Your instructor's spring break extravaganza

I'm not doing much for spring break (other than catch up with grading!), but what I am doing, I'm doing on Monday and Tuesday. I'm going with my family to the Wilderness Resort at the Wisconsin Dells, and won't be bringing my computer. It will be two days with a focus on family fun. So, if you have questions for me, I'll be back reading my email and checking into D2L on Wednesday.


Have a great break!

An argument for library organization strategies

I would be lying if I thought everyone would only search in library databases. And, in fact, I know that library databases do not contain everything that could potentially be relevant for research. I also know, though, that NO source is the perfect source that contains everything. Not even, dare I say, Google. And they probably never will. Go ahead, prove me wrong, oh future of information retrieval.

The key for the researcher is to know the tools that are out there, and when to use each tool. I like to say that the Internet is okay for "good enough" information, but when your information need goes beyond "good enough," then you must use other tools. In the following article, Thomas Mann, a reference librarian at the Library of Congress discusses the strengths of structured cataloging, specifically in his case by the Library of Congress, but more broadly, he speaks to the deficiencies of keyword searching in full-text databases and the power of structured controlled vocabulary and human-analyzed content.

Mann, Thomas. "Will Google's Keyword Searching Eliminate the Need for LC Cataloging and Classification?" The Future of Cataloging. 15 Aug. 2005. Library of Congress Professional Guild, AFSCME Local 2910. 14 Mar. 2009. http://www.guild2910.org/searching.htm

Poll Results: Library BlogTalkRadio Show

Some of you have found our MCTC Library streaming radio show!

Yep, listen all the time!	2 (33%)
I've listened once or twice	1 (16%)
No, I've never listened	2 (33%)
The library has a what?	1 (16%)

Votes so far: 6

Censorship in Minnesota

Hanson, Nathan. "Panel Says Challenged Book Can Stay in Library." Farmington Independent. 6 Mar. 2009. Forum Communications Company. 12 Mar. 2009. http://www.farmingtonindependent.com/articles/index.cfm?id=10999&section=News

Here's a real-life incident of a book being challenged in a Minnesota school. What do you think? Do you agree with the panel's decision? Add your comments here or in D2L.

Dining on campus

Today's specials from the Culinary Arts program dining room:

Today' Soup Du Jour: Spicy Black Bean with Tasso

Pistachio Crusted Halibut with Coconut Curry Served with Arborio Rice and Plantains

Carne de Virrea (BeefStew) Served with Golden Potatoes


Cash or check only, please!

While we're on the topic of open access journals...

E-Journal of Solidarity, Sustainability, and Nonviolence (SSNV) is online. This is the third issue of the "sustainable development paradox" series, and includes a synthesis of all the information, analysis and conclusions for the three-part series. A critical conclusion is that sustainable development is impossible without gender equality in both secular and religious institutions.

Part 1 - January 2009 - http://pelicanweb.org/solisustv05n01.html
Part 2 - February 2009 - http://pelicanweb.org/solisustv05n02page1.html
Part 3 - March 2009 - http://pelicanweb.org/solisustv05n03page1.html

The March 2009 issue is enhanced by two "invited articles" from distinguished authors. The April 2009 issue will start a new series on the educational dimension of sustainable development.

SSNV is a monthly, free subscription, open access e-journal.

Group Work - It isn't just to bug you!

Complaints of varying types continue to come in from those of you in my classes working in groups. I will admit, group work in any environment can be challenging. But, as I posed in my blog earlier, we don't ask you to do this just to be mean ol' teachers. Among other reasons, we ask you to work in groups because the #1 intellectual and practical skill employers want from recent college graduates is the ability to work in teams (P. D. Hart Assoc.).

Works cited:

Peter D.Hart Associations. Survey of Business Leaders. Commissioned by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Nov/Dec. 2006. 9 Mar. 2009. http://www.aacu.org/leap/businessleaders.cfm,

Photo Credits: Creative Commons licensed image from sparklefish's photostream on Flickr

ALA Early Bird Registration ends TODAY!

