Allie Alvis is a book historian, and rare book cataloguer at DC antiquarian bookseller Typer Punch Matrix. They are the former special collections reference librarian of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, and hold masters degrees in book history and information management from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow. They are passionate about bibliographic communication, and maintain popular social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube (among others) as Book Historia.
What is your site’s URL?
Briefly, what is the current purpose of your site?
To act as a hybrid dynamic CV and central point of contact, with a place for miscellaneous pieces of writing not published elsewhere
Are you actively looking for work?
√ Yes, for speaking gigs
Has your site brought you any work? And if so, what?
Yes! I’ve received a number of media inquiries and speaking opportunities through the “contact” portion of my website, and orders for book supports through my links.
About Your Site and Sites in General
Did you pay someone to design or build your site?
√ No
Which of the following content do you have on your site (check all that apply)?
√ Resume or CV
√ Descriptions or list of services you provide
√ Blog about professional topics
√ List of publications
√ List of presentations
√ References, testimonials and/or press
√ Twitter or other social media feed
√ Your Bio
√ Your photo
Which of the following personal links or connection methods do you provide on your site? (Check all that apply)
√ Contact Form
√ TikTok
√ Tumblr
√ YouTube
Is your site strictly library/archives/LIS related?
√ Yes
When was your site last updated?
√ Within the last month
What causes you to update your site, and about how frequently does that occur?
Generally whenever I give a new presentation or get new press, or get around to writing a blog post; frequency depends on how often those things occur
Does your site use any of the following platforms/services?
√ Squarespace
How much do you pay annually to run your website? (for numbers not in American dollars, please use other)
√ Other: $144/year
Do you allow comments on your site?
√ Yes
Do you have advertising on your site?
√ No
Do you have analytics on your site?
√ Yes
About how many people visit your site in a month?
√ Other: Depends on if I post a new blog; 0-50 if no new posts, 51-250 if I’m promoting a post on social media
Is having a personal website a “must”?
√ Nope! Not at All!
Do you have any privacy concerns associated with sharing your personal information, resume, etc., on a public website? If so, what measures do you take to feel safer?
Since I’m kind of a bibliographic “public figure,” there’s not much on my website that isn’t on my various social media presences, so I don’t feel any less comfortable having info there
What advice would you give someone wanting to create their own personal professional site?
That’s a hard one – I’m able to have an (I think) attractive website because I’m not *so* early career that I can afford to pay for it. If you don’t have the money to spend, Tumblr or WordPress can be a sort-of alternative.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your website? Or personal websites in general?
I’ve been thinking about good web design since I had a LiveJournal back in 2002, so I’m a bit picky! But there are lots of nice templates out there that you can use as-is with very little additional work.
Demographics
What is your job title?
Rare Book Cataloguer
What types of organizations do you work for or with? (Check all that apply)
√ Other: Rare book seller, formerly (and likely future) special collections library
If you work for someone besides yourself, does that organization have rules about what you can share on your personal site?
√ Yes
What part of the world are you in?
√ Eastern US
Anything else you’d like to say, to me or to the readers?
This is a cool project, good luck! 🙂
Thanks for reading! If you have a personal professional website (kind of an awkward phrase) that you’d like to talk about, please fill out the survey.
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