So, I've past the four hour mark still in the Pittsburgh airport and I am still looking at two more hours. One thing I can be thankful for, AIRPORT WiFi!
I didn't know that WiFi was so pervasive in so many settings now. I guess I am still used to the idea that the only place for free WiFi is your public library. The universities and colleges have it but it is usually password protected and it is not really free, your tuition is paying for it. Coffee Shops got it, but you have to buy something (and you don't want to be that jerk that gets a small peppermint tea and sips it for three hours).
I have wireless internet at my home, but currently it is on the fritz. My wireless router just up and broke last week leaving me with the only option to have to connect directly to my 50 ft. ethernet cable (glad I bought the extra long one from Amazon!). Comcast is sending me a new wireless modem, but who knows when that will get here.
The lack of wireless internet presented itself as a major problem the last few days when trying to prepare for my trip to Minneapolis. I needed to get some PDFs of some readings from my computer onto my iPad as I was not taking my laptop. I have gotten in the habit of using my DropBox to do all these file transfers, but the DropBox was useless without an internet connection. So, last night I drove around looking for truly free WiFi hotspots. Unfortunately, it was the Carnegie Library was close. Unfortunately, I had yet to set up my Pitt wireless on my iPad. Unfortunately, truly free WiFi is hard to come by. Finally, I ventured into a Crazy Mocha and became that person: I bought a small peppermint tea just to use the WiFi. To my credit, I was in there for less than three minutes!
Let's hope next time I am blogging it will be in the ice city of Minneapolis!
- Posted still in the Pittsburgh Airport using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Instant Message Chatting- This stuff really exists still?
So, there is snow and sleet in Minneapolis, Minnesota. What does this mean for me? Well, it means I have been in the Pittsburgh airport for two hours and I am still looking at another two plus hours, then my two and a half hour flight to the snowy city. Yep, today is Wednesday, March 23, 2011, and I am embarking on my snow-filled trip to the Twin Cities for my first ever professional conference, the 2011 VRA + ARLIS/NA Annual Conference.
I am hoping to be writing some blog post from the conference about my experiences there, the art library world, and of course, technology. I'll try to keep the complaints about the weather to a minimum (I mean who schedules a conference in Minnesota for March!).
Last Friday afternoon, in preparation for the upcoming VRA + ARLIS/NA Conference I participated in a chart on the Meembo platform. Before this chat I had never heard of Meembo before. Honestly, I didn't really think people still used the internet for chatting anymore. Or rather, anyone over the age of fourteen. I know I abandoned AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) around that age!
Now, I have attended numerous webinars, some presented by the VRA or ARLIS/NA. I am also taking an online class in Music Librarianship through the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, that utilizes Moodle as its synchronous delivery of the lecture. All my webinars and Moodle lectures have some sort of chat function, though it is rarely used.
I guess I was just expecting this informal chat to be similar to a webinar. Like there was going to be a presentation that went along with it or something. Well, I was wrong. It was honestly just a chat. Again, I haven't used a chat room in about ten years (I steer clear of Facebook and Gmail chat). It was definitely awkward.. It seemed as if everyone in the room had been doing this for awhile and knew all the shortcuts. The time lapse was awhile, I could never remember to use the @person's name when answer a specific question, and it was hard to follow multiple people chatting at once.
I wasn't doing anything else during the hour long chat, just staring at my screen patiently waiting for the next sentence to appear (well and knocking my cat, Rudie, away from the keyboard). And I waited, and waited, and waited some more. It seemed like it took forever!
That is when I realized, I had a lot of time to think about other things, that this chat session was probably designed for professionals who were at work. Librarians and Information Professional who were working the reference desk, doing research, or any of their other job duties. By presenting this information session in the form of a chat room, the participants were able to multitask. This suspicion was verified when I read a little more information about these "Lunch Time Chats" as they are marketed by ARLIS/NA.
With the idea of multitasking coming into play as one of the reasons to present the information session as a chat, the chat room doesn't seem so archaic and clunky. While I believe that I would probably personally prefer a webinar or something a little bit more real-time, maybe when I have a job I'll be wishing for more chat sessions!
(And no, don't expect me to be on Facebook or Gmail chat anytime soon!)
- Posted from the Pittsburgh Airport using BlogPress from my iPad
I am hoping to be writing some blog post from the conference about my experiences there, the art library world, and of course, technology. I'll try to keep the complaints about the weather to a minimum (I mean who schedules a conference in Minnesota for March!).
Last Friday afternoon, in preparation for the upcoming VRA + ARLIS/NA Conference I participated in a chart on the Meembo platform. Before this chat I had never heard of Meembo before. Honestly, I didn't really think people still used the internet for chatting anymore. Or rather, anyone over the age of fourteen. I know I abandoned AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) around that age!
