I like this. Maybe it's because it's what I was already thinking about doing. I have 3 project ideas twirling around in my head at the moment. I can't do them at work, but perhaps the systems department could give me a dataset to play around with in my spare time. I already have a good dataset for one of the projects that I harvested via OAI-PMH. Do these spare-time projects get any respect from the "real world" when it comes time to apply for a job? ....particularly if you focus on really making it as polished as possible (within the limitations of a non-work environment)? I remember building my own darkroom as a teenager and doing B&W and color slide and print processing. (yes, I still love the smell of D76 and stop bath. I can bring up the smell purely from memory :) ). I did manage to work for a while in photography because of my original personal investment of time and energy into it as a hobby. I'm just concerned that the things may not work that way any more. Life was not only slower paced back then, but having an exact skill match wasn't required to get a foot in the door. Plus, I'm no Mozart so it's not likely that I'll come up with something uber creative or so nifty that it's used by a community at large. But I do good technical work. I tinker...I make things "go". Thanks for the advice. I'm going to start playing with the projects I have in mind. One is already done as a JSP, but I think I'll convert it to something else and "clean up" the compromises I had to make to get it done in a limited time. Ceci >>> On 5/6/2011 at 2:31 PM, in message <BANLkTi=jdvtmgs42dlmhe5+fqnn55kv...@mail.gmail.com>, Devon <dec...@gmail.com> wrote:
My answer to this question changes every time it gets asked. These days, my thinking is that focusing on skills/tools is backwards. Instead, focus on a problems and solutions. Pick something you want to do, then do it. Figure it all out on the way. If you don't know where to start, build and deploy a simple website. Try a solution. If it doesn't work, try a different solution. Keep trying. Don't be afraid to toss all your work away and start over. Make the website more complex as you go. Add a database. Switch the whole thing to jQuery. Then switch to something else. Just keep going. /dev -- Devon Smith Consulting Software Engineer OCLC Research http://www.oclc.org/research/people/smith.htm On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 3:07 PM, Ceci Land <cl...@library.msstate.edu> wrote: > Hello everyone. The recent thread asking people what they would like to > learn if they had the time brought another question to my mind. If you were > looking to get into "this side" of the profession, what would you recommend > focusing on? > > IOW, suppose you were a current MLIS graduate student (that's me) who has a > techy sort of inclination. But also assume that your current job as > paraprofessional staff involves minimal computer skills, no programming or > scripting and this situation will not ever change. Imagine that you've taken > every programming and database class you can fit into your schedule, but you > realize that course work will only take you slightly beyond a beginner level > even if you make A's. (in an IS based program, not CS. I would have > preferred the CS route, but work could not accommodate the class/lab time > during the days) > > How would you choose to develop your skills from "baby" level to something > useful to the profession? Will developing projects on your personal time and > hosting them yourself be enough to get noticed when they day comes that you > graduate with your shiny new diploma? What core skills would you choose to > focus on? Would you give up a secure job with benefits to find an internship > that could really challenge your programming, web development etc. skills? > > I see many people on this list with very strong skills, but in the job world, > I don't see many 2nd string/entry level jobs that would allow someone to hone > their skills to the level I often see here. I've been thinking that I should > focus on further developing my abilities in: HTML/CSS of course, XML, XSLT, > PHP, and MySQL (because they're all readily available for someone to play > with despite not being employed in a systems department). It seems that > anything I can learn about metadata transformations/crosswalks and RDF would > be useful too. I also find some classification theories very compelling (ok, > I admit that colon classification really got my attention in my first MLIS > class) and found myself drawn to potentially being interested in taxonomies > and controlled vocabulary. I know nothing about Drupal, but I wonder if I > should include in my smorgasbord. How much is too much and where you y'all > recommend I put my energy? > > Any advice is greatly appreciated. The more specific the better. :) > Thx! > -- Sent from my GMail account.
