Sent the following to Concordia’s “University Librarian” and “Associate University Librarian, Library Personnel” (I love titles). I later learnt that the last two librarians I mention have left Concordia. But my point remains that their work was part of what makes Concordia such a nice place at which to work.
I’ve actually received a reply from one of the administrators involved, which does contribute a lot to my appreciation of the work done over there.
I should stress that I have no ulterior motive, hidden agenda, or vested interest in the matter. The only thing which has to do with me, in the matter (apart from the fact that much of it is stated in the first person singular) is that I wish praises for good work were more common than complaints yet I get the impression that the reverse is true.
Also, I do enjoy Concordia. Being part-time faculty, however, I feel Concordia doesn’t own me and my allegiance to Concordia isn’t unconditional. In many ways, I feel it all makes me more explicitly free to express my opinion, including a positive one, since none of it can have any effect on promotion. While I always encourage people to use a grain of salt in anything I write (including this) and disclaimers remain very important for critical thinking, this is almost the opposite of a disclaimer. Sure, I’m as biased as anyone. But my appreciation of work done by several Concordians isn’t merely a personal preference. It’s among things which make my Concordia experience enjoyable and something close to a matter of pride.
And I wanted to keep my message relatively short and direct, so I didn’t delve into the details of what all of these people have done. I can do so, if you’re interested!
So, here goes…
Mr. Beasley, Mr. Thirlwall,
For the record, I would like to highlight the remarkable work done by a significant portion of the libraries’ staff.
I’m frequently impressed by work done by someone associated with one of Concordia’s libraries. In fact, I would go so far as to say (again, for the record) that these people constitute one of Concordia’s main strengths, above and beyond our collections, funding, and “brand recognition.”
Among remarkable librarians I would include (in no particular order): Susie Breier, Jennifer Cyr, Kumiko Vézina, Olivier Charbonneau, Cameron Hoffman, and Patrick Labelle. Other librarians have provided a high quality of service but I haven’t had the opportunity to take note of their names.
I sincerely hope that the personnel’s efforts are duly recognized and I trust that the libraries’ administration is making sure that Concordians realize what value these people bring to our university.
Thank you.
—
Alexandre Enkerli, Part-Time Faculty
Department of Sociology and Anthropology (H1125-28)
Concordia University
45.559231
-73.687999
1 Comment | tags: Cameron Hoffman, Concordia University, David Thirlwall, Gerald Beasley, Jennifer Cyr, Kumiko Vézina, librarians, Olivier Charbonneau, Open Letter, Patrick Labelle, Susie Breier | posted in Academia, comment-fishing, Concordia University, Education, enthusiasm, ivory tower, librarians, personal, shameless plug
Ça y est, je suis revenu.
Je retrouve ma vie de Montréalais. Et de Québécois.
Bon, techniquement, je suis de retour depuis le 26 avril. Mais ça prend un certain temps pour se remettre dans le bain, pour se réintégrer, se réadapter. Un peu comme un retour de terrain. C’est pas simplement un déménagement. C’est un changement de vie.
Mais, voilà, je sens que ma nouvelle vie commence. Après les déménagements en rafale (22 depuis décembre 2000), je peux m’intégrer de nouveau à la vie montréalaise.
C’est d’ailleurs la vie sociale qui me permet de sentir que je suis de retour. En tant qu’animal social, j’ai besoin de la vie sociale pour me nourrir. La journée d’hier a été particulièrement fructueuse de ce côté. Tant pour ma vie personnelle que professionnelle, d’ailleurs.
Petite chronologie partielle…
Dîner stimulant avec Olivier Charbonneau. Discussions sur le droit d’auteur et autres sujets motivants.
Après-midi passé sur le campus de Concordia, y compris la bibliothèque Webster et le Java U «Mezz». Observation sauvage d’un milieu qui me correspond.
Petit 5 à 7 informel au Benelux. Discussions sur la musique et la bière. Opportunité d’écriture payée, offerte sur un plateau d’argent, sans que j’aie eu à demander quoi que ce soit.
Et le «Premier mercredi» de YULBlog. Discussions fascinantes avec plusieurs personnes. Quelques «pingues»:
YulBlog: l’écosystème idéal pour un papillon social. 😉
Bref, je suis un poisson qui retourne à l’eau. Le galop du naturel s’est fait entendre.
Une des choses que j’ai «remarquées» (ou, plutôt, «que je retrouve avec plaisir»), c’est la possibilité de parler ouvertement, sans trop se soucier du qu’en-dira-t-on. Pas exactement une question des règles tacites de la vie sociale. Plutôt une question d’attitude. Un «vivre et laisser vivre» qui me manque parfois, au sein de la vie sociale nord-américaine non-québécoise. Après avoir dû m’adapter à des contextes où la pression sociale est tangible («à couper au couteau» ne semble pas si exagéré), je me retrouve.
