With ALA just around the bend (Thursday!!), I thought it'd be good to write a bit about my preparation for the conference. In September 2012, my professor emphasized the importance of attending professional conferences--networking, job hunting, understanding big topