Re:Generations

The Re:Generations blog has as its tagline: “”Re:Generations: reaching new academic librarians to re-energize the academic librarian profession.” I like that “re-energizing” bit; it’s slightly provocative and makes me think that, well, yes, this profession does need a bit of new energy.

Of the Library 2.0 sites critiqued in my blog, this is the only non-library site. And … it’s great!

Re:Generations is a committee of the Canadian Library Association’s Canadian Association of College & University Libraries (CACUL). The CLA’s CACUL website states:

The new CACUL Re:Generations Committee will encourage active engagement in CACUL from new or prospective academic librarians with the goal of revitalizing the organization and making it more accountable to the needs of new librarians. It will contribute to this goal by:

• Providing advocacy for the needs/issues/concerns of new librarians to CACUL executive.
• Dovetailing this new engagement with CACUL with the professional needs of new librarians by providing mentorships, networking events, internships, support for research and new programs that will be of benefit.
• Facilitating knowledge growth and sharing of memory within the profession.

Part of the last goal (I like the “sharing memory” bit) is being achieved using the Re:Generations blog.

The blog itself is very attractive. Soothing graphics and soothing colours help calm the nerves of aspiring academic librarians. It is kept up-to-date by a roster of about thirteen contributors. It is extremely easy to navigate and has links to the CLA, CACUL, the Regenerations’ Homepage, CLA’s New Librarians and Information Professionals Interest Group, and student chapters at the University of Alberta, UBC, Dalhousie, McGill, Nova Scotia Community College, UofT, and Western. So, this one page is a virtual store with easy one-stop shopping for the next generation of academic librarians. Very nice, indeed.

THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE NEW LANGARA COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIBRARY IN VANCOUVER.

I LIKE THE WAY THE ARCHITECTS HAVE MADE A TONGUE-IN-CHEEK HOMMAGE TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD’S ‘VANCOUVER SPECIAL’ ARCHITECTURE (THAT’S A VANCOUVER SPECIAL IN THE LAST PHOTO).

LANGARA HAS A LIBRARY TECH COURSE, OSTENSIBLY RE:GENERATING A NEW GENERATION OF LIBRARY TECHNICIANS.

This is a great blog. It’s current and generates comments. It’s thoughtful and interesting for those, like me, who are keen on the world of academic librarianship. Perhaps the best bonus on this blog is the link to the Re:Generations’ Résumé Review Service for New Librarians.

That’s so nice! Submit your résumé and get feedback from professionals. Sweet.

The blog started in 2005 and is kept very current. Due to the popularity of Facebook, the people at Re:Generations have started a Facebook profile to discuss how that social network can be used (or not!) in academic setting. Click here to read the blog’s post, “Libraries on Facebook: Should We or Shouldn’t We.” The end of the post reads:

“Should libraries build a presence on Facebook? I think they should, because even a less popular page is better than no page at all, since it will remind the patrons that you exist. And if you use your imagination and make it attractive, it could become an efficient marketing tool. What do you think?”

Well, personally, I still think the verdict is out on Facebook and MySpace. In researching this blog, I found the existing profiles stupid at best. Perhaps this group will come up with a better way to use these social networks. As I wrote in my critique of VPL, if I were in charge, I’d have the library’s MySpace profile removed.

BOTTOM LINE: Very good. I am so happy that my professor had this particular link in the list of suggested Library 2.0 websites. These people (academic librarian aspirants) are professional and interesting. I found their blog inspiring. Well done!

 

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