(no subject)

[elainegrey]

I know some of you are Wikipedians. I'm not sure if you'd be interested in becoming a Wikipedian in residence but http://hangingtogether.org/?p=1623 lists an interesting three month gig with requirements (librarian, archivist, museum specialist wanted; masters degree; archival collection research) https://jobs-oclc.icims.com/jobs/2081/job

Speaking of work, the past few days were like lancing a boil. I still think we're in for a rough ride ahead, but at least it's being discussed. After binging on the donuts yesterday, i think i'm ready to find my even keel again.

I've become fascinated with the idea of owning a LiveScribe pen. Discovering one could print the "dot paper" instead of having to buy the special paper pushed the attractiveness into a realm where i could take action. EBay has record of the device selling for half the Amazon retail price, so i'll just see if i can acquire one that way.

Christine and i read an article about the working conditions in online shipping warehouses. I don't think i've quite reached the moral certainty that i'm boycotting my massive mail order suppliers, but i'm thinking twice about how i acquire things. (Christine had to remind me a couple days ago of our resolution, though.) There are a few products i use that are hard to acquire locally, and i'm not yet moved to find another solution. But books? I believe Powells must have a different warehouse culture, so i'm OK acquiring books online from them. Etsy and eBay remain fair sources. Honestly, buying used housewares on eBay really does seem to be the best way for me to meet some of my desires. I am trying to limit how many plastic things we buy, as well, and i recently bought a fabulous stainless steel tea tray from eBay for less than ten dollars.

Today is the first day since ... March 16th? ... that i have a "normal" workday ahead of me. I happily spent some time during my layover in Dallas sorting through a bunch of work reminders, but i haven't really had much follow up time.

Back to resolutions and trying to take care of my whole self.

Comments

[weofodthignen]

re: job announcement .... oooh! I wish certain people were in the Bay Area ... And what does it say that I saw 2 typos I wanted to correct, sigh ... But haven't there been Wikipedians in Residence at art galleries and museums before? Maybe first in the US? Certainly would be good. I've found some Wikipedians don't know about WorldCat for ISBNs and other publication info, and conversely I don't have the foggiest notion what else OCLC might offer to editors.

... I've also been feeling very sorry for you the past few days. But I hope you've kept reminding yourself that you feel this keenly because you are a good and conscientious manager. Not because you are remotely at fault. You've consistently tried to prevent trainwrecks, as well as to get the train back on the rails expeditiously.

M

[elainegrey]

It's first at the company, i suspect, thus the assertion that they are "following in the footsteps of such institutions as the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art and the National Archives and Records Administration." It's possible they would be open to someone remote: the group in the San Mateo office travel a great deal and collaborate with remote offices. It's worth pointing it out to those folks.

Off the top of my head, OCLC has a name authority system used by librarians when entering authors' and other names: that might be of some interest.

I am very clear that the train wreck i can see unfolding is in no way my fault. My struggle is mostly how i frame my understanding of the role i can play. It's not like a real train wreck in that irreversible harm may come to my staff, but it is witnessing negligence. I've done my best to make sure my staff are not overloaded so they can respond to the "crisis." I need to care less, now.

Press release about name authority files

[elainegrey]

I'm digging back in email and and found a press release about an openly accessible name authority file that could be of interest. Here's a link to my copy of the release:

http://www.evernote.com/shard/s6/sh/c4d31a36-a5d5-4ebf-870c-31daeb28570f/d961c5fcf741ebc79c27f23945b46345