Final Thoughts

I had intended to wait until next week to write this post but since I've finished everything for the class, it seems a little pointless to wait. Coming in, I didn't know what to expect out of this class and I wasn't particularly enthusiastic. Introductory courses are often a lot of busy work and loads of stating the obvious. While there was some of that in this course there was much more that was helpful and pertinent. I have learned more about the library profession. I now know that we have a strong core of ethics that stands for things I already hold dear. I've been challenged to think outside of my perceptions and I've found new areas of interest. I've had the chance to work with a wonderful team of women who are all going to become great librarians in their own right. While I still prefer my other class to this one, I feel as though I've put my time to good use. If there is one thing I will take from this class its this: Read and follow the grading rubric provided. :)

Time to Revisit

Back in January, in my first post I talked about some of the beliefs I held when I entered the program. I will forgive you if you couldn't find a list of beliefs and assumptions like some other bloggers wrote for this project. I had to look for them myself. I worked my assumptions into the body in such a crafty and seamless manner that I had to actually read what I had written to find out what I had written about. (Amazing!)

I'm going to pull out these statements for you and take a look at them to see how things have changed.

1) "I assumed that every MLIS holder had to become a librarian."

 This assumption is one I held prior to entering into the program and by the time I wrote my first post, this belief had already been busted. Even though I knew that every MLIS holder did not have to get a job in a public library I now have a much broader based understanding of the kinds of jobs out there. I've seen how MLIS holders can work in government agencies, schools, corporations, medical facilities, so on and so on.

2) "the thought of working as a school librarian filled me with nightmares of torn pages in Dr. Seuss books." Or, more specifically, school librarians only deal with handing books to kids.

What I've learned so far has opened my eyes to what all school librarians do have to deal with. They must be budget wizards so they can provide access to new information and new technology without a much funding. They face a number of social problems in their jobs. Everything from poverty, to diversity, to censorship can come up in a school library. They don't just tape pages in worn out kids books.

3) "For me, the collecting, organizing, and making accessible of all kinds of information is what Information Science is all about."

I'm leaving this one as it is. This is still spot on for me and I think its a keeper.

4) "I only thought of libraries in terms of public libraries devoted to fiction or specialized academic libraries."

I now have an understanding of all the different kinds of libraries that exist out there. Law libraries, medical libraries, digital libraries and more.

5) "My idea of a librarian was a middle-aged woman who spent her days brooding over the decision to put "Christian" stickers on the spines of Beverly Lewis books."

When I wrote this I knew that librarians dealt with budgets, boards, customer service, and marketing. I had worked in a library before but what I didn't know is that good librarians are champions against censorship, that they uphold privacy rights and the right to intellectual freedom. Before I thought they were older women who imposed their views on their patrons through their purchasing decisions. I now know that I have not had the best librarian role models out there and that the ethical requirements of the LIS profession make librarians liberal wonder women (and men!).

In many ways my assumptions have changed but rather than changing the old ones, what this introduction to the profession has done for me is to broaden my understanding of the LIS profession. Before coming into this class I didn't feel that a director of a smaller library necessarily needed an MLIS to be successful, now I'm certain that if a director does not have an MLIS that the library will suffer. If nothing else the University has secured its revenue stream for future classes because now if I am ever in a position to hire someone who would be doing the job of an actual librarian, I'm going to insist that he or she have an MLIS.

A Tale of Two Blogs

One of our assignments for this class was to follow two blogs written by librarians or information specialists. This wasn't a particularly onerous activity for me as I am a voracious blog consumer. I have been following Confessions of a Science Librarian for the past couple of years. Our instructor provided us with a list of blogs but unfortunately, it was horribly out of date and many of the blogs listed were inactive. I went on a search for another librarian blogger and I discovered The Annoyed Librarian. The Annoyed Librarian was a nice addition to my Feedly list and she gives a perspective that I might not otherwise have been exposed to. Both authors have unique outlooks on the industry and the issues that interest them. Both blogs appeal to readers outside of the LIS profession. I would recommend anyone who likes to have a broad background in whatever is going on in the world today to check them out.

And now, on to the blogs!

