Idaho Commission for Libraries

Inspired by a challenge issued by the Librarian by Day, I’m going to attempt to track a day in the life of the Networking Consultant at ICFL. Like many, I have no “typical” day so I’m looking forward to seeing how this plays out. I’m logging this post as I go so (a) I’m not sure from sentence to sentence what will be happening next and (b) I suspect that some chunks of the day may be skipped just due to the time it takes to track the details:

7:45am – At work a wee bit earlier than normal for me. I am not a morning person. I start the day by eating the breakfast sandwich I made at home while I read the mail that came in since I left work the day before. I also review today’s to-do list. My to-do list has the 6 most important things I need to do today and was created before I left work yesterday. It is taped to the desk in front of my computer. I repeat, I am not a morning person. This saves me from having to think too hard first thing. Before jumping in too deep, I squeeze in a quick look at some news feeds and see that all is well in libraryland.

Before Noon:

* Travel reimbursements that weren’t on to-do list, which lead to
* Travel requests that weren’t on the to-do list, which lead to
* PNLA PreConference planning & travel details for presenters involving coordination among several staff members. Also not on the to-do list, but it had to be done and it appears we’re all set now.
* Re-download June’s MARC records for the LiLI eAudioBooks Collection. A customer was having difficulties with the file so I’m working to fix it. Get to practice with the MarcEdit software, which I hope will make that monthly file easier for our customers to work with. Send updated file off to person who requested it. Crossing fingers that it worked.
* Phone conversation about Altarama reference solutions. Should that kind of solution be considered in future LiLI programs? Will have more discussion at next LiLI Steering Committee meeting that will address future directions and this topic may arise. Follow up note to self to learn more about it.
* Preparing for a mailing to LiLI-U participants and realize that mailing addresses are not contained in a single database. Wish I had foreseen this 3 years ago, but take the time to get it done now so to save time another year. Documents and mailing list successfully sent to individual who will oversee the actual mailing.
* Hungry! Have mid-morning snack at 11am while checking on confirmations for LiLI-U new participant training.
* Email check and find out the MARC record format worked! Woot! Respond to a few things, delete a few more things, and see email to self reminding me to find/share my notes from one ALA meeting of interest to the State Librarian. Adding more items to Outlook Task List that need to be cared for before the 15th.
* Follow up with new LiLI-U participants that haven’t yet responded. Need to be certain who will attend so super, duper support team of Nancy and Nancy can get on with the local arrangements.
* Phone call with OCLC to further discuss some plans to make it easier for our group services participants to contribute original records to WorldCat.

Noon-ish: Lunch of “mexitash” a well-executed experiment of mashing up a Mexican dish in a succotash style. What? You thought you’d only read about library things here? Libraries rock even more alongside some quality cuisine.

People often ask, “how do you keep up” when I talk about blogs and RSS feeds. This is it. Lunch while reading my news feeds!

Afternoon:

* Agenda created and distributed for meeting next week.
* Email mentioning a profile of me in the OCLC Western Trek newsletter, then time spent scouring office for a copy so I can delight in my fame! Or at least make sure the photo doesn’t make me look too goofy. Alas, our copies have not yet arrived so I must attempt to wait patiently.
* Reviewed the Idaho Trustee News and read a re-print of a great article about eaudiobooks from the Lewiston Tribune.
* Made first attempt at adding new content to new ICFL website (release later in summer). After some successful updating, I sent my short list of questions to the web team so, hopefully, I can do more tomorrow.
* Browsed the demo site for Web Junction Idaho. Updated my profile and added some WJ “friends” to see how it works. Can’t wait for the real release of the new WJ and the WJ Idaho site!
* Quickie check in with a project that will have ICFL testing use of webcams as an alternate means of meeting with customers in situations where face-to-face is not necessary. ICFL trying to be greener!
* Paperwork that is simply a part of the job and helps to keep things organized.

End of Day:

* Looking at the clock, I realized I had about 20 minutes ‘til it was time to head out, so..
* Made my to-do list index card for tomorrow (bright pink!)
* Using end-of-day time to post this then start reading an LSTA grant application as I’m on the team that will be reviewing it soon.

I'm not sure how it looks from the outside, but I'm a bit pooped looking at this. It is a great feeling know that I've accomplished a lot in the day. Positive progress all around. I imagine life at a state library agency is quite different from other libraries. If you are interested in reading more days in the life, check out the Day In the Life wiki for others.