EDITOR'S NOTES
Know-How
by Dick Kaser
The dictionary defines “know-how” as “knowing how to do something well.” But Wikipedia’s team of authors makes an interesting distinction between knowing how (practical knowledge), knowing what (facts), and knowing why (science).
At CIL, it’s the practical stuff we try to be about on most days, but that doesn’t mean there’s no factual knowledge or science involved. The skills of the technical librarians who write for us run the gamut. In this issue, we even get to do some math. Hey, circ data may be practical, but it’s also fun, as Jeffrey Meyer points out in his feature on how to use something no more complex than a spreadsheet to drive circulation in creative ways.
And what about art? Holly Hensley’s article on digitizing photo collections turned out beautiful in this edition, and so will your photo archive when you follow her startup tips.
On any given day, a librarian has to wear many hats, use many skills, and make sure lots of technology works. Avery Le calls it a simple hat trick, and you will too, after you check out the free resources she recommends for a law librarian—or anyone else—who needs to edit media files and package presentations.
It may seem to be secret knowledge to others, but once you read this issue (shhh!), it will be as easy as know-how.
Have a great summer.
Dick Kaser, Executive Editor
kaser@infotoday.com
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