Showing posts with label letters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label letters. Show all posts

A Quick Note

Posted by dmarco , Index: , 6.27.2011 3:41 PM

Just recently, I received an e-mail from Ms. Z, inviting me to answer a letter from a school librarian of Marist School Marikina. The letter was an inquiry about continuing education e.g. trainings, workshops, specifically for school librarians. I'll try to answer the letter as short and simple and as best as I can. :)

Dear Ms. Angelic Baustista,

Good day!

As a colleague in the field of school librarianship, honestly, I believe that we are short of trainings and workshops geared towards the development of our field. On a lighter note, the range of our field is broad, it is not limited to school librarianship per se.

As a practice, we in De La Salle Zobel, try to attend different fora, workshops and trainings geared not only in the development of school librarianship but of the field of library and information science, at large.

While I may not be able to suggest and recommend to you particular and specific upcoming trainings and workshops, may I suggest that you join the mailing lists or Yahoo groups of the following:

-- Children's Literature Association of the Philippines

The good thing about these mailing lists and websites is that these professional groups try to update their members and other colleagues in the profession of the latest and upcoming events, e.g. trainings, workshops, etc., which most of the time are open for all to attend (charges and fees apply, of course).

Another venue where you could find upcoming events is through Alumni Associations of different LIS Schools like UP-LSAA, PNU-LISAA, etc. And even student-hosted activities of different LIS schools like UP FLIPP.

And lastly, you may also want to join different mailing groups of International LIS Organizations like International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) and Your School Library (YSL).

I hope that somehow, at the least, I was able to help you with your query. As I've said, we may not limit our vision to school librarianship per se because our field continues to grow and develop.

Best,
dmarco

/dmarco


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what my Inbox contains ...

Posted by dmarco , Index: , 12.02.2010 4:13 PM

Even before graduating as an undergrad student, I decided to join a professional group of librarians. And that time, the easiest way [I guess] to gain access was to join its mailing group. So, without hesitation and second thought, I sent a request to the then moderator and gave him my profile [which was needed to confirm one's eligibility to be part of the group].


As the young student I was, who was excited to get out of school and be exposed to the "real" world, my view of a "professional" mailing group was nearly ideal: every correspondence is formally-written, queries and questions are of significance and essential to one's professional growth, no text colors that are eye-damaging and even text size and font that are comical, etc. But then, I was proved wrong. My idea of a professional group was devastated, I was proved otherwise: spam mails everywhere, NOT error-free sentences, some are even asking questions which I think, we, as Information Professionals can answer on our own thru proper research.  I can also recall during the advent of those Jejemons, some would even cross-post messages that are of no relevance to the profession. Worse, some even wrote their sentences using Jejemon language.

The Jejebhet, Jejemon's Alphabet
Up until now, I remain to be a spectator, a mute witness that once channeled these concerns to the organization's incumbent president, personally. And guess what he told me? "It's just like PDI [Philippine Daily Inquirer -- the online version] where people publish their comments, we cannot control what they want to say." 

And I felt disappointed.


/dmarco


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Fully Booked and why professionalism matters

Posted by dmarco , Index: , , 11.19.2010 9:10 AM

The word professionalism should not just be enclosed in the sense that you have a professional license. A professional needs to practice behaviors which are deemed professional by the society's moral standards, licensed or unlicensed. Why am I bringing this up? It's because of an untoward incident I experienced last November 16, 2010 and it is because of that rude experience, I wrote a letter directly to the management of Fully Booked.

Here's a part of my letter I sent the day after:
... I went into one of your branches yesterday, particularly the Gateway branch, to do some book evaluation. As I was in the Graphic Novels section, I found one book, Wonder Woman in title, which has its cover ripped. So, I decided that I might as well open it, since I know that it is allowed in the store. Nevertheless, one of your staff members approached me and snatched the book away from me and told me that browsing Graphic Novels is not allowed. I would have understood it easier if he has not grabbed the book away from me and just told me about your policy and that would have been so simple. So, I called the attention of the store manager, who unfortunately was not in the store that time. They decided to let me talk with their OIC instead, Ms. Alele.  I approached her courteously and told her that I am doing a book evaluation. Sadly, her tone when she answered me was insinuating. I did not even see a smile from her all the while we were conversing. There was even this instance when the staff called her and she shouted “Sandali lang!”
 And I stressed that:
I would have given them the benefit of the doubt just so to rest my case but I believe that in this type of profession, or in any other profession, one has to practice mutual respect, courteousness and politeness. I hope you could do the necessary actions, especially because you are in a service-oriented institution.
After sending the letter, my heart easily lightened up. Although I believe that I was humiliated in front of other people during that scene, I was able to muster my courage and send my concern to Fully Booked's higher-ups. So, last night, upon checking my e-mail account, I got an e-mail from Fully Booked's Social Media and Public Relations Manager, [she's also the EIC of Fully Booked Zine, by the way]. And I quote parts of her reply:
... Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. You are correct on all counts, Sir, as you are well familiar with our policies being a longtime customer of Fully Booked. The staff should always treat customers with courteousness and in this case, this policy was not followed. Rest assured that action is already being taken by upper management. The staff members in question will be sanctioned accordingly, specifically Aleli and the book specialist.
And with that, I rest my case [which reminds me that I have to still reply to this letter]. Although I don't really love to see the concerned personnel being sanctioned, I believe that we are all aware that our negative actions will have repercussions. As Newton said, "For every reaction, there is an equal but opposite reaction."

And to Ms. Aleli and Mr. Book Specialist, you may have offended me with your insinuating tones and stares, but I still feel sorry for the both of you, because you have forgotten your good morals at home. Next time, write them down on your planners or better yet, engrave them in your hearts so you will bring them all the time.

Remember what my aunt, the Goddess Athena did to Arachne. She turned Arachne into a spider because she was too insinuating and didn't know how to respect others. And as I told Mennie and Eli after that particular incident, "Don't mess with the Mega Bitch [that's capital M & B]." 

Athena transforming Arachne into a spider

** But don't you worry guys, I am already minimizing my bitchiness, it's just that I have to get this out of my chest :)

/dmarco


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/dmarco