Special Focus

Jenny's Journal

Jenny Hill, a UCP Scholarship Recipient for the past four years has been selected to serve as an intern this fall semester in Washington, D.C. Jenny, a senior at St. Cloud State University majoring in Information Media, has promised to keep us updated on her activities while in this internship position. In addition to her journal, be sure to read her notes


Thursday September 1, 2005

Today I stopped by the Library of Congress to preview the Maps and Geography Division before I begin my internship. What an amazing place! I was shown a $10 million map that the Library of Congress acquired which happens to be the first map ever created to have the word “America” written on it. I was also shown some powder horns from the vault which contained hand-carved maps on them. I learned that the Library eventually wants to find a way to show the powder horns on the web in three dimensions so people can rotate the object and see all sides of the horn. I later learned that not everyone from the public is allowed into the vault, so I consider my tour to be quite a privilege! I cannot wait to start.

Tuesday September 6, 2005

Today was the fist day of my internship. I was shown the $6000 flat-bed scanner that I will be working on. This scanner is for small to moderate sized maps. The Map and Geography Division also owns an over-head scanner which is more expensive ($150,000) and can scan oversized and multiple page maps. The scanner takes over a half-hour to warm up. It is then calibrated so the images scan clearly. Once the scanner is calibrated, a map can be scanned. A tally is made of each map that is scanned so administrative statistics can be calculated. Cataloging information is also recorded in a Microsoft Access database. Once the map is scanned, the map is put in an acid-free folder and stamped with the words “Scanned Image.”

Wednesday September 7, 2005

Today I was shown how to process maps using Adobe Photoshop. Once the maps are scanned, they are uploaded to my files on another work station using a program called CuteFTP. I then open each map in Photoshop and straighten the image, crop excess borders, adjust the colors, and sharpen the lettering on the image. It is important to only sharpen the image slightly so that a halo does not appear around the letters making them hard to read.

During lunch, my supervisor brought up an interesting fact about funding for libraries. Governmental libraries are funded by a budget from the government or “hard money.” Other libraries are often funded with private donations or, “soft money.” My supervisor tends to think that soft money is sometimes a more reliable way to fund a library even though there tends to be less soft money dollars available than hard money dollars. Government budgets can change or take a cut often times without warning causing employees to scramble in order to pay or operate their programs. Once an organization has obtained soft money, the money is secure and reliable, allowing the library to operate on a more predictable budget.

One last interesting phenomenon occurred today that is worth noting. A meeting is taking place early next week to discuss the future of cataloging. Apparently one of the head librarians at the Library of Congress wants to discuss if there is a need for catalogers to make such detailed records. If the Library of Congress shortens or changes their process, this could have huge ramifications for the entire library system as the Library of Congress tends to set trends for all other libraries. It could also affect approximately half the people who work for the Library of Congress, as many people are hired to catalog information.

Thursday September 8, 2005

Today I went to what is informally called a “glue party.” A glue party is when the collection and maintenance team gets together and attaches the cataloging record to the acid-free folder using archival paste. The glue machine looks like a paint tray with a roller on the end. The roller spins and covers with a thin layer of paste. The cataloging record (no bigger than a 3x5 card) is then inserted on the top of the roller to coat the back of it with the adhesive. The librarian then takes the paper and attaches it to the bottom of the folder. The folder was then sent to me where I went over it with a damp cloth and then placed the folder on a cart. Once the cart was full, I wheeled it to the filing cabinets.

While I was in the back with the cart, I noticed that there were several interesting and non-traditional objects that have been cataloged by the Maps and Geography Division. The Division has chocolate maps, clothes with maps on them, globes and maps from the first woman to map the bottom of the ocean floor using a string. She wanted to prove that the ocean floor was not just flat, but indeed contained mountain ranges and valleys. She was correct as satellite images have now been able to confirm her findings. I was told that the Geography and Map Division does not say no to any person who would like to donate a map or other interesting geographical item.

Friday September 9, 2005

Today I learned how important it is to make sure that you name your files correctly. I scanned a few maps in the morning only to have a frustrating time of trying to locate them in the afternoon. I had left off one number on the file name and was having trouble finding them until someone noticed the difference. I'll never make that mistake again! In light of that incident, I am surprised at how important metadata is to the life of the library. Metadata is what allows information to be organized and located again after it has been filed by either the patron or the reference librarian. Without it, important information and artifacts could be lost forever.

Washington Center Activities It was nice to meet everyone from the Washington Center this week during orientation. I found that many people in the Non-Profit Leader program have the same focus as me: a strong desire to serve others! After meeting everyone in the program and listening to their placement and interests, I felt glad to be part of this program; it seems to fit like a glove. Finding my class on Tuesday, however, was not as pleasant. I arrived at the Holiday Inn 20 minutes early, only to find that my class had been moved. After running around the Capital Area of DC for nearly an hour, I finally found my class. It seems like this class is going to offer some practical skills on fundraising that I will use in the future. Libraries house expensive materials which are not always budgeted for from the school district. Therefore, the school librarian often has to find ways to fund these items themselves; this is where fundraising comes in to play. The professor seems nice, and understanding of why I was late. The other people in the class seem nice as well. This is the first class I have ever taken with only eight people!

