Another Introduction Post

I see I'm not the only one who had the idea to make an introduction today. I'm glad; it makes this somewhat easier now that Serafin has gone first. My name is Krista Jacobson and I am the new Online Library Intern. I am thrilled to have been chosen out of a candidate pool of...one. As you can see, it wasn't exactly my resume that blew Emily away but instead the fact that I was ready and willing. That said, I actually feel incredibly fortunate as the topic of how Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 can enhance the distance learning experience has been of particular interest to me ever since I studied it as part of an Academic Libraries class. (In fact, if you're interested, you can check out a blog I created for the class examining both the positive offerings of Web 2.0 as well as some of the negative implications of the movement. It was an assignment and nothing groundbreaking but here is a link if you're curious. )

My background:

I am originally from WI. I attended UW Madison where I majored in French and Spanish. I then went to my hometown (Stevens Point) where I followed in the footsteps of my teacher parents and pursued my degree in education. After I graduated, I went to France where I taught English at the I.U.F.M. d'Angers (Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres), a post graduate program for future teachers in France. After returning to the States, I taught French in a high school in IL for a year. I was planning on continuing to teach once I moved to the Twin Cities but I found a job outside of education while exploring what it would take to get a MN teaching license and discovered that I didn't miss being in a high school. I didn't want to leave education completely, however, and enrolled at the College of St. Catherine in the MLIS program.

To start, I'll be researching instant message programs for future instant message reference and social tagging software for the libraries. I know Amy from a class and I hope I'll get to meet the rest of you in the future. Unfortunately, I have a 8-5 job that prevents me from being able to participate in the phone call conferences and I'm not sure yet whether or not I'll be able to take a day off in two weeks for the full meeting. I hope so.

~Krista