John Dupis is a Science & Engineering librarian at the Steacie Science & Engineering Library at York University in Toronto. He has been blogging for several years now and is currently hosted by ScienceBlogs. His topics range from reading lists specific to his subject matter, book reviews, interviews with library policy movers and shakers, links to lists of other library based articles that are interesting and pertinent, and on Fridays, some basic reference librarian fun. Because Dupis is from Canada he deals mainly with Canadian library policy and issues facing his country's library system but much of his commentary is applicable outside of Canada. ScienceBlogs itself is a find as they have some Very Smart Persons (VSP) blogging for them. Its definitely worth the time to check them out.

There isn't much information out there about the Annoyed Librarian however, her tag line of "Whatever it is, I'm against it" had me hooked from the start. All we know about the Annoyed Librarian is that she is "possibly the most successful, respected, and desirable librarian of her generation." and that she blogs at Library Journal which of course gives her street cred. She takes a no-nonsense approach to an industry that is sometimes hung up on trying to maintain its relevance in a changing information landscape. Combine it with the fact that she has haters means that its just the sort of blog that I enjoy reading. The Annoyed Librarian covers trends in employment, she provides her own brand of snark and insight to other library news, discusses policy silliness in libraries and a whole host of other topics that get her dander up. There are many who will not like her. Her tone is often irreverent. There are those she will upset. This blog is not for everyone but I'm glad to see a library blog that is not 100% "Yippee for us we're librarians!" Her snark is refreshing. Her most current post provides a sarcastic yet insightful look into how difficult it is to define what a library is and what it does. If you have the stomach for sarcasm and aren't too upset by a librarian who isn't tickled pink by e-book publishers go check her out.

Next time I'll be taking a look back at one of my earlier posts in preparation for wrapping up the semester.

A Tale of Two Journals

Scholarly journals provide individuals in a particular industry an inside look at what the best thinkers in their field are working on. Library and Information Science is no different. According to EBSCO the  Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts™ with Full Text (LISTA) database:

"indexes more than 560 core journals, nearly 50 priority journals, and nearly 125 selective journals; plus books, research reports and proceedings. This database also contains full text for more than 330 journals and nearly 30 full-text monographs including Handbook of Electronic & Digital Acquisitions, Library/Vendor Relationships, Journals of the Century, etc."

And this is just one database. For the LIS professional looking to learn more about their field there are thousands of publications available. For the past several months I've been following The Electronic Library (EL) and Library Philosophy and Practice (LPP). Both journals are peer reviewed scholarly publications aimed at LIS professionals. The LPP is available to everyone for free without a subscription through the Digital Commons @ University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The EL is published by Emerald Insight and must be accessed through the publisher or through a subscription service. I was able to access EL through the Wayne State University library system as well as through the LISTA database provided by my local public library. The EL journal is directly related to my interest in electronic libraries, software development, and the changing technological landscape of libraries. A full description of the journal provided by the publisher can be accessed here. The LPP journal is a more general publication dedicated to library best practices and the philosophy behind those practices. Between the two, I've been able to gain a greater insight into whats going on in my field.

The EL is a very tech-heavy publication. The casual reader without a background in tech may find themselves at a loss when perusing the articles. The vast majority of the articles are research papers with titles such as "Integrating Semantic Web Technologies with XML Schema Using Role-Mapping Annotations." The journal is an international journal. Many of the authors hail from outside of the United States. The editorial team comes from the University of North Texas but their editorial advisory board is filled with scholars from all over the world. The result is that readers have access to a broad base of information coming from a variety of areas of LIS technology. For me the most useful articles in this journal center around issues with creating and using metadata and controlled vocabularies. I live and breathe metadata and having access to what other professionals are doing with the same problems I encounter are is at the very least encouraging. It means I'm not alone and that someone has probably thought of a solution I have overlooked.

From the description the Library Philosophy and Practice:

 "is a peer-reviewed electronic journal that publishes articles exploring the connection between library practice and the philosophy and theory behind it. These include explorations of current, past, and emerging theories of librarianship and library practice, as well as reports of successful, innovative, or experimental library procedures, methods, or projects in all areas of librarianship, set in the context of applied research."

