Our last hoorah

Today, I went to Beacon, New York for my last day in New York City.  Yeah, that's right, for my last day in the city, I left the city.  We spent our last Guggenheim museum culture seminar at Dia: Beacon, an art museum located about an hour and a half north of New York City.  The building was originally a Nabisco box printing factory so it is huge.  The art in the collection makes use of the massive amounts of space offered in the galleries with rather large pieces as well as wide open spaces.  Beacon itself was quite nice as well, and the weather was wonderful.

After touring the museum and having lunch, I bid farewell to all of my fellow Guggenheim interns and new friends and headed back to the city to pack for my trip home.  My glorious trip home!  I have been looking forward to this day for quite some time and it appears it has finally arrived.  I have already booked a car to drive Genevieve and me to Laguardia in the morning.  It's been real, New York, but I think we need a break.  It's me not you, really.  You're going to make someone really happy one day, but for now, I just need my space, ok?  I hope we can still be friends.

Today's mileage: 2.79 mi.
Total New York mileage: 222.77 mi.

It's been fun, Guggenheim library

Today was my last day working in the Guggenheim library.  I've learned a lot while I was there and met some really fantastic people.  Becky, my supervisor took me out to lunch to celebrate my last day.  She also surprised me at the end of the day with a parting gift - my choice of either a Guggenheim coffee mug or any one book from the collection of Guggenheim publications.  I decided to go with a book (surprise, surprise), The Guggenheim: Frank Lloyd Wright, the Making of the Modern Museum as it is far less likely to shatter in my luggage on the trip home.  Ok, that's not the only reason, I mean, I am a (wannabe) librarian, right?  My last act as the library intern took Becky and I on a tour of the Whitney Museum's new library.  Their library is similar to that of the Guggenheim, though their space was designed more with a library in mind than ours was.  But that is not my last act as a Guggenheim intern: tomorrow we are taking a day trip to Beacon to visit the Dia: Beacon museum.  But I don't want to get ahead of myself here, you'll just have to wait until tomorrow for the exciting conclusion of my whirlwind New York tour!

Yesterday's mileage: 2.31 mi.
Today's mileage: 3.76 mi.

Where was Facebook when we needed it?

Today, I was tasked with attempting to identify the people in photographs from a 1969 Guggenheim exhibition opening event.  I was given a list of the artists featured in the exhibition and asked to find photos of them from around 1969 so that we might match them up with the people in the pictures.  This was not an easy task.  Simply finding photos of these people was a challenge, let alone narrowing it down to a specific time frame.  I couldn't help but think of how easy it is on TV when the techies just run a photo through facial recognition software - yeah, that would have come in handy.  And if not fancy software, where was Facebook back then?!  Think about it - not only would it be really easy to find photos of these artists and just scroll back to albums posted in 1969, but assuming these photos were already on Facebook, they would just be tagged!  Oh, how we take such modern conventions for granted.

Today's mileage: 2.15 mi.

This time next week...

Yep, that's pretty much all I will be thinking about all this week: what I will be doing this time next week.  Thus begins the last week of my internship at the Guggenheim and in New York City.  I know it's not over yet, but before I forget, I'd like to thank all of my faithful (and intermittent) readers for your continued attention and encouragement.  I never thought people would actually want to read about what I do and have to say but alas, you keep coming back for more.  And I thank you for that.  The knowledge that someone will be reading this has kept me on my toes and motivated me to keep blogging about my experiences.  Never fear, I will continue to blog even after I leave New York, though it will probably not be a daily occurrence.  Let's fact it, life in Gainesville is just not as exciting, not that I am complaining.  The excitement of New York is too much for me.  I greatly look forward to going back to working at the UF library and spending my free time baking and such.  And air conditioning.

Today's mileage: 1.09 mi.

Wait, what is the BMW Guggenheim Lab?

This week's museum culture seminar took us to the BMW Guggenheim Lab which just opened Wednesday.  You're probably wondering what the BMW Guggenheim Lab is.  Yeah, me too.  According to the website, it's "a mobile laboratory traveling around the world to inspire innovative ideas for urban life."  It's got a cafe.  The best I could gather was that it's a space created for various events.  I don't know, maybe this is just one of those things I don't get.  But it is completely free for everyone, so if you happen to be in Manhattan and have some time on your hands, you can check it out.  If you have a better understanding of it, please do explain it to me.

