As the leaves change, so does my life

For once we get to see the leaves change color here in Nebraska, instead of having them just fall off because of early snow or ice. Like the leaves changing, my life changed color over this past month, redefining my roles in my professional life. One change was quite unexpected as well.

As I mentioned back in June, I'm finishing up an 8 year run as the webmaster for the Nebraska Library Association. I took the position as I was still getting my Masters of Library Science, and before I got my first librarian's job. I "grew up" being the NLA's "web guy". Through that time I did three site-wide redesigns, switched webhosts once, and helped set up membership services through another vendor. I've been given the chance to present at conferences and do classes and such. I've also been able to travel the state and not just talk to people, but to talk with people about technology and libraries. I've worked with many people who are passionate about what they do and the communities they serve. Earlier this week, I met with the new webmaster and started the transition process. I'm not going very far, as I've been elected Vice-President / President-elect of the Association. New challenges ahead in this arena!

I also am passing on the web duties of the Ms. Wheelchair Nebraska program to someone else. I still need to give her the passwords, but first I need to find them. That's the problem with telling Dreamweaver to remember the passwords, I guess. I got involved in the MWNE program by being their webmaster. I'm now president of the board for a second year. I never thought I would be in this position when I started working with them a few years ago.

Another big change just happened this last week and was something I did not see coming. I'm changing jobs - sort of. I was hired as "Assistant Systems Librarian" and did mostly training and some troubleshooting. Recently I added "Digital Media team leader" to my duties; basically working with services surrounding a/v things like circulating cameras and video recorders, and supplying video & audio editing software for patrons to use in the Libraries. I'm now off the team and have new job duties. I am now the "Emerging Technologies Librarian" and will be responsible for finding out ways to use some of the new tech out there to provide services to our clientele. Blogs, wikis, & RSS feeds are (of course) a few of the things I'll be looking at, but I also want to spend a lot of time looking at other data mashup tools to make research easier, especially for the undergraduate population here. I'm still doing training and some tech support, so there's still a good chunk of my job that remains the same. I am a little sad about leaving the digital media team, as I feel like we were just beginning to click as a real team and not just a group of people thrown together.

All in all, a very eventful October. Some of the changes are bittersweet. I am a tad reluctant to let go of the past experiences and feel like there is much more I can still do in those areas, but I am also eager for some of these new challenges and opportunities to present themselves.

These things will certainly change the color of my life dramatically, as these roles played a large part in identifing my place in my workplace, my career, my field, and my community. Of course, we can not stop personal change, like we can not stop the leaves from falling from the trees, can we?

To Portland and Back Again

Last week I made a trip to Portland, OR to present a session on relevance ranking at the American Association of Law Libraries annual meeting. It was a couple of long days for me, but good days.

First, my flight from Lincoln to Denver was delayed for 3 hours, because of problems with the aircraft. During the wait a bunch of of us commiserated and I found that I was in the company of a professional photographer from LA who does many shoots for magazines, like the cover of TV Guide and some Rolling Stones work, and one of the first female police officers from Arizona. (At least that's what they claimed to be). We finally get our flight out and land in Denver.

During this time, I wasn't sure I had a flight from Denver to Portland, so I'm hoping that I'm able to get one yet that night. I luckily catch a flight from Denver to Portland right as I landed, one of the last three seats on the plane. I finally get to the hotel around midnight and get a pleasant surprise - I get the best room in the place! Too bad I'm too tired to really enjoy it.

The next morning I get up, catch a quick breakfast, practice my presentation one last time, then hit the train to the convention center. I catch about half an hour of another session, mainly to scope out the room and the crowds as I've never presented for this group before.

Next up is my session. There was a decent turnout, about 165-175 people by my program sponsor's estimate. There were some good questions, and I got some very nice compliments after my presentation.

Right after I got done, I get onto the train to the airport. Me and my CPAP get through security, I grab some lunch and some wifi time. Things are rather uneventful as I get to Denver and have 3 hours to kill before the light to Lincoln. I spend some time in the New Holland Hub in the airport and was rather happy with the food and fine "adult beverages" they had. The flight from Denver to Lincoln is uneventful and I get to Lincoln around midnight.

Again, it was a long two days, but two very good days.

The things people do for power

Well, at least the things people do at a conference to plugin their laptops. Such as sit on the floor with their backs to one of those "corrugated" concrete walls. Much like I am doing right now. Very uncomfortable!

I'm posting the notes from the sessions I am attending at the New Mexico Library Association/ Mountain Plains Library Association conference over at the "Fun Librarians Association" That's why I'm on the sitting on the floor in the break area after the day's sessions. I'd have to pay for Internet access at the hotel I'm staying at, and there are no chairs near any outlets.

On a bus to Albuquerque

In a short while I'll be on a bus to Albuquerque to attend the NMLA/MPLA Joint Conference. The bus trip should fun, even though it will be about 15 hours long. The Regional Library Systems got a grant to pay for a bus, so everyone on it will be heading for the same thing and it may be a bit nicer than taking a bus trip on my own. I know a bunch of the people planning to go on the bus and I also know that as soon as it gets light - the cards will be coming out. Time for a rolling pitch tournament!