Some of the key result areas outlined in the role description hint at it being quite an exciting position, which could give me the opportunity to expand on my existing skills. In particular, I think I’d be able to build on my experience developing of online documentation and websites to support student learning (I’ve been allowed to experiment in this area through my work at StudentNet). I would also welcome the chance to apply what I’ve learned through the MLIS in what looks to be a challenging, and changing environment.

Four of the Key Result Areas outlined in the Role Description seem particularly interesting. The job would involve:

• Taking primary responsibility for the development, implementation and evaluation of Web and paper-based publications to assist Library users,
• Maintaining and developing current awareness service for academic staff and students,
• Maintaining and developing the Architecture and Design Library Group’s presence on the Library’s intranet,
• Managing and updating the Architecture and Design Library’s web pages.

“Current awareness service”? That sounds to me like the library needs their own blog!

Even more exciting, the Role Description lists “Innovation” as one of their top four “Core Competencies” for the person filling the position. I think a library with this kind of attitude is one I would enjoy working for. There’s no denying that the role of the contemporary academic library is multifacited, rapidly evolving, and exciting. The schools associated with this particular library is associated also looks like they’re moving in interesting directions. I wonder if there’s some way architecture and design students could be persuaded to work on a project in Second Life for the library?
Job applications are an excellent opportunity for reflexivity. Even if I don’t get this job (and my hopes aren’t high; I’m not sure I’ve got quite the experience required, and the job description does say they’re looking for someone who has completed their MLIS), I’ve found this process to be great experience for preparing for a professional role in the future.

Writing out the CV, especially my work experience sections, I’m amazed at the cool opportunities I’ve had over the last few years to work alongside some great people. From academic staff to educational designers to archivists and librarians, I’ve managed to acquire quite a bit of applied knowledge about the topics I’m passionate about. In my studies, I’ve been able to turn assignments and research projects into opportunities to explore issues I think are important for the future of library and information management.

If you’re interested, you can read the full CV I submitted online as a google document. You can also take a look at the role description for the job. Please feel most welcome to share your thoughts on both!

I encountered Sean Murgatroyd twice during the LIANZA conference, where I teased him for using the con’ internet terminals for logging into gaming forums (even as I logged into my flickr account right next to him), discussed playing WoW and the illustrious history of the big N.

This afternoon, I opened my gmail to discover that Sean had managed to track me down! His email linked me to a post he’d just made. Seanfish wrote:

Once tagged by this entry, the assignment is to write a blog entry of some kind with six random facts about yourself. Then, pick six of your friends and tag them; no tag backs. This explanation should be included.

So I’m continuing the meme, but theming my six points around my lianzacon06 experiences, and perhaps some thoughts leading on from that…

1. I consumed blueberries for both of my breakfasts while in Wellington this week. On Tuesday I had Blueberry hotcakes at the classy bistro across the road from the town hall. On Wednesday I imbibed a large blueberry and muesli smoothie from a great health drink store just off Cuba St.
2. I learnt that Glen Walker (of Library Life and UC Education Library fame) builds life-size Dalek replicas.
3. Stephen Abrams threatened to “get comfortable” by removing his pants at the keynote panel! (don’t worry, he was only kidding)
4. I’m on the team to look at the possible implementation of IM in our library! This may replace our AskLive service, which I feel is a little bit klunky (has browser and user hiccoughs and incompatibility issues.) and naff.
5. The library’s IT manager (and some others) stopped by my desk today while visiting our library and asked me to show them AquaBrowser, which a great vendor chap (Jimmy Thomas, I think – I lost his card!) showed me at the conference. The Wellington public library is going to be implementing this on their catalogue, very soon! It would be awesome if Canterbury wanted to use it too.
6. I got the overall (and slightly frustrating) feeling from my conference experience that many of the conversations going on were ones that had already been discussed in academic writings about the internets years ago! In answer to Rheingold and Turkle bashing (they’re too utopian!), I give you Nakamura and Mosco, who already made those kinds of arguments/criticism long enough ago that I would think it’s something that most people coming to the topic would have already taken well into consideration before getting excitied about the possibilities! It felt a little to me like we were re-inventing the wheel, and so hamsterising the disucssion.

Stephen Abrams got the final word in, before he raced off to the airport to fly off to a late dinner in Sydney. He said something along the lines of: ‘If you want to get something done, you’ve got to do it yourself’.

I see that my new friend Sean is already keen to take Abrams’ advice to heart. His email to me suggests that

together we create and recruit for a wiki specifically aimed at creating an interacting core of technologically subversive librarians

I think this sounds like a great idea. I think we could try glomming onto LIANZA’s ITSIG (who have their own Wiki already!), and perhaps LASIG too. It would be an awesome thing to bring together a party of adventurers willing and eager to shake things up in libraries here in Aotearoa!

In the infamous words of Leeroy, who perhaps exemplifies the kind of fearless (reckless!) charge to cause librarians everywhere to tremble in their boots:

Alright chums, let’s do this…
LEEROOOOOOOY!!! JENKIIIIIINSSSSSS!!!

So, who do I tag? Anyone who wants to respond, really, and especially those folks who’d be interested in partying up to “raid the Library 2.0 instance for some sweet epic l3wt”. ^_^