The First Day

Today being my first day, I started with a short tour/introduction to the business of Gov Docs. Schedule, reference desk statistics book, microfilm keys, coffee pot & refridgerator. As I am working in the mornings with at least 2 or 3 full-time employees, I expect to be able to stick to my projects without spending too much time on patron questions. which is fine with me.

As for the project: I have started looking at the Knowledge Base, looked briefly at the list of questions asked at the desk, looked rather thoroughly at the GIMSS website and thru all of their resources, thought about pathfinders I'd like to do (in addition, adding information to the dead pathfinder links on the website).

I'd like to do a KB/pathfinder on "Accenting your research with Gov Pubs" (to include: maps, statistics, congressional hearings, etc.) and (this one is pretty brilliant, I must say) "Using Gov Pubs for Overseas Travel Information" (to include: embassy locations, foreign gov. websites, World Factbook, exchange rates, maps, nat'l tourism boards, FAA information, "natural wonders", crime statistics, US gov't travel warnings/bans/tips for traveling to "unsafe" countries, US gov't passport inforamtion, etc.)

Also: gov pubs for international students (visa information, work allowances, gov't language information, etc.)?

To Do List

1. Email Ralf with my list of tasks/objectives, schedule, etc.
2. When half the onsite hours are completed, email Ralf with a progress update.
3. Regularly update this blog for every shift I work.
4. Read 6 relevant articles and write an annotated bibliography for them.
5. 10-minute oral presentation on the highlights of my internship to be done on Wednesday April 20, 1-3pm in 001.
6. Show up for my first day on Monday January 31.

Pre-work Meeting

On Thursday January 13, I met with Lou to discuss my schedule and plans for work. I will be working in the Gov Docs library on Mondays and Fridays from 9a-12p and occassional saturdays. That gives me 6 hours a week in the library and 4 to complete outside the library.

I will be working primarily on some documents for the Knowledge Base. My first duty is to look at questions that the gov docs reference people get on a frequent basis, then convert them to more general answers. Then I will pick 10 or 15 questions to answer with the expectation that at least a couple of them will be actually used on either the Knowledge Base or as FAQs on the gov docs website. Also, I will be answering reference questions and working with the equipment such as the microfilm readers, which I just learned how to use last semester. Additionally, I will be learning more about international gov. docs and I expect that Lou will come up with additional projects as we go along.

My First Post

This week:
I am meeting with Lou tomorrow to talk about a schedule and projects for this semester. Because of scheduling conflicts I won't be able to start until after the 28th of January.

Tentatively on the schedule:
1) Writing some user documentation for various gov docs searching tools.
2) Working on the rumoredly boring floppy disk project.
3) General reference work.
4) Other projects that we will make as we go.