Off the Mark

Of course I was planning on attending ASIS&T this year in Columbus, OH, but now I have an even better reason than simply because I enjoy it. Some friends (and real researchers) “roped me into” being on a panel and we just heard today that it was accepted.

“Tagging as a Communication Device: The Impact of Communities on Transforming Tag Information”

Panel: Heather D. Pfeiffer, Emma Tonkin, Margaret E. I. Kipp, David R. Millen and me.

These folks will be speaking on their research on effects of communities on tagging as a form of communication. I hope to contribute something based on Integrationism. In what ways do communities use tags as a way to integrate their language and communication?

In a sense, I’m the armchair philosopher, linguist and communications theorist on the panel. [Which is exactly the argument I tried to use to get out of it.] Thankfully, though, I’ll be no Descartes Kant trying to get back-to-basics, doubting all, rolling a ball of wax between my fingers and musing. The heck with the radical skepticism, although it serves a purpose on occasion. I have a few decades of experience with this whole use of language and communication thing, and I have spent most of those musing on, and struggling with, both. I have read just a few score things on both and I intend to “stand on the shoulders of giants.” Perhaps they are neglected giants but I hope to give them some exposure. While I rarely think of myself as a researcher, I do fit the Andrew Abbott view of “library researcher.” [And, no, I am not trying to compare myself to Descartes Kant, who despite being wrong about so much was still far more brilliant than I could ever be.]

The first giants, though, that I want to give some credit to are two of my friends for, in effect, facilitating this opportunity for me. If not for the help of two friends I made at my first ASIS&T conference 2 years ago in Austin I would not have this opportunity.

Benjamin Hockenberry (washtublibrarian), who I “met” through our blogs was my roommate. Now Ben is a bit introverted himself, but with the help of one of his Buffalo peeps we both came out of our shells a bit while there.

The lovely and talented Jennifer Graham (jennimi) was (and is!) such an inspiration. There is no question that when I listen to Haley Bonar singing, “… you must have too many women on your mind …,” that she is at or near the forefront. Always.

Jenn brought us both out of our shells and allowed us to meet some extremely interesting, and fun, people; several of whom I am now on a panel with.

I also want to thank Kathryn La Barre, Allen Renear, and Carole Palmer for believing in me and providing me positive ways to view my being “roped in.” I have no doubt that there are outstanding faculty and mentors at all of the LIS schools, but here at UIUC we are amazingly blessed.

And, Carole, even if I have to pay someone to “design” it for me, I promise to have the “habitually probing generalist” shirts made before ASIS&T this year.