Monday September 12, 2005

Today I completed some readings from American Libraries which is the official magazine published by the American Library Association. This publication was very valuable to review as it discussed current trends in today's libraries. I saw several disheartening trends displayed in this magazine, which I need to become familiar with as I engage in a career as a school library media specialist. One article, Why School Libraries Won't be Left Behind, highlighted the current situation for many media specialists in St. Paul. Apparently, school library media specialists are being replaced with parent volunteers and teacher assistants. This trend scares me not only because it shows a discouraging job outlook, but also because current students in the district are forced to utilize (or try to utilize) the resources in the library without a certified staff member. If this trend continues, what type of education will students receive? I have a hard time believing it will be one that teaches vital information seeking and critical thinking skills that are so necessary and essential in this Information Age.

Tuesday September 13, 2005

Today I learned how to compress the images of the maps I had already edited in Adobe Photoshop. There are several stages of copying files and moving them to the correct directories and/or servers using a file transfer protocol entitled Cute FTP. It is crucial to name you files accurately and remember where everything is located in order to make this process run smoothly. Once the files are compressed and moved to the server, they are previewed on the Library of Congress website. I have to go through every map that I have scanned and make sure that the file was loaded in its entirety and that the user is able to zoom in and out of the image. The process of compression is somewhat complicated and no job aid had yet been completed by the Division of Maps and Geography staff. Therefore, I sat down with one of my supervisors and we created the draft of a job aid that will help future interns learn how to compress cartographic images. Once the aid is typed, a program called Hyper-Snap will be used to grab images from the computer to be inserted in the job aid. Helping to create this job aid called upon some of the skills that I had acquired in Instructional Design. I continue to be grateful that that course is included in the Information Media program. It has been very useful.

Wednesday September 14, 2005

Today I attended a series of meetings. The most interesting was the one presented by the Office of Strategic Initiatives. This office is charged with updating the Library of Congress throughout the Information Age. Their newest project is to catalog web pages. This proves to be a challenge because web pages are always changing, and permission needs to be gained in order to comply with copyright laws. Currently, the focus has been on cataloging pages of certain historic events in history such as September 11th and Hurricane Katrina. Towards the end of the day I was introduced to cataloging maps. I'm not in charge of creating the record from scratch, but I am in charge of making some modifications to the records after they have been scanned. I saw the six volumes of subject headings (now available in electronic form) and the AACR2. I am surprised at the attention to detail that is required to catalog, and the amount of information that is required to be in working memory in order to catalog efficiently.

Thursday September 15, 2005

Today I attended three important meetings. The first one was a discussion on the Marin Waldseemuller Map that is now on display in the Jefferson Building. The discussion was lead by John Hebert who is the chief of the Geography and Maps Division. Most of the discussion centered on the Carta Marina circa 1516. This map shows what the Americas were thought to look during the time period. It was purchased by Jay Kislak for approx. $5,000,000 and then donated to the Library of Congress as it the only known copy in the world today.

Deana Marcum who is the Associate Librarian for Library Services at the Library of Congress conducted the second meeting. She stressed the importance of digitizing all collections as the Library of Congress as the Library advances through the Information Age. This phenomenon is changing the way libraries operate. Fewer people will visit the Reading Rooms and more will access information online. Therefore, the Library needs to find ways in which patrons can use search engines, such as Google, and easily come across materials from the Library of Congress. Reading Rooms, therefore, need to become places of collaboration between scholars, librarians, and departments.

The last meeting that I attended was lead by Roy Tennant, who is one of the world's leading experts on automated cataloging systems. He stressed the need for library databases to become more simple and user-friendly. Currently, most databases require users to know certain keywords in order to conduct their search. Tennant stressed that this information should go on behind the scenes so that users are able to access the same information using one search field, like Google. He also showed an example of RedLightGreen, which is a database that looks similar to Amazon.com in design and layout. Pictures of the books appear at the bottom of the screen so users can easily see what they are about to access. I would not be surprised if cataloging as a profession will change dramatically in the coming years to become more analogous to web designers who desire to attract patrons into their “virtual library.” I would be curious to see how SCSUs online catalog will change in the next year. MARC maybe quickly becoming a language of the past.

Friday September 16, 2005

Today I spent the majority of the day cataloging. A cataloger really has to pay attention to detail in order to do an accurate job. Honestly, I found it really boring. It reminded me of what a data entry person must have to do every day. However, I was not creating the original record; I was only modifying an existing one. I have to correct the record in the same fields for each map, so the process is quite repetitive even though I was taught how to use some Macros. I imagine the challenge and the art to this career is to understand all the rules and apply them correctly so both the computer and the user can retrieve the information.

Washington Center Activities This week I visited the Foundation Center with fellow students from the Non-Profit Leader program. I believe that the resources of this library will be helpful for my course on fundraising, particularly in the assignment where I am being asked to identify potential donors. I am glad that I was made aware of this building. However, visiting this library may prove to be problematic. I have to work traditional hours during the week, and I have class on Tuesday evenings when the library is open for extended hours.

I found the Greater DC Cares presentation to also be helpful. My roommates and I are trying to coordinate a group volunteering effort, so becoming part of DC Cares e-mail distribution list will be helpful and informative. I was especially struck with agreement by the comment that DC is my current community that I am obligated to serve. Just because I am here on a short-term basis does not mean that I have permission to pass on my civic responsibilities. Now is the time to get involved!

I arrived to my course on time Tuesday evening. This course should prove to be a good challenge for me. I have never learned about fundraising for non-profits before, but I am seeing the trend of school library media specialists having to write grants in order to fund their causes. I'm glad to be receiving training in this area, as I am certain I will have to write a grant proposal in the future.