Today's mileage: 6.45 mi. (That's a new record, by the way, if you've been keeping track.  It's also roughly the same distance as a 10K.  Today's mileage also puts me over 200 miles for this summer thus far.)

A whole lotta nothin'

I'm not gonna lie, I've got nothin' for you guys today.  Just an average day at the library, cataloging and fielding reference questions.  Honestly, all I can think about is how much I miss home and cannot wait to go back.  If you too are anxiously awaiting my return, please direct your attention to the countdown widget on the left-hand sidebar, with the zero-hour being my arrival time at the Jacksonville airport.  I know that's not technically home, but it's close enough and it's when I get to give my parents a big hug!

Today's mileage: 2.34 mi.

Telling a librarian she can't find something - rookie mistake or stroke of genius?

My favorite fact-checking fellow intern Thadeus was back today, hot on the pursuit of more information.  After an hour and a half of attempting to hunt down the dates for a past exhibition, he finally decided to turn to me for help.  He gave me the low-down of what he was looking for and where he had already looked.  I told him that I would work on it.  He said something along the lines of, "Thanks for the help, I doubt you'll find anything, though."  Oh ye of little faith!  Telling a librarian that he or she probably can't find some piece of information is like giving him or her a challenge that will not be refused.  It only makes us more determined to located that bit of information.  And locate it I did.  It took about an hour, but I finally found it.  So I pose the question again: when a user tells a librarian that he or she probably won't or can't find something, are they making a rookie mistake by doubting the librarian's mysteriously awe-worthy research skills or ingeniously inspiring an extra measure of investment on the part of the librarian to find the information and prove his or her skills?  I think we all know which method Thadeus was aiming for....

Today's mileage: 2.33 mi.

Rockin' the reference questions

Thadeus, one of the interns who uses the library quite regularly came in this morning looking a bit overwhelmed.  He explained that he had quite a bit of fact-checking to do and would likely spend a good deal of time in the library today.  He added that he may, in fact, need my help as well.  That is my job, I explained to him, and I would be more than happy, if not completely eager to aid him in his research.  He began his search on his own, but eventually turned to me for some assistance, though he didn't seem terribly optimistic about the library's resources or even our combined effort to locate the information he was seeking.  Needless to say, I accepted his challenge.

So you need to verify that a term was coined in 1950 but did not actually show up as a printed definition until 1952?  Ah, yes, here we are, almost those words exactly in a reliable dictionary of art term.

And you are looking for a 1951 article from an obscure French journal?  I believe this is the essay you were looking for, the full-text reprinted in a library book.  I do hope it is alright that it has already been translated to English.

There is some conflicting information concerning the dates of an exhibition and a gallery's opening, you say?  Well, this book quotes the artist directly confirming the dates of his exhibition at said gallery - will that be sufficient, good sir?

Ok, so it wasn't quite as simple as that, but it was very satisfying to be able to find the information he was looking for and present it to a very impressed library user.  That is why I love doing reference.

Today's mileage: 2.33 mi.

Auctions are not for me

Today's museum culture seminar brought us to Sotheby's for a mock auction.  We were each given a paddle, a mock catalog, and a budget.  My budget was $650,000.  That's a lot of money, right?  Yeah, not so much at Sotheby's.  And the catalog items were...well, let's just say they were not my taste.  I couldn't help but think that I would rather take that money and spend it at Target or Ikea or something.  Ironically, the auctioneer later said something about how when we get our own places and begin furnishing them, we should come to Sotheby's and not go to Ikea - that we should get some furniture that will gain value over time.  Personally, I just want furniture that will serve its purpose and look awesome in my apartment.  And as I said, antique colonial American furniture is really not my style.  Target and Ikea?  Yes, please!

