Weapons of Research, Where and How I Learned to Wield Them

August 30, 2009

Over the weekend, I have been busy researching for an ongoing project.  I had some time to kill yesterday afternoon while my companion was busy.  So I rolled into my favorite Louisville Free Public Library Branch, Crescent Hill, and hit the computer station.  I logged into my library account, accessed the EBSCO databases and commenced my searches.

I had no paper, I wasn’t using my computer and I didn’t even have my USB drive.  Before I headed to the library, my companion asked, how will you be able to research?  Until I logged into the databases and realized I could save items to my folders, I wasn’t sure how I would deal with this problem.  The cloud is very beneficial to mobility and research on the fly of an otherwise playful Saturday.

After we spent some time catching up on the print Harper’s and GQ and were driving back, my companion and I reflected on how we used to do research.  We were both history majors in college.  The college we attended was a small private college with a small library.  Both of us used the Interlibrary Loan services heavily.  We definitely knew our librarians by first name and ERIC was like magic.

The old way of research used specific Title/Autho/Subjects access methods.

The old way of research used specific Title/Autho/Subjects access methods.

We used a mixture of print indexes and dedicated databases.  Our library still had the card catalog, but they also had a very simple OPAC.  Our computer lab was full of AB switches and WordPerfect 4.0 was so much better than the electric typewriters.  In my theses course, my professor said there was no way the paper could be written in two nights, (draft and final due dates) but that’s exactly how I did the writing.  My dorm room was full of books, all open to the indexes and out came a great paper, lost along the way, on Women Rulers…(I can’t even remember  the title now.)

Today, the research is easier and more convenient, but I wonder, if I would be as good at it as I am without the experience I had as an undergraduate.  The process was harder, my professors and librarians had clear expectations of following the process and when I spent a semester in the Master’s History program  at the University of Kentucky, I was better prepared than many of my fellow students.

Research requires awareness and intelligence.  Google and other search engines make keyword searching much easier but I think that ease causes some  loss in the research process.  Researchers rarely go beyond the first few results and the game of SEO makes it easy for the the best sources to get pushed to page to 2 or 3.

Index terms were necessary to find the relevant sections of the sources I used when a college student and I still tend to disregard books that don’t have good indexes.  Social tags are not nearly as reliable as structured taxonomies.  I know the value of expert indexing and rely upon that.  Keyword searching is easy but it only takes me so far.  EBSCO provided me the structured terms and Boolean searching I require for my current project.  I’m glad I had the research experience from college and the skills and knowledge I gained as I completed my Masters of Library Science. Without it my research process would be flawed and my projects would not be as accurate and relevant as they should be.

Today’s information users don’t always know what they are missing because they don’t understand the importance of information structure and the research process.  Information literacy is a constant battle in college and universities.  My academic library colleagues work hard to partner with professors so that these important skills can be passed on.  They use innovate methods and mediums such as Second Life to reach the student where the student lives.  The battle goes on and smart information users will arm themselves with the weapons they can learn from their librarians.  I’m glad I still have those weapons.

Constance Ard August 30, 2009

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IT Professional Explains Value of Librarians

August 28, 2009

This post by Stephen Arnold takes a hard look at commercial vendor marketing practices and states clearly the need for librarians and the value of information professionals.  The inspiration for the post came from an Ad that West used.  Law Library Blog summarizes the highlights here.

I especially appreciate Mr. Arnold’s  post because it comes from a non-library perspective.  Users of information that verbalize the value of librarians and understand the challenges that librarians face in managing and providing information speak louder and have more impact than librarians who defend each other.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t defend our positions, I just think we must have strong allies outside of our library world.  It’s like doctors who don’t like to talk to lawyers about doing business.  Professionals who use the products and understand the value have a larger impact.

The call for higher standards in how commercial vendors operate in the information industry is a must.  We know that bean counters don’t always appreciate the way things work in libraries and institutions. Selling directly to the “user” will allow higher usage, unsanctioned use of “out-of-contract” files and provide more beans for the counting.

Keeping in mind that resources are tight and some things must be selected over others.  Vendors who appreciate those choices and work with the gatekeepers, will find loyal customers who work to keep the valuable information that makes an institutions work easier.  Working around that usually results in a nothing but a bad aftertaste and true distrust of the sneaky movers and a readiness to cancel or decrease usage as fast as possible.

So I propose a call to action for individual institutions and their vendors.

  1. Communicate clearly your expectations in marketing and outreach to direct users.
    1. Explain the consequences of failing to meet those expectation.  Note:  This requires a consequence.
  2. Be direct with vendors about the choices that you are willing to make.
    1. Let them know which items are of most value to you and which are easily let go if they don’t operate within your expectations.
  3. If vendors present at your institution to users, have the vendor highlight the importance of the relationship with the library staff.

Now I know that most direct vendor/library relations are good, excellent even, and that’s fabulous.  If you explain to your vendors these ground rules, or others that you think are important for your own organization, then they will communicate that up the chain.  If all of us do this, the bean counters will eventually be overcome by the value placed on customer service and relationships and the need to value information professionals and may even get to know his librarians by name.