I've noticed I'm a bit more tired lately. I leave the apartment at 6:30am and arrived home at 8pm yesterday. Between work and school, I have been putting in twelve-hour days. It has been nice to have the pool at the Grand. I've gotten the chance to exercise and relax at the end of my long days.

Monday September 19, 2005

Today I visited the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda Maryland. The National Library of Medicine is the largest medical library in the world. They are a part of the National Institute of Health, and are the creators of such databases as PubMed. The Library of Congress does not hold information on medicine, as this library exists for that purpose. One of the projects recently completed is called the “visible human.” Two cadavers were frozen and then sliced into one millimeter pieces. Each image is then scanned into a computer and two completed digital moving bodies were created in cyberspace for med students to practice on. Another technology used in this building was created by the British company Thompson Learning. A user sees a digital image of a book onscreen, may touch the corner, and the page turns as if the physical book was actually sitting in front of them (although the image is still somewhat 2D). The Office of Strategic Initiatives at the Library of Congress recently came out with a similar technology called “Turning Pages.” It was interesting to see that this library is confronting the same issues and trends as the Library of Congress. They both are dealing with issues of digitizing information and how this practice affects both copyright laws and the idea of the library as a physical location. My tour guide mentioned something of interest to me. A speaker came in from Hewitt-Packard and said that their company converted to a completely digital library, but there was such feedback from the staff that they wanted a library, that it was reinstated. The idea there and at the Library of Medicine, especially in the Biotechnology Department, is that of a colabratory. In other words, a collaborative laboratory is where researchers, scholars, and librarians come together in a physical location to share information and ideas.

Tuesday September 20, 2005

Today I had the opportunity to use the jumbo scanner to scan a map of Iraq. This is the only country, out of the sixty plus maps that I have scanned so far that has been oversized. My understanding is that the CIA only issues a map as information in the country changes, not necessarily annually. When there is increased information in an area, then more maps are created. This is probably why my maps of Israel and Iraq have been increasingly bigger than the rest. I noticed that the amount of time required to process oversized maps is quite a bit longer than the 10x12 maps that I have been scanning. The digital team has accommodated for this by providing two computers for each employee so they can continue to work while a map is being processed.

Wednesday September 21, 2005

Today my supervisor reviewed the cataloging that I have been completing. I have been doing pretty well, for the most part, but I need to slow down and pay a little more attention to all the details in the record. Most of my errors were typos, or a Macro failed to perform its function, and I didn’t notice. Sometimes I accidentally left out a field. It’s nice that all my records are being reviewed and then I get detailed feedback so that I can improve. My supervisor definitely is not afraid to give me a hands-on approach. I agree with her that cataloging is best learned by doing, and not necessarily by reading about it. (Although, it seems helpful to have a certain amount of working information regarding the basic rules in your mind when creating or modifying a record. This makes the process go by efficiently and effectively). I found out today that one of the employees, Charley Peterson can catalog in twenty languages! (All of Eastern Europe and most of Western Europe.) Wow! When the Library of Congress computes its stats on the average amount of records completed by the average cataloger, Charley’s information has to be thrown out because he can do so many records quickly that it throws off the accuracy of the data. The Library of Congress is definitely one setting where I have seen the need for a vast amount of employees to have a strong background in language and history (especially if working in the geography and maps division). It seems like there are many people back in MN with humanities degrees who are not employed, or who are not using their humanities education for the actual work that they do. This doesn’t seem to be quite as true in Washington DC.

Thursday September 22, 2005

I again worked most of the day scanning and processing images. One of the pieces of software that I use is called JPG2encode. This is compression software which shrinks the image so that it takes up less file space. Therefore more people are able to view the image via the web. I didn’t realize this, but this software can shrink an image down to a twentieth of the original size. That is very helpful.

I also learned about office politics today. While I find my internship location to be amazing, the Library of Congress is an awfully political place. There is a lot of schmoozing that has to go on in order for employees to become successful.

My supervisor has to continually drop everything she is doing and entertain people who come to the Division and want a tour. She has to smile, talk down to people so they can understand what takes place in the office, and answer all of their questions no matter how long it takes. She also has to answer to a boss who doesn’t always know what he is doing. The cataloging software is going to be unavailable for two weeks and the boss has known about it for over a month or more and has failed to tell anyone. Meanwhile, other departments are coming in on weekends so they can get comp time and take the two weeks off. It’s not going to affect the digital team as much because we do more than cataloging, but many others are in a bind. Also, I am going to learn HTML, and one of the other team members is upset because she has wanted to learn that for three years, and here I walk in and get to learn it. I don’t have control over what has and hasn’t learned. Sometimes I wish I could do my work with less politics. I think that is just a common factor in all work environments. It’s good for me to gain exposure to it before I’m in a career.

Friday September 23, 2005

I have finished scanning, processing and cataloging about 100 maps. I’m glad to know that I am actually of some help to the digital team. The government seems to move pretty slowly which is somewhat frustrating, because I am someone who likes to more through my work efficiently so that a large amount of work can be completed in a timely and quality manner. While there are many people who work hard in this building, there are many projects that seem to drag on for years before completion. One project just went live on the web that was started in 1999. I was a freshman in high school at the time, and now I am a senior in college. Ouch. Today I was introduced to the Library of Congress’ learning management system called Skill Port. I can log in and take classes on Dreamweaver, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and more. Classes can begin and end at my convenience. Before I began, I had to take a short course on internet security. It covered viruses, worms, Trojan horses, etc. I think the biggest thing to remember is to shut down your computer at night completely so hackers can’t get in and mess with the system. I also have to make sure that I log out of each application when going on break or lunch so no one can come in and alter a file.