The journal is far less tech heavy than the EL and most readers would be comfortable with the subject matter. While the articles are still mostly research papers the tone is less heavy handed and more consumer friendly. The EL tends to speak to LIS professionals focused on tech, LPP focuses on the total librarian. Articles are on topics related to everything from technology acceptance to literacy. Like the EL, LPP has an international focus. Though it is published in Lincoln, Nebraska its editorial board comes from all over the United States as well as from many other countries including Iran and Saudi Arabia. Many of the articles deal with issues specific to a country or place but their application is useful to librarians in almost any setting. They do address issues of technology but that seems to be more of a result of the current library climate rather than a directed decision to focus in that area. I do not have any immediate plans to work in a public library again but I have found many of their articles useful. One article in particular examines CONTENTdm. This excited me because I work almost exclusively in CONTENTdm and I loved reading about what it is I actually do. Because the LPP is published for free it is more accessible to the garden variety librarian. This is important because journals behind a paywall or available only after jumping through hoops are less likely to be sought after by busy librarians who are holding down jobs and families. These librarians need to be able to access good information because continuing education funding is often lacking. Free and open access scholarly journals can help to fill this hole.

While I followed these journals only because of this assignment I believe that I will keep up on them. I'm not terribly interested in the international aspects of librarianship but I do find the occasional gem that makes me want to keep coming back. I would not recommend EL to the garden variety librarian. Many librarians have tech services to handle most of the things EL addresses but for the LIS professional focusing on digital resources and electronic libraries, it is a good resource. I would definitely recommend LPP to anyone in the LIS profession who wanted an easy to access scholarly journal that spoke to the different issues they face.

For next time, I will be looking at library focused blogs, which for a person who has more than 499 items in her Feedly each day, is something of a pet topic.


References

Chen, Jiangping. (Ed.) (2014) The Electronic Library. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing. Accessed from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0264-0473& .

Bolin, Mary & Eckwright, Gail. (Eds.) (2014) Library Philosophy and Practice. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska. Accessed from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/index.html.

A Midsemester Night's Dream

Technically midsemester passed a few weeks ago. This means I'm a bit late to the party. My intention was to write this post last week while I was at the Electronic Resources & Library (ERL) conference in Austin. However, that week was a whirlwind. The ERL conference was a great experience. I met lots of very smart people. I got to play with Google Glass. I got to handle 3D printed objects. I met librarians who were struggling with new technology as well as those who were embracing it wholeheartedly. I met librarians from Australia, the UK, Canada, and far flung points of the United States. I met librarians from the Library of Congress, MIT, and scads of other small public or academic libraries from all over.  I learned a lot about what employers want out of new MLIS graduates (its all about e-resources!).

Over the past few months I've been thinking about my future. My current situation with my own job is unstable but workable. I love it, so I'm hanging on. The two posts I did on possible jobs (here and here) left me with a sense of maybe that's not really what I want to do when I finish my degree. I've always wanted my PhD and so I started the process of locating a program that speaks to me. The University of Texas at Austin's School of Information was on my short list. While I was in Texas I met with several of the professors in the program. I have some good ideas about what I'd like to do for a doctoral thesis and the professors I met seemed enthusiastic and encouraged me to apply. At first I was enthusiastic too. The school is modern. The professors are personable and interesting. The doctoral students are well adjusted and don't look underfed. Even so, there was something nagging at me saying "Is this really where you want to be in two years?" By the time I was on the road home, the answer had turned from "maybe" to "probably not."

A third experience while in Texas has added to this thought process. One of our projects for the Intro to the Profession class (The one that spawned this blog!) was to visit two libraries and to compare and contrast the two. I chose my local library, the Englewood Public Library and the Casey Memorial Library at Fort Hood, Texas. The Casey Memorial Library is a public library located on the grounds of one of the largest military bases in the world. It is open to everyone, but it caters mostly to soldiers and their families stationed there. While there, I sort of fell in love. When I worked in a public library, the thing I loved the most was the people I served. I spoke before about my desire to work in the defense industry or something related and I think that a military library might be *it.* It combines two of my great loves: Libraries and supporting our soldiers. The director has been employed there since 1974. The second longest serving librarian would not tell me how many years she had in the military library system but a quick tally of the years she said she was in various places brings it to more than 25 years. Any time one finds a place where people are willing to stay for decades at a time, it is worth looking closer at that employer. There are pros and cons to finding a job in a military library. The first would be that one would need to get her foot in the door first, relocate to wherever that opening was, and then later wait for an opening in a geographical area she wanted to be. Something tells me that I want to be in the military library system.

