[OPLINLIST] Suits vs. Jeans

[SWON Info]

Melanie and I met with a great team of academic librarians yesterday. 
One topic we discussed was /how difficult it is to situate yourself 
between students and administration/, groups that often have competing 
expectations.

/Consider dress code/. Administration would like library staff to dress 
"professionally" to reflect their position and credentials. /With 
students, professional attire can create a barrier/. It can be difficult 
for a student to approach someone who's dressed so differently from 
themselves with what feels like a cruddy question about a password or 
photocopier problem.

This split is also present in communication. /When you're writing for 
administration, they'll expect to see a certain level of formality/. You 
probably need to limit the amount of library-specific terms you use, but 
when you're writing about financial or HR matters, formal language is 
appropriate.

/With students, formal language can be alienating/. If you use 
vocabulary that's beyond their reach, they might assume that your 
message isn't meant for them. What feels like normal writing to you 
might sound too technical or stiff to a student.

How do you write for 18 year-olds in ways that are clear and appealing? 
*Show your writing to a student and ask for feedback*. (Student workers 
are great candidates for this.) Ask them to summarize the message first 
(to see what they understood without any extra explanation). If that 
message doesn't match what you intended, explain what you wanted to get 
across and ask how you could make that more plain.

/Match your message to your audience and you'll communicate more 
clearly./ Here's a recent article on academic writing and audience: Why 
Is Academic Writing So Academic? 
<http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2014/02/why-is-academic-writing-so-academic.html>

  * Nathan

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    Early Bird about to fly

This is the last week to sign up for SWON's Staff Training Symposium at 
the Early Bird discount rate! Sign up /by Friday/: http://bit.ly/swon-sts.


    Computers in Libraries discount

Thinking of heading to the Computers in Libraries conference this April? 
With "Hacking the Library" as their theme, they've scheduled quite a few 
sessions on technology and Maker Spaces in the library. These are great 
talks if you're considering applying for SWON's Maker Space Grant 
<http://www.swonlibraries.org/Maker_Space_Grant>.

Register with SWON's promo code and the conference costs $299 instead of 
$499!
Read about the conference: http://infotoday.com/cil2014/
Register here: http://secure.infotoday.com/forms/default.aspx?form=cil2014
Promo Code: *SWON14*

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Connect to SWON online: Website <http://www.swonlibraries.org/> : 
Calendar <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/eventcalendar.aspx> : Facebook 
<https://www.facebook.com/SWONLibraries?sk=wall> : Twitter 
<http://twitter.com/swonlibraries>
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Calendar excerpts from the next two weeks. (Please register for online 
classes at least two days before they take place.)

  * *Writing a Social Media Policy for Your Library
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=855>* -
    (2/27/2014) - Online
  * */Summer Reading Program Workshop: STEM
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=819>/* -
    (3/4/2014) - Washington-Centerville PL
  * *Beyond the Bookstore Model: Making Your Library User-Friendly
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=882>* -
    (3/4/2014) - Online
  * *PLAPPN Adult Program Planners (SIG) Meeting
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=889>* -
    (3/5/2014) - PLCH, Anderson Branch
  * *Dealing with a Difficult Library Board and Board Member Problems
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=886>* -
    (3/6/2014) - Online
  * *Talk with Pattie Johnston, VP/President-Elect of the Association of
    Bookmobile & Outreach Services
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=895>* -
    (3/7/2014) - Boone County PL, Main Branch
  * *[PLA Annual Conference]* - (3/11--3/14/2014) - Indianapolis
  * *Shooting Yourself in the Foot!
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=880>* -
    (3/11/2014) - Online
  * *ROYAL Book Review (SIG) Meeting
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=729>* -
    (3/11/2014) - SWON Meeting Room
  * *ROYAL Book Review (SIG) Meeting
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=730>* -
    (3/11/2014) - Boone County PL, Main Branch

SWON Libraries - http://www.swonlibraries.org
10250 Alliance Road, Suite 225
Blue Ash, OH 45242
phone (513) 751-4422 - fax (513) 751-0463
To subscribe or be removed from SWON's Events list, click 
here:http://lists.swonlibraries.org/mailman/listinfo/events
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