Library Comment on 60 Minutes Tonight

Scott Pelley was interviewing retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens as they entered the court's library.  The justice remarked that the library was empty.  Nobody uses it anymore.  Everyone uses the Internet.

Sounds familiar doesn't it.

Science Librarian Opening at Rutgers-Newark

I thought my readers may be interested in this opening at the Dana Library at Rutgers-Newark
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*TITLE*: *Reference/Instruction Librarian - Sciences, ** APP. 187*


* *John Cotton Dana Library


*DESCRIPTION/RESPONSIBILITIES*: The Rutgers University Libraries seek an experienced, innovative, energetic, and service-oriented librarian to fill the position of Science Librarian in the John Cotton Dana Library on the Newark Campus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Reporting to the Assistant Chancellor and Director of John Cotton Dana Library and under the direction of the Head of Public Services, the Science Librarian joins a team of library faculty committed to providing first-rate public services to a diverse academic community. The Science Librarian is expected to participate in the full range of reference services, providing general and specialized reference and research assistance locally and, through Rutgers’virtual reference services, University-wide. This position includes collection development and faculty liaison responsibilities, in collaboration with one other science librarian, for a range of science subject areas, including undergraduate and graduate programs in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Neurosciences, and Physics. As a participant in a dynamic and pro-active user education program, the Science Librarian should be prepared to develop and offer user-centered, subject-specific instruction sessions, and to develop Web-based and/or Learning Management System subject-specific courseware. The Science Librarian is also expected to participate in the first-year information literacy program, and engage in outreach to and collaboration with organizations such as the Newark Museum and the Newark Public Library.

This is a tenure track appointment and as a member of a university-wide faculty, the Science Librarian is expected to routinely participate in university-wide initiatives, committees, and task forces, and to demonstrate commitment to continual professional development through scholarly research relevant to areas of responsibility including publications, presentations, and participation and leadership in the work of relevant professional associations.


*QUALIFICATIONS*: *Required:* ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. Degree in a science discipline, or strong science reference experience. Experience in reference services and collection development in an academic, special, or large public library setting. Skill in collaboration and the ability to work in a team environment. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse students and colleagues. Strong service orientation and understanding of user needs. Awareness of national issues and trends in science librarianship, and the ability and desire to meet tenure and promotion requirements.


*SALARY*: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Interviews will begin immediately.


*STATUS/BENEFITS**:* Faculty status, calendar year appointment, retirement plans, life/health insurance, prescription drug, dental and vision plans, tuition remission, one month vacation.


LIBRARY PROFILE*: The Rutgers University Libraries (RUL), comprised of libraries on the University’s Camden, New Brunswick, and Newark Campuses, all reporting to the Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian, operate as a unified library system with coordinated public services, technical services, and collection development. The Libraries have a staff of 304, a budget of $21 million, and holdings numbering more than

3.6 million volumes. Rutgers University Libraries are a member of ARL, CRL, Lyrasis, Metro, NERL, and VALE, and use SirsiDynix and OCLC as their primary bibliographic utilities. Rutgers University is a member of the Association of American Universities. The Newark Campus of Rutgers University is a doctoral-degree granting research institution that is a leading education and research center. Classified as a Carnegie Research Intensive institution, Rutgers-Newark offers 14 doctoral programs: American studies, applied physics, biology, chemistry, criminal justice, environmental sciences, global affairs, integrative neuroscience, management, mathematical sciences, nursing, psychology, public administration, and urban systems, and is the most diverse campus in the country. For more information go to the RUL website: http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu and to learn about the Dana Library and Newark Campus go to: http://library.newark.rutgers.edu. Rutgers is an ADVANCE institution, committed to increase diversity and the participation and advancement of women in the STEM disciplines.