Washington Center Activities

This week I had the opportunity to listen to Speaker Tom Foley. Although I do not share the same political views as this speaker, I enjoyed listening to what he had to say. I was particularly impressed by his quote from Thomas Jefferson, “I want people to remember me for what I have done for other people, not what other people have done for me.” Those words make me think of what Jesus said, “Whoever is greatest among me shall be my servant.” I am increasingly encouraged that our focus as leaders should be on service, and those that are greatest are not necessarily those who have amassed the most amount of wealth, but those who served and impacted the most lives. I was also struck by his comment that if you aren’t thrilled to serve your country as a politician, then it might be time to step aside and let someone who is thrilled do the work. Someone made a less that enthusiastic comment about working LC this week, and I thought of Tom Foley’s words. Perhaps it is time for this person to step aside. I know for myself that at the end of the day I am exhausted by thrilled to death about the opportunity I have been given.

Monday September 26, 2005

Today I completed two different tasks. One was to learn more about Dreamweaver via the Library of Congress’ learning management system called SkillPort, and the other was to read some current articles by cataloging guru Roy Tennant. SkillPort is a nice learning management system in that it allows the user to access the information from on or off the campus of the library. It also provides simulations of activities after instructions are given to allow the user to practice what he or she has just learned. However, I felt as if the order in which the instructions were given were somewhat out of order. For example, the tutorial starts off explaining how to create a page and save it before it explains how to set up a site or how files should be named, or how give any background on what Dreamweaver is capable to do as a software package. I was able to follow it because of what I have learned in IM 260, but I otherwise would have been lost. I know this is a prime example of needing to do an audience analysis before designing training. Through SkillPort, I am starting to learn some of the tags that are necessary when using HTML. I am excited to learn this as I think it will prove to be useful. The readings that I completed were also interesting. Roy Tennant suggests in his article that MARC technology was an evolution in cataloging when it first arrived in the 1960’s. Now, however, there is new technology available such as XML to use when cataloging. Therefore, libraries need to find ways to utilize this technology and the advantages that it provides such as allowing for hierarchical information (such as a table of contents) to be included in a record. Additionally, libraries should consider adapting a user-friendlier version of their online catalog. This may entail including pictures of an item when conducting a search. WorldCat has already started this practice, and it has proven to be successful.

Tuesday September 27, 2005

Today was fun because I spent most of the time scanning maps of MN on the jumbo scanner. One thing that I particularly have to pay attention to is how to lay a map flatly down to get a good scan, and how to avoid reflection of overhead light into a scanned image. Maps can be flattened in a variety of methods. One of them is to lay a piece of Plexiglas over the top. You have to find a piece of glass that is large enough and make sure to keep it clean from dust and fingerprints. Usually you work with another person to lay the glass on top of the map. Then the map is then scanned. The problem with Plexiglas is that it reflects the light above the map and the lights are then shown in the scanned image. Today cardboard was taped over the light to eliminate this problem. One the other hand, if the map is too large for the Plexiglas, then other methods are used. Sometimes weights are applied the edges. Weights are usually made of drafting materials that are covered in fabric. Once applied to the map, it will lay flat for the scan. One other note, I do wear sunglasses while scanning because the lights are so bright, I want to make sure that I am not harming my eyes. Additionally, each scanner has an ergonomically correct rug beside it so that people can stand for extended periods of time without hurting their backs, feet etc.

Wednesday September 28, 2005

Today I learned about the history of cataloging. My supervisor Colleen, took the digital team to the sub basement of the Madison Building and showed us all the original card catalogs circa 1800s. I had always thought that cards were the original form of cataloging, but it gets more archaic. There is something called a sheet shelf list that contains hand written notes of each item. A page might list a call number at the top and then items within that call number are listed underneath with spaces left in between incase a new item comes in that would fit between two records. The sheet shelf lists lie in unbound books on top of the card catalog drawers. They are very dirty and dusty. It’s amazing to see records written in library hand. We’ve come a long way in 200 years. Colleen wanted to show me how things used to work so I could get a better handle on what I am doing when I am working with a MARC record. It at least helped to put things into perspective. Colleen said something that I think sums up the evolution in cataloging technology: It used to be that people were cheap and computers were expensive. Now the opposite is true: people are expensive and computers are cheap. We not only moved to a computer based system because it was more efficient, but also because it costs less money.

Thursday September 29, 2005

Today was all about Adobe Photoshop! Yesterday I scanned a giant map of MN, which had to be scanned in two pieces because of its size. The two images are opened in Photoshop and then compressed together as a new image. They are then edited and saved. Jumbo scans take several minutes to process, so there is a lot of “wait time” involved. I have to find other things to do so that I can multi-task and not waste any valuable time. However, if too many applications are open at once on a computer, the computer cannot handle the volume, so it shuts down. This is why most employees who work on the digital team have two computers. I also scanned four images for a Photo Duplication request. PhotoDups, as they are called, are requests from patrons to have images scanned and released to them via CD. It is estimated that it takes at least one hour to complete each request. I can cost up to $75 to have this done. Very expensive. I would venture to guess that not too many people can afford this service. At the end of the day, I started on a book called “Class in a Book: Adobe Photoshop 5.5.” This book comes with a CD that allows the student to learn about Photoshop while following along with interactive activities. I learned how to animate images and format graphics. I enjoyed it. I hope to complete the book by the time I leave. It’s nice to have time just to learn how to use software. That’s not a luxury I can usually afford when I’m going to class full-time.

