cpd23: Thing 2
Now you’ve set off with your own blogging, it’s time to meet the neighbours: see who else is taking part and what they’re saying.
I think this “thing” is going to take me awhile to fully complete. This is one of those entries that will probably be edited a lot. But at first glance, here’s what I’ve found:
- Fellow knitter!
- She’s a rare book/special collections type, an area I’ve never been involved in. In a historical way, I find them quite intriguing, but as far as working with them on a day-to-day basis, I don’t have the background or aptitude for it. Still find them very interesting though.
- Traveled for four years before pursuing her career! What an idea! I’d love to travel, but I could not have afforded it.
- She’s a fellow academic librarian-type so I’m interested to hear her experiences.
- Another fellow academic librarian, always curious to hear different experiences
- Law librarian! Intriguing…
That’s all I got so far…
cpd23: Thing 1
…write a post about why you’re taking part in the course. You could talk about where your career is now and where you’d like it to go, what you’re hoping to learn from cpd23, which of the Things you’re most (or least) looking forward to, how you feel about being a new blogger or how you’d like to improve your blogging, or anything else that relates to why you’re doing this!
I’ve decided to do this for a number of reasons:
- As is painfully obvious, I have not been a very good blogger. Part of the reason is not having made it a priority. But mostly, I just don’t know what to write about, other than what I’m doing at work, which doesn’t seem interesting enough to blog about.
- I’ve been feeling rather disconnected with my fellow information professionals and this is a way I hope I can get reconnected.
So, let’s get started…
One year later…
It doesn't get much more pensive than this
It has been a year since I graduated from the University of Michigan with my Master’s degree in Information Science. It has also been almost 8 months since I have been in my first job as a librarian. And it has been that long since I have blogged about it. Why? Well, to be frank, there hasn’t been much to blog about in my job. I’m also still finding my feet in blogging about professional topics.
You may have noticed that I have changed my blog title from “Midwest Librarian” to “Michigan Librarian”. This is a statement of hope, not a reflection of recent change of status.
In this past year and these past 8 months especially, I have learned many things about myself, sometimes quite painfully. The move out of state, to a rural area and to a small college has taught me so much more than I imagined.
I have discovered how truly important my family is to me.
When I moved here, I didn’t think a 5 hours drive would be that far to travel to visit my family. It is further away than I have ever been from my hometown. And as I have discovered, that is too far. My career is important to me, but so is my family. And in order to be truly happy, I need both. I also miss Michigan in a general way. I miss the culture. I miss my home.
Courtesy of David Rumsey Map Collection, Creative Commons License 2.0
I am an urban girl.
Not New York City or L.A.-urban. But Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor-urban. I miss the bustling city life, where places are open past 9 pm, cultural events are around every corner and social activities for the creative and intellectually curious young adult are prevalent. There is certain appeal to the quiet, small-town life and I have total respect for those who need it and love it. But it is not for me.
I would rather be a medium-fish in a large pond than a medium-fish in a small pond.
My current title is Reference Librarian. In reality, however, I am Reference/Instruction/Circulation/Serials/Interlibrary Loan/Outreach Librarian/Archivist/Supervisor/Paraprofessional. That doesn’t really fit on a business card, though. Obviously, reference librarians do more than just reference; I am not deluded about that. The small size of this library (3 full-time library staff) necessitates multi-tasking within and across departments – we all do a wide variety of things! There is breadth, most certainly, but I am more interested in depth. I am also very interested in being on teams and committees, which I have had some opportunity to do on an interdepartmental basis with other college units, but nothing within the library. When your staff is only three, there isn’t much need or place for committees.
So! I’ve made a decision. I want to go back home to Michigan. I want to work at a (much) larger college/university and I want to live in an urban area. Ideally, my goal is southeast Michigan, in the Ann Arbor/Detroit area, since that is where I feel I would thrive personally and professionally. I would also be close enough to family and friends.
