S.S. Librarianship

This Week... Mind Grapes: Sam may be abandoning Doctor Who again because of opinions, Alli is reading China Mieville's Un Lun Dun, and we both talk a little bit about the podcasts we love. Where do we put this?: Sam went to a talk about the past, present, and future of the Oxford English Dictionary, launching us into a discussion on traditional reference sources. Do we still use them? Do students still use them? And what do professors mean when they tell new students not to use encyclopaedias?

MIND GRAPES: Michael discovers Neil Gaiman's Sandman and backs Sam up on the awesomeness that is Good Omens; Sam catches up on Doctor Who and learns to love the Moffatt of it all; Alli plays the crap out of the new Pokemon - twice. CLASS Z(ED): We talk to Michael about his current gig as a student librarian at Xwi7wa Library at UBC, unique in Canada as an academic library focused exclusively on content by, for and about indigenous peoples. We learn a lot about the intersection of library processes, policies and values with the processes, policies and values of the indigenous communities Xwi7wa serves. We also talk about repatriation, archival practices, and the incorporation of indigenous content across the university curriculum.

This week...​ Mind Grapes: We both saw Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity, ​Sam is reading Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake​ for the first time, and we are enjoying some comedy in the form of the sadly recently cancelled Happy Endings​ and the currently going strong Parks and Recreation.​ ​ Class Z: Alli professionally developed! She attended the BC Library Cooperative and Surrey Public Library's Data Camp - an un-conference that discusses data, open data, and what libraries and information professionals can do with these movements. We talk about the presentations and discuss the outcomes of a break-out session on privacy on library computers, particularly on protecting patrons from getting their data mined by advertisers. We also talk about getting involved with these kinds of less formal professional development avenues as a great place to start networking as a student.

It’s the S.S. Librarianship Halloween Spooktacular! We’re mixing it up scary style this week, with lots of our friends and colleagues stopping by to tell us about their favourite horror movies, creepy books, and terrifying video games - and our resident horror expert explaining why we love to be scared. Mind Grapes: The Butterfly Effect and psychological horror; the growing genre of comedic horror homages a la Shaun of the Dead and The Cabin in the Woods, and the tense terror of The Descent and Amnesia. Where Do We Put This?: “Aspiring expert” (and first member of the S.S. Librarianship two-timers club) Jon Newell, currently completing his PhD in Gothic literature, talks to us about the sprawling genre of horror and some of its darker corners. We talk about fear versus disgust, the temptation of the taboo, and why we're so attracted to spooky stuff.

Mind Grapes: The seventh season of Bones is on Canadian Netflix, the new comedies Brooklyn Nine Nine and The Crazy Ones , and comedy favourites return in Modern Family and How I Met Your Mother. Also Rachel Dratch's memoir A Girl Walks Into A Bar. Where Do We Put This?: We discuss the idea of serendipity and browsing and how it fits into our increasingly digital world. How are your libraries trying to encourage serendipity with digital resources?

Mind Grapes: Sleepy Hollow and its special guest stars get a resounding endorsement; we learn about the Fate roleplaying system and its emphasis on character; the great Gilmore Girls rewatch continues; Divergent's place among the proliferation of US-based future dystopias. Where Do We Put This?/Class Z(ed): In a special hybrid segment this week, we talk issues of copyright, fan created content, and the inflation of corporate rights, with Star Trek Renegades as our jumping-off point. Highlights: Disney, corporate law, and the bloating of modern copyright; Star Trek and the birth of modern fandom; what librarians can and should do to raise awareness about the brokenness of copyright in the age of fanfiction, web series, and remix; Matt's post-graduation plans for continental domination.

Mind Grapes: Disappointed with Dexter, hanging’ with Hannibal, gabbing about gals in games, and sharing about S.H.I.E.L.D. Class Z(ed): The Word Vancouver Festival was in town! We talk about our visit to the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library for the Word Vancouver event that brings together schools, publishers, libraries, and community organizations from the Lower Mainland to talk about reading, writing, and getting involved.

This week... Mind Grapes: ​ The Dog Whisperer and his application to cats, identifying with moms inGilmore Girls, Terry Pratchett’s Snuff, Outlander and other bodice-ripper novels. UNNAMED SEGMENT ABOUT DEPICTIONS OF LIBRARIANS IN MEDIA (send us a good name if you have one): The Naughty/Sexy Librarian - Empowering or demeaning? Class Z(ed): ​ Vancouver’s own Out on the Shelves Library at Qmunity, BC’s Queer Resource Centre! We talk specialized library outreach, volunteer organizations, and learning how to run a library hands on stylie.

Mind Grapes: Jasper Fforde and comedic misdirection; the EMP Museum and curating nerddom; Community season 4; new Harry Potter Expanded Universe movies! Class Z(ed): Our first two weeks of classes; getting involved outside of academics during your academic degrees - call for audience participation!

This week, with special guest Jon Newell… Mind Grapes: Bioshock Infinite, True Blood versus Game of Thrones, Bernard Cornwell, and giving blood. Where Do We Put This?: We talk to Jon about the Dungeons & Dragons Alignment system, its impact on gameplay, and its utility (or lack thereof) IRL.