The American Library Association conference is in Chicago this summer; the full annual conference will never be closer as there are few other cities that can handle the approximately 20,000 attendees plus vendors. I strongly encourage students in the Library Information Technology program to attend if at all possible; you won't be disappointed. The information below is about the "conference within a conference;" the Empowerment Conference for Library Support Staff. There is a separate lower registration fee for just the Empowerment Conference, or you can register for the full ALA conference which includes the Empowerment Conference.

The 2009 Empowerment Conference for Library Support Staff will be held during the 2009 Annual Conference in Chicago, IL, Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12, 2009.

Registration for Empowerment 2009 is automatically included with a full Annual Conference registration. Separate registration is also available. Registration for LSSIRT members is $135 in advance, or $160 on-site. ALA members and anyone else can register for this two day conference for $185 by March 6 and for $210 after the March 6 deadline and on-site. Co-sponsors: ALA Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) and the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR).

Register online for the Empowerment Conference, just click on online registration for the Conference and after you enter the site you will be able to choose the Empowerment Conference as a registration type, but remember it is included automatically with a full Annual Conference Registration.

On Campus? Have lunch in the Hennepin Dining Room!

MCTC Culinary Arts Program students make and serve in the Cafe. Generally speaking, the food is delicious, fresh, and dare I say better than what the food service provides. Items are generally between $5-10, which is a pretty good deal for what you get. Bon Appetit!
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A friendly reminder that the MCTC Hennepin Cafe restaurant is open for business on Wednesdays and Thursdays (11am-1pm) through April 30, 2009.

We may also feature daily specials.

We have quite a few specials to choose from today:

Pan Fried Sea bass served with Ravioli & finished with a Creamy Fennel Sauce.

Angel Hair Pasta Bolognese

Chef Jeffy's Sweet and Spicy Wings

Teriyaki Wings with a Thai Peanut Sauce

Chicken Finger Melt with American Cheese, Caramelize onions & Pesto Mayonnaise

Patty Melt with Caramelize onions, Thousand Island dressing, American & Swiss Cheese

Today' Soup Du Jour: Celery Root

****We accept Cash and Checks only***

Instructor update

Wow, am I behind!

My oldest son, who's 10, ended up playing on "championship day" (Sunday) at a hockey tournament, so my planned day of grading and catching up turned into spending most of my time at a hockey rink with no computer and internet access. They lost both of their games, too, so that was a bummer. Yesterday, I was working on coursework but had a doctor's appointment in the middle of the day that burned about 4 hours between getting there, waiting, actually getting treatment, and going home. Grocery shopping burned another two hours. After I got home and made dinner, and was getting my kids to bed with plans of grading after, I fell asleep. So much for grading plans; sometimes your body takes over. So...

INFS 1000 folks - there's a webinar tonight at 8:30 p.m.; come if you can. We'll be talking about searching for periodical articles to support your topics. Assignment 4 was just due last night. You should be working now on Assignment 5. You'll get the midterm after spring break. Keep posting to the weekly topic discussion forums for your class participation grade.

INFS 1200 folks - I botched opening your content last week; I'm working on fixing that and uploading feedback on your verification assignment and abstract/analysis papers today. I have meetings all afternoon, though, starting at 1:30 p.m. until 5, then need to get home, get dinner, and get ready for an INFS 1000 webinar. We have a webinar on Thursday 3/5 at 8:30 p.m. and we'll spend time talking about cataloging more then.

INFS 2200 folks - you should be working on your subject analysis group assignment this week. Quiz 5 closes today, so be sure to take it.

INFS 2900 folks - use the resume critique guide to provide constructive criticism to each other on your resumes. Post internship updates this week as well.

Thanks everyone for your patience!
photo credit: Creative Commons license photo from swisscan's photostream on Flickr