Friday September 30, 2005

Today I attended a three hour “mini conference” meeting regarding the Martin Waldseemuller 1507 World Map. This map is known as America’s Birth Certificate because it is the first map known to have the word America written on it, correctly show the Western and Eastern Hemispheres, and show the Pacific Ocean as a separate entity. I heard presentations about the history of the map, controversies surrounding the map, and a mathematical analysis of its projection of the world. The mathematical presentation was the most interesting. Apparently, Waldseemuller correctly projected this map at many points (approximately 75% of the time), which is amazing, considering the time in which it is dated. This fact leads to three conclusions: He was lucky, the map is actually dated later than 1507, or most interestingly, he used technology that is no longer in existence and/or has yet to be discovered and developed. The latter conclusion is favored. One of the members of the audience suggested that Waldseemuller may have drawn on some of the lens technology being used to create linear perspectives during the Renaissance Period in order to project his map with accuracy. I was impressed with this man’s dedication to scholarship. This is one of the few times that I have seen the connection between mathematics and the humanities. I found it to be a very relevant relationship. When he got done speaking, I thought to myself, I want to present my research to large groups of people someday. I have yet to find a particular focus that I am willing to focus years of study, but I think I have the passion and interest to pursue this type of career.

Monday October 3, 2005

Today I finished the Dreamweaver course using the Skillport learning management system. It was nice to get an explanation of the tags that appear in the code view when information is added to a web page. The learning management system has simulation activities included after you complete a lesson. I found it nice to actually be able to try out some of the activities that I was learning about instead of only reading and watching how they work. However, I also found it a bit frustrating. There are several ways to accomplish a single task in Dreamweaver. The system will only let you accomplish a task in a certain way even if you are aware of an alternative method. However, I did enjoy the convenience of Skillport. I could hook up to the internet in the comfort of my own apartment and do my work. I guess there are some benefits involved with distance education, but if I had my choice, I would have preferred to have taken a face-to-face class.

Tuesday October 4, 2005

Today I started to scan two completely different types of maps: land ownership and panoramic maps. Land ownership maps are heavily used by individuals who come to the Library of Congress in order to research genealogy. The map of TX that I worked on showed the divisions of property within the state, and had names assigned to each section. At the time the map was made, there were still various pieces of TX yet to be claimed. I had never seen a map like this before, so I found it a very interesting piece to work with. The other type of map that I started to scan was a panoramic. In order for a piece to be considered a panoramic map, there must be streets in the map with labels on each street identifying the street name. This means that just because a map shows a Bird’s Eye view, it isn’t necessarily a panoramic. I also learned a new trick in Photoshop. Instead of cropping the image perfectly on the sides, I can fill in areas of white space with either the cloning tool or the paint bucket. I have to be aware, however, that not every color in Photoshop is safe for the web.

Wednesday October 5, 2005

Today Colleen took me to all the floors to hand posters for her book talk coming up next Friday. She gave me several tips that I should be aware of as a media specialist when considering hosting an event like this. First, make sure you plan your event well ahead of time so that you can reserve rooms and make accommodations. Make sure the event is publicized. Here at the Library of Congress, posters are hung, announcements are made, and an article appears in the building newsletter. Try to get other people involved. Colleen has a committee of people involved, but she suggested that I check to see if there are book/writers clubs within the community who would have contacts with authors and/or be willing to help with an event. Start small, and expect small realizing that numbers will increase. Finally, consider inviting a local author. Many local authors would appreciate the exposure, and would be willing to donate their time for free. Speaking of saving money, I also learned today that Adobe makes a software package called Photoshop Elements, which has all the main tools that most people use in Photoshop and is available for a fraction of the cost! This is definitely something that I want to look into.

Thursday October 6, 2005

I think that I am finally getting the whole picture of how cataloging works. Diane (a co-worker) showed me the g schedule that indicates the call number for each geographical location. The list starts at the top of the East Coast with Maine, and then goes down to Florida, and then snakes back up the country. Each location has been assigned a number and the numbers get more detailed as the location becomes more specific. The system is set up in such a way that it is infinite and will never run out of numbers. When I asked her who came up with the system, she said the Library of Congress came up with this, and that it is loosely modeled after how Thomas Jefferson once organized his collections. It’s quite something to be cataloging for the institution that created some of the most well known library classification schemes. I’m also starting to understand why some people enjoy cataloging for a living. It becomes an intellectual challenge when you fully understand the rules and are able to apply them in a way that helps to successfully communicate the content of an item with others. I noticed today that it is very important to put items away after they have been looked at or scanned. Someone was trying to find a map today that had been misplaced here. There are five million maps in this division, so it’s important to keep track of everything so nothing is lost.

Friday, October 07, 2005

Today I learned how maps were made before the dawn of the computer age. Cartographers used plates made of stone or copper in order to mass produce prints of each map. A customer could then custom order any color that they wanted to be added. The color was then added by hand. Now GIS software is available and maps can be created by inputting coordinates into a computer. We’ve come a long way over the years. Since I was so curious about how this process works, my supervisor gave me a tour of the vault to show me the stone that the Library of Congress owns that was once used for printing maps. Along the way, I also got to see other treasures in the vault: pocket globes, maps scripted in cuneiform, and globes within globes. The inner globe show terrestrial data and the outer globe show celestial data. It was neat!

