learned today

Today was the first day of my second semester in the MLIS program. I freely admit that I've been more than a little overwhelmed today, but I really do think I'll enjoy my classes. I'm taking Cataloging & Classification and Principles of Searching this semester. Cataloging is the class I've been looking forward to the most in the program - we'll see if I still feel that way as the semester progresses!

New word for the day: verso. The page right after the title page that has all the publication info on it and the basis for all cataloging records.

{Gutenberg's printing press, via}

Also, did you know that scholars in the 1600s were afraid that the printing press (and the subsequent proliferation of books) would lead to over-information? If they'd only known about the internet :)

I want 2013 to be great

Trying to think of something to write for the new year has been difficult. I want to say that 2012 was a great year and in many ways it was, but it was also a year of a lot of suffering and a lot of grief that I could have done without.

While everyone else was setting off fireworks, blowing horns and watching the ball drop, I sat there trying not to get emotional over the fact that 2013 meant embarking on another year without the mama. For awhile after she died I counted Fridays. After about 11 weeks of Fridays I stopped doing that. I don't know why, maybe it was the end of a grief stage? I just felt like I didn't need to keep track that closely anymore. The point is, maybe by the time 2014 rolls around I won't view the coming of the new year as a marker of how long it's been since I've seen her and all I haven't accomplished since then. 

I guess now it's time to figure out exactly what goals I have for this wonderful new year . . .