Now, I have attended numerous webinars, some presented by the VRA or ARLIS/NA. I am also taking an online class in Music Librarianship through the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, that utilizes Moodle as its synchronous delivery of the lecture. All my webinars and Moodle lectures have some sort of chat function, though it is rarely used.
I guess I was just expecting this informal chat to be similar to a webinar. Like there was going to be a presentation that went along with it or something. Well, I was wrong. It was honestly just a chat. Again, I haven't used a chat room in about ten years (I steer clear of Facebook and Gmail chat). It was definitely awkward.. It seemed as if everyone in the room had been doing this for awhile and knew all the shortcuts. The time lapse was awhile, I could never remember to use the @person's name when answer a specific question, and it was hard to follow multiple people chatting at once.
I wasn't doing anything else during the hour long chat, just staring at my screen patiently waiting for the next sentence to appear (well and knocking my cat, Rudie, away from the keyboard). And I waited, and waited, and waited some more. It seemed like it took forever!
That is when I realized, I had a lot of time to think about other things, that this chat session was probably designed for professionals who were at work. Librarians and Information Professional who were working the reference desk, doing research, or any of their other job duties. By presenting this information session in the form of a chat room, the participants were able to multitask. This suspicion was verified when I read a little more information about these "Lunch Time Chats" as they are marketed by ARLIS/NA.
With the idea of multitasking coming into play as one of the reasons to present the information session as a chat, the chat room doesn't seem so archaic and clunky. While I believe that I would probably personally prefer a webinar or something a little bit more real-time, maybe when I have a job I'll be wishing for more chat sessions!
(And no, don't expect me to be on Facebook or Gmail chat anytime soon!)
- Posted from the Pittsburgh Airport using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, March 17, 2011
My Introduction to HTML Formatting!
So, I have just spent the past two hours working on formatting my resume for my website. My brother is kindly helping me with the majority of the site, but I wanted to try my hand at HTML formatting. I am pretty happy with the results. It took me awhile, but alas, it is done! Click through "Read More" to see my resume.
ArtFinder!
Yesterday I discovered an amazing website, ArtFinder. ArtFinder is the Pandora Radio for the art museum! Just as with Pandora, where you select a "station" (maybe some Elliot Smith?) to listen to and then Pandora finds you similar songs and artists with you giving a thumbs-up or thumbs-down as to your liking, ArtFinder employs the same general concept.
You start by identifying three sets of artworks that you prefer (there is a choice of four and you select one in each set) and ArtFinder analyzing your preferences and, bam! you're own custom "magic" slide show of art you may enjoy.
You can create an account or sign in with Facebook and share your slide show with friends.
Visit my ArtFinder tour! This set of paintings was chosen for me because I selected a Caravaggio, Honthorst, and Flemish painting. The results are fairly matched to my liking. ArtFinder even selected a favorite Carlo Saraceni painting, Judith with the Head of Holofernes (though I must admit, any painting of this subject I love, Caravaggio's is currently my iPad background!).
Carlo Saraceni, Judith with the Head of Holofernes, 1615. Oil on Canvas, Kunthistorisches. Bridgeman Art Library.
You start by identifying three sets of artworks that you prefer (there is a choice of four and you select one in each set) and ArtFinder analyzing your preferences and, bam! you're own custom "magic" slide show of art you may enjoy.
You can create an account or sign in with Facebook and share your slide show with friends.
Visit my ArtFinder tour! This set of paintings was chosen for me because I selected a Caravaggio, Honthorst, and Flemish painting. The results are fairly matched to my liking. ArtFinder even selected a favorite Carlo Saraceni painting, Judith with the Head of Holofernes (though I must admit, any painting of this subject I love, Caravaggio's is currently my iPad background!).
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Google Art Project
The art world was abuzz a few weeks ago about the launch of Google's Art Project. The idea, that is creating a "street view" type tour of numerous museums across the world, is a great opportunity to extend the access of museum's collections to users around the world. Just as the idea of the Google Book Project is a great way to provide access to out-of-print and orphan works. But, as a student and new professional in the library world, I know how controversial the Google Books settlement has been in my community (perhaps a blog post about this is in order?). Is this Google Art Project just as controversial? What elements of access, control, and copyright arise when Google digitizes images of artworks they that do not bare the rights to? What effects are there to the use and membership to museums? This effect probably won't be felt immediately, but will it make a difference?
