#informationstudies

[korahxoxo-blog]

Digital Detox?

So... I've never blogged before and really never planned on starting. I'm semi-familiar with blogs, mostly by being linked to them from other sites, but don't follow any regularly. Starting right now I will be blogging at the very least once a week for my Information Studies course this quarter. That being said, I don't really know how to start this, how long it should be, howformal or informal, or if I should be addressing some imaginary audience (recognizing the fact that I have no followers). I suppose I'll just wing it.

This blog post is going to be referencing this very interesting, and not very lengthy article I was assigned for my course. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/fashion/a-trip-to-camp-to-break-a-tech-addiction.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

The article talks about "Digital Detox" which is from my understanding camps set up where electronics are not allowed, and healthy eating and exercise are promoted. The largest being a summer camp called Camp Grounded. The author talks about his experience there with no phones, staying in an abandoned boy scout camp, eating vegan and gluten free meals, and practicing yoga. It seems he and everyone he had interviewed about the camp enjoyed it and benefitted from it.

I'm a little bit uncertain about the camp. These people are paying somewhere in the range of $300-$400 for 3 days at a camp living a lifestyle that is not their own, and most of which will not carry into their regular lives. 3 days of being the healthiest you've ever been in your life is fantastic, but if you're just going to leave and continue to spend the majority of your days on your phone and drinking 350 calorie machiattos it seems rather pointless. Undoubtedly the camp sounds like something that I would enjoy, but I think it's excessive for something that does not promote a lifestyle change, rather just shows campers how it would be to live another (impossible) way for three days.

For my class our professor is asking us to do a one day digital detox. This means no: phone, iPad, computer, TV, radio (any music device), etc. Will it put me behind in assignments? Yes. Will it be interesting? Yes. Will I actually benefit from it? TBD.

Results to follow.

[diaryofawannabelibrarian]

Why a librarian?

Earlier today, I was working on my application to graduate school and came to an essay that was required detailing why I would like to be admitted to the graduate degree program and what my future goals are. In essence, why do I want to be a librarian? I've been thinking about it and there are so many reasons. I think I have always loved libraries. From the time I learned how to read, the library was my home away from home. I was the kid that got more excited about a trip to the library than to the park. Every trip I would max out the number of books I could take, going to the nonfiction section and just pulling every book on a subject or finding all the fiction books in various series. I was ravenous when it came to books. Complete the summer reading program sheet and ask for seconds and thirds, yep, that was me. Even while I was at school, I was constantly in the library as a volunteer, shelving books and reading stories to younger students. All of this should have clued me in to what my future career should be but it took me a couple extra years and a few changes in majors before I figured out what would make me happy. Now I'm a semester of internship away from graduation and I'm becoming more and more sure of my career goals. I think that it took me growing into my own skin to realize what I am truly good at, and what I am good at meshes well with public librarianship. For one, I am "the finder". Do you need information and don't know how to find it? Well, I can help. My friends and family are constantly taking advantage of this as i am now the "go to" person for all things research. Another thing is that I love helping people. It is a point of pride that I'm always willing to help and that I can make people happy by helping them when they need it. Finally, I am one of those people that loves knowledge. Whether it be research or a job, I love learning every aspect about what I am looking up or doing. Obviously there are numerous other, more important, things that go into being a librarian. However, on a personality level, I believe it really suits me. Of course, I will have to wait and see how good of a librarian I will become but I have high hopes for my future.