What other thoughts do I have about this semester? Well, for one, after the ER&L conference I'm going to be gearing my education more towards e-resources because of the emphasis librarians placed on being able to hire people qualified to deal with databases and electronic resource licensing. I still love my scripting class. I'm ready to take the summer off. I'm ok with taking three years to complete this degree. I've also decided I'm going to keep this blog. I've canned my other library themed blog and I will continue this one after the semester is over. It's grown on me.

The Job Search (Part 2)

Back in The Job Search (Part 1) I laid out two of my "dream jobs." Now, I'd like to take a little time to muse on what I need to get where I'd like to go. The job with the Air Force would take the most work. In addition to my MLIS studies I would need to focus heavily on computer programming and security. I already have an understanding of database systems and how they work. I have a natural inclination towards programming and information structures. In order to be truly qualified I would likely need to look outside of my MLIS program in order to obtain the proper background in computer security. I still believe the MLIS degree would provide a helpful background for this position insofar as I continue to focus on digital content and information management.

The second of the two jobs, the one with Haynes and Boone, would be the easy path. I'm already quite proficient with Microsoft Excel. I love manipulating data and pulling insights out of seemingly unrelated bits of information. I'm already an experienced researcher. Much of what would be required from me at a position like this is what I already do. The difference is Haynes and Boone requires an MLIS degree.

So if this is the line of work I want to do am I on the path that I need to be on?

Well sort of. The Airforce job would require me to do far more in the computer programming side. I would absolutely enjoy it, but its a little outside of the realm of my MLIS studies. The Haynes and Boone position is very similar to the sort of work I already do and have done in the past. Rather than a question of "Am I on the right path?" I'm running into a "Is this what I really want?" The answer to the second questions is a tentative "Not really . . . " It seems a third path may be calling my name. I think I'll address the appearance of this third path in my next post when I take a look at my first semester from the vantage point of the halfway mark.

The Job Search (Part 1)

The job search front has taken a more important place in my brain these days. A few weeks ago I was laid off from my job. They recalled me two weeks later but at only half of the hours. I’ve known since the beginning that I wanted to work more in the “information” side of my MLIS so I’ve been looking closer at information related jobs. I have a strong desire to work as a government contractor. I think that civil service is important and the stability appeals to me. One job I came across that would be a “dream job” is with the Department of the Air Force. The posting  is for Information Technology Management (Information Security). Essentially, it would be IT security. The posting specifically lists graduate work in information science as a requirement. To qualify for such a job I will need to get more in depth with my training in computer systems but if my scripting class is any indication, I have an untapped talent for such things. I don’t know why I haven’t been focusing on programming since the beginning of my educational career. It comes easily, its fun, and its incredibly marketable. I love the thought of being an information specialist for the government. It makes me think of women in smart suits compiling reports that aid the military in protecting our country.

The second posting that caught my eye is a “Competitive Intelligence Specialist” with Haynes and Boone out of Dallas. Haynes and Boone is a large law firm that specializes in a variety of areas. This specific posting   is a research based job. The qualified applicant has a degree in Library and Information Science and is experienced at in-depth research and reporting. This job is something I could get right out of this program. Unlike the other position, I already possess the skills required. I spend quite a bit of time with Microsoft Excel and manipulate data as a hobby.

Without the MLIS, I don’t qualify for either of these postings. My background is in digital content, research, and metadata. The MLIS is going to give me the additional knowledge and experience to put me on the path to more challenging and more financially lucrative positions. I still believe I’ve made the correct choice in a graduate program.  

Professional Alphabet Soup: The NDSA and LITA

Professional organizations can be an important part of career development. Membership can confer educational benefits as well as provide a way to connect with others in the industry. From the beginning of my journey, I have been focused on digital content management and the information side of the LIS degree. To that end, I’ve spent some time looking into the National Digital Stewardship Alliance and the Library and Information Technology Association.

