New blog

Long time since I posted here...have a new blog that I'll be using going forward located at http://blog.christopherdeweese.com/

Check it out and leave some comments!

Change comes in threes

And as of August 14th, I have officially made three life changes in the span of a year. In March my beautiful daughter was born, happy and healthy and more than we could ask for. In June I started my new job, leaving LCLS after 7 excellent years. And as of August 14th, my wife and I now own a home!

We've started moving and will be finished on saturday. After this, I think we'll take it easy for a while and just get settled in.

In other news: look for me at IL 2006, I will be presenting on Mashup Applications with John Blyberg from AADL.

Fixing the radio...a life change

Some months ago I posted about the radio in my Honda Civic.

Looks like I'll be getting it fixed, but not because it's bothering me. Yes library fans, I'll be fixing my radio because my drive time to work is going to increase.

At the end of May I will no longer be working at LCLS. I have accepted a new position with a company called REJIS in St. Louis. On June 1st I will join their team as a programmer analyst, essentially doing what I do now for a different set of clients and I'll be on a team of people who do what I do: code.

This is a major change for me. I've been with LCLS for seven years now. I've literally grown up there and it has a very special place in my heart. I will miss everyone at LCLS, but I won't be out of touch. I'll also miss working with all the people I have met at our "sister" systems in IL, through conferences, and through the biblioblogosphere.

I will still see some of you this fall. I was invited to speak at Internet Librarian in Monterey and will be keeping that date clear. My new employer is aware of this and they seem to think its pretty neat, so I'm looking forward to being there.

I'll be leaving LCLS with nothing but good feelings for the people there and a little sadness too. I've been lucky to serve under two excellent directors and had many colleagues there help me along the way. I was fortunate to be in a position where I was encouraged to create, to dream, and to grow. Without that type of support I do not think I could have accomplished many of the things I did.

I will be going to the local car radio shop with mixed emotions. I'll be happy to finally have a working radio again, but sad to be leaving such great colleagues.

Sad News

From Tina Hubert, the Executive Director at LCLS

It is with deep sorrow that I must notify you of an LCLS staff member's death. Dan Sawler experienced a heart attack while driving the courier route this morning. He was rushed to the hospital by ambulance, but all efforts to stabilize him did not work. Dan died at Oliver Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Illinois, this morning.

We will share information regarding visitation and funeral services as it is received.

Dan was a part-time driver who was very well-regarded by all of his colleagues at the Lewis & Clark Library System and he will be sorely missed.

No-one else was injured in this incident. The courier route was delayed and shortened and all materials will arrive at their destinations throughout the week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tina Hubert
Executive Director
Lewis & Clark Library System
425 Goshen Road
Edwardsville, IL 62025

I meet all the drivers when they are first hired because I take their photo for the website. Dan was always very friendly and he will be missed by all. My condolences to his family.

LCLS on LISNews.org

Charm just sent this out to our staff: Mapping Routes

Cool! Neat to see your work get out there.

For those of you looking for baby updates, I'll post soon! Until then you can check out the new photo set @ Flickr.

Hello World - Meet Tess

I just watched the entire focus of my life change. World, meet Tess Isabel, the newest member of my family. Mom and baby are doing fantastic!!!!

From TTW: Ten Ways to Lose Your Technies

Michael made a great adaptation post on Ten ways to lose your techies. (Note to employer: No worries, you guys do great!) He hit some great points that I want to restate in bold print.

4. Allow barriers to exist that make it difficult for IT staff and librarians to plan and collaborate

5. Bog down their projects in red tape and approvals that take weeks or months to get

Bonus: Never Dream. Never innovate. Never think outside the Box.

Many who have come to know me or work with me know that #4 and 5 are huge problems with me. Because of the nature of my work and how my position has evolved, I believe firmly in breaking down all barriers. I am trusted to do a job and there should be minimal things that prevent me from doing so. This goes for all staff!

There is an inherent disconnect that occurs when developers are not allowed to interface directly with end-users or that interfacing is done through a middle-man that causes things to be "lost in translation". Believe me, every system I've seen that was designed without direct end-user to developer communication and collaboration was more work for and accomlished less for the end users. IT and management should never forget that every system is designed to accomplish something for the end users.

When it comes to IT planning you need a true dialog between management, end-users, and IT staff. All staff should dream and say things like "It would be nice if" and the biggest thing is that...IT should not rule out anything just because. I regularly sit down in tech meetings and open the floor for people to say their wildest tech dreams. Then we look at what is available today that could possibly accomplish that. Somethings are just not feasible or affordable, but you'll be surprised at what you can accomplish just by entertaining ideas. You'll also be surprised at what other ideas are generated from that synergy.

There is a lot to be said for collaboration and putting up barriers definately does not invite that dialog or collaboration. And in that end, your internal constituents lose and so do your external.