Re: [CODE4LIB] What do you wish you had time to learn?

2011-05-06 Thread Devon
Would anyone be interested in working through Introduction to Probability and Statistics Using R together? There's a free downloadable PDF and a paperback is available. http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/introduction-to-probability-and-statistics-using-r/12037733 /dev On Tue, May 3,

Re: [CODE4LIB] Position Anouncment: Web Developer - University of Pittsburgh

2011-05-06 Thread Luciano Ramalho
Gregg, Brian D bdgr...@pitt.edu wrote: Systems/Programmer III Web Developer, Information Systems, Thomas BL. To apply or see more information on this position: https://www.pittsource.com/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_css.jsp?postingId=239751 This is a temporary grant-funded position

Re: [CODE4LIB] What do you wish you had time to learn?

2011-05-06 Thread Edward Iglesias
Thank You Abagail! I was just doing this in Excel. Here were the top vote getters with a little squishing to dedup. ~ Edward Iglesias Systems Librarian Central Connecticut State University XML/XSLT 6 Drupal 5 Git 5 RDA 5 map/reduce 4 PHP 4 Python 4 R 4 guitar 3 hadoop

Re: [CODE4LIB] What do you wish you had time to learn?

2011-05-06 Thread Abigail Goben
Thanks for the updates everyone! Please do continuing editing or adding things you're interested in learning Abigail [spelled with an i please ;) ] On 5/6/2011 10:15 AM, Edward Iglesias wrote: Thank You Abagail! I was just doing this in Excel. Here were the top vote getters with a little

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Michael J. Giarlo
Hi Ceci, I hope you don't interpret this as a glib throwaway, but the best answer I've seen so far was blogged by Dan Chudnov a while back. Here it is: http://onebiglibrary.net/story/advice-to-a-library-school-student Worth a read, IMO! Best of luck to you, -Mike On Fri, May 6, 2011

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Ceci Land
Thanks Mike. That's exactly the straight up kind of answer I'm looking for. I presently work in cataloging so I find myself really interested in what I'd call the intersection of cataloging and systems work. But at my present library, that intersection doesn't exist, the two worlds are kept

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Devon
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

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Eric Lease Morgan
On May 6, 2011, at 3:11 PM, Michael J. Giarlo 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?

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Ceci Land
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

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Gabriel Farrell
Spare-time projects definitely get respect. You might also look into low-paying or volunteer freelance web development work for an organization with data management challenges. Schools, small businesses, and non-profits of all stripes can use your help, and in the process you'll pick up some

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Corey A Harper
Ceci, I'd honestly recommend just continuing to play, experiment and try things. You don't mention programming/scripting in your initial post, but I can promise you that it's at the core of the cat/sys intersection you speak of. There's a wealth of information out there on trying to start

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Mike Graves
Volunteer work can often be a good way to build your skill set on real world problems without having to quit your day job. Since they aren't paying gigs they usually are happy with entry level programmers. I've used idealist.org in the past to find work. M On 05/06/2011 03:07 PM, Ceci Land

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Jon Gorman
Here's my take on whether or not the projects are going to be useful in job hunting. It's a bit of a gamble and honestly they may not. On the other hand, I certainly would take a portfolio as a very good sign of a candidate in my own hunts. But realistically, the job market's just too wild at

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Michael J. Giarlo
On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 16:24, Jon Gorman jonathan.gor...@gmail.com wrote: Here's my take on whether or not the projects are going to be useful in job hunting.  It's a bit of a gamble and honestly they may not.  On the other hand, I certainly would take a portfolio as a very good sign of a

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Corey A Harper
As others have just said, a portfolio may or may not matter. The polished product isn't the issue, though. It's skills, principles and knowledge you pick up while experimenting. Whether or not you share a spare-time project with a potential employer, having spent a bit of time on your own

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Mark Jordan
Agreed: Patience, Elbow Grease, Trial and Error plus stick-to-it-itivenes (to use a word from Seymour Skinner). Mark - Original Message - Ceci, I'd honestly recommend just continuing to play, experiment and try things. You don't mention programming/scripting in your initial post,

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Doran, Michael D
Hi Ceci, I have 3 project ideas twirling around in my head at the moment... Do these spare-time projects get any respect from the real world when it comes time to apply for a job? Yes they do -- at least they do at the type of place you would probably want to work. Over the years, I've

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Kyle Banerjee
On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 1:17 PM, Gabriel Farrell gsf...@gmail.com wrote: Spare-time projects definitely get respect. They can make a monstrous difference. Most of the time, what you can convince people you know is far more important than what your pedigree says. Employers want to know what

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Michael J. Giarlo
Oh, and though this might be orthogonal, the most important part: attend conferences like Code4Lib and make connections. I've met a few of my employers throughout the years this way. Buying a round of pints on occasion pays off. -Mike

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Nate Vack
On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 2:07 PM, Ceci Land cl...@library.msstate.edu wrote: How would you choose to develop your skills from baby level to something useful to the profession? I'd pretty much follow the plot of Batman Begins as closely as possible. Wait, useful to *this* profession? -n

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Cowles, Esme
Ceci- I'll echo what others have said: spare time projects definitely count for me when I'm looking at resumes, and they show initiative and genuine interest. The one other thing I'd add is to encourage you to find underserved users, either at work or in your personal life. When I was in your

Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn and how would you do it?

2011-05-06 Thread Corey A Harper
That may apply to this profession, too. I've often been convinced that someone in the c4l community *was* Batman. On 5/6/2011 4:47 PM, Nate Vack wrote: On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 2:07 PM, Ceci Landcl...@library.msstate.edu wrote: How would you choose to develop your skills from baby level to