Washington Center Activities

I enjoyed the visit to Peace Corps Headquarters. Even though I enjoyed the video, the Peace Corps is not for me. I have gone to Ukraine, and while I did enjoy it, I do not think that I could live in a lesser developed country on a long term basis. It would be too big of an adjustment. Language would also be an issue. I was glad to see that they provide training. It was interesting to see where the state of technology was in Moldova. I think about all the technology that I have access to and it quickly becomes mind boggling to see that people my own age not having access to the internet. Maybe someday I can share what I know with others on a more short-term basis. Class is going well. I like all the people in my course. One of the student’s has parents who are media and reading specialists. We have a lot in common. I’m finding that literacy is something that many people care about and therefore provide funding.

Monday October 10, 2005

Columbus Day, all Federal Offices are closed.
Tuesday October 11, 2005

It took most of the day for me to learn how to use Adobe Photoshop to put a multi image map together. I started the day by completing a lesson about Adobe Photoshop and how to manipulate layers. I then applied this information by combining the images of the map and then flattening the image into one layer. Creating one image of a map out of four is complicated because every line has to match up perfectly and the image has to be straight. It is also important to have good file management skills so all the pieces of the image can be put together properly without deleting or misplacing any of the files.

Wednesday October 12, 2005

What a busy day! Early in the morning I was given a tour of the Office of Copyright. About 400 people work in copyright, so that’s about 10% of the library. 12,000 items come in everyday for copyright including home videos which need to be watched before they can be properly cataloged. There is also huge backlog of requests from people who did not send in enough money, or filled out the form incorrectly. There is some neat memorabilia up there that have been copyrighted such as Michael Jackson’s Thriller and the music from Little Orphan Annie. In the afternoon, I guest spoke in IM 302: Theory to Practice via telephone bridge. I talked about the interview process and resume writing. I also touched on how I use what I learned in the IM on the job at the Library of Congress. I was fun to be asked to guest speak in a class. I was just in that class as a student two years ago. The day’s highlights ended when I met Dick Stevenson who was in a Reading Rainbow episode. I got to take my picture with him and I think I made his day because it has been a while since someone has recognized his appearance on this show.

Thursday October 13, 2005

Today I spent most of the afternoon learning how to do original cataloging. I came home with a headache! That was a lot of information, and I have a hard time digesting it all. It took my supervisor about 2.5 hours to show me how to catalog one map. She said that it would probably have taken her about an hour or one and a half hours if she had to do it without explaining the rules. A school librarian could never take that amount of time to catalog an item. I learned that there is a relationship between reference and cataloging. A good cataloger has a keen understanding about what types of questions patrons are asking and in turn puts this information into the record so the reference librarian can find the information quickly. Reference materials are also used by the cataloger to verify information in a record. For example, the existence of a cartographer may have to be verified by matching a name found on a map with an entry in American Biographical Dictionary. I wasn’t aware that the two disciplines were so combined. Lloyd Jacobson, program manager for the non-profit leaders program from the Washington Center came for a mid-term visit today. Things are going well, and my supervisor said that if Geography and Map had the money, then they would definitely hire me. They don’t have the money, so it’s not going to happen, but that’s quite a compliment. I also found out that I am going to have the opportunity to interview Deanna Marcum on Nov. 1st. I believe that Deanna is the head of Library services, so she should have a depth of insight regarding the current and future role of libraries.

Friday October 14, 2005

My boss was out sick today, so I completed some work independently. One of the mini-projects I worked on was to take a class in Skillport on Microsoft Access. The creation of databases can be extensive and highly detailed. I was surprised by the amount of information someone would have to know in order to create and search a database with any amount of efficiency. I was also surprised at how similar some of the concepts are to Apple’s Database software. I think you can accomplish most of the same functions on either piece of software. I use Access just about everyday at work, so I felt this course was helpful. I also took a trip downtown to see the National Library of Education. I learned by reading online that there are four major national libraries: The Library of Congress, the National Library of Medicine, the National Library of Education, and the National Agricultural Library. I was let down by what I saw at the Department of Education. The library is only two floors in the basement of the building, and only one floor is really open to the public. The books date back to the 1970s and the card catalog is not yet available on the World Wide Web; it can only be accessed from an in-house computer. I did get a chance to pick up a report on media centers that was completed by the Dept. of Ed. Apparently media specialists collaborate more with English teachers than math teachers. That was interesting. I also found out about what happened to the ERIC Database. ERIC was part of the Dept of Ed along with 26 additional organizations who helped to manage it. Many resources, such as lesson plans for teachers, were available online. At some point in time, it was decided that this type of information did not fit with the mission of the Department of ED so it was merged into one organization managing the database, and outsourced to a company in Rockville, MD. Occasionally, if an article shows merit, it will be sent out to this company to consider being put online, but the Dept. of Ed is mainly concentrating on cutting edge research instead of resources for teachers. This trend is a little disheartening as I feel ERIC is a great resource for education students and current teachers. Downsizing the operation was not a smart move in my opinion. I also learned one interesting fact on my way out: there are 600 libraries in the greater Washington DC area. While there are not many jobs as school media specialists in this area, it is relatively easy to find a job as a special librarian. The librarian I talked to found her job in 30 days and have kept it for 15 years.

