Any advice?
At some point in the near future, I hope to learn to be more assertive-but-polite when it comes to enforcing policies. How am I ever going to run a library someday if I can't be firm in the face of complaint, and strong in the midst of coercion? Hmph.
Any advice?
0 Comments
I'm not sure why, but I like the days where I either open in the morning or close at night. One is very early, one is very late. But I do like both those times a day, which would seem to be a paradox, but it works for me. I like all the exercise and movement I get as I walk around, whether it's making/remaking urns of coffee and opening, or shutting down all the computers and other duties of closing.
I love that I am comfortable enough in this job now (already finishing up my fourth week! Doesn't seem that long!) to feel mildly annoyed that two of the three coffee urns were not emptied and cleaned out at closing last night. I can safely say I really love this job, am happy that I have seemed to fit in so quickly and so well (this never happens with non-library jobs!), and I already feel I'm growing in both social and professional skills. Biggest thing: I'm working on a research proposal! Tonight I am noticing a (thankfully) positive pattern in my life: I tend to get more confident with each passing day. I know that is normal for many people, but it is particularly exciting for someone like me, who often times feels like she lags behind everyone else or isn't quite as up to par as the rest in her job/class/life, etc. While I haven't had to deal with anything major yet, and I've had to ask for help some of the times I've been asked things, my confidence is growing with every successful assist, even if it was just to politely and helpfully find someone who COULD help them.
Random Thought: I kind of feel like a prison guard, sitting up here at my high desk, wearing a badge, surveying the land before me. Mustn't let it go to my head. Kidding! I love this job and I love helping people, even if it's just to fix a printing issue. I am in my element and, at this moment in my life, could not be happier. I've noticed something with me...something always slips through the cracks! Especially in the midst of loads of new information being dumped in my brain. Setting up various accounts, keep track of passwords and login information....phew! Thankfully, nothing too important ever slips through. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed on that! Learning from my mistakes and going forward. Got the steps I missed all taken care of (nothing huge, just sharing calendars with various librarians in Outlook, in order to set them up with appointments, if a student requests, etc.).
I can definitely say this particular position feels more "real" to me than any of the others. Before, I was a student worker or an intern. Now, sure, I'm a glorified student worker, but it just feels...more like a dress rehearsal. I'm graduating probably at the end of next spring, so I'm sure that's part of it, this feeling of rehearsal. I'm also probably taking it more seriously even than my internship. It's been a while since I've last written, but here I am! I survived my first week of training at my new position as a Graduate Assistant in a small but awesome academic library here in Tulsa. It was not as overwhelming as I expected it to be, but that may in large part be due to my previous experience in an academic library. It is mostly just adapting to a different library, with different people, different culture, and different systems.
Now, in this second week of training, new information will be added, but it will all be great. I'm excited about this new opportunity and this new experience. I want to keep this blog going to continue charting my growth, both professionally and personally (as a result of the professional growth). I am eager to see what great things happen! Hours so far: 135/135!
