverse new content will find expert solutions in this vital new resource. Streaming video, Internet sites, dual-disc DVDs, blogs and listservs are just some of the rapidly emerging, and often complicated, new resources covered in this current, easy-to-follow manual. Authors Mary Beth Weber and Fay Austin dedicate separate chapters to each non-print and e-resource format, and include corresponding examples to help demonstrate practical implementation of these critical new skills. A companion CD-ROM contains fully-worked out examples, models and illustrations, and acts as an important visual guide to help reinforce key concepts. Practical and user-friendly, this essential guide to 21st century cataloging will teach you to organize your constantly expanding collection of materials with both optimal efficiency and increased discoverability.
What do Reviewers Say:
With a useful CD-ROM for step-by-step help and a companion website that will be updated as necessary. Recommended." --Library Journal, April 2011
"This book is highly recommended for technical services staff struggling with changing cataloguing rules for certain types of nonbook materials." --Technicalities, November/December 2011

Librarianship with specialization in a field: Works Well or Does Not Work?

Specialization in librarianship is age old, nothing new. But, adding an MBA, is indeed news to some--This is not about Ph.D., or wearing many professional hats / multi-tasking, or Jack of all trades and master of none.

Another quick thought. Most library schools, in India and abroad have special librarianship, as a part of the master's (universities, DRTC, etc.) program. DRTC / INSDOC in India, have been leading the world in introducing content and approach from fields, such as, MBA, Engineering and other practice oriented fields. In this context, not so sure, if there are indepth and recent studies that compare the market value (salaries, job opportunities, status among other faculty, professional outcomes, etc.) of a university based masters versus DRTC / INSDOC trained librarians.

Reading now:
The MBA and Academic Business Librarians: More than Graduate Education for Subject Specialists.
By: McGuigan, Glenn S.. Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, 2008, Vol. 13 Issue 3, p405-417, 13p, 1 Chart; DOI: 10.1080/08963560802183179

Extract:
For the purposes of academic business librarians, the curriculum within an MBA program should provide an introduction to various areas of specialized knowledge and enhance their abilities to engage effectively in their responsibilities as subject specialists. As related by the Education Committee of the Business Reference & Services Section (BRASS, 2006), core competencies for business knowledge include (but are not necessarily limited to) accounting, advertising and marketing, banking, company and industry research, insurance, international business, investment and finance, jobs and human resources, small business, and taxation. These subject areas would be addressed by most MBA programs that may categorize fields of study in the areas of accounting, finance, management, marketing, operations management, and increasingly, information systems.
Familiarity with studying these topics within a classroom setting should strengthen the subject specialist's abilities in assisting students who are doing research for these very same courses.

... As Liu and Allen (2001) explained, the vast difference in salaries between academic business librarians and those in the private sector with an MBA "reflect the fact that librarianship is not in a very advantageous competitive position when compared with business jobs. Accordingly, it is not surprising that relatively few academic business librarians have business degrees" (p. 559). Therefore, unless a drastic change takes place, the environment of a labor shortage for qualified, academic business librarians will continue.

According to Bharat Chaudhari, and his comment at Linkedin, the following two Universities are offering MBA in Business Librarianship and Library Management degrees:
1. University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, USA
2. University of Hull, UK

On the same shelf:

MBA for Librarians Series | ALA Connect

The Countries You May Like to Go with your American / Canadian MLIS - A literature survey

Factors in success or failure of foreign-trained librarians in Canada

ALA‐APA Programs for the People MBA for Librarians Series

A New Look at the Background and Work Experience of Business Librarians. Perret, Robert. Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, Jan-Mar2011, Vol. 16 Issue 1, p46-66,

Librarians' Education in the Age of Knowledge: Consideration of Skills, Methods, and Tools Akram Fathian Dastgerdi

What Is *She* Doing Here? Crafting a Professional Identity as a Digital Humanist/Librarian, Lisa Spiro

So should humanities PhDs who wish to work in a library get a library degree? An MLS certainly does have value. By getting a library degree, you not only develop useful skills such as managing collections, creating metadata, and overseeing digitization projects, but you also attain professional certification and a professional network (Danley). However, several library directors have told me not to bother with getting a library degree, since my PhD and work experience more than prepared me for my position—but they did suggest getting an MBA.

Starkey, Jennifer. "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Getting a Second Master’s
Degree But Were Afraid To Ask." (Dec 2006)

M.S. in Library and Information Science/Specialization in Public Librarianship.

