My database is a selfish data hog.
Over the weekend, between work and a bike race and eating far too much, I have been getting overly gleeful about various open source things. My dad installed Ubuntu on a computer he’s been trying to configure for ages, and had fantastic results. I was all rarin’ to go on the Archivist’s Toolkit for this morning, only to discover, ALAS, that the database program we’re using doesn’t use MARC XML.
There’s an option to export the data into an XML format, which would be fine and dandy, if it actually worked. According to the database manual, “XML is a new way to code…” Obviously, they didn’t think it would last, so they made the bloody thing export slower than molasses. No support of new technologies here. Bah. After about 45 minutes of waiting, 0% of the database has been exported into XML, so I’ve given up for now. The database will be down for all of Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
And then, there’s no guarantee that it will even work. Hopefully the database doesn’t explode and take my computer with it.
Woes of a mini!librarian
As a self-proclaimed mini!librarian, there are many things I’m rather unsure of. I’m trying to learn as much as possible before I leave for Pitt, but every once in a while things stump me.
I have a very pretty, new, copy of Journey into Islam, by Akbar Ahmed and I haven’t got any cover protectors for it… Sad.
Also, library training is actually next week, despite me, my boss, and the CEO thinking otherwise.
Reading and snobbishness
Because of commuting issues this morning, I am rather cranky and tired. That will be my excuse for being rather short.
I have discovered the power of the double take: I told a co-worker at my unconventional other job I was a librarian (leaving off the “Mini” part), and her jaw dropped. She then apologized for what she liked to read.
I’m going to make this statement once:
I don’t care what you read. If you’re enjoying it and will read more, then GREAT. If you’re reading classics just to impress, then what’s the point?
This is mildly, but not completely, related to the current Michael Gorman/Britannica Blog librarian drama, which relates more to social information tools such as wikipedia, blogging, and citizen journalism. Unfortunately, the idea that academia knows best is not a new one: there are “Good” things to read and “Bad” things to read. “Good” things have been praised to the heavens by academics. “Bad” things are the books you’d hide from your high school English teacher
The problem comes people who only read “Bad” books may feel that if they can’t get their brains around something “Good” there is no point in reading at all. Reading begets reading, and if there is a fundamental segregation between those who read “Good” books and those who read “Bad” books, then we’ve only succeeded in another form of playground bullying, with the nerdy elite as the perpetrators.
