도서관 = Library
This is my second blog post in as many days, but don’t worry, I guarantee that I’ll soon go back to my schedule of posting once every six months!
So, on any given day at work, the fact that I’m a Korean American male doesn’t really occupy my thoughts. I handle my normal work responsibilities like the rest of my colleagues and don’t feel the need or desire to filter everything through the lens of my ethnicity or gender. However, every once in awhile, I’m reminded of these things, both in positive and negative ways.
Today I was working at the “Answer Center” (mpow’s name for our reference desk) when a woman approached speaking Korean. She asked me if I was Korean and I, in my embarrassingly bad Korean, replied yes. She then asked me a whole bunch of questions about working in libraries, primarily focused on whether or not there were positions available in which one did not have to speak English fluently. This was essentially an opportunity to help a job seeker, just in a different language. I managed to answer her questions and provide some information on different types of library jobs, educational and language requirements these jobs might require, and some tips on finding a job in a local library.
This isn’t the first time a Korean-speaking person approached me at the reference desk and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I imagine that there’s a degree of comfort for someone to be able to have a conversation with a librarian in their native language. Even when I explain my limited Korean skills, people always seem to be so grateful that I can speak at all and that I share something in common with them. This makes me feel grateful as well and it reminds me of the value of having a diverse staff that reflects the diversity of a community.
Of course, it also reminds me that I seriously need to improve my Korean!
McDonald’s and Libraries
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonylibrarian/3543889753/
First, let me say that I watch a lot of HGTV whenever I get the chance, so that’s where I’m coming from…
Ever since I witnessed first-hand the development of the Pittsfield Branch while working at AADL (check out my pics of their Traverwood Branch), I’ve been very interested in interior design in libraries. One of the things I love about my new position is that I’m getting the opportunity to help design new library spaces. MPOW is just finishing some work in our Kids World section and now we’re starting the process of master planning our other public spaces, including a new teen space.
I’m stating the obvious here, but I think it’s so important for libraries to think about what their building designs are communicating to potential users. I know that when I’m in a well-designed, well-maintained library it makes a world of difference in how I feel about it. I imagine most people feel the same way and that they have a greater sense of pride about their local library if it’s beautifully and interestingly designed.
Fast Company‘s MOD (Masters of Design) section recently featured an article, “Super Style Me,” about the design efforts and philosophy happening at McDonald’s. Check out this excerpt:
“It’s a community center,” says Weil of the restaurant, meaning McDonald’s is one of the few places cheap and casual enough to be accessible to nearly everyone. “There are very few public places left where private things happen.” The restaurant in Oak Brook has been divided into four “seating zones,” each designed for a different activity — chilling out, working, casual dining, and group events. That each space also connotes a different maturity level that might lead to a specific menu choice is precisely the point.
Sound like anything else to you? Maybe a library?
So, what do you think is important in designing a library’s interior space? What elements would you include if you were starting from scratch? What are some libraries that have really impressed you with their design?
The Perfect Human and Apple
While watching Jony Ive talk about the new Macbook Air, Jorgen Leth’s short film, The Perfect Human (1967), came to mind. This short film is permanently imprinted into my brain because I watched it more times than I can count while working as a film studies TA during grad school. If you’re intrigued by the following, I recommend watching Lars von Trier’s Five Obstructions (2003).
A New Challenge
It’s official! I’ve accepted a new job at Arlington Heights Memorial Library. I’ll be their new Information Services Manager starting the first week of July. To be honest, it’s going to be very tough leaving Skokie because the past three years have been very good to me professionally. I’ve had a chance to work with some incredibly talented people and I’ve loved the work, but I just felt that this new opportunity at AHML was just too good to pass up. AHML has a great reputation and has been an innovator in many areas, so I think it’ll be a great fit for me. And who knows, maybe I’ll get a second crack at building a digital media lab! It never hurts to think big, right?!
Best Free iPhone Apps
Here are the slides to a new presentation I created for mpow. There was a fun atmosphere during the class and the attendees seemed really into it. Half of them already had an iPhone or iPod Touch (mostly newer users) and the other half said they were thinking about buying an iPhone/Android phone/Blackberry soon and they just wanted to learn more about mobile apps. The class really should have been called “Some of the Best Free iPhone and iPod Touch Apps” because it was really a difficult challenge to identify all the apps people should really know about. Are there any duds that should’ve been left out of the presentation? Which free apps should I have included?