Crafting Life « The Librarian Kate

2012 Goals

January 15, 2012

(First off, good job, WordPress, for not reminding me that the domain for this blog expired on December 31st. Only discovered this now, two weeks after the fact. (Of course, if I was supposed to have something enabled to receive these reminders, someone please tell me.)

It has been almost six months since I wrote a blog post. There were reasons for that absence – they were a melting pot of work, life, professional obligations, getting used to a new commute (I moved offices at the end of December) and a very nice vacation to see my family in Florida for Christmas. (Everyone in the Northern Hemisphere should spend Christmas in warmer climes at least once in their lives. It may take some time to get used to, but when you do – boy, is it a lovely thing!) Within this potpourri were several questions about the effectiveness of another library blog, or even another blog at all. Have blogs passed their prime? Are they really the most effective channel for communication, at least on the individual level?

I still see many wonderful personal blogs out there, both library blogs and otherwise, and their presence makes me reluctant to give up this blog completely. Thus, I kick off 2012 with the list of annual goals, personal and professional. Hold me to these, kids.

2012 Goals

Professional

1) Speak/present at, the minimum, one library conference. I like getting my goals out of the way early, and this is one of them. I will be presenting next week at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting. In 2011, I was part of a taskforce with the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) to reform the organization and move communications to a more virtual arena. I will be presenting out taskforce’s findings on Saturday, 21 December at the RUSA Board Meeting. This meeting is open to all attendees, and I invite all librarians in my social circle to attend. I’m hoping that I can squeeze something in for ALA Annual in Anaheim this June, even though most deadlines have passed. The network of free webinars within ALA is also very deep, and I am also exploring that as a potential presentation avenue.

2) Use social media more effectively in sharing professional information. This means keeping up with both reading and writing blogs, my personal web portfolio, Twitter, Facebook and Google+. I want to at least publish two blog posts related to library/information science/knowledge management issues a month. In this, I have to balance my desire to share information and my stance on issues with my job and its position in the industry. I must be careful not to give the impression that my views are reflective of my company, and if that means keeping my mouth shut on certain issues and concerns, difficult as it is, so be it.

3) Publish at least one article in professional channels (preferably peer reviewed). And here’s another one that I get out of the way early in the year! In October 2011, Against the Grain approached me to write an article on what it has been like for me to have the MLS and work for a library vendor. This should be published in their March 2012 issue.

4) Explore all avenues of professional growth, formal and informal. I’m hoping to work with different departments in my company on other projects that will have a distinct effect on the work of my department. Closer to my actual work, which is now more global in nature, I hope to join the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) and begin development and service within that organization. Networking with other librarians remains a key focus of my professional growth, be it talking with librarians at conferences or chairing new, less formal conference initiatives, such as ALA CraftCon. CraftCon is ALA’s first ever mini-conference/unconference on DIY and crafts and how you can use them in your library. It kicks off at ALA Midwinter with one hour each day of demos of different crafts. I’ll be leading the knitting/crocheting hour on Sunday, 22 January from 3 – 4 PM in the Networking Uncommons, and all are invited to stop by.

5) Build technology competencies to remain competitive. In Fall 2010, I took a wonderful free online class through O’Reilly Media and createLIVE on XML. This year, I will be part of the Code Year initiative through Codecacademy. I hope that this can lead to fulfilling goal #4.

6) Serve and chair/co-chair at least one American Library Association committee/taskforce/group. My time as chair of the RUSA Structure Taskforce will probably end this year. Being a chair has helped build leadership skills and my knowledge base of the history of one of ALA’s larger divisions. I am hoping to stay involved with RUSA, for they are a wonderful organization and have been very generous to me. (The current president took the time to write me a thank you note for my work on the Structure Task Force! Seeing that note after a long day at work truly made my day and reaffirmed my commitment to membership.) I’m also co-chair of the New Members’ Roundtable (NMRT) Student and Student Chapter Outreach committee and a member of the NMRT Online Discussion Group. I hope to continue that work in this year.

