Chat in library reference services

As part of my studies this semester in Information Sources and Services, I’m reading Reference and Information Services by Cassell and Hiremath. At the end of its first chapter, among articles the authors recommend for further reading, I was interested in “On the Origin of Queries: Where Chat Reference Begins,” by Dempsey, Warner, Lux, and Rich.

UCM, LIS 5322 : Introducing myself

For Fall 2025, I am enrolled in LIS 5322, Information Sources and Services, through the University of Central Missouri’s online graduate program in Library and Information Science. Here is a video introducing myself to classmates.
https://youtu.be/9zMwTV0Pi-Y

SOLIS Book Club : What shall we read in Fall 2025?

During Spring 2025, University of Central Missouri: we had another enjoyable meeting of the SOLIS Book Club (that’s an online book club among students of LIS). Looking ahead, what book do we want to read for Fall 2025? Here’s a brief overview of three potential candidates.
https://youtu.be/sz_Wak6dSu8

UCM, LIS 5900 : Introductions

For spring 2025, I am enrolled in LIS 5900, Action Research in Libraries, as part of my studies in librarianship, University of Central Missouri.
https://youtu.be/Hh-gPbPEF-Q

UCM’s SOLIS Book Club : Our pick for Spring ’25

In the Student Organization of Library and Information Services, University of Central Missouri: Our next book-club discussion will be I Must Betray You, a work of historical fiction by Ruta Sepetys.
https://youtu.be/oQpaztvJ338

LRS8 : Presentor’s recap

One of my professors, Dr. Amanda Harrison, and I gave a co-presentation at Library Research Seminar 8, which took place in mid-September at the University of Kentucky. Our presentation focused on portrayals of autistic people in “readers’ choice” state book award nominees from 2014 to 2024. Here is a brief recap of my experience.
https://youtu.be/5Xlm5xlmEF4

Constructing a ‘maker’ identity

Hand-made masks, constructed during the pandemic

In Making as Self Reflection, Perdue alumni Dr. Avneet Hira talks about how, when she was attending classes in engineering at Kalpana Chawla (her undergraduate college), everything was “just so theoretical” and “not what [she] thought engineering was going to be like” (Sari & Huber, 2020, pg. 2 of transcript).

UCM, LIS 5350 : Introductions

In Fall 2024, I am taking a course in “Culturally Competent Librarianship” through the graduate program in Library and Information Science, University of Central Missouri. Among things I’m looking forward to this year is a department book-club reading of Verified by Mike Caulfield and Samuel S. Wineburg. And check out a couple of fun pictures of myself: a “Wanted” poster for my cosplay of Monkey D. Luffy from the One Piece franchise, and a photo from my junior college days, where I look like a young Justin Bieber.
https://youtu.be/ne6-6HF8qnk

“How are you feeling about this upcoming school year?”

I’m looking forward to a new semester in my graduate program. This semester, I am taking a course in “Culturally Competent Librarianship.” This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart, due to my intersectional identities as someone who is both autistic and nonbinary.

UCM’s SOLIS Book Club : Poll winner for Fall 2024

The poll has closed and TJ Klune’s House in the Cerulean Sea was the top vote-getter for SOLIS Book Club to read and discuss in Fall 2024.
https://youtu.be/vhJV6ug8EcY

Subjectivity of cataloging

Something that stood out from my reading in Hoffman was the subjectivity of cataloging. “Just like no two catalogers will necessarily choose the same subject headings, no two catalogers will necessarily choose the same classification number” (2019, p. 169).

Controlled and uncontrolled vocabulary

Last week I composed an “Aboutness Statement” for Solitaire by Alice Oseman, which concerns a series of increasingly malicious and destructive pranks committed by a group called Solitaire. I used the word “pranks” to refer to this group’s activities but when I looked up an appropriate subject heading within a variety of authorities, I discovered that “Practical jokes” was the controlled-vocabulary term that should be used instead of “pranks.”

Subject analysis in cataloging

LIS professionals perform “subject analysis” in order to provide “subject access” to items in their collections (Holley & Joudrey, 2021, p. 159). Doing so, enables a cataloger to determine which subjects to apply to a resource, and Hoffman warns that “Subject analysis can be a complex and subjective process” (2019, p. 152).

UCM, LIS 5700 : Introducing myself

For LIS 5700, University of Central Missouri, in Spring 2024: I created this video to introduce myself to classmates in LIS 5700, “Organization of Information;” to share some of my thoughts about library cataloging, and to share some of my classification schemes for books, blog posts, Gmail messages, and Pokémon.

UCM’s SOLIS Book Club : What shall we read next?

As a new semester dawns for the LIS program, University of Central Missouri, my thoughts turn to what our SOLIS book club can read next. Here are some medal winners and Honor Books that represent exceptional media for young people.

Global Vision at UCM

During our SOLIS meeting of Sept. 19, we discussed Global Vision, a work-study travel program that “offers any UCM student the opportunity to travel either domestically or internationally while giving back to the community you visit.” Applications are being accepted through Oct. 15.

According to the Global Vision page on the UCM website, trips take place multiple times a year, to various locations: including annual visits to Tanzania.

If selected to go on a Global Vision trip, students will receive a scholarship that covers airfare, meals, room and board during this service learning trip.” From the Global Vision page: “This exclusive opportunity gives students who haven’t studied abroad the advantage to be selected first. UCM is the only university offering this scholarship to student travelers.”

Relevant link:
Global Vision at UCM
https://www.ucmo.edu/current-students/student-services/center-for-global-education/global-vision/

SOLIS’s upcoming book club on Oct. 10

SOLIS’s meeting on Sept. 19 touched upon its first book-club discussion that takes place on Oct. 10.

Beta Phi Mu chapter forming at UCM

One item of interest at our SOLIS meeting on Sept. 19, 2023, was news of a Beta Phi Mu chapter being established at the University of Central Missouri.

Beta Phi Mu is an honor society for librarians. Eligibility for membership is “by invitation of the faculty from institutions where the American Library Association, or other recognized accrediting agency approved by the Beta Phi Mu Executive Board, has accredited or recognized a professional degree program.”

T-shirt design for LIS at UCM

Mock-up for a T-shirt, Library Science at UCM

One of the areas of my schooling where I focus attention is on my graduate program’s student organization. UCM’s Student Organization of Library and Information Services, also known as SOLIS, held its latest members’ meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

John Newbery Medal

Among national awards for children’s literature, my studies this week included consideration of the John Newbery Medal. Awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, the Newbery Medal recognizes the author “of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children” (ALSC, n.d.) In 2022, ALSC commemorated 100 years of the Newbery Medal.