Lisa's FW Outline

I have attempted to cobble together below an Outline on the themes presented in this blog (and in Info652), as they relate to the content and style of my final website.

1. Why this topic / Intended audience

The goal of my final website will be to provide information for those considering a career as a reference librarian. Visitors to this website will hopefully learn a thing or two about classes, professors, gaining work experience, and even on how to search for a job.

I am in my second quarter at the iSchool at Drexel. I am currently a full-time student, with three classes, including this Info652. I also have three part time jobs, which means I work up to 70 hours per week. As a consequence, I don't have much time for creativity in my homework. Thus, I chose a topic related to my professional and educational library experiences.

2. Possible topics for 4-5 subpages

a. Home

b. Links: Annotated hyperlinks to external sources

c. About: Info on purpose and creator of site – for authority and authorship

d. Library Coursework

Likely, I will have a page dedicated to highlighting my coursework. For example, I want to discuss my process for preparing an imaginary grant proposal. I am seeking funding for a legal research training program for pro se litigants. Perhaps I can include links to some of the more useful sights on funding opportunities and grant writing guides.

e. Library Internships

I would also want to include a page about my current library reference experience. I work at both the Penn and Drexel law school libraries – and have been keeping a journal highlighting some of my more memorable moments (I call these moments, “Growing up with Grit: Becoming a Reference Librarian is Hard”)

f. How to Network and Find a Job

So much of my focus these days is on developing myself professionally – so as to be fully marketable in the fall. I am currently attempting to write an article for publication in the Law Library Journal. In addition, I have applied for various scholarships; I am told that getting applications out there is a great marketing tool.

g. In-Between Time

I would want to talk about my involvement in library associations, including the American Library Association (ALA), the American Association of Law Librarians (AALL), and the Greater Philadelphia Law Library Association (GPLLA). I have plenty to say here; for example, I can talk all about how I totally rocked out at the Bibliodiscotheque Librarian Dance Party organized b the Desk Set Crew, and led by DJ Marc Records (a colleague from the Drexel law library)

3. Links to Resources (Examples of potential links)

a. Library school programs, including Drexel
b. Drexel’s courses and course descriptions
c. Related course links (including library social networking software like Library Thing)
d. Drexel and Penn law libraries
e. Important Libraries (like the LOC)
f. Professional Blogs
g. Library Associations

4. Ideas for Colors

Likely, the website will be dominated by yellows and blues. First, yellow is my favorite color – and blue is a nice complement to yellow. Also, these are not only Drexel's colors, but the colors of my undergraduate university, the George Washington University.

In addition, I will provide different colors for the navigation system and hyperlinks to help highlight clickable links and to show where the visitor has been.

5. Navigation/Design

I hope to include an internal navigation for long pages and a navigation bar at the top. Aside: I believe the top or right-hand navigation system is the most intuitive.

6. Links to Good Examples of Similar Sites (two indexes)

a. http://librariansindex.blogspot.com/
b. http://www.dmoz.org/Reference/Libraries/Library_and_Information_Science/

7. Possible Original Text

My original text will mostly involve descriptions, description about why I want to be a reference librarian, how I found an internship in a library, what associations I have joined, what I learned at the ALA Midwinter conference, why I chose to attend Drexel, and (even more specifically) what I am doing in my courses. Of course, all this narrative will tie into the annotated links – links to, for example, the ALA, the iSchool at Drexel, and the Drexel and Penn law libraries (where I work).

And, well, I spend a lot of time crafting witty postings to class discussions in Blackboard – I could edit some of that content for use in the website. I have gone on at times about librarian issues, especially where they intersect with the law. For example, I seem to get quite excited when talking about topics like Copyright, free speech, and the Patriot Act.

I will also provide sort of anecdotal and witty insight about my time as an actual reference librarian, as these are the experiences that are most interesting, rewarding, frustrating and funny – and might be what those considering such a career might find most relevant.

8. Possible Graphics (with tags)

I will likely want to provide my own pictures of where I work (said reference desk(s)) and of the iSchool and even of my desk at home, where I spend a great many hours. Likely, too, I will include a picture of my bike, which gets me to work and class – and pictures of loved ones who have been supporting me during this hectic year. I mean, who doesn't really love looking at other's personal photos (smile)!

Other graphics I might consider include:

a. Cool "icon" or logo to really represent my metamorphosis from lawyer to reference librarian
b. Web page snapshots of the professional blogs I read daily
c. Professional images of libraries (with proper citation of course)
d. The Drexel Dragon

I might also consider adding video content. Perhaps I could make a simple video about how to avoid buying any books for class. So far, Castro's is the only book I have purchased – I have otherwise borrowed from colleagues and from the library's shelves and reserves. I can talk about the reserve desk and the best time to get books, etc. Or, I could make a video about bad reference interviews. Yes, likely I will reenact some terrible moments at the reference desk.

9. Challenges

The first problem is that I am not very creative, and I have no eye for color and style. Thus, I fear the final look will be unimaginative, or, worse, tacky. I know we are supposed to respect certain parameters – and I figure boring is safe. I can't even imagine what my "icon" will be – perhaps in the upper-left hand corner.

The second problem is that I am totally inept with computers. I mean, I am trying to remain confident that I will eventually be able to create a web page with pretty pictures and navigation tools and tags and such. There is a good chance I will have five totally boring web pages (note the minimum) that have the minimum graphic content. (Did I mention that I don't take pictures – and have never "uploaded" digital pictures to a computer?)