Who am I?
My name is Heather Ebey. As of October 2006, I am the Web Manager/Technologist for the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science (SJSU SLIS). I received my MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) in May 2006. A lot has happened since I graduated, which is why I have had no time to work on this blog.
While still a graduate student, I did a practicum with Debbie Faires, the Assistant Director for Distance Learning for the SJSU SLIS program. She was also the webmaster. I did a lot of server-side PHP programming and was a team member in recoding/developing the redesigned SLIS Web site. That was a rewarding experience. I loved doing that work and applied for the newly opened Web Manager/Technologist position when SJSU SLIS advertised it in August. I was hired in mid-October 2006, and I am happily thinking of new ways to make the SLIS Web site even better—with input from many, of course.
My primary interest is Web technology. This includes coding/programming in XHTML, PHP, Javascript, XML, and now Ajax techniques. It naturally includes Web standards and the intricacies of CSS. I am particularly interested in Web site usabililty and accessibility. I am also interested in ethics and copyright as it relates to the Web. I believe strongly in the Open Source movement. I am fascinated by Weblogs, Wikis (e.g. Wikipedia) and CMS (e.g., Drupal and Plone) and their collaborative nature. I have recently discovered Second Life and have created my first avatar. There are quite a number of libraries (see InfoIsland.org and an increasing number of educators on Second Life.
What is going to be on this site?
As of November 2006, it is not much. Other Web development work and creating a 16-week class for future information professionals who want to learn XHTML/CSS, Web standards, and an introduction to the Web 2.0 buzzwords is taking all of my time.
When did you start this blog?
I set up Movable Type blogging software in a subdirectory of another domain name in December 2003. In June, I decided that my subdomain, Librarian Way, should have its own domain. I had the librarianway.com domain parked at GoDaddy since 2002. So, I started searching for a hosting service that was reasonably priced, had a dedicated IP address, ssh access, used Linux or BSD platforms, and permitted me to have multiple domains for one price. Site5.com met my specifications and I made the move at the end of June 2005. The big issue was exporting all of my archived blog entries from Movable Type and importing them into Wordpress because I decided to change blogging software.
Why did you choose SJSU SLIS?
I started with the American Library Association Education and Careers and discovered that there are many paths you can take. I also found Become a Librarian was helpful. On looking through job listings for librarians, I found that most recruitment advertisements require an MLS (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited institution. That limited the list to about 50 schools in the United States. In early 2002, there were only two ALA-accredited library schools in California. I could not quit my job and go to school full time, so that limited my options to distance programs. In the end, tuition costs, a breadth of classes, and proximity swayed me and I applied to SJSU SLIS. I wanted the option of being able to do some distance and some in-class sessions. SJSU SLIS has this option. The San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science MLIS program (they also have an Executive MLIS) is on a fast-track in technology. It is hard to keep up! Students are exposed to blogs, wikis, Elluminate conferencing, a Content Management System—where culminating students now post e-Portfolios (the e-Portfolio replaces the two papers that previous graduates had 10 weeks to write and which few will ever publish).
What classes have you taken?
I naturally took the three required core classes, Information and Society, Information Retrieval, and Information Organizations and Management. I also took Reference and Information Resources; Government Documents; Online Searching, Information Technology Tools: XHTML/CSS/JavaScript; Advanced Information Technology: XML/XSLT; Advanced Information Technology: PHP/MySQL; Beginning Cataloging and Classification; Interface Design for Information Services; and a Seminar in Contemporary Issues: Publishing for the Library and Information Science Profession.
How can I contact you?
Email is best: nodewalker at hotmail dot com. [Due to spammers, we have to do it this way.]
