Library Grrrls!

After reading through various posts, this school seems to not be regarded very highly. Some even refer to it as the "diploma mill" of MLS degrees. I see that it is ALA approved and ranked in the top 22. There are a lot of other programs that I see that are ALA approved, but not even ranked.

Is this program not taken seriously in the "working world", especially academic libraries, or just by this board? I would appreciate any thoughts/experiences.

Lord help the part timers... LOL!

Seriously though, I'm honored that the Powers That Be entrust me with this duty, but I'm also scared shitless.

My first task as Supervisor was to create the schedule for next term. There wasn't much training involved... just... here's the template, here's a list of the student's availablity, have fun. I whipped up a draft in two days and was delighted that my supervisor approved it. There are some gaps that need filled though.

So the Head of Circulation wants me to find one or two more part-timers (students) to put on the schedule for next term. Which means I have to go thru a stack of applications and contact them and set up an interview and well.... interview them. Heh.

I've never interviewed anyone in my life. Hell, I've never been a Supervisor before.

So I have two interviews set up so far.

I don't know who'll be more nervous... them or me! O_o

Any advice?

A little about me: I'm about to start my last quarter of library school (yay!) but my actual hands-on library experience is limited. I had an internship this summer and currently I volunteer at my kids' elementary school's media center on a weekly basis. The media specialist doesn't have an MLS, and this is his first year working in the library. Previously, he worked as the computer technician in the math lab. I think he was given this position due to seniority, but I'm not sure. He is the only person working in the library and relies heavily on volunteers.

Yesterday he asked me to go through the shelves and make sure the books were in order. It was mind-numbing. But I know, a necessary evil and I am a volunteer so grunt work it is. I found a book on Zapata that had been miscataloged. My question to you is: How do I tactfully bring this to his attention? Obviously I handled it the wrong way because he got quite defensive. I handed it to him, told him it had been miscataloged and walked away. This way, I thought it would seem that I wasn't accusing him(as it could have been the previous librarian) and I had confidence that he could figure out the error on his own. Well, when I went by his desk the next time he snapped, "What's the problem?"

I said, "Isn't it about Zapata?"

"Yes" (almost a snarl)

"Shouldn't it be in the Z's?"

At this point he looks at the spine and sees that it had been labeled with an "R" and he started berating himself, etc. But the whole experience was awkward. I don't want to disrespect him or what he clearly considers HIS library. Is there a more delicate way to handle such a situation?

Does anybody have suggestions of cool (and reputable) literacy-related charities? Domestic or international doesn't matter - I just want to see what's out there.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

After much pondering and almost backing out I have decided to change careers. I have read all the info out there about why I shouldn't go into librarianship (budget, no one is retiring, etc) but I can't seem to resist!

A little background and my question:

I have an AS (Paralegal) and I have a MS (Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine) I supposedly received my Bachelors along the way to the Masters. My problem is my masters is not regionally accredited. I can't apply for the MLS/MLIS until I get an accredited Bachelors.

I am in California and we have Associate's library programs that I can attend through a community college, this would enable me to hopefully get a job as a paraprofessional. Or I could take the online Bachelors through University of Maine, Augusta. A bachelor's wouldn't be much longer and then I could roll into a MLS program.

Concerns:
I just can't figure out by research if I would be more employable as a paraprofessional with a certificate/AS or with a MLS. Do you think jobs will be more plentiful for paraprofessionals considering all the issues these days?

If I did do the Bachelor's would I be frowned on for doing it in Library science sense its not diversified? I do have a MS in Chinese medicine after all. I think the online Bachelors would make since, because I can do it online. There are very few Bachelors degrees online especially in CA, and I don't want to put a lot of money into this going to out of state schools. I am 36 with 3 small kids, things are tight. The school in Maine has a low tuition fee for out of state LS degrees.

I want to do what is actually going to get me a job, even if it means making less money but I want to pick the right schooling situation as well.

I appreciate your thoughts!

Julie

Hey,

Since it's holiday season, I was wondering if I need to prepare gifts for my boss and coworkers. I know the answer would be "it depends on your work environment", but I feel embarrassed to ask my coworkers if they do so, and if they have traditions to do that.

Hey! Has anyone here ever done the Big Read and work for a school district? Or for a school period?

Hey all,

I've had a tumblr blog for ages but last month I finally figured out what to use it for - keeping track of those mangled title requests we get from patrons! But, of course, I need your help! If you have any classic messed up titles/authors stories, please submit them!

Check out what I have so far here http://orangerful.tumblr.com

Don't worry, all names will be changed to protect the confused!

Hi there,

I've decided that I want to break out of public library work and try to get a job at the local University or community college library.

A little background...I've been an MLS librarian here at the main public library for almost two years, and have worked in a public library for four years. I'd like to get a job at the big state university here.

As I prepare myself for this change, I come to you all with a question - What's new and sexy in academic libraries right now? I'm reading as many journals as I can, but it would help to get an idea of what to focus on.

I'm specifically looking at technological and web applications that are affecting collections and services. What do I need to know about if I get an interview?