7) Get elected to ALA Council. Running again, this time as a nominated candidate. Wish me luck!

8) Find a cause for advocacy, and make that my personal library cause. Every great librarian I know has one cause or issue that they make their own – e-books, information literacy, library advocacy. My “cause” will be alternative careers for the MLS, based in part on my own job search experience. I would like to become an advocate for these alternative careers. In spite of the faults of library schools and LIS education, I do think the degree is worthwhile in part, and that there are good careers out there. The change in the professional landscape means that students and new professionals are going to have to “think outside the box” when it comes to finding and landing a job. I want to position myself as someone that can offer sound advice on career planning.

Personal – Health

1) Make and keep all medical appointments in 2012. Self explanatory.

2) Rest when ill or out of the office – don’t worry so much about work! American working culture puts guilt on the worker that actually takes a sick or vacation day – you’re not a team player if you’re not wedded to your job 24/7/365. When I am home sick or on vacation, I have to put myself first. The office will go on without you.

3) Find new avenues for exercise. I don’t have the time to run as much as I did when I was working part-time and unemployed, which means I need to supplement weekend runs (which will start again when the weather gets warmer) with something else. I tried yoga late in 2011 but injuries forced me to put it off for the last month of the year. I will go back to doing yoga in 2012, but look at other forms of exercise.

Personal – Knitting

1) Learn at least one new knitting skill. Done – I can now knit socks from the toe up and use Judy’s Magic Cast-On! I would like to learn Magic Loop (knitting with one large circular needle) and knitting socks with two circular needles – because I have a bad habit of losing my DPN’s on the bus.

2) Learn to spin. The roving and spindle I bought last year from Highland Handmades is on top of my yarn stash bin, teasing me. I tried once with some roving I ordered from Amazon (note: Never. Do. That. Again!) and I need to try again.

3) Knit from Stash. I started this at the end of 2011, and it opened my eyes to the great stuff I have in those bins and baskets!

4) Buy less yarn. This follows from #3. I was going to try to go an entire year without purchasing any yarn, which lasted all of two weeks. (Malabrigo, you vile temptress!) Assuming I have time to find a yarn shop in Dallas at ALA Midwinter, there will be some vacation yarn, but I hope to make that my only other yarn purchase until ALA Annual in Anaheim.

Personal – Other Hobbies

1) Build a kickass steampunk outfit. I fell in love with steampunk culture when Frank and I went to the 2011 Steampunk World’s Fair. We’re going again this year, and I want an awesome outfit to show off.

2) Build a kickass Renaissance Faire outfit. Frank and I started this in 2011, and I want to make an even more great one for the 2012 faires we want to attend (New York, Tuxedo Park, Maryland, Pennsylvania).

3) Take up other crafts. I would like to learn how to sew, and there have been some other great projects (jewelry making, paper crafts) on various craft blogs.

4) Continue exploring cooking, with a focus on vegetarian meals. This one helps hen you have a boyfriend that loves to cook. We have fun playing chef-sous chef together, like we did on New Year’s Eve. Our salad, tortellini and garlic bread was delicious, and we both discovered the joy of parsnips as a salad ingredient. The focus on vegetarian cooking is for both health and cost reasons (meat is expensive, yo!), and I love what I have found thus far, particularly with potatoes and soups.

Personal – Intellectual

1) Stay informed on politics. This is an election year, and I need to do this in order to make an effective, nonpartisan decision. (And offer advice to my sister when she calls to ask who she should vote for!) I watch Meet the Press every Sunday morning (“If it’s Sunday…”) and I need to make time to watch all presidential debates this year.

2) Stay informed on local, national and international news. I cancelled my New York Times subscription out of cost and no time to read it. I hope that keeping up with news via my iPad and TV will help fill that gap.

3) Make time to read. I have a longer commute, which means I should have more time to work on the 600+ books hiding in all sorts of places in the house. Genres of interest for this year include fantasy and steampunk.

