New Chapter Chaaaaaaat!

The next riveting issue of chapter chat is here.  I know I could hardly sleep, it was totally engrossing…so many thrilling subplots and subtexts.  Foucault  and Deleuze would give it two thumbs up…if they were alive.   April 2013

Women of Fantasy Fiction Part 1

Women of Fantasy Fiction Part 1

I like this post a lot.  For a long time, fantasy was dominated by C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Piers Anthony and “the boys.”  Eventually, Bradley, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Anne McCaffrey changed the landscape.  I think it could easily be argued that the most important, or at least most visible fantasy writers are now J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyers.  Enjoy!

Saving data donkeys in quicksand with tags

Saving data donkeys in quicksand with tags

Here’s a thought provoking short piece from BBC News.  In all the rush to praise tagging, one concern that comes to mind is the reliability of it.  As we create mountains and mountains of data every hour of every day and as we tag it, do we consider the importance of method?  Tagging can be helpful, certainly, but in terms of long-term data management, will be be better served by a more systematic approach?  Most pieces I’ve read on tagging don’t seem to take into consideration the fact that language changes.  In our contemporary society, it’s changing at an amazing speed as well.  Will tags we create today have meaning in five years?  As terminology changes, is anybody going to go back and update tags?  Things to think about…

Libraries and media relations

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librarianship, media, media relations, Public Libraries Online

Libraries and media relations

Here’s another fabulous post from this week’s Public Libraries Online.  The difference between public relations and media relations is subtle, but significant.  Check this one out.

Health and Librarians

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librarianship, mental health, physical health, Public Libraries Online

On Public Libraries Online this week, there were two blog posts on physical and mental health.  I wonder if this is an area we tend to overlook too often and, to some degree, at our peril.  What do we do to take care of ourselves?  As we move into our working lives, it becomes rather important to make sure we can continue in the best form we can muster, right?

The first post is from a colleague in Colorado Springs, CO, Rebecca Cruz and is on stress management.  While librarianship may not be on par with managing stock portfolios on Wall Street, the profession does carry its own stressors and we would be wise to give them due attention.

The second post is from yours truly and concerns of sedentary work habits.  While it may be nice to not have to be on our feet all day, sedentary work habits should be of great concern.  If we are physically hampered, our ability to serve others may be as well.

ciao,

Kael Moffat

Homeless collections

On Public Libraries Online there is a great recent blog post on placing collections in homeless shelters.  This is a really cool way to serve the community!

Extra serving of Chapter Chat!!!

And still with 100% less cholesterol than that lunch you ate yesterday!!!

Special Issue February 2013

Librarians as Media Dieticians?

Lately, I’ve been thinking about quality of information.  Providing access to information is, of course, a major part of our profession, but don’t we have an obligation to provide quality and not just quantity?  Here’s a blog posted on Public Libraries Online that considers some aspects of this question.

Now Taking T-Shirt Orders!

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t-shirts

We are now taking orders for this year’s SCALA t-shirt! Kael Moffat’s printing press design was chosen to be printed on caribbean blue.

Available Sizes: S-3XL

Price: $12 each

Specs: pre-shrunk, 6.1oz. 100% cotton

To order email Cory Upson at cupson@g.emporia.edu with your size and cohort information by Februrary 2nd.

The much anticipated…….January issue of Chapter Chatter!

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Chapter Chatter

January 2013