Word for Nerds
I’m a metadata librarian at the California Digital Library, in Oakland. We provide a wide range of services to all UC campus libraries, including the Melvyl Union Catalog, the eScholarship repository, data management tools, Calisphere and the Online Archive of California, and so many more.
What’s a metadata librarian? Metadata includes all the information about resources that is included in various library systems, including MARC cataloging records, Dublin Core metadata, EADs for finding aids in archive systems…basically, it’s all the information that is needed so people can find and use library resources. Metadata librarians work with this information to make sure its functional, consistent, and meets relevant standards. I started working at the CDL in April 2011, and have been working with the Western Regional Storage Trust to build a collection analysis tool to assist in making archiving decisions about print serials. I work primarily right now with MARC bibliographic and holdings records.
If you want to know more about my professional background, please check out my resume.
When I’m not librarianing, I cook, take pictures, and write about food (you can find all that on my Kitchen Illiterate blog). I read a lot (you can check out my not-up-to-date library at LibraryThing), and I try to squeeze in some running and yoga when I can.
I live in Oakland with my partner, and am happy to be back in California, after eight years away.
Along the lines of poetry, I would suggest reading Pablo Neruda, particularly the Sea and the Bells.
OMG. We are soul sisters (albiet a generation apart). I spent 20 years in the military and I was so anal they put me in protocol. I’m one of the few who was the “last stop” before the general put his signature on a document – and if it didn’t pass muster, back to the poor author it went. But I was such a control freak about it, I got others to just accept that if I only changed grammar/format vs. content, they were content and would blindly approve my edits without even a glance. Now THAT, my friend, is power.
Feminist sutdies…that is new to me. My mother burned her bra in a demonstration in Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, Texas, in 1972. That was my crash course in Feminist Studies, and I was only 9. And much to her chagrin, I will take a seat offered by a man in a heartbeat.
I loved library school and graduated last December. I’m working in the government sector and I love it. Pray, avoid Public Librarianship lest ye become bitter and shriveled (and wear obtuse sweaters! LOL) Best of luck to you girl. You inspire me.
Just found your blog linked from a friend’s. I’m kind of a word geek too – so much so that I have a Word Nerd category.