First, the positives! As a result of the Google Art Project, there is a tremendous increase in access and accessibility to works of art from all over the world. Now, I can simply view Vincent van Gogh's The Bedroom from my laptop computer, smart phone, or iPad, never once having to leave my local library or familiar coffee shop. Now, I have mostly always been able to view The Bedroom whenever I wanted thanks, again to Google Image search. But instead, with the Google Art Project I am able to view The Bedroom with exceptional resolution and zoom-ability. I can view the layers of paint on the canvas with more intensity that I would probably be able to do in person in Amsterdam. This amazing ability, coupled with being able to create your own virtual "museum" of art, are great advantages to the Google Art Project.
But, as a librarian, I see some potential problems that arise as a result of the Google Art Project. Libraries (universities and public) and museums already have a difficult time convincing their patrons to come into/ their building. With the advent of the internet and Smart Searches, quite a bit of information can be retrieved by the patron with no assistance from an information professional (me). Same for the museum, numerous images of brilliant art pieces can be viewed simply online, eliminating the need for a patron to travel outside their comforts.
I have argued, and will continue to do so, that while the virtual reference world has much to deliver, it will never be the absolute stand-in for the in person, real life world. I have much confidence in my search and research abilities, but I often need to help of a librarian to help me begin my research or help me when I get stuck. Same for the museum, nothing can replace the feeling and emotions one gets when viewing artwork in person. So much is gained not just from viewing the art, but also the design of the galleries, the position of the works in relation to each other, and the size of the pieces.
I feel as if it is important to note, that while I, nor you, pay any type of money to Google for their services (Art Project, search engine, free eBooks) but Google is a business, and a very successful and wealthy one. Their goal is to make a profit while at the same time providing the world access to information. Libraries and museums function on a much different business model.
Next week, I will be in Minneapolis, Minnesota attending my first professional conference, the VRA + ARLIS/NA Annual Conference. I will participating in a practicum on copyright information for the visual resource professional. I am sure that I will learn much more about the copyright/legal issues surrounding endeavors like the Google Art Project and will be sure to report back.
First, the positives! As a result of the Google Art Project, there is a tremendous increase in access and accessibility to works of art from all over the world. Now, I can simply view Vincent van Gogh's The Bedroom from my laptop computer, smart phone, or iPad, never once having to leave my local library or familiar coffee shop. Now, I have mostly always been able to view The Bedroom whenever I wanted thanks, again to Google Image search. But instead, with the Google Art Project I am able to view The Bedroom with exceptional resolution and zoom-ability. I can view the layers of paint on the canvas with more intensity that I would probably be able to do in person in Amsterdam. This amazing ability, coupled with being able to create your own virtual "museum" of art, are great advantages to the Google Art Project.
Vincent van Gogh, The Bedroom, 1888, Oil on Canvas, 1888, 72 x 90 cm. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
But, as a librarian, I see some potential problems that arise as a result of the Google Art Project. Libraries (universities and public) and museums already have a difficult time convincing their patrons to come into/ their building. With the advent of the internet and Smart Searches, quite a bit of information can be retrieved by the patron with no assistance from an information professional (me). Same for the museum, numerous images of brilliant art pieces can be viewed simply online, eliminating the need for a patron to travel outside their comforts.
I have argued, and will continue to do so, that while the virtual reference world has much to deliver, it will never be the absolute stand-in for the in person, real life world. I have much confidence in my search and research abilities, but I often need to help of a librarian to help me begin my research or help me when I get stuck. Same for the museum, nothing can replace the feeling and emotions one gets when viewing artwork in person. So much is gained not just from viewing the art, but also the design of the galleries, the position of the works in relation to each other, and the size of the pieces.
I feel as if it is important to note, that while I, nor you, pay any type of money to Google for their services (Art Project, search engine, free eBooks) but Google is a business, and a very successful and wealthy one. Their goal is to make a profit while at the same time providing the world access to information. Libraries and museums function on a much different business model.
Next week, I will be in Minneapolis, Minnesota attending my first professional conference, the VRA + ARLIS/NA Annual Conference. I will participating in a practicum on copyright information for the visual resource professional. I am sure that I will learn much more about the copyright/legal issues surrounding endeavors like the Google Art Project and will be sure to report back.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Confessions of a 4x Apple device owner...
On Wednesday, I finally made the plunge and purchased an iPad! Oh no, now that I have four Apple devices (iPod, iPhone 4, MacBook, and iPad) am I one of those people?!!
