Contemplative Reading

This term I’m on leave from teaching classes, in order to focus on my own studies. I’m working towards the Upgrade from MPhil to PhD, with the smaller (but important) deadline of the Progress Review approaching fast.

There’s still marking, of course, and meetings with personal tutees, and dissertation supervision. Students on the MA LIS undertake a piece of student-led research which is examined for the MA. (Students who complete only the taught element of the course finish earlier and are awarded a Postgraduate Certificate).

In general, though, the order of each day at the moment is contemplative reading and writing. I’ve had wonderful meetings this week with colleagues and current dissertation students, but in the main it’s just me, the books and the computer screen.

And the final proofs of Practical Cataloguing are here.

Definitely, therefore, all about the reading.

Music to research by

This term I am lucky to be research-focused (i.e. not teaching classes). Instead of a reflective post today (my usual Sunday practice), here’s a snippet of the music that’s been motivating my research activities today:

Gorecki. Symphony No. 3 / Three Olden Style Pieces. Zofia Kilanowicz, Soprano (as above); Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra.Naxos, 1994.

LIbrary Bypass

During the holidays, ProQuest uploaded the videos from their Library Bypass event at Online.

Viewpoints were presented from the Bodleian (Isabel Holowatay) and from two PhD students, including UCL’s own Essi Viitanen, as well as from ProQuest’s research into how academics use information services.

I blogged my own thoughts just after the event, and although I can’t bear to watch videos of myself, I thought I should post the youtube here. I have, however, watched the others again, and commend them to you.

Libday8 Approaches

 

As well as looking for participants for #catbkchat 2012, #hvcats is hoping that more catalogu(e)rs will sign up for Library Day in the Life Round 8. More on the blog.

“Events, my dear boy, events”

Macmillan said that events were the greatest challenge for the statesman. For the academic, the challenge is fitting them all in.

2012 has started with a great range of seminars and lectures, including:

The Open University Book History and Bibliography Research Seminars. Dr Karin Littau on ‘Subsequent Steps Towards a Media History of the Book’, 11 January.

SCONUL’s Robert Darnton Lecture and Discussion on ‘The Digital Public Library of America: Current Plans and Future Prospects‘, 17 January.