Violet Fox is a cataloging & metadata librarian at a large university.
She tweets about critical cataloging, zine librarianship, defunding the police, and roadside attractions at @violetbfox.
What is your site’s URL?
What is your tagline or title on your site?
your premier source for Violet B. Fox info
Briefly, what is the current purpose of your site?
To bring together some of the projects that I do into one place: my interests are distinct (cataloging, critical librarianship, zine librarianship) so some people only know my work in one area.
Was the original purpose of your site different from this current purpose? If yes, how and why did it change?
Nope.
Are you actively looking for work? (check all that apply)
√ Nope! Not at All!
√ Other: I finally got a job after an 18-month search for a full-time permanent position.
Has your site brought you any work? And if so, what?
My website has brought me more *volunteer* work: people emailing me to ask questions or get information about a project or speak at an event (usually for free, sometimes with a small stipend). It hasn’t been an important factor in getting me a job.
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
√ Blog about personal 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
√ ORCiD
Is your site strictly library/archives/LIS related?
√ No, I include my arts/crafts/hobbies/other tangential or unrelated work
When was your site last updated?
√ Within the last month
What causes you to update your site, and about how frequently does that occur?
Whenever I do a new presentation or project, which happens a few times a year.
Does your site use any of the following platforms/services?
√ WordPress (*not* WordPress.com)
How much do you pay annually to run your website? (for numbers not in American dollars, please use other)
√ $20.01-$50
Do you allow comments on your site?
√ No
Do you have advertising on your site?
√ No
Do you have analytics on your site?
√ No
About how many people visit your site in a month?
√ I don’t know
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?
I have a public resume on my website which does not list my address/phone/email address.
What advice would you give someone wanting to create their own personal professional site?
Setting up a site can be done in just a few hours, so don’t be intimidated to just get *something* out there, even if it’s not complete. If people are comfortable sharing more information about themselves, I’d encourage folks to share their passions so others can get a sense for them as people, not just as workers.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your website? Or personal websites in general?
I don’t think a personal website is necessary, but I do think that folks should be aware of what comes up with a web search about them. If it’s something out of date or unprofessional, a personal website can be a good way to change peoples’ perceptions.
Demographics
What is your job title?
Cataloging & Metadata Librarian
What types of organizations do you work for or with? (Check all that apply)
√ Academic Library
√ Special Library
If you work for someone besides yourself, does that organization have rules about what you can share on your personal site?
√ No
What part of the world are you in?
√ Midwestern US
Anything else you’d like to say, to me or to the readers?
Thanks for putting this together, I think it’ll be helpful for folks new to the profession.
Thanks for reading! If you have a personal professional website that you’d like to talk about, please fill out the survey.
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