* *



*TO APPLY: REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AND CONTINUE UNTIL THE POSITION IS FILLED. SUBMIT RESUME, COVER LETTER, AND NAMES OF THREE REFERENCES TO: * *Sandra Troy (APP. 187)*, University Libraries Human Resources Manager, Rutgers University Libraries, 169 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1163, email: rulhr@rulmail.rutgers.edu, FAX:

732-932-7637

I contributed to the XCITR Project Today

XCITR is an acronym for Explore Chemical Information Teaching Resources.  It is an international depository for resources used to teach chemical information.  XCITR is a collaborative project between the Computer-Information-Chemistry (CIC) Division of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the Division of Chemical Information (CINF) of the American Chemical Society (ACS). XCITR is hosted by FIZ Chemie Berlin, Germany.

Today I added the Libguides that I developed for:

• General Introduction to the literature of chemistry, chemical engineering and environmental science
• How to find physical and thermodynamic properties of chemical substances

Hopefully this repository will be successful in reaching students, faculty and librarians.

Rock Stars and Libraries

I wasn't sure if I should post this here or in my personal journal, but I felt that the "L word" should never appear in the latter.  A lengthy book review of  Life by Keith Richards  written by Liz Phair appeared in the Sunday New York Times yesterday.  Let me quote "In the early publicity for "Life" it ws revealed that Richards harbored an ambition to be a librarian, and that he once considered getting "professional training" in the Dewey Decimal System to cope with his home library.  I should do something about the books that I have purchased over the years, but I would use the LC system.

Anyway, perhaps my readers here may not know that I worked at the Science and Technology division of NYPL from 1983-1990.  Back then it was located in the Central Research Building at 5th Avenue and 42nd Streer before it became SIBL at Madison Avenue and 34th Street.  Billy Joel gave a press conference there announcing his tour of the USSR in the 1980s>  Keith Richards tour promoting his book began and ended at NYPL.

Anyway several biographies of Bob Dylan stated that he was a regular patron of the Jewish Division of NYPL in the early 1960s when he first came to NYC.  That was not noted in the biopic I'm Not There.  If you want to read about Dylan, please go to Bruce's Journal and there are hundreds of entries.

Remember to Check Your Junk Email Folder

I very rarely check my junk e-mail folder at work since I presume that everything there is just spam.  I estimate that I immediately delete at least 80% of my work e-mail and 90% of my personal e-mail since I can see from the header that it is just advertisements.  This afternoon I looked at my junk e-mail and found an assignment that a chemical engineering student sent to me last week.  I just don't understand how it got there, but in the future I will quickly peruse that folder before I delete it.

Tony Stankus will Speak to the Science Librarians SIG on January 10th

I am pleased to announce that Tony Stankus will speak to the METRO Science Librarians SIG on Monday January 10, 2011 at 1:30 PM.  His topic will be "The Future of Open Access Publishing".  Tony will speak to the group via Skype or web conferencing software.

I must use this blog to vent a little.  A person has the right to decline an invitation to a professional or social function, but it should be done tactfully.  Completely ignoring an invitation is somewhat disrespectful.  I had two such experiences recently.

Thanks

Trying to Make Information Literacy Relevant

We can never make students enjoy library lectures.  Many students are obviously inattentive while I give my lectures.  There are both high and low tech ways of not paying attention.  Some are looking at their textbooks while others are playing with their smart phones.

I always start my lectures saying that the scientific and technical literature is a tool that they will use when they become practicing professionals.  Database searching is a skill that takes time to learn.  Hopefully by the time they graduate they have developed enough proficiency to be able to properly use literature resources in their daily work.  All professionals should read the technical literature in their specialty to keep abreast of new developments in their field and to be aware of the activities of their competitors.  When encountered with a problem in the lab or the plant, they should know to consult the literature before time and money on the job is wasted.

Tony Stankus to Speak to the METRO Science Librarians SIG

I received some really great news today.  Tony Stankus, a prolific writer in Sci/Tech librarianship has agreed to speak to the METRO Science Librarians SIG.  He will speak to the group remotely from the University of Arkansas.  The title and date of the talk will be announced.  Stay tuned.