4) Learn to Code. I listed this one in my professional goals, but my desire to learn to code is a personal goal. With the help of Code Year and Codecacademy, I want to make this happen.

1 Comment | LIS, Everyday Life, Crafting Life, Opinion, Notes from the Boss | Permalink
Posted by librariankate7578

What’s On My Needles (Or, Look at the Pretties!)

July 3, 2010

As I am still decompressing and processing the 2010 ALA Annual Conference (which rocked, by the way), I thought I would break from the heavy intellectual discourse and show off what I have been knitting (in one case, not knitting) of late. If knitting isn’t your thing, move along – but if it is (or you just like pretty stuff or perhaps might want to try knitting or maybe even want a handmade gift from me – I have no problem with the latter, all you have to do is ask nicely and be patient!), stick around.

First, the newest project: My Autumnal Clapotis:

The pattern is, of course, the (in)famous Clapotis scarf by Kate Gilbert featured in Knitty back in the day. I started this in Noro Silk Garden because I had seen one done with such a yarn at another shop.

After six tries, I will (a) never buy Noro again and (b) only use what I have (one skein) for socks and then (c) never buy Noro again. Too thin, too easy to get tangled, and breaks way too easily. When I did some yarn shopping at ALA in Alexandria with a fellow knitter librarian (side plug for Fibre Space in Alexandria – they rock!), I shelled out the money for three skeins of Lorna’s Laces in Intrigue, which reminded me of fall leaves, wood burning stoves and strolling through New England fall foliage. Thus the Autumnal Clapotis was born.

Second, the Fishermen’s Wool Lace Scarf:

A lace pattern with a rustic feel. (Published pattern here.) Only using two colors for the pattern instead of three, but knitting up beautifully. Enjoying the Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool, a yarn I will definitely purchase again. Soft and even though it is wool, light to use in the summer (this has made an appearance at the pool more than once). I will use this pattern again in other worsted weight yarns and think might look lovely in a variegated colorway. (If I wasn’t unemployed and could splurge on Lorna’s Laces all the time, I would make this in one of her more muted colorways.)

Third, the Dark as Night Scarf:

Another Lion Brand pattern (Dusty Night Scarf) in one of their yarns, this time the Vanna’s Glamour. Tends to be curling in more than I would like, but that’s what you get when you alternate lace panels with straight up stockinette.

Originally I was making this for me but my sister saw me knitting on it in the car yesterday and expressed an interest in the scarf, so I might give it to her when done.

Finally, the one I have been not knitting, my Diamond Lace Shawl (with cameo from Macbook charger):

It’s a great pattern (March 2009 issue of Creative Knitting, aka Magazine that Thought I Was Married and Kept Calling Me Mrs. Kosturski Despite Repeated Requests to Change), easier than I thought and oh-so pretty but…I made a bad yarn choice with this one: mercerized cotton (in this case, Lion Brand Cotton Ease). 89 stitches in a row plus still cotton leads to aching hands after three or four rows. It is also reaching the point (as you can see the photo) where it is getting too long to be really portable. In fact, I dug it out to take to the pool with me when I finish this blog post, and I am having second thoughts.

I’ll finish it but the next time I make it, it will either be in a different yarn or I will pop the Advil before doing any hardcore work on it.

Next stop: a finished project. (I hope.)

(As for a podcast, I’m taking the Fourth of July holiday/my birthday off and hope to record sometime later this coming week. Much to tell you about ALA.)

Happy Fourth, my American friends.

7 Comments | Crafting Life, knitting | Permalink
Posted by librariankate7578

In Which I Maybe, Possibly, Probably Make a Podcast

May 8, 2010

Ever since I took a podcasting course at the 2009 Special Libraries Association Conference in Washington, DC (best $35 I ever spent!) I have been fascinated with making my own podcast. For various reasons, life got in the way…until now. The combination of a refresher podcast lesson for my Instructional Technologies class and the end of my graduate education (for now ) give me the time, the tools, and the confidence to launch a podcast.

