On Feb 14, 2013, at 8:57 AM, Karen Coyle wrote:
> EVERYONE should know some code. see:
> http://laboratorium.net/archive/2013/01/16/my_career_as_a_bulk_downloader
>
> But it's hard to find the classes that teach "coding for everyone". This
> would be a good thing for c4l'ers to do in their institutions. How to write
> the short script you need to do something practical. Also, how to throw a few
> things into a database so you can re-munge it or explore some connections. We
> need those classes. We need to turn a room in the library into a hacker space
> for the staff. A learning lab.
I just realized that the e-mails from Chris Erdmann a couple of weeks back were
*not* on code4lib ... he's running a class on programming for librarians
(specifically for processing data), and in a couple of weeks, they're going to
have a workshop on interfaces at Harvard. See below. Also, a blog post from
last month arguing that all librarians should know how to program:
http://altbibl.io/dst4l/109/
-Joe
ps. personally, I *hate* the term coder ... one, it make me think 'code
monkey', and what I do is much more involved than that (analyst, architect,
sysadmin, dba, programing, debugging, tech support, etc.). If I had a MLS, I
might be a 'Systems Librarian', but I have a MIM (Info. Management ... still an
LIS degree, but not the same accreditation); It's still easier to tell the
library community that's what I am, and it's easier to explain what I do to the
science by telling them I'm a 'data librarian'.*
Two, 'coding' is a relatively minor skill. It's like putting 'typist' as a job
title, because you use your keyboard a lot at work. Figuring out what needs to
be written/typed/coded is more important than the actual writing aspect of it.
As for titles, over the years, I've had the job title of :
Programmer/Analyst
Systems Analyst
Software Engineer
UNIX Engineer
Multimedia Applications Analyst
Short Guy with Beard (which was only funny because there was a much
shorter guy with a more impressive beard)
Web Developer
Webmaster (back when it meant the person who administered the service,
not the person who made the website)
System Administrator
... etc.
(I've had a lot as the university I worked at tied titles to pay rate, so every
promotion required getting new business cards; right now, I work for a
contractor, and the contractor gives me different titles than what NASA has me
down as ... it's important what roles that I play, and the work that I do than
what category someone's lumped me in. If you're going to insist on it, I'd
rather it be broad, like 'techie' than just a 'coder'.)
* and to make it more confusing, my company's title for me is 'Principal
Software Engineer', but I don't meet the requirements to be an engineer. I
went to an ABET accredited engineering program, but never took the EIT/FE or PE
tests. So I try to avoid the 'engineer' titles, too.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: cerdm...@cfa.harvard.edu
> Date: February 7, 2013 6:57:37 AM EST
> To: pam...@listserv.nd.edu
> Subject: [PAMNET] Liberact Workshop and Data Scientist Training for Librarians
> Reply-To: cerdm...@cfa.harvard.edu
>
> Good morning!
>
> Just a reminder to those thinking about interactive technologies in
> libraries, this workshop may be of interest:
> http://altbibl.io/liberact/
>
> Also, we just started a course called Data Scientist Training for Librarians.
> Follow along here:
> http://altbibl.io/dst4l/blog/
>
> Please forward to interested colleagues.
>
> Best regards,
> Christopher Erdmann, Head Librarian
> Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Begin forwarded message:
> From: cerdm...@cfa.harvard.edu
> Date: January 25, 2013 5:06:58 PM EST
> To: pam...@listserv.nd.edu
> Subject: [PAMNET] Liberact Workshop Feb 28 - Mar 1 @ Harvard
> Reply-To: cerdm...@cfa.harvard.edu
>
> To individuals interested in interactive technologies in libraries, this
> event is for you.
>
> The Liberact Workshop aims to bring librarians and developers together
> to discuss and brainstorm interactive, gesture-based systems for library
> settings. An array of gesture-based technologies will be demonstrated on
> the first day with presentations, brainstorming and discussions taking
> place on the second day. The workshop will be held at the Radcliffe
> Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard University in Cambridge,
> Massachusetts, and takes place February 28 - March 1.
>
> Visit the Liberact Workshop website to learn more:
>
> http://altbibl.io/liberact
>
> To register, visit the Eventbrite page for the workshop:
>
> https://liberact.eventbrite.com
>
> We hope you will join us!
>
> Christopher Erdmann, Martin Schreiner, Lynn Schmelz, Susan Berstler,
> Paul Worster, Enrique Diaz, Lynn Sayers, Michael Leach