I don’t mean to disparage where I am or what I’m doing. I am extremely fortunate to have a good job in my field when I know some of my friends and colleagues are out of the field or out of work entirely! Nor am I disparaging the school. It fulfills a definite need, is unique in a lot of ways and has given me a great deal of opportunity to grow. I have a say in pretty much everything that happens at the library and a great deal of control over the areas I manage – how many librarians can say that?
Courtesy of bighappyfunhouse, Creative Commons License 2.5
I’ve had some great times and wonderful encounters here. Like last week, I helped a student troubleshoot a problem with a video not playing and when I fixed, he gave me a high-five! The two English professors who have praised me for excellent instruction sessions. My regulars, the students who stop in and always say hi. The students who have returned after a reference interaction to say how much I’ve helped them and how they appreciate it. These things, however small, will absolutely make my day or even my week!
In terms of subject knowledge, I’ve also learned a great deal more than I ever thought I would about topics in agriculture. I’ve gained knowledge and patience in working with students who are less than tech-savvy – a big change from U of M. I’ve learned not to take those things for granted and to assess the level of tech-savvy from the very beginning.
I’ve learned a lot about myself and my goals, I’ve gained invaluable experiences and I’ve met some fantastic people. But I’m ready to move on and to go in a different direction in my career. To return to my home and to settle. I only hope the Michigan job market is kind to me.
Real life begins…
I said in my last entry that I hoped the next time I updated, I would be a librarian.
Well, I did it!!
I am now a Reference Librarian at the Ohio State University’s Agricultural Technical Institute!!
…well, in reality, I’m more like *the* reference librarian. As well as circulation, periodicals, interlibrary loan/OhioLINK and instructional assistance librarian. In a small library, you wear a lot of hats! And ATI’s library definitely qualifies as small. There are now three of us: me, the cataloging/AV/media manager and the library director. I started last Monday, but due to severe weather damage to the neighboring OSU campus (OARDC), the campus was closed Friday and today. I’m hoping it will be open tomorrow. I like my job and I’m really bored at home. I’ve spent enough time in the recent past being unemployed and doing nothing to be easily bored by sitting at home doing nothing.
So far, most of my work has been training and ILL/OhioLINK work since the students have not arrived yet. It is definitely different having quarters instead of semesters. Most colleges have already started classes, but we are not supposed to start until this Wednesday. But now classes don’t start until Thursday now because of the delays. I’m anxious to meet and work with students again! Of course, in addition to my other work, but I really want to see the library being used and help students. I know for the first week or two it might not be too busy with reference since classes are just getting started, but it will pick up…
I’m so excited that I get to be a librarian for real, in a college and a city that is very nearly perfect for me. The small size is great because I will really get to know the students, but being a regional campus of OSU gives us the resources of the big state university. It’s the best of both worlds!!
I did it again
Wow, almost another whole month went by without posting. In that time, a lot has happened. Though most of it has happened in the last 10 days.
7/31: Move from Ann Arbor to Saginaw, with my parents.
8/4: Received a call to schedule a phone interview for a librarian position in Pennsylvania.
8/5: Conducted said phone interview which I think went quite well.
8/9, morning: Received a call for an in-person interview for a librarian position in Ohio.
8/9, afternoon: Received a call for an in-person interview for a records/database management position for my hometown police department.
I guess it’s true what they say: When it rains, it pours!
I’m really, really hoping one of the librarian positions works out, because while the police department could be really interesting work, I would much rather be an academic librarian. Though whatever happens, I’ll take it in stride. Really, any of these jobs would be great! And at the same time, I can’t get too attached to any one position because there is no guarantee. I’m feeling really good, like one of these will really work out!
To even get this far is pretty exciting! It proves to me that I’ve shown others what I can do and they’re willing to give me a chance. That’s a good and encouraging feeling.
Hopefully next time I update, I’ll be a real librarian. If not, I’ll just keep pressing on, waiting for the day when I get my chance.