L’opportunité d’écrire pour de l’argent me motive. Pas tant pour le montant lui-même. Mais pour les ouvertures que cette première opportunité peut créer. J’ai pas tendance à vendre mon écriture. Mon écriture, j’aime la donner. Et c’est pas que j’aime la pop-psy, mais c’est amusant pour moi de penser à ma «personnalité orale». 😉
Ça faisait un moment que j’avais pas écrit un billet aussi personnel. Ça fait du bien.
4 Comments | tags: Alison, amitiés, animal social, écriture cathartique, baisse de stress, Benelux, Benoît Mercier, bloguage, Blork, Carl Charest, catharsis, Daniel Rondeau, déménagements, debriefing, Denis Barsalo, Ed Hawco, Evan Prodromou, français, François Rodrigue, Ian Rocq, Java U, Jean-François Mailloux, Jean-Luc Sanscartier, Josh Nursing, La Quincaillerie (Rachel), Laurent Maisonnave, Mare, Marie-Claude Doyon, Maudit Français, Michael Boyle, Michelle Blanc, Miss Klektik, Montreal, observation sauvage, Olivier Charbonneau, Panique en stiletto, papillon social, Patrick Tanguay, personnalité orale, pop psychologie, printemps, Prof malgré tout, réadaptation, réseautage, retour à la vie, retour de terrain, sources de stress, style conversationnel, vie montréalaise, vie sociale, vivre en français, vivre et laisser vivre, writer for hire, Yash Nursing | posted in adaptation, amis, écriture, Blogging, brewpubs, cafés, Concordia, culture, Empowerment, enthusiasm, Francophones, Francophonie, identity, joie de vivre, Laval, linkfest, Montreal, nostalgie, personal life, Personnel, Places, playfulness, pleasure, plogue, Québec, ramblings, shameless plug, social butterflies, social capital, social dynamics, social networking, social networks, writing style, Yulblog
Is it just me or is there an increased presence of librarians on the blogosphere, these days? Not just as authors but as subjects.
For instance:
I know the connection between libraries and blogging is pretty obvious and information scientists are as blogworthy as anyone can get. So it’s probably just that I notice librarian blogging more, these days. Thing is, on the Web, perception is worth a lot, however accurate it may be.
4 Comments | tags: blogging librarians, Brock Read, Chronicle of Higher Education, classification systems, cognition, danah boyd, information sciences, information scientists, Michael Gorman, Olivier Charbonneau, perception, roundups, serendipity, Thomas Mann | posted in blogosphere, Concordia, librarians, new media, Radio Open Source, ramblings, United States
Concordia Librarians, an Open Letter
Sent the following to Concordia’s “University Librarian” and “Associate University Librarian, Library Personnel” (I love titles). I later learnt that the last two librarians I mention have left Concordia. But my point remains that their work was part of what makes Concordia such a nice place at which to work.
I’ve actually received a reply from one of the administrators involved, which does contribute a lot to my appreciation of the work done over there.
I should stress that I have no ulterior motive, hidden agenda, or vested interest in the matter. The only thing which has to do with me, in the matter (apart from the fact that much of it is stated in the first person singular) is that I wish praises for good work were more common than complaints yet I get the impression that the reverse is true.
Also, I do enjoy Concordia. Being part-time faculty, however, I feel Concordia doesn’t own me and my allegiance to Concordia isn’t unconditional. In many ways, I feel it all makes me more explicitly free to express my opinion, including a positive one, since none of it can have any effect on promotion. While I always encourage people to use a grain of salt in anything I write (including this) and disclaimers remain very important for critical thinking, this is almost the opposite of a disclaimer. Sure, I’m as biased as anyone. But my appreciation of work done by several Concordians isn’t merely a personal preference. It’s among things which make my Concordia experience enjoyable and something close to a matter of pride.
And I wanted to keep my message relatively short and direct, so I didn’t delve into the details of what all of these people have done. I can do so, if you’re interested!
So, here goes…
1 Comment | tags: Cameron Hoffman, Concordia University, David Thirlwall, Gerald Beasley, Jennifer Cyr, Kumiko Vézina, librarians, Olivier Charbonneau, Open Letter, Patrick Labelle, Susie Breier | posted in Academia, comment-fishing, Concordia University, Education, enthusiasm, ivory tower, librarians, personal, shameless plug