But anyway, there was a mock auction as well.  Ok, I am not one for gambling and I consider auctions to be a form of gambling so I wasn't too terribly into it to begin with.  Wow, it was one of the most stressful things ever.  The auctioneer just kept talking, so quickly and constantly that I couldn't even process it fast enough to bid on anything.  I mean, there were only 8 items so it was only a few minutes of stress, but still, it was crazy.  But hey, now I know to avoid auctions at all costs, you know, for future reference.

Today's mileage: 3.74 mi.

Countdown

So, you may have noticed that I added a countdown to my homecoming on the left sidebar a few days ago.  Yes, I am greatly looking forward to coming home.  And in addition to counting down the days (and hours, minutes, and seconds in my digital countdown), I keep finding other ways to countdown my time in New York City.  From this moment until I fly home:

• I will do laundry once.
• I have 2 whole weekends here.
• I will eat 14 meals from the dining hall.
• I will spend about $75 in dining dollars.
• I have 4 museum culture seminars to attend.
• I will spend 8 days in the Guggenheim library.
• I will walk roughly 45 miles.

If anyone has any more countdown suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Today's mileage: 2.31 mi.

Navigating the job market

We interns had a bonus museum culture seminar today with the human resources department.  They gave a presentation about looking for jobs and going through the application and interview process.  As with many such trainings, it was geared more toward the museum world (understandable) than to the library world.  That is not to say that I took nothing away from it.  On the contrary, it was very informative to hear about the hiring process from the recruiter and human resources point of view.  One thing that they stressed was the importance of utilizing the benefits of LinkedIn.  I've got a profile which I've kept updated, though I have yet to find LinkedIn to be particularly helpful.  However, I figure it can't hurt, I keep it anyway.  And it's got a link to the lovely blog you are currently reading. 

Today's mileage: 2.29 mi

The end of an era

I just submitted my last assignment for my MLIS.  That may possibly be my last class assignment ever.  I'm fairly certain that I should be feeling relieved right now, but I can't help but be freaking out a bit here.  I mean, that's it?  Now what?  You mean I don't have to worry about homework anymore?  I don't know if I can wrap my head around that. 

Today's mileage: 2.36 mi

I'm famous!

I am the new face of the Guggenheim Library & Archives Department.  Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration but this picture of me with the Guggenheim's rare books collection was featured in the Library & Archives newsletter today.  And it went out to All Staff so I feel all kinds of important.  The rare books are kept under lock and key so you can feel special too because you get to see them...even if from afar.

Today's mileage: 2.29 mi

Beating the heat with museum field trips

This photo is actually from our museum culture seminar to the MTA Arts for Transit program last Friday.  It's a sculpture of a tree hanging upside-down from the ceiling, dripping with Swarovski crystals in Grand Central Market.  You can learn more about it and see more photos of the sculpture here.  (Also, I just uploaded the other photos from that trip as well as my second trip to The Met in case you're interested - see the link to my New York photo album in the left sidebar of the page.)

As for today's museum culture seminar, we learned about the Guggenheim's exhibition management department.  In addition to the exhibitions installed in the Frank Lloyd Wright building, the speakers also discussed the international (and a couple of domestic) exhibitions and satellite endeavors pursued by the museum.  They are currently working on establishing an institution and collection in Helsinki.

After our time at the Guggenheim, I sought refuge from the heat in another exhibition space: The Center for Book Arts.  It was not really what I expected, though I couldn't tell you what exactly it was that I expected.  It seems that their primary purpose is to provide a space and materials to those pursuing various books arts and print-making techniques.  But it was air-conditioned so I'm not complaining. 

And speaking of air-conditioning, I am currently planning my life around the pursuit of it.  It's no wonder as the temperature today was in the triple digits for most of the day.  It's sad when it's so hot that I long to return home to Florida.