Thanks so much,
Carrie

Hello,

My library school no longer offers a course in archiving, so I didn't get any experience in this area. I've started volunteering at an oral history program, and one task I will take on is archiving their documents. I will most likely be working with archiving both the printed transcripts and the MP3s on their server.

I want to check out a text or other resource to help familiarize myself with standard archiving practices.

Can anyone be of help?

Much thanks,
Carrie

Is/was anyone a computer science major? I'm on the path to get a history degree, but I have been taking some computer science classes that I'm really enjoying. I'm toying with the idea of changing to a computer science major. Do you think that this would help more for librarianship or not really make a difference?

I want to work as an academic librarian (or at a large research library) if that helps. Thank you for your advice.

My partner and I are writing an action research paper on whether or not it's a good decision to have one library in a system that is devoted to ESOL and foreign language materials? That is that the other branches' collections have been mostly seized in order to keep the collection at the assigned branch.

Is this a common phenomenon library systems to have each branch with it's own specialty?

....on the story of a pair of library workers losing their jobs by refusing to check out The League of Extraordinary Gentleman: The Black Dossier to a patron as per their employer’s policy.

http://www.kentucky.com/latest_news/story/1011029.html
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/18/library-workers-fire.html
http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/11/09/alan-moore-destroyer-of-librarians/

While it is an adult graphic novel and not a child's comic book, it was wrong HOW the book was witheld (against policy and on personal whims). The circulation clerks should have conferred with and deferred to a supervisor/director/library board about policy concerning challenged materials (even when challenged by staff).

Later Edit: Turns out the public library where I work has also had patron complaints about sexual content in LEG graphic novels (different volume, ours in #2 and has a couple of "racy" pages of Alan Quartermain and Mina Harker being intimate. Shows boobs and butts, sexual poses, but no genitalia in view). The book is still in circulation, shelved in our Graphic Novel Section.

Part of me wants to roll my eyes and say "good grief", it wouldn't take you long at all to go grab a mystery, contemporary fiction or even a classic to find something with just as or more explicit content..is the difference just because of the format and this being visual?

IMO, it comes down to freedom of information and of choice; I'm glad a wide variety of books are available in our public libraries.

Hi everyone,

First of all, I'd like to say that I know there have been a lot of school related questions lately, and I really appreciate this group as a resource. Many of the professors that I've encountered so far either have never worked as a librarian, or haven't done so in decades. So, thank you all for your input!

And onto my question: Which course do you think would be more valuable, one on information seeking behavior or digital collection development? My career goals are children's or young adult librarianship, some sort of youth services, and I'm also interested in digital media (youth related, in particular.) Any recommendations?

Thanks very much :)

How do you become a subject specialist?

And can you be a subject specialist in say, American history or European history,or does it need to be more specific? For example American history after reconstruction or American history: WWI. TIA

I think that I would prefer to work in an academic setting as opposed to a public setting. For those of you that are academic librarians,do you have a second masters in addition to the MLS? What is your second masters?

I am thinking about a second masters in history,with a concentration on American history. In your experience,is that enough to become a subject specialist or do you need expertise in a more limited area? For example: American history after WWII or the Civil War.

I am planning to double major in history and French,so I might also be interested in a masters in French. For your second masters,does it really matter what subject? Thank you for all of your input.

Hi all, Guess this is my intro post along with a question for those who have gone or are going to San Jose State U...
First my Intro:
My name is Katrina, I graduated in 08 with a BA in history and another major in anthropology. I wanted to take a year off between going back to school (Also to decide which kind of graduate school I wanted, history, Forensic Anthropology, or Library). I want to focus on references and archives.

In my off time, I do a variety of activities but my big one is ballroom dance but I also am thoroughly obsessed with musical theatre as well.

My question to those of you who are going or have gone to SJSU:

Who are some good professors and who are some I should watch out for?

x-posted to libraryschool

Hey girls,

I am expected to graduate in the next March, and I am wondering if I need to start applying for jobs now, or I have to wait until I get my degree. I am interested in working at both public libraries and academic libraries.

I have applied for two jobs about a month ago, but haven't heard anything from them. I don't know they didn't consider my application because I am not eligible, or I just applied too early.

So I am applying to UIUC for fall 2010, got told that I have to take the GRE because of my GPA... has anyone gotten into UIUC after being told they have to take the GRE? Any advice would be wonderful. I am really nervous and would live to here from anyone that has gotten into UIUC, or my second choice Dominican U. How hard is it to get into either? And get a job after? I would really like to stay in IL after the MLIS. Thanks!

Alright, I'm applying to an MLS program soon and am trying to explore a couple different career paths.

I'm looking for experiences, typical days, if the job is actually in demand, etc. with the following:

Public (any of the following:)
*YA/Childrens
*Adult Services/ Reference



Academic
*Archives



School Media:
*K-12



Any help would be appreciated!

As for some info on me, I'm 22, my favorite genre is YA lit., I don't particularly like children but am devoted to getting more kids reading and not made fun of, and I'm interested in archives because of the solitude, and I enjoy what little I know of preservation (I make phase boxes often at my current job for rare/decaying books), buuut I'm terrible at Access and databases. Like, terrible. I'm not actually that good at computer stuff. :/