The National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA) is a professional organization dedicated to ensuring that digital content is preserved in a way that allows future generations access to today’s digital information. It is partnered with the Library of Congress Digital Preservation Program. Members are organizations rather than individuals. At this time there are more than 320 partner organizations. There are no fees or dues associated with the NDSA, instead member organizations dedicate time and resources to varying working groups committed to furthering the NDSA’s mission. Wayne State University has a student group dedicated to the NDSA.  Individuals involved with member organizations have the benefit of being on the forefront of digital preservation. Individuals are given the opportunity to connect and collaborate with others in the field and because of these connections they have greater access to funding possibilities and research opportunities as well as input into the standards and practices of digital preservation.

The NDSA has a limited social media presence, both the Wayne State chapter and the NDSA itself are on Twitter, but its parent organization, the Library of Congress Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP) has a presence on Facebook, Twitter,  and YouTube. The NDSA participates in the Library of Congress Digital Preservation blog “The Signal.” The Signal covers varying issues within the scope of digital preservation. These posts provide insight into current issues, ideas for new research, and opinion pieces on where the digital preservation industry as a whole is going.

On a personal level, I would very much like to be involved in an organization that is a member of the NDSA. My background as a historian makes digital preservation a subject close to my heart. My ability to research the past is dependent on finding primary sources from my period of study. Today many of our records are digital and do not exist in hard copy. In order for historians of the future to have something to go on, someone has to take the time to preserve these records in ways that can be accessed. I already participate on a limited level in the Wayne State student NDSA. It is my hope that as time goes on I will be able to take a more active role.

The Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) is a subsidiary of the American Library Association (ALA). According to their website, "LITA is concerned with the planning, development, design, application, and integration of technologies within the library and information environment . . ." (Library and Information Technology Association [LITA], 2014) Members must first join the ALA and then they can elect to join LITA for an additional fee. Students are given a discounted rate while in school. LITA has its own journal, titled "Information Technology and Libraries." (ITAL)  Full text is available only to members. LITA has a variety of interest groups that members can participate in.

LITA is a more traditional professional organization than the NDSA in that members are entitled to discounts on products and educational services. It connects professionals, for a fee, with one another and provides a lobbying resource for those who want to further the goals of the industry as a whole. LITA is on Facebook and on Twitter. Both feeds provide links to online resources for jobs and other industry specific information.

Because the ALA and LITA are well established and well-known professional organizations, I think membership is important to further one's career. Access to the member lists can give individuals a leg-up when applying for jobs. Becoming a member shows that one is serious about her career path and is willing to take time outside of work to learn and grow. Prior to writing this post I had not made a decision on whether to pay the fee to join the ALA/LITA but after looking through everything I think I will join.

There are a variety of professional organizations out there and these are the only two I seriously considered. Some, like the American Association of Law Libraries or the American Association of Theological Libraries are not relevant to my interests or career path. The Colorado Library Consortium could be considered my local library association, but because I do not work in a public library it doesn't feel like it would be a good fit right now. I think the NDSA and LITA will both help me stay abreast of what's new in digital content and preservation and will give me insight into where libraries are moving with new technologies.

Goals and Dreams

Recently we've been asked about our goals for our MLIS degree, what we want to do when we're finished, and what we hope to gain out of the experience. On a very basic level, I am getting this degree because I want to be able to advance at my current job. It is industry standard that someone doing what I do has a graduate level degree relating to preservation of information. I am working towards a graduate certificate in information management. Because of my current experiences with cataloging historical documents, I am very interested in how researchers are able to find and use the information we put out there. I'd like to focus on the nuts and bolts of creating new tools and new ways of thinking about how we catalog, access, and apply information. I can see myself working in a government archives on day and digitizing records en masse. Another option would be to work for a government contractor and using my expertise to streamline the movement of information within government agencies. Ultimately I'd like to find myself at a doctoral program at the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin. Their program is well known and its located somewhere I'd like to be for awhile. I'd like to do research into how well digital archives are doing as far as making their documents accessible to researchers and if those researchers are able to easily use what they find. The field is young enough that even in my own job, we have a hard time finding resources on best practices. That's part of the reason I'm going to the Electronic Resources & Libraries conference in March. I'm already working in the industry and I feel a very urgent need to be better at what I do. I suppose that need to be better at what I do is what brought me to Wayne State in the first place and its also what I expect to get out of the program.

Good Morning LIS6010!