Constance Ard August 28, 2009

Note:  A portion of this text was used for a Kentucky Chapter SLA post.

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Legal Services Innovate

August 25, 2009

I’ve often thought that small and mid-size law firms have an edge, especially in tough economic times.  Apparently, I’m right.  Law.com reports on a select consortia of these same firms called Meritas.

In using their search function to locate firms in Kentucky only one firm was listed.  So then I got curious about how firms and attorneys could join the network.  Color me shocked that this alliance has been around since 1990.  Meritas is a network of “like-minded” members that are “vetted and invited.”

No big firms honing in by paying bigger fees for more space here.  So you’ve joined the club but how do you stay in?  Members of Meritas must agree to operate under” Quality Assurance Program”.  This is a great way to maintain that like-minded membership in case of mergers and firm attitude adjustments.  Seems like a pretty good operation based on the information I’m finding online and through their site.

From a seeking standpoint the site is clean and easy to use with simple browse features.  This is a great tool to use for locating local counsel.  Add to that an easily accessed “Doing Business” publications page and you find me downright impressed.

A few facts about the organization:

  • Operates as a non-profit
  • Headquartered in Minnesota with a staff to administer the QAP
  • Governed by a Board of Governors
  • Satisfaction scores readily available

All in all I’d say that Meritas is a great resource to keep in mind when seeking quality firms and attorneys in any of the 60 countries that participate.

What prompted me to perform this review of Meritas is the Law.com article referenced above.  The pricing seems to be a key satisfaction factor.  As corporate counsel continues to find ways to curb their outsourced legal costs,  gems like Meritas will be much sought after.  Indeed, their model may influence the business model of those un-invited firms.  Innovative firms will offer alternatives, options and satisfactory solutions.  Are you innovative?

Constance Ard August 25, 2009

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Slouching at the Screen: Productivity in Web 2.0

August 24, 2009

Today has been a productive day from sunup to past sundown.  I’ve been juggling several projects, and am beginning the research and writing for a book to be published in October.  That’s a pretty short deadline but I like being very busy.productivity

It has always been interesting to me, that the more I have to do the more efficient I am.  If I have a day where I have “some” work to do but the deadline isn’t definite, I tend to lose focus and struggle to be productive.

However, you give me a day like today and I soar and do more than even is required.  Now, the dangerous thing about social media is that when I Twitter about my schedule, that’s an opportunity for OpenTeamWorks to contact me and tell me they can manage my work-flow better without even realizing that I’m a solo act.   Rather amusing in my opinion.

However, it does demonstrate something that I’ve been working on with a client, which is that social media is full of information waiting to be harvested and the harvesting is occurring.

Now, I harvest some of that data, but more often, I use social media to spread the word about my services.  For instance, this blog.  A lot of my Twitter posts are related to cool information I find or work I’m doing.  My strategy is to be productive and demonstrate my ability to solve problems for clients.

Simple?  Yes.  Effective?  Remains to be seen.  What I really like about social networking and the 2.0 environment is the authenticity.  It’s easy to find the fake problem solvers and false communities.  When I advise clients about using social media, I remind them that the authenticity is important.

So, I’ve rambled my way to an end to this post without really tying my productive day to authentic social media.  So I guess, I can tell you that during my busiest days, I, like every other workers, will take a moment to get my Facebook fix.  I’m pretty sure this is not an original thought, but it is an authentic one:  Social media makes working as a solo a bit less lonely and a tad more productive because you can still have those inspiring water cooler discussions.

How do you merge social media into your work-flow?  Are you banning it, are you using it too much?  Did you react or did you strategically plan how and when and what to use to sell your widgets in the social media landscape?  If you haven’t thought about that strategy, it’s not too late to start.  The starting question is  “What problem can social media solve for you?”

Constance Ard August 24, 2009

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Protect the Librarians: Part II

August 22, 2009

In my last post I discussed the need to protect librarians due to the continued growth of complex information.  Today, I want to talk about my views about librarians as professionals.

Librarians are part of a noble profession in some views.  Collecting, organizing and making accessible our cultural, literary and historical records is indeed critical.  Providing access to data necessary for operating in today’s knowledge age is also hugely important.

These facts alone do not place librarians in an infallible place upon a golden pedestal.  It is our responsibility to learn, advocate, and earn our status as important providers of information.

Those of us who do not continue to learn and evolve in our service do not necessarily deserve a protected place in the business of information.  Those of us who do continuously learn and improve our services can’t rest on those accomplishments alone.

No one knows what we do better than ourselves.  I often tell my colleagues that too often expend energy advocating ourselves to fellow librarians.  It is my firm belief that what we must do is tell our lawyers, administrators, doctors, faculty members and CEO’s how important we are and follow it up with specifics on why we are important.

We must also explain how we contribute to an organization’s mission and bottom-line.  People have a difficult time understanding just what librarians do.  They know librarians are good guys but only a few know specifically why.    Without specifics, how can we expect a CEO to know that understanding when and how to use a commercial database is appropriate?   We know that when the marketing director calls us at 9 a.m. to prepare a marketing report for a lunchtime briefing fast and good is better than thorough and free is the only option.