Monday October 17, 2005

I watched a webcast today on the Library of Congress’ website. My colleague’s husband, Pat, who is a professional archeologist, was giving a presentation on how he utilizes the resources of the library to prepare for digs. It was amazing! He uses about ten different reading rooms to gather information, namely, the main reading room and the geography and map division, but has also gone so far as look into sheet music in order to discover what the cultural attitude was in the past towards certain building materials. (He found two songs devoted entirely to bricks and brick building). This is the first time in my internship that I am starting to understand how the maps that are in the division are used for research. Pat needs to look at landownership records to see who has owned it in the past compared with who owns the land now. He also needs to look for building structures that were once on a piece of property, but are no longer present. This gives a clue as to what and where to look for artifacts. I always thought landownership maps were interesting to look at, but now I am starting to see their place in an academic setting. I am also starting to see how professionals from the public use the library to answer their research questions.

Tuesday October 18, 2005

I completed several administrative tasks today: marking off in a database what records I had completed, finishing bibliographic records , and checking to make sure that the images I have processed are displaying correctly on the internet. It wasn’t anything too out of the ordinary, but I have found that I accomplished much. These weren’t any tasks that I needed instruction on at this point, so I could finish it quickly. Sometimes I wish I could have more days like this because I wouldn’t have to ask so many questions which take up everyone’s time and slows down the amt of work that could be completed. That’s part of being an intern, though, I think. It is a learning experience and one is not supposed to know everything before they step in the door. I really feel that a good internship holds the amount of learning and contribution to an organization or business in balance: about 50/50, and I feel this balance has been achieved. I am learning much every day about libraries, but I am also contributing to the library as well.

Wednesday October 19, 2005

Colleen went over with me what needs to take place in order to send a package out of the Library of Congress. Three people have to sign off on a sheet saying that the package has nothing harmful in it, and then it is sent upstairs to the mail room and mailed to the appropriate person. The interesting thing about this whole process is the amount of mail the Library of Congress deals with on a daily basis. I didn’t realize this, but the library receives more mail than any other place on the planet. To accommodate for this large volume, the library has its own zip code. How crazy is that!? Sometimes mail can take up to three months to reach someone if it gets confused with another division, employee etc. Colleen also took the time to explain the statistics that the digital team keeps in order to keep track of and communicate with others the type and volume of work the team does each month, quarter, and annual year. I now have to keep track of the amount and type of work I complete from this point onward. Sometimes I feel that for every minute of scanning I complete, there must be at least five minutes of record keeping. We have records of data about records of data. If I could just do my work without having to keep track of it, I could probably put double the amount of images that I am able to prepare for the web. I’m glad that Colleen took the time to show me how Microsoft Excel is used to keep stats of the team’s production for the month. I feel like my work is being held accountable for and that keeps me motivated to keep working hard. I also have come to realize that keeping track of production is definitely something that a school library media specialist should put into practice so that he or she can effectively communicate with the administration about how the library is being used.

Thursday October 23, 2005

I finished scanning all the pages of an Atlas which were post-bound in a book. (I’ve learned that post-bound means that the atlas was bound with a post with screws so that the pages can be removed as needed.) Due to the fact that the jumbo scanner is so large, I can actually scan up to six pages at once and then use Adobe Photoshop to save six different images from one scan. I also rescanned a few larger CIA maps which were once scanned on our smaller scanner, the Tangent. When they were originally scanned, the Tangent was the largest scanner that the Division owned, so some maps had to be scanned in six pieces. In some cases, a rescan on the Jumbo scanner will reduce the number of images needed to two images. This is a much more efficient number which makes processing go faster. It’s interesting to me to see how technology has evolved even from within the digital team’s perspective.

Monday October 24, 2005

The Library of Congress is committed to cultural diversity. There is an Office of Workforce Diversity on the sixth floor which tries to diversify the workforce at the Library to include people with disabilities and people from minority races. One other service that the Library has is the language tables that are held once a week during lunch. Employees can learn every language from Russian to ASL to Hebrew. Once a year, the tables host an international lunch where each nation represented cooks food from their country and everyone comes and eats! My supervisors and coworkers go to these tables, so they invited me to lunch. I had some interesting food including real Turkish Delight! I would need to have chocolate from the White Witch before I would be tempted to sell my family like Edmund in The Chronicles of Narnia, but it was pretty good. I think it’s wonderful that the library is committed to diversity and educating their staff about other nations. I think that’s an essential part of professional development that can be easily overlooked. Cultural education is especially important at LOC, because many of the catalogers need to know other languages in order to do their work. Hosting language tables is a great way for people to learn about other cultures and improve their language skills. (Not to mention the fact that LOC is able to utilize their staff instead of having to spend money hiring outside help!)

Tuesday October 25, 2005

Workplace ergonomics is something that I have had to take into consideration lately. One day I sat at my desk all day long processing an Atlas, and my back started to hurt. I also noticed my eyes were tried from staring at the computer and my wrist was sore from typing. Safe ergonomics is something that I’ve read about, but have never had to put into practice until now. I’ve taken better care of myself since and am feeling better. Here’s what I’ve had to do: I have to stretch when I get home, my legs and especially my back. One of my colleagues, Sammie, does yoga and/or Pilates every noon. She has given me some stretches to do at home. I also have been utilizing the pool and hot tub. Swimming seems to be a relaxing activity and the jets from the tub help my back. I also make sure to wear sunglasses when I’m scanning with the Jumbo scanner as the light is extremely bright and I’m a little light sensitive. I try to wear my glasses to work instead of my contacts once a week to give my eyes a rest. We also have ergonomically correct mats to stand on while scanning, and our desk height is adjustable. My supervisor attended a workshop on ergonomics, so our office is pretty safe. Not all work spaces at LOC have ergonomically correct structures and I’m surprised because most people work at LOC until they retire or die so I would think they would want a comfortable work area.