This blog is a bit of an anomaly for me. Its an "I have to" blog. Its entire existence is a result of my being enrolled in a graduate level course at Wayne State University. This blog is not my first blog. Back in 2009 I blogged my journey through my first pregnancy and homebirth. (Warning: The homebirth blog is quite personal, can be medically graphic at times, and contains some NSFW content but is full of good information)  I maintain a Tumblr dedicated to my collection of vintage photographs. When I joined the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) I started a blog to preserve that journey.* In many ways I am not enthusiastic about adding another blog to the list but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

- - - - -

To begin it may be helpful to understand where I'm coming from. I have held a variety of positions. I was a cosmetologist for the first decade of my professional life. After graduating with my B.A. in History in 2008 I took a position as an office clerk at the Russell County Noxious Weed Department. I was their entire office staff. The position was not a good fit. I was bored. I wanted a different job, so on a whim I applied to the local public library and got a part-time job as a library clerk.

I hadn't been in a public library in years. I read constantly but I read almost exclusively non-fiction. Small-town libraries in Kansas are almost entirely devoted to serial authors so I spent the majority of my time in academic libraries and archives. During the two years I worked at the library I advanced from a basic clerk to library assistant. I handled inter-library loan, inventory, and accession. I liked working with the public but I found that I loved the data of working in a library the best. I found MARC records fascinating. Whenever we would get new (nonfiction) books in, I would rush to see if I could guess what Dewey classification the Library of Congress had used. I was obsessed with usage reports. Halfway through my tenure we changed systems and the new system relied on SQL generated reports. The canned reports didn't provide us with the information we were used to getting so I found a book on SQL and wrote new reports to give us what we wanted. For the most part, I could have cared less about the new Nora Roberts or Janet Evanovich that our patrons were clamoring for. I loved data.

After two years I had outgrown my position and didn't know what to do next so I did what any self-respecting millenial does: I went to grad school.

I started a history program but my heart wasn't in it. I love research and writing, and I'm good at it but I kept wondering what I was going to do with the degree when I was finished. I knew I didn't want to teach and I still have no idea what the practical applications of a Master of Arts in History are. In my second semester of grad school I took a position as a distance metadata intern at the McCracken Research Library at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. It very quickly became my dream job. I was working with data. After several months I was offered a more permanent position overseeing the work of other interns as well as continuing to catalog digital items.

On one of my visits to my workplace I started talking with my supervisors and the director about my future. I had just dropped out of grad school because I couldn't see a future in what I was doing and I didn't know where to go next. While there my supervisor said the words that changed my life: "Why don't you get your MLIS?" It was my "Could've had a V8" moment.

I had never considered a Masters in Library and Information Sciences. Up to that point I had dismissed the MLIS because I had only seen it applied in small libraries. I assumed that every MLIS holder had to become a librarian. I knew I didn't want to go back to slinging Debbie Macomber books and the thought of working as a school librarian filled me with nightmares of torn pages in Dr. Seuss books. I had completely overlooked the IS in MLIS.

Once I realized that the Information Science part of the MLIS was as much a part of the degree as was the Library part, I was in. For me, the collecting, organizing, and making accessible of all kinds of information is what Information Science is all about. As more and more entities (schools, corporations, governments, etc.) move to digitize their records, the more in demand LIS professionals will become. The traditional library will never go away, but I believe that as digital content becomes even more prevalent, their size will shrink, but the need for people to work with that data will only increase. I feel that what I'm doing is not only important for my current career path but its also important for our society's ability to maintain its record.

So what does all of this mean in a nutshell? Well first, my coming to this program was an evolution. There was no clear path that I was on that led me to an MLIS program but my personal and professional experiences essentially dropped me off on the doorstep of the profession. I had overlooked this option before because I only thought of libraries in terms of public libraries devoted to fiction or specialized academic libraries. My idea of a librarian was a middle-aged woman who spent her days brooding over the decision to put "Christian" stickers on the spines of Beverly Lewis books. It never occurred to me that people working on databases archiving corporate records could also be librarians. For me, its all about the data and how people who need the information look for it. I don't know why I never connected that action with what librarians do, but I'm glad the connection happened. I'm very happy to be here.

*I have subsequently deleted my original blog  though I have saved the content. The two projects were duplicating one another. I will attach the original blog to this one once the semester is over and this blog has been turned in and graded