Librarians must be specific and direct.  It is never appropriate to say “No problem” when this type of project is completed and delivered.  It is absolutely appropriate for you to say in response to the Thank You:  “You are quite welcome, with our XYZ resource we are able to meet these tight deadlines.”

Also, assertiveness is not a bad trait.  C-level executives are assertive and admired for the trait.   Recently I was given a great compliment:  “You’re nice, but you still are decisive and when you have an important point to make during a meeting you do so.”

If librarians want to be protected, they must begin by protecting themselves.  So if you are not being assertive when the occasion calls for it and you are not advocating for the resources you need to successfully do your job and you are not clearly communicating why you and the entire library staff must be a partner in the knowledge culture for successful business;  then who will?

Constance Ard August 22, 2009

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Protect the Librarians

August 17, 2009

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the future of librarianship.  This, of course, causes me to be much more attune to any entry in my RSS feeds that discusses the topic.

I often find great wisdom in Robert Ambrogi’s posts and this one commenting upon Jonathan  Zittrain’s AALL opening session (as presented in Rebecca Tushnet’s 43(B)Blog). What really captured my attention was this:

Protect the Librarians

“As I understand the speech, Zittrain’s  point is that we need not protect the library, per se, but the librarian.”

The value of information professionals is becoming more critical to information seekers and users.  Without the expertise of professionals we risk losing important data.

Now, I’m a bit of a cynic, I think that depending upon who you are speaking to a Keynote is definitely going to say something that makes the crowd feel warm and fuzzy.  I don’t think that every keynoter rings false.  I for one, was skeptical that Gen. Colin Powell could speak to the Special Libraries Association and make me feel like he understood information professionals, and yet he did.  I actually walked away from that Keynote thinking this guy really got it.

I think Professor Zittrain gets it too.  Between clouds and social media and open source and commercial database the wealth of information seems unfathomable.  Training librarians that understand the sources and structure of information in these current and continuously evolving formats is necessary to knowledge age success.

Librarians must continue to educate themselves and market their value as the professional who makes sense of the maddening information sources.  Information professionals will help you a) retrieve the necessary data more quickly  and more efficiently than the whiz kid tech geek down the hall and b) train you to do the simple stuff yourself, so that you can move forward.  Perhaps, most useful to you will be learning how to recognize what you are capable of and what should be given to the professional so that efficiencies are maintained.

We can talk about all sorts of stats if you want but the simple equation is Librarians save you time and money because they are efficient information gatherers and disseminators.  If you want to be successful protect your librarian.

Part II of this will be how librarians should behave in order to protect themselves.  We are by now means infallible and the tech geek has nothing on our own geekiness.  So tune back in for my comments on the need for professionals to be professional and not feel that the world is owed to them just because they operate in a “noble” profession.

Constance Ard August 17, 2009

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Louisville Free Public Library Floods & You Can Help

August 5, 2009

My colleague Sarah Glassmeyer has eloquently related the tragedy that hit Louisville Free Public Library during yesterday’s flash flooding.    Her post provides links to ways that you can donate to the library and even the Humane Society.

I am thankful that my place is safe and dry and I’m a bit nervous about serving the damage in person.  I will be doing my part to help out my hometown and I hope my readers will do the same.

Constance Ard August 4, 2009

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Authorize Innovation

August 4, 2009

I often struggle to remember that not everyone operates the way I do.  When I’m working I tend to be brusque and direct.  It has taken years of evaluations, feedback and maturing to hold that tendency in check.  People are sensitive, even in business.

I can be sensitive, but usually it’s limited to my personal life, for me:  Business is Business and there is no crying in business.  Thus, I’m always surprised at the amount of work required to smooth paths and keep people happy when a directive would be more efficient.

Sometimes that is a result of office politics, sometimes its a personal management style.  What surprises me is when an organization’s functionality is limited because there is a lack of, or misplacement of, authority.

In this trying economic time, companies are seeking ways to engage and retain customers.  Innovation is a buzz word.   So the interesting question is how do businesses successfully transform an innovative idea into a new development, process or product?

Early in my volunteer career I would suffer through a painful 3 hour “board meeting” and leave frustrated because no decisions were made, no processes changed, no action was taken.  So, within months I had begun inserting tasks and accountability into my committee work.  Within two years I was leading the organization and if a board meeting lasted longer than an hour, it was because we were working and taking action.

The reason for the change;  I was authorized to change the status quo.  Our volunteers changed and we began to build a board of action oriented people.  We still had the deep thinkers to provide the invaluable checks and balances viewpoint, but we were no longer bogged down by great ideas; we were implementing great ideas.

Die on the Vine Organizations, whether profit or non-profit  benefit from innovations.  The key is to provide enough structure so          that funds and actions are authorized.  If a direct line of of        reporting, responsibility and authority is not outlined, your innovations will die on the vine.

Innovations are not innovations unless they leap beyond idea to action.

Constance Ard August 4, 2009

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