I made the decision to make such a large purchase rather quickly. I had been considering the idea of a netbook but after looking at prices I decided that the first generation iPad (Apple released the iPad 2 today) would be a better choice. Before the iPad, I shared a MacBook with my partner. I received the MacBook as a graduation gift from my parents but the computer has always been shared by the two of us. We have sufficed fairly well with one computer but I felt as if it would be beneficial if we had a second, cheaper and less powerful, machine. I already own the iPhone 4, so I figured the transition to the iPad would be fairly seamless.
So far, I am getting acquainted with my new machine nicely. I was never a big App person with my iPhone and I am realizing that Apps make the functionality of the iPad much better. Currently, I am typing this blog post with an app I just purchased, BlogPress. It is the most "official" Blogger App. Blogger does not make an App themselves but BlogPress is endorsed by them (I really only prefer to purchase and use "official" Apps). I've downloaded/purchased numerous other productivity Apps. I feel as if the iPad will complete my year in graduate school in a very efficient way (let us hope!).
I feel as if people often want to compare the iPad with a netbook. I do think they are comparable. I feel for me, a dedicated Mac person, the decision to go with an iPad had much to do with the fact that I did not want to run a Windows machine. I have used Windows in the past, but I am far more comfortable in a Mac environment. One key point in the iPad v. Netbook war is that, while I was able to purchase my iPad for cheaper than many netbooks, there were a bunch of "necessary" accessories to purchase. For instance, I bought a sleeve on Etsy, a wireless keyboard, a stylus, a sleeve for the keyboard, and a stand. Not to mention the Apps I purchased to get the machine fully functioning (Pages, PDF Reader, BlogPress).
I also think that iPad will be a great device for reading books and checking out ebooks from the Pitt library as well as the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. I have installed the Overdrive App and will write a post about that experience.
Until then, be mindful of my different blogging settings with BlogPress' clever automated signature below!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I made the decision to make such a large purchase rather quickly. I had been considering the idea of a netbook but after looking at prices I decided that the first generation iPad (Apple released the iPad 2 today) would be a better choice. Before the iPad, I shared a MacBook with my partner. I received the MacBook as a graduation gift from my parents but the computer has always been shared by the two of us. We have sufficed fairly well with one computer but I felt as if it would be beneficial if we had a second, cheaper and less powerful, machine. I already own the iPhone 4, so I figured the transition to the iPad would be fairly seamless.
So far, I am getting acquainted with my new machine nicely. I was never a big App person with my iPhone and I am realizing that Apps make the functionality of the iPad much better. Currently, I am typing this blog post with an app I just purchased, BlogPress. It is the most "official" Blogger App. Blogger does not make an App themselves but BlogPress is endorsed by them (I really only prefer to purchase and use "official" Apps). I've downloaded/purchased numerous other productivity Apps. I feel as if the iPad will complete my year in graduate school in a very efficient way (let us hope!).
I feel as if people often want to compare the iPad with a netbook. I do think they are comparable. I feel for me, a dedicated Mac person, the decision to go with an iPad had much to do with the fact that I did not want to run a Windows machine. I have used Windows in the past, but I am far more comfortable in a Mac environment. One key point in the iPad v. Netbook war is that, while I was able to purchase my iPad for cheaper than many netbooks, there were a bunch of "necessary" accessories to purchase. For instance, I bought a sleeve on Etsy, a wireless keyboard, a stylus, a sleeve for the keyboard, and a stand. Not to mention the Apps I purchased to get the machine fully functioning (Pages, PDF Reader, BlogPress).
I also think that iPad will be a great device for reading books and checking out ebooks from the Pitt library as well as the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. I have installed the Overdrive App and will write a post about that experience.
Until then, be mindful of my different blogging settings with BlogPress' clever automated signature below!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Cat Break
Rudie, my four year old all white kitty, loves libraries (as demonstrated by the card catalog) and technology (as demonstrated by the computer, actively downloading stuffs).
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Final Frontier? The Abolition of the Print Resume
As I get ready for my first professional conference, the 2011 VRA + ARLIS/NA Joint Conference in Minneapolis, I am trying to prepare myself for the plethora of networking opportunities. This means having business cards, a sharp and up-to-date resume, and an amazing website. With everything being online and through email today, the idea of printing a business card and resume seem wildly antiquated.
I purchased my business cards from an awesome online printer. The business cards are clean and slick with just the right amount of personality (I have coined the term a professional amount of personality when referring to many of the traditional professional endeavors). Business cards still seem to be an appropriate networking tool, especially for conferences. They are small and provide just enough information to peak the receiver's interest into possibly contacting you later.
On the other hand, the Printed Resume. This form of the resume seems terribly old fashioned and frivolous. Possibly I feel this way because I have never been in the position in which handing out copies of my resume has ever been needed. Usually, every job (and internship) I have applied for has had either an online application or a request to email a resume and cover letter. I always bring copies of my resume to interviews, but only as a backup, the interviewers always have plenty of copies.
