thelifeguardlibrarian:

togatherinc:

You might not know her as Kate Tkacik, but if you’re involved with Tumblr’s library scene, you’ll know her by her username, thelifeguardlibrarian. In 2011, Kate began to build a network of librarians on Tumblr, now known as Tumblarians. In addition, she is a 2013 Library Journal Mover & Shaker and a contributor to Library Journal.

We spoke with Kate via email about building the Tumblarian community; why it started, how it grew, and all of the great things that have come (and will continue to do so in the future) from connecting such a widely spread group of people with just a few hashtags.

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Oh hey.

OH HEY IS RIGHT.

Kate is kind of a pokemon master of us: She’s gotta catch us all.

— The Unemployed Librarian on our very own Lifeguard Librarian.

the pinakes: On Kate Tkacik's Nomination as a Mover & Shaker →

thepinakes:

An excerpt from my communication supporting Kate’s nomination as a 2013 Library Journal Mover & Shaker:

Kate has transformed the atmosphere on Tumblr, her preferred online medium. […] While the librarian community on Twitter and Facebook has been “mature” (fully developed) for a few years now, until Kate started organizing, there was no specific librarian community on Tumblr to speak of. In my case, I followed a handful of friends, librarians and non-librarians that I already knew in real life or via twitter. I didn’t post any serious library-related content at the time.

But what Kate did was different: she immediately saw the potential within Tumblr to connect a network of librarians, and using its search tools started adding librarians to her feed, reblogging their posts, adding her own commentary, and creating her own original posts on library topics — both fun, fanciful posts and more serious professional questions worth addressing. Kate encouraged every librarian she found to use Tumblr’s built-in tagging system to use the tags “librarians” and “libraries,” so that we could find each other’s content, and follow each other’s blogs. She consciously set out to create a community, and very quickly she succeeded.

Raise your hand if you are a member of the Kate Tkacik fan club.

Kate Tkacik | Library Journal Movers & Shakers

Tkacik’s upbeat, intellectually curious attitude comes across in her posts and attracts other librarians to her, says tumblarian Daniel Ransom, librarian for research and electronic resources at Holy Names University in Oakland. “She consciously set out to create a community, and, very quickly, she succeeded,” he says.

I love this woman. I love you Kate.

Yes, it’s that time again: Library Journal’s annual Movers & Shakers issue. While not precisely a librarian dance contest (though I wouldn’t put it past these folks to bust a move), Movers & Shakers selects 50 outstanding librarians we think will shimmy their way into your hearts (and communities). We’re rolling out the names of this year’s crop throughout the coming week (today’s group: Change Agents), so check in for updates. You may notice a familiar face or two in the photo spread below…

Five Question Friday: Kate and the Tumblarians

thecardiganlibrarian:

Here, Kate poses with her very prestigious libbanana.

After interviewing Kate thelifeguardlibrarian awhile back, I noticed things have taken off with the librarians-on-tumblr phenomenon, with Kate at the forefront as an informal organizer and motivator. Here, I ask her about what’s changed, both in her life and in what it means to be a librarian on tumblr, since we last talked.

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In which Kate shares her secrets for success:

Do you find it hard to keep up with your dash and Tumblarian doings?

To be perfectly honest, I hardly keep up with my dash at all. I spend more day-to-day time reading tags—#libraries, #librarians, #tumblarians—and keep relatively focused in what’s going on in the tumblarian community. The nice part about enjoying being a part of this community is that it in no way feels like an obligation. I do get behind on updating the tumblarians list, but otherwise, I’m happy to participate whenever I’m able. 

thelifeguardlibrarian:

Holy macaroni.

Thass our girl.

Higher Ed Solo Interviews Kate Tkacik

Ron Bronson: What’s surprised you most since you started blogging actively?
Kate Tkacik: Oh, the most surprising thing has surely been that so many folks are willing to read, respond, and engage. It’s certainly the best surprise as well. There’s a whole world of diverse, intelligent, experienced, and hilarious people out there that I get to talk to on a daily basis. I’d never knew what I was missing out on.

thelifeguardlibrarian:

Well damn. There we are again. Oct 1 issue of LJ. Thanks for the heads up @erintheshea! (Taken with Instagram)

If it isn’t clear already, Library Journal <3s tumblrarians.

Yes, thelifeguardlibrarian sent the LJ tumblr a postcard and yes, you should be jealous.

The tweet announcing the formation of the EveryLibrary.org campaign came a day earlier than its founder and executive director John Chrastka had intended, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Within four hours of Kate Tkacik’s post to Tumblr, donors had contributed $400 toward EveryLibrary’s goal of raising $50,000 by November 7 with the interests of helping public, school, and academic libraries get ballot initiatives passed in 2013 and beyond.

— 

Beverly Goldberg, American Libraries | The Campaign is on to Form the Nation’s First Library PAC

(Tumblr’s own Lifeguard Librarian [Kate Tkacik] flexes her muscles, and the internet takes notice. Tumblr’s influence has grown while the adults weren’t looking.)

(via thepinakes)

Pulling this bit out: “Tumblr’s influence has grown while the adults weren’t looking.”

rachelfershleiser:

(via @rachelfershleiser | Library sandwich parteeeeee! | Webstagram)

Very important Tumbrarian sandwich summit with Molly and Kate.

These ladies are unstoppably amazing, in case you were wondering.

The library portion of your dashboard just had a sandwich party.

Our own Kate Tkacik, aka thelifeguardlibrarian, knocks another one out of the park over at LJ’s Digital Shift. This time: a tumblr how-to (with gifs)! Can I get an amen up in here?

"Our Love of Service" →

This is one of the best articles about the librarian profession that I’ve read. Kate does a great job of explaining the evolution of the librarianship and how, even though we aren’t in the traditional setting of books and patrons, we must follow our love of service and search out opportunities to put our skills to use.

FistfulsofWords on Kate Tkacik / thelifeguardlibrarian’s recent LJ piece.

thelifeguardlibrarian:

Hah! Well, shoot.

This is the house that Tumblr built.