Wow! So today, as I reflect on this internship, I realize there are so many things I've learned, both technical/professional and more ephemeral. Did I spell that right? Anyway. - How to use and make libguides -How to assist people with research -How to assist with collection development - Weeding - Collection of possible new items, with reviews - Information compilation for a specific project (knowledgebase) - Database creation (for the knowledgebase) - Day to day operations of an academic reference library, including technical aspects, closing, helping patrons, etc. - That I truly fit in in the library setting, especially academic -That I excel and will continue to do so in this profession - That I have a passion for serving others in this capacity and a passion for librarianship and information studies - That I am valuable, intelligent, capable, and friendly. So, as you can see, this internship gained me more than 3 credit hours, more than a mark on a transcript, more than one more step to my graduation. It gave me invaluable experience that money would not have replaced. I believe the experiences I've had here got me a step in the right direction and helped me attain my next position (which I've already accepted), as well. I will miss everyone but I will always come back to visit. I can't ever truly leave the school I spent almost 10 years involved in! So, I will not say good-bye, I will say see you later! Michelle Hours so far: 130/135
Well, tomorrow (Saturday) is my last shift as an intern here at the ORU library, in which I do my final 5 hours. It seems as though this semester has really flown by. If I was here longer, I could get more projects, but I'm at the point where all I can do these last few days is tinker around with the libguide I've started and been working on, and continue to help patrons with their questions and research. While I move on to another phase and a position I am really excited about (a Graduate Research Assistant in the OU-Tulsa library), I am still kind of sad to have my time here end. I've really enjoyed being back in the library at ORU and seeing old friends, making new ones, meeting new people, etc. But perhaps the biggest gain is "practicing" being a librarian. I've seen how closely and well this job fits me, and how I excel. It has given me a lot of encouragement that this profession is the right one, and that, many hours and much student debt later, I am finally in the place I need and want to be. This has been an incredible and rewarding and empowering journey in my professional development. Tomorrow I will write an entry looking back on everything I've learned and thinking about what's next, professionally. Michelle Hours so far: 125/135
Coming to the internship is probably the highlight of my week, even on Saturday afternoons! I look forward to interaction with the librarians on Tuesdays and Fridays, and then I look forward to being the "librarian" on duty and spending a long, quiet afternoon working on library-related projects and helping any patrons that need assistance. This is sort of the passion part of the job for me, helping people. Feeling very much in my element. I enjoy the people I work with at my paid job, but I know it's the greatest fit for me, skills-wise and will definitely not be my career/profession. It's nice to both operate in my skills set and enjoy the people I work with. The combination is very potent for me, and very fulfilling. Friday I did the usual sorts of things: helped patrons, discussed a project with Jane and got her feedback, and adjusted the libguide based on her suggestions. There was also the closing procedures. Today, Saturday, I actually got to be quite a bit of help. The semester is nearing an end and the library is more full than a normal Saturday. Graduate students are finishing up final papers and needing help locating sources. Undergraduates are esconced in groups in the study rooms, popping out for research questions or to grab a quick drink. Mostly everyone has been quietly clacking away at papers or searching for books or scanning/making copies of sources. I assisted a few people in their studies, answered some directional questions, and worked on changing up the libguide from Jane's suggestions. A very fruitful day! Michelle Hours so far: 118/135
Wow! I am very near the end on this thing. I'm both sad to leave the people and the students and the fun I've had, but I'm happy to have gained the experience and the addition to my resume and my skills set. I was remiss to not blog last week, and that is my fault. I meant to catch up over the weekend, and I did not. Basically, I kept on with what I had been doing: I worked on the Ask-a-Librarian libguide and helped patrons. I think my take-away from last week is that I had a strong reminder that this is the field for me and I'm where I'm supposed to be. Pardon the rhyme. These skills come naturally to me and I like to think that I thrive in this environment. Last week is a reminder of that. Michelle Hours so far: 108/135
I'm watching that "Hours so far" creep closer and closer to 135. Feeling both accomplished and a little sad. I'm enjoying it here and gaining all this experience and being back in the place that was basically my sanctuary through my years at ORU. Today I got some work done on the Ask-A-Librarian libguide. We (Jane and I) also noticed that the libguides for ORU library are all kind of different: there's not a consistency in font, design, color scheme, etc. She had me do a sort of inventory of them and I made a chart detailing each guide's colors and fonts in 5 different categories. We can decide how we want that to be ordered and keep it consistent across the board after this. It was nice to accomplish something quick and useful, and it really motivated me to dive into altering the libguide to a more consistent color scheme (the one I'm working on, that is.) I also got to learn a new trick: I knew how to print and copy on our printers, but not how to scan to e-mail. Well, I learned that today! So now I have another skill. It wasn't too hard, either, it was just a matter of knowing which buttons to push. Now I know! Today definitely taught me that an important aspect of the job is the little things! You have to stay consistent and knowledgeable in the "little" but very important aspects of running a reference (or any library) smoothly. Michelle |
Archives
July 2015
CategoriesJust a humble library school student writing a blog about her experiences. Hijinks will ensue. Learning will happen. |