With that, I am pleased to announce that the Knitting Librarian Podcast will be launching Memorial Day weekend – the (presumably) first ever podcast to combine knitting with library and information science. The “Librarian” side grants me freedom to keep my professional presence, and the “Knitting” side shows that well, I have another side – my borderline obsessive hobby. There will be other content – namely, the rest of my life, but within reason. (You won’t be hearing about my job search, or anything seriously intimate or personal. While I believe information should be free, some of my personal information remains just that – personal, and not free.)

The feed is up at knittinglibrarian.libsyn.com/rss, which you can copy and paste into iTunes or media player of your choice. Right now the only file there is a brief promo, but it will give you a flavor of what to expect. I’ll be posting new episodes here, along with show notes. Knitters and others, if you want to promote my podcast within your own, click here for the promo as an mp3 file. (Please know that when I do get this going, I will reciprocate and promote your podcast. We’re all one big happy family!)

And with this, the podcasting adventure begins. Can’t wait to see how this evolves…..

3 Comments | Crafting Life, knitting, LIS, Podcast | Permalink
Posted by librariankate7578

And Now For Something Completely Different

March 25, 2010

Lest you think I have a one track mind tending towards matters of library and information science, there is other stuff going on in my life..

– Classwork means that my hobbies often get pushed off to the side, so my knitting has taken its normal semester siesta, though not as much this time around as life seems to be less demanding. I managed to finish a scarf (a checkerboard/basketweave pattern) for my aunt and start something (Lion Brand’s Dusty Night Scarf) for myself. The Diamond Lace Shawl I started last year for myself came out of a very long hibernation – and when I took it out this weekend to work on while watching the House debate health care reform – and now my mom wants one in pink.

– Something else that gets pushed off to the side for schoolwork is pleasure reading. The lighter than expected workload this semester (and a less demanding job with less hours) has given me time to indulge, and I have been revisiting childhood classics. I am working my way through the Anne of Green Gables series (somewhere on Anne of Avonlea right now), and re-read The Diary of Anne Frank, being just as moved, if not more, than when I first read it at 12 years old. I’m going to pick up the autobiography of Kay Redfield Jamison I started a few months ago, and added a healthy dose of Cory Doctorow to the to-do list (starting with Little Brother) this week.

– Now that the Northeast thawed, I started running again. Since I finished Couch to 5K last summer, I’m moving on to the next step, Gateway to 8K. Did my first two days of Week 1 (4 7 minute runs with 1 minute walking breaks in between) and while the first one left me ragged, yesterday’s was much better. The plan is to finish the ten week program and also run in the mornings when it’s cooler.

– TV guilty pleasure: RuPaul’s Drag Race. Discovered it when I was home cleaning during the last big Northeast rainstorm. High-larious. Have to watch more when I have time, but tonight’s TV is March Madness, and I’ll be rooting for my Washington Huskies in the Sweet 16!

– Speaking of TV, I no longer own a Tivo. It broke about two weeks ago, and despite a (lame) attempt by the customer service rep to keep me as a customer by impressing me with his knowledge of library science, I cancelled the account. On the upside, I’m saving $200 or so a year now.

– My music collection exploded in the first quarter of 2010, thanks to friends and eMusic. (If you don’t know what eMusic is, it’s a great supplement/alternative to iTunes.) I’m totally loving the Dixie Bee-Liners, the new Joanna Newsom album, Laura Veirs, and Broken Bells. Also picked up a great free SXSW sampler from NPR. Listening to KEXP way too much, but when is that a bad thing?

– Now that one of my 2010 goals has been crossed off the list (learning to cook), the next goal is tech in nature – learning XML, Perl, PHP, MySQL, and other programming languages. Hopefully this will make me more marketable in the job search. I have a book out from the library and I hope to start this weekend.