Today's mileage: 3.36 mi

Museum bonus trip

As you may know by now, Wednesdays are not my usual days for museum culture seminars.  However, we had an optional museum field trip after work today, mostly due to the schedule of the museum in question.  We convened at El Museo del Barrio, an institution dedicated to promoting Latino culture and displaying the works of artists of Hispanic heritage.  Mid-week, the museum hosts WEPA Wednesdays, which we were attending.  We were given a lovely tour of the galleries though our tour guide was a bit more interested in having a conversation about the works than we were, having come from a full day of work - and the oppressive heat outside.  This led to quite a bit of awkward silence moments.  It was kinda like when you have class first thing in the morning and the teacher wants to discuss last night's reading assignment, but no one did it, nor is anyone awake enough to form cohesive sentences anyway.  In any case, it was a charming, if not a bit curious, museum and certainly worth the trip.

Today's mileage: 2.43 mi

Back in business, baby!

Yes, it appears as though the saga that was my computer issues has come to an end - knock on wood.  My laptop is back up and functioning though I am still working on re-installing and re-bookmarking everything.  I know that I had a zillion bookmarks and at least a couple dozen in just my bookmarks toolbar, but I'll be damned if I can't remember them all.  It makes sense really - we bookmark something so that we don't have to remember it.  And I suppose if I can't remember it, it must not have been all that important to begin with.

At work, I have been getting more comfortable with original cataloging and creating Library of Congress call numbers.  As I've said before, it's a tedious process but I am getting faster and better so it's worth it.

Monday's mileage: 2.34 mi
Today's mileage: 3.22 mi

Computer troubles, original cataloging, art on the subway, and weekend fun

Thank you, dedicated reader, for staying tuned for the exciting continuation of my New York adventures.  As you may know, last week my computer decided to be very uncooperative and has left me pleading with it to work.  Although it is still not yet functional, I believe I have isolated the problem and intend to get it back in top shape as soon as the necessary components arrive (fingers crossed for Tuesday).  Thus, please excuse my lapse in posting - it has not been for lack of excitement or interest.

I suppose I will work chronologically as I always do.  Thursday, I learned to do original cataloging!  I have been doing a great deal of copy cataloging in my internship and in the process ended up large piles of books in need of original cataloging so I decided it was time to expand my skill set.  It is a very tedious process but I am slowly but surely chipping away at my piles of books.  There are certainly some that I am still unable to do as they do not have enough English or another language using the Latin alphabet for me do be able to describe them properly.  But there are plenty of other books to keep me busy.

Friday was another museum culture seminar in which we learned about the MTA Arts for Transit program.  This is the program that commissions and maintains all of the wall murals, sculptures, and other art manifestations in the subway stations as well as some of the posters in the subway cars themselves.  It was interesting to learn about the mediums that they favor as it is necessary to have art that is very durable and able to withstand the daily interaction of hundreds, if not thousands, of people.  A particularly popular medium is the tile mosaic and I found it interesting that they commission both an artist who creates the work and then a fabricator who translates it into tile. 

My friend Phil arrived for a weekend visit on Friday!  On Saturday morning, we met up with one of his friends for a trip to The Met - they went to see the Alexander McQueen exhibition and I took the time to see the rest of the museum.  Unfortunately, the exhibit with my beloved Madame X is still under renovation but it should be open again later this week so I should be able to see it soon.  But back to my visit from Phil - he has been quite helpful in the moral support department in terms of my computer issues.  I am very grateful for his visit, indeed.

Thursday's mileage: 2.31 mi
Friday's mileage: 2.28 mi
Saturday's mileage: 3.81 mi
Today's mileage: 2.50 mi

Journal Entry #3

Forgive me for my delay in posting.  My computer has incurred some technical difficulties.  It insists that it is unable to locate the hard disk drive, however I am quite secure in my belief that it is indeed there.  I have found some battle tactics to take on the issue so hopefully it will be resolved soon...and at little to no cost.  In the meantime, if anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.  Also, should my posting be intermittent for the next week or so, you now know why.

Much has happened since my last journal entry.  In the library, I am mainly been copy cataloging the backlog of books that need to be added.  I also asked my supervisor if I could learn to do original cataloging as well and she said that she would show me how later this week.  And because I have been doing a lot of cataloging, I suggested to my supervisor that I complete the free online MARC training through OCLC.  The class was called TMQ MARC21 in Your Library Part 1: MARC & Bibliographic Info Fundamentals and the last couple of modules were helpful but most of it was really basic review.  I was also able to try my hand at some archiving.  There was a major grant-funded project that I was recruited to help with in order to complete the project on time.  Primarily, I was numbering folders and confirming their place on the finding aids, but this also let to a decent amount to finding aid editing.  In addition, my supervisor and I have been working on weeding the collection of duplicate items as well as consolidating records to clean up the catalog a bit.