So, when it became time for me to consider my situation- handing out copies of my (awesome!) resume would probably be a good idea- I was faced with a strange situation: How do I print out my Resume? I know, it seems like a silly question, but I've never been faced with this type of situation. I did what any good librarian would do, I researched the matter. I checked out library career websites and general career websites alike. Every site typically recommend printing on some form of resume paper and getting a copy shop to print them. Resume paper seems so boring, clunky, and old. I don't want to seem to pretentious or weird if no one else has resume paper, right?
My resume is going to be the first thing that many important people are going to see. Perhaps it will be the only thing they will remember me by. Instead of my resume being used in conjunction with an interview, my resume will now have to stand as a surrogate me. Not to mention all of the other new professional vying for the same opportunities as myself.
I feel as if I need to constantly skate this fine line between old, traditional, and stuffy professional and new, edgy, personality laced professional. I've mastered it in my business cards, I'm almost mastered it in my wardrobe (J.Crew shopping trip this weekend!), but I can't seem to float the line in my printed resume.
I purchased my business cards from an awesome online printer. The business cards are clean and slick with just the right amount of personality (I have coined the term a professional amount of personality when referring to many of the traditional professional endeavors). Business cards still seem to be an appropriate networking tool, especially for conferences. They are small and provide just enough information to peak the receiver's interest into possibly contacting you later.
On the other hand, the Printed Resume. This form of the resume seems terribly old fashioned and frivolous. Possibly I feel this way because I have never been in the position in which handing out copies of my resume has ever been needed. Usually, every job (and internship) I have applied for has had either an online application or a request to email a resume and cover letter. I always bring copies of my resume to interviews, but only as a backup, the interviewers always have plenty of copies.
So, when it became time for me to consider my situation- handing out copies of my (awesome!) resume would probably be a good idea- I was faced with a strange situation: How do I print out my Resume? I know, it seems like a silly question, but I've never been faced with this type of situation. I did what any good librarian would do, I researched the matter. I checked out library career websites and general career websites alike. Every site typically recommend printing on some form of resume paper and getting a copy shop to print them. Resume paper seems so boring, clunky, and old. I don't want to seem to pretentious or weird if no one else has resume paper, right?
My resume is going to be the first thing that many important people are going to see. Perhaps it will be the only thing they will remember me by. Instead of my resume being used in conjunction with an interview, my resume will now have to stand as a surrogate me. Not to mention all of the other new professional vying for the same opportunities as myself.
I feel as if I need to constantly skate this fine line between old, traditional, and stuffy professional and new, edgy, personality laced professional. I've mastered it in my business cards, I'm almost mastered it in my wardrobe (J.Crew shopping trip this weekend!), but I can't seem to float the line in my printed resume.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Sorry for my long absence...
It has been awhile since I have updated this blog. It is incredibly too easy to get caught up in daily life and get distracted by various small things (and not so small things like the stomach flu and a sick cat)! Nevertheless, I have a few blog post in the workings to be updated over Pitt's spring break.
Be on the lookout for:
Until then, one of my favorite Italian Futurist painters, Giacomo Balla. Italian Futurists are usually known for their wild architectural drawings (none were ever built) but Giacomo Balla was also a master painter. I discovered this artist and painting, Young Girl Running on a Balcony, during one of my last Art History courses at the University of Pittsburgh on Italian Design.
Giacomo Balla, Young Girl Running on a Balcony, 1912, Oil on Canvas, 125 cm. Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Milano, Milan, Lombardy, Italy , 10711. (Image © 2008 Artists Rights Society).
Be on the lookout for:
- Currently Digging, Pt. 2: Tehching Hsieh
- Why go to the Museum? The Museum Now Comes to You: The Google Art Project
- The Online AAT: Lifesaver in Authority Control
- LibGuides: The New Aid for Library Instruction and Reference
- The Final Frontier? The Abolition of the Print Resume
- Prepping for my First Professional Conference: The 2011 VRA + ARLIS/NA Joint Conference
Until then, one of my favorite Italian Futurist painters, Giacomo Balla. Italian Futurists are usually known for their wild architectural drawings (none were ever built) but Giacomo Balla was also a master painter. I discovered this artist and painting, Young Girl Running on a Balcony, during one of my last Art History courses at the University of Pittsburgh on Italian Design.
Giacomo Balla, Young Girl Running on a Balcony, 1912, Oil on Canvas, 125 cm. Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Milano, Milan, Lombardy, Italy , 10711. (Image © 2008 Artists Rights Society).
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