Early Career Librarianship in the Business Library, by Gene (EUGENE) Hayworth. Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, Volume 13, Issue 3, 2008; Special Issue: Career Paths and Career Development of Business Librarians

Leadership or Management: Expectations for Head of Reference Services in Academic Libraries Felix E. Unaeze

Collaborative Convergence: Merging Computing and Library Services at the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA, Jason Frand and Robert Bellant

Can’t Get No Respect: Helping Faculty to Understand the Educational Power of Information Literacy, William B. Badke

Corporate librarian or corporate climber? Understanding your skills and communicating their value can help you pursue a career path outside a library ... An article from: Information Outlook, Amy Maule

The Need for Subject Librarians in Ghanaian Academic Libraries

Careers in Preservation Librarianship - LIScareer

Subject specialization in a liaison librarian program

Career Paths and Career Development of Business Librarians, Diane Zabel

Should librarians be considered professionals? May 1, 2012 — Graham Lavender

Chris Brown Syed - Obituary

Chris's picture @ Academia:

Short bio at Linkedin and skillpages.com
and obituaries at blogs.curtin.edu.au

Funeral date and details are up @ Facebook:
Extract:
Update:

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be at the Smith’s Funeral Home, 1167 Guelph Line (one stoplight north of QEW) BURLINGTON (905-632-3333) on Friday, March 23 from 3:00- 5:00 and 7:00 – 9:00. A funeral mass will take place at St. Raphael’s Roman Catholic Church 4072 New Street Burlington Saturday March 24 at 10:30 AM, Internment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery 600 Spring Gardens Road Burlington with a reception to follow at the cemetery.

...Unfortunately, Chris's mother died within days of his passing. We will be having a double funeral. The times have not been set but the weekend will be the 23/24 - visitation Friday night and a funeral mass on Saturday. The funeral home arranging all of this is Smith's FH in Burlington

I received the following message, about his departure:

Bio update:

Suddenly at home in Burlington on Tuesday March 6 2012, Chris in his 61st year. Beloved father of Colin and Kiera, dear friend and former husband of Terri Lyons. Cherished son of recently deceased Betty Syed. Much loved cousin of Mark (Maggee) Brown and Melanie (Michael) Robson and nephew of Anne Brown. Chris was a brilliant man with many unique talents (papermaking, Old Norse, playing the bagpipe) that endeared him to many. After taking a first degree in film production, and subsequent master's degrees in librarianship and philosophy, he obtained a PhD, in the area of Library and Information Sciences from the University of Toronto in 1996. Along the way, he spent a few years studying things medieval as a non-degree student, and once traveled overland from the UK to India and back with the Commonwealth Expedition, led by Lionel Gregory OBE. Chris taught at Wayne State, University of Buffalo, Arizona, Seneca College, etc. One of his greatest satisfactions was that he had an impact on many students and future librarians throughout North America. Chris was a strong supporter of the Liberal party in Burlington and canvassed for multiple candidates over the years. His proudest accomplishments though were his two teenage children....

It is with great regret that we inform you that Chris Brown-Syed has suddenly passed away. Chris has been teaching at Seneca since Spring of 2003.

He had been an Editor of the journal, "Library and Archival Security", and author of the recent book, "Parents of Invention: The Development of Library Automation Systems in the Late 20th Century". Santa Barbara, CA : Libraries Unlimited, 2011.

After taking a first degree in film production, and subsequent master's degrees in librarianship and philosophy, he obtained a PhD, in the area of the geopolitics of information from the University of Toronto in 1996. Along the way, he spent a few years studying things medieval as a non-degree student, and once traveled overland from the UK to India and back with the Commonwealth Expedition, led by Lionel Gregory OBE. .
Chris worked as a computer operator for the British firm Plessey, and later headed the North American training group for the Library Systems Division of Geac Computers. This involved much travel - across the US and Canada, and to the UK and Australia.

His areas of interest include the geopolitics of information, library automation and security, history and philosophy. He taught full-time in Michigan and New York, and part-time in Arizona, Illinois, California, and Ontario, Canada.

This is a great loss to our community. He will be sadly missed.

Christopher was a good human being and an intellectual, worth envying. On such sad moments, we are reminded the words of the wise: To God we belong, and to Him is our return. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

On the same shelf:

More about Chris Brown-Syed, at his website [PS. The Website Is Down, Now], Try this link, he called it alternate / here

Parents of Invention: The Development of Library Automation Systems in the Late 20th Century by Christopher Brown-Syed

COMPUTING: An entry from Macmillan Reference USA's Encyclopedia of Communication and Information by CHRISTOPHER BROWN-SYED