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:

Girl in the Moon

• 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.

The Learning Librarian

• 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.

Librarian in a Nutshell

• Another fellow academic librarian, always curious to hear different experiences
• Law librarian! Intriguing…

That’s all I got so far…

…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:

1. 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.
2. 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…

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.

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!!

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.

It’s been a month of job applications, traveling and planning for the immediate future. My lease in Ann Arbor ends August 1 and I still have not secured employment. So on July 31st, I return to my parents’ house in Saginaw. I haven’t lived there for 4 years. This will definitely be interesting. Of course as a 26-year-old with a Master’s degree, I’d hoped to have a full-time job and be getting settled in my own life, but I’m actually looking forward to moving home. Temporarily, of course. I get along much better with my parents than I used to and I enjoy their company. I’m also blessed that they will let me move back in, rent-free. Many people don’t have that luxury. I think my mom is looking forward to having me around. We’ve become close since I grew up after certain life events. It’s no secret that as in my teens/early-20s I was a bit of a brat to my parents. Both they and I are very glad that I grew out of that phase.

On the job front I have unfortunately not had any more interviews (had one phone interview so far), but in the last week I’ve put quite a few applications out there! And jobs are being posted regularly, so I’m still optimistic. In fact, I’ve been feeling reinvigorated about my prospects, but there’s no concrete reason why. I think some of it is in part due to the job ads that I’ve seen lately. I’ve been coming across places posting jobs that I’ve never heard of before, discovering how interesting and often unique they are and daydreaming how cool it would be to get that job. This might turn out to be a mistake in getting my hopes up too high only to have them dashed, but for now it’s nice to be excited about the possibilities.

In non-job/non-library related news, I’m glad I’m moving because it’s giving me the chance to really streamline my life. There’s so much stuff I brought with me in my last move that I just shake my head at myself and ask “Why?” And that was AFTER I’d had a big yard sale before the move. Having stuff just to have it, or having lots of trinkets just to look at is not my style. Function overrules fashion; simplicity and minimalism is my ideal. It is a dream of mine to have all my stuff (excluding furniture) fit into my car. Life isn’t about the stuff. It’s about what you do with it and who you impact along the way.

Anyways, I’m getting all philosophical. I’ve been feeling ‘out of the loop’ in current issues in the library profession and I need to get back in it. That’s when I get all passionate and proclaim how I will change the world through library services! Information access!! Dispelling myths and inspiring students!! KNOWLEDGE REVOLUTION!!

…I might be getting a little carried away.

~Crash Test Dummies, Here on Earth

This has become my new job search criteria. In this tight economy, I’ve decided it is necessary to expand my job search territory. I’ve yet to have a job interview (it hurts, but I have to remember not to take it personally) and I’ve realized that I’m limiting myself professionally to discount jobs based solely on location. I could miss out on great opportunities, meeting wonderful new friends and experiencing new cultures.

I would still love to have a job in the Midwest, but I’m also excited about the possibility of new places I could discover outside of this region. However, I still need all my seasons. So, America, if you have mild springs and falls, warm summers and winters with snow, you’re fair game. Sorry, the South, but I gotta have my snowy winters.

But then, I took a step back and thought more about it. Is this censorship? Were his freedom of speech rights infringed upon? Did he suffer discrimination?

1) The books originally suggested were reported to have a ‘liberal bent’, according to Mr. Savage. Without knowing what these books are, it’s impossible to make that assessment and by providing the ‘right wing’ materials, it seems more like Savage was attempting to fight back, rather than to provide a balanced point of view.

2) He reportedly was ‘forced to quit’. Other than the backlash suffered from people who did not agree with his recommendation, was there more going on? The various news stories report that the librarian’s supervisor and the library dean supported him. Savage claims he suffered harassment from faculty, but that claim has yet to be substantiated. This is an area that I would need more information on in order to make a judgment.

3) Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from criticism. Just as Savage is entitled to state his opinion, others are entitled to disagree and state their opinions. Furthermore, freedom of speech is not all encompassing, especially when it comes to hateful speech. He does not appear to have engaged in directly saying hateful things towards the gay community, but his recommendation and support of a book that does, in my mind, is the same thing.

4a) A college classroom, especially at a public university, is not the place to push personal religious and political beliefs whether they’re right-wing, left-wing, anarchist or anything else. I would expect similar reactions from the recommendation of another controversial religious or political subject.

4b) The Garcetti Supreme Court case referenced in the article makes the best point:
“…public employees who speak as part of their official duties do not have the same freedom-of-speech rights as citizens acting on their own.”

4c) “We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with the fair representation of the aims of our institutions…”
~ALA Code of Ethics, VII

Given the limited information available in various news stories and the fact that I have not read the book in question, I stand behind my gut instinct. With the exception of illegal and unethical practices, work is a place where you leave your personal convictions at the door.

I take anonymous comments, particularly on YouTube, with a huge grain of salt. When forums are anonymous, people get mean. It’s a fact of the Internet, but that’s a whole different topic.

Nor did I mean to come off as overly defensive and imply that my career choice is better than any other career. For me, it’s the best; for others, not so.

I also failed to recognize the amount of positive, encouraging and amused comments on the video. There were and are far more positive than negative comments and the video is being well received all over the Internet.

The purpose behind my ill-composed whiny rant was really to recognize the fun creativity of the creators, advocate for the awesomeness of librarians and dispel old myths that just won’t die. I’m not angry or defensive; I’m just impassioned. Next time, I’ll reconsider the message I’m sending when reflecting on such a topic.

In the meantime, please enjoy this unrelated picture of my cat sunning herself:

Ahh, a sunbeam!

I was pleased and amused by this video, but made the mistake of reading the comments on YouTube. (Though thankfully there are many positive responses.)

“I’ve never seen so many virgins/ lesbians in one place”

“…I guess librarian stereotypes actually reflect reality. Nerdy glasses, wimpy-looking guys, 99% no makeup women”

Variations on a theme of calling librarians nerds, geeks, awkward, frumpy, reinforcing negative stereotypes about grouchy librarians whose only joy in life is shushing a rowdy hooligan.

I don’t presume to know the creator’s purpose or intent behind the making of this video, but I feel watchers are missing the point. Librarians are nerds. That much is true. To do what we do, you have to be a nerd. But we love it, we embrace it. We’re proud nerds. The whole point of this endeavor, as I see it, is to show the creativity, humor and fun personality of librarians. Let’s get over this grumpy, shushing stereotype. This video is a prime illustration of the fun-loving, quirky, wonderfully nerdy world of librarians.

Yes, some of us wear glasses. But the majority of the American population needs some level of vision correction, so I consider that point moot.

But despite the insults, the stereotypes, the judgments on our sexuality and sex lives (or perceived lack thereof), we get up the morning excited and energized, looking forward to another day of work.

How many people can say that about their jobs?