I have also been busy with museum and non-library internship events.  There have been a number of museum culture seminars since my last entry including trips to exhibition spaces, public art programs, and an in-depth explanation of the Guggenheim’s current exhibition.  Speaking of which, I attended the Members' Opening Party and Private Viewing: Lee Ufan a couple of weeks ago and while I wasn’t particularly taken with the exhibition itself, the event was certainly something I was glad to have experienced.  There was also a program put on by Sotheby’s Institute of Art featuring the director of the Andy Warhol Museum which a number of us interns attended.  Finally, I went to the recent all-staff meeting for the museum.

As for extracurricular New York City activities, I have been visiting a lot of museums.  I have been taking advantage of my free pass to all of the museums in the city – otherwise I would be spending a fortune on admission.  I have gotten in the habit of visiting a different museum almost every day that I am not at work.  I am still blogging daily and more details of my adventures and daily happenings can be found on my blog (here).  I am greatly enjoying my internship but I think I have determined that New York City in general is not for me.

Wednesday's mileage: 3.03 mi

Guggenheim exhibition explained

This week's museum culture seminar was held today rather than the usual Friday.  That's because we got a super special tour of the current exhibition, Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity, by the senior curator of said exhibition Alexandra Munroe...and the museum is closed on Thursdays so we had it all to ourselves.  Now, I saw this exhibition a couple of weeks ago at the member's party opening so it wasn't really new to me in terms of seeing the artwork.  However, it was far more enlightening to hear the curator explain a lot of the background of the pieces, series, and exhibition in general.  I still can't say that I am now in love with it, but it did give me a better appreciation for the artist and his work.

Today's mileage: 4.42 mi

I'm smack dab in the middle of my trip

Yep, that's right, I'm halfway through my stay in New York City.  And in light of this landmark occasion, I'd like to reflect on some things I've learned and some musings I've been having lately.  First, this is the longest I have ever been away from home.  That sounds so very sheltered, but I don't think that's really the case - I've been to Europe twice, visiting 6 countries altogether, and, obviously, I've lived in Manhattan for over a month now.  I think it's just that I haven't seen much reason to leave home aside from simply exploring the world.  I'm finding that sometimes the best part about traveling is coming home.  Can you tell I'm a bit homesick?

As for a few things I've learned about New York City:

• The essence of New York City is, apparently, waiting is horrifically long, chaotic lines.
• Customer service is not a top priority for most businesses here.
• I don't think I will ever get used to having to pop my ears because the elevator goes up just that high (I work on the 12th floor).
• Building numbers do not coincide with street numbers - a fact that I find quite frustrating.
• There are some really cute dogs up here.
• As much as we complain about the price of gas, taking the subway is way more expensive (It's $2.25 every time you get on the subway or a bus which would equate to driving about 15-20 miles in terms of gas prices, yet I rarely take the subway more than about 4 miles.).
• It is really easy to find a sandwich with brie in it here (!!).

And speaking of mileage, if you've been following along like the dedicated reader I know you are, you've noticed my daily mileage counts at the bottom of each post.  So far, I have walked a total of almost 120 miles and I average about 3.3 miles per day.  For all my fellow Gainesvillians out there, that's like walking along Archer Road from I-75 to 13th Street, everyday.  Yes, yes, it's good for me, I know, but I can't say that I'm enjoying that part of my stay here.

In an attempt to end my rant of a post on a positive note, I would like to express the fact that I am indeed enjoying my internship, as well as the benefits it has to offer.  As I hope you can tell from previous posts, I do take great pleasure in visiting the amazing museums that the city has to offer, made possible in part by my internship and its free-admission-to-any-museum-in-the-city(-except-the-Museum-of-Sex) benefit.

Today's mileage: 3.33 mi