Wednesday October 26, 2005

Today I went on a tour of the Motion Picture and Television Reading Room. It houses the largest collection of film in the United States. It brings in roughly 30,000 items each year for its collection. Most of the items come in from The Office of Copyright and are then sent to this division. Some of the most recent films like War of the Worlds are already at the LOC, but are mailed under a different name so that no one tries to make a copy of it on its way to Washington DC. I found that interesting. One sad trend at LOC is the outsourcing that is taking place. Many departments, including this one, are moving off campus to Virginia and/or Maryland where there is more space. Many employees are resisting this move and are upset over longer commutes. I would be upset over the fact that I was no longer in a main building because I think you would loose out from the atmosphere of the organization: the special programming would no longer be just down the hall, and many of the friends you had made from other divisions would no longer be seen. I think it also takes away from the magnificence of the library. Everything is no longer housed in one central area, so an individual never gets to see the whole picture of what the library has to offer. I think it’s sad that an intern may not get to see what I have seen in as little as a year’s time. I’m glad I’m here now before some of it is gone. One person raised the question if it was projected that at some point people would stop sending in film, and just send in a file to the Reading Room to become part of the collection? The answer to that question is no, because as formats of files change, each film would have to be copied and the resolution would decrease. This makes sense, but the idea troubles me. I know that libraries are moving towards digitization, but I think we as a society are missing something when we no longer want to hold an item in our hands to look at it and gain knowledge. I’m all for making resources available online for people to utilize, but don’t throw the original item out! I can’t image a library without any resources except for a computer. That’s cold and heartless. Part of the ambiance of a library is its resources! Geography and Map are committed to digitizing resources, but we keep the maps after they’re scanned and are actively looking to purchase and acquire physical items! Until we can digitally project an item so it takes up a 3-D presence identical to the original item, I think people should think twice before sending in files only.

Thursday October 27, 2005

I’ve found the work that I am doing at the Library of Congress to be challenging. Colleen and Diane do a nice job of giving me tasks, explaining them well, answering any questions I have, and praising me for getting them done right in a timely manner. I’ve also noticed that they are dedicated to giving me a range of activities to do so I can learn much, and not get bored. As soon as they see I have mastered one concept, they give me a more challenging one. This is great! I feel like I am being immersed in constant learning…more so than the average semester. One of the most challenging skills that I have to use in order to do this job successfully which I did not anticipate was being able to understand visual-spatial relationships, or at least the analogy of physical objects that are represented in the graphical user interface. For example, one of the most challenging tasks I have to deal with is handling and moving multi-part maps which may include 16 files. After figuring out what to name them, the user then has to understand where the files are physically going when they are being moved from one computer to the next, from one directory to the next, and from a personal computer to a server. This process can become very complicated and confusing, so if a person does not understand what is going on, files can easily be lost, and work may have to be repeated. Luckily, this hasn’t happened to me, but it has taken me a while to understand. I think the same issues exist in cataloging. In order to really grasp why an indicator is added in a field, and what the ramifications are for adding or omitting certain information, I think I person really needs to take a look at a physical card catalog in a drawer and analyze how they are interconnected before one can truly grasp the whole picture. Colleen is trying to show me this relationship, but I haven’t been able to put all the pieces together. Cataloging, at some level, is still just data entry to me. Finally, when using HTML, the user needs to understand how what they input in the HTML code is going to impact the physical appearance of the web page in the design view. Understanding this relationship from the code view to the design view is probably something that can only be learned from experience, and may take some considerable amount of time to master. I am a little envious of all that my coworkers know about the field of Library Science and Information Technology. I wish I could take their knowledge and deposit it in my mind, but that’s impossible. It’s also an unreasonable goal to try to learn everything before the semester is over. There is more knowledge to master than there is time to learn it. I have to accept that, but I can look at where they are at, and realize that in twenty-thirty years down the road, I too may have the knowledge that they have, and I’m doing well for someone my age who is about to complete their undergraduate degree.

Friday October 28, 2005

Today I was given an inside tour of the Main Reading Room in the Jefferson Building. There are 80,000 books in the Reading Room and a card catalog with 22,000 drawers. A book takes 45 minutes to retrieve if it is in the Jefferson Building, and 90 minutes if it is in the Adams Building. One of the things which I have always wanted to see was the book conveyor belt and transportation system that is located underneath the Reading Room. I got to see it and take pictures! A patron fills out a paper slip with the name of the book they would like to retrieve. It is then given to an employee who finds the book in the shelves. The book is then placed on the conveyor belt, and taken up to the Reading Room mechanically. The book is then delivered to the patron. Shelves can be reserved either for long-term use or for three days. This service is provided because once a book is turned in; it takes three weeks before it is shelved again. The priority is to get the book to the patron, not to put it back on the shelf. I guess some researchers have been reduced to tears over this fact because they returned a book that they needed and desperately need it back before three weeks will be up. With a library this size, I can see why it’s a problem.

Click here to read more entries