– Speaking of that, my job applications read like a road map. I’ve applied to jobs in Washington, California (2), Oregon, Indiana (2), Missouri, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Other places I’m looking include Canada, Vermont, more in California, DC, Texas, and Boston. It’s all academic, though I am considering government documents work and my love of all things King County and Washington State is leading me to applying with the King County Library System.

And with all that, the life of a soon-to-be librarian/knitter/book lover/runner/tech geek/music lover/amateur cook continues….

Leave a Comment » | Crafting Life, Earworms and Good Music, Everyday Life, Good Reads, Government, Higher Ed, knitting, LIS, Tech, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by librariankate7578

Why Didn’t I Think of This?

July 10, 2009

I have spent so much money trying to find the perfect project bag for my knitting (not that I have done a lot of late – SLA, work, Pratt and numerous other diversions have drawn me away, but I am going to get back into it this weekend) – I should have just made my own!

Simple Yarn Project Travel Case (from CRAFT Magazine blog)

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In other news, my attempts at podcasting are scheduled to launch sometime early next week. All I ask is that you please be kind.

1 Comment | Crafting Life, knitting, Podcast | Permalink
Posted by librariankate7578

What Time Is It? It’s Commencement Time!

June 4, 2009

Behold, the Graduation Cap Clock from CRAFT Magazine:

(Image Courtesy of CRAFT Magazine Blog)

Now you will always the right time for the pomp and the right time for the circumstance.

1 Comment | Crafting Life | Permalink
Posted by librariankate7578

Crafting on the Interwebs

April 8, 2009

Some new crafty links I picked up this week from CRAFT Magazine’s blog:

Yarndex – the Yarn Directory. This website features profiles on thousands of yarns. It’s not completely up to date (the Knit Picks color card for CotLin was from 2007), but very useful. I was able to use it to read up on all the new Knit Picks yarns I ordered last week and will probably consult it before ordering any new yarn, to familiarize myself with the product and perhaps read some reviews. (Note affiliation with yarnmarket.com.)
Craft Gossip Knitting – Kind of heavy on the graphics and disorganized but a nice blog nonetheless. It’s no Lime and Violet’s Daily Chum, but it’s good.
Check out this really cute child’s dress made from an old man’s dress shirt.
Mmm….Rice Krispie Easter Eggs!
The Business Card Catapult. A perfect use for the box of business cards one has and can no longer use because one (sadly) lost their job.
This Checkerboard Lace Scarf from The Purl Bee is very similar to the one I am presently knitting (often referred to as the Shawl of DOOM for all the grief it initially gave me), the Diamond Lace Stole from Creative Knitting’s March 2009 issue. I might try it when I am finished with my present stole; it appears to be a lot easier.

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Yarny Goodness and LIS Thoughts (But Mostly Yarny Goodness)

March 29, 2009

This week, I finally finished my Shimmery Shawl from back in December:

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I loved using the Vanna’s Glamour; such a pretty yarn (especially after washing and blocking). However, this was not mindless knitting; not paying attention to what one was doing would result in a missed stitch, subsequently messing up the pattern for further rows. When I make this again (and I will) I hope that experience and the hard lesson of paying attention to one’s work will result in the project getting done quicker and with less headaches.

A word about blocking: I blocked this shawl using my Knitter’s Block for the first time. It is a joy to use – no more pinning projects into the carpet (and having to clean the carpet first!) but I did not have enough pieces in my Block! I ended up using the blocking cloth enclosed with the Block to finish the process; however, I have purchased another Knitter’s Block so this does not happen again.

Now, for some works in progress, both gifts for my college friends’ two children:

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The top scarf, for their older son, is yet another Harry Potter Wizard’s Scarf in yet two more skeins of Vanna’s Glamour. This is pure mindless knitting; the body of the scarf is stockinette stitch. I cast on last Thursday (3/26) and am already one quarter way through. Versatile in color and construction.

(Speaking of cast on, this was my first time casting on by holding both needles together to ensure a looser cast on row. Vive la difference!)

The blanket is the Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket using Homespun for the first time. It’s a little tight to knit with sometimes, but working up very well. Later in the pattern, I might have to use circular needles for the first time as the blanket gets larger and larger, for this is knit in a triangle.

Lest you think my blogs read like one big ad for Lion Brand, let me assure you they do not pay me to say nice things about their products. (Though with the amount of money I spend on yarn, I wish they would!) I just happen to go to grad school right by the LB Yarn Studio, and get a discount with my Pratt ID. I am giving other yarn companies my love; I used some of my tax refund to keep the good people of Knit Picks in business.

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I don’t have much to comment on the LIS world. Library Journal’s Movers and Shakers 2009 special was published this week; I might have comment on some of their selections. And perhaps I am saving my poison pen (or just my pen, depending on results) for April 2nd, when the Rutgers Board of Governors votes on the proposal to drop “library” from Rutgers School of Communication, Information and Library Science.

But the biggest LIS news in my life?

Thanks to a travel grant from my grad school (Pratt Institute), I am going to be attending the Special Libraries Association (SLA) 2009 Annual Conference in Washington, DC.

It isn’t my first visit to a conference; I spent a day at ALA’s 2008 Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia at the Exhibit Hall. (Which doesn’t really count because a. I was too new to the profession to be impressed or unimpressed, and b. I had just recovered from a Death Flu, so I was too doped up on medication and out of it to be impressed or unimpressed.)

So this June I go to SLA, my first real conference adventure, with experience under my belt and (knock on wood) completely healthy.

And I can hardly wait.

Leave a Comment » | Crafting Life, knitting, LIS | Permalink
Posted by librariankate7578

Well, Lookee Here – We Have a Finished Object!

March 15, 2009

It’s been a while since I talked knitting on my blog, partially because I was dragging my heels with projects, due to a lack of time – which was ultimately due to this library science degree thingy. (Pesky how they get in the way, don’t they? :) ) Nevertheless, I finally have a finished object to share!

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This is the same pattern I used for my holiday gift scarves, Lion Brand’s Harry Potter Wizard Scarf. Normally it is quick and easy, I just took my time with this one because school left me with little time. Done in actual HP colors (Wool-Ease Yarn in burgundy and gold to represent the house of Gryffindor) I am once again pleased with the entire knitting process, from casting on to the final steps of steam blocking.

I am still working on the Shimmery Shawl, the lace pattern has occasionally tripped me up when I am not paying attention and I have had to rip back a few rows. I hope to finish that one at the end of the month.

As for the next few projects, I have cast on for a blanket for a friend’s daughter, the Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket, and a scaled down HP Wizard’s scarf for the same friend’s older son. The blanket is my first time knitting with Lion Brand’s Homespun, and I have occasionally heard not so positive experiences from some who have knit with Homespun – namely, that the texture makes the stitching difficult. So far, I have not experienced anything of the sort. I am interested to see what this yarn looks like post-blocking.

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In other news, I am absolutely in love with Tina Fey and 30 Rock. I am nearly done plowing my way through Season 1 on Netflix and I love the show.

On Spring Break this week. It’s been a bit of a rough semester work-wise (not hard work, just a lot of it), and I welcome the week off. This is because one of my classes this semester is my required tech class, in which the major assignment is to build a group website emulating a particular library. As the group’s Webmaster (actually, I prefer Webmistress ) I’m tasked with translating fabulous ideas into code. HTML is not difficult (I knew it coming in to the class as several of us all had webpages in college) I’m re-learning it, and there’s a lot of it. Now, while I have some homework to do this week, I can do it at a bit of a slower pace. It’s also a good week for me to participate in a school-sanctioned study of the new Kindle (I may blog about it here since I have to keep a journal of my experiences), do my taxes, and get other chores done.

Off to Philadelphia today to celebrate a dear friend’s birthday. There will be pictures to share, but for now, enjoy these photos I took last month around New York City.

Leave a Comment » | Crafting Life, Everyday Life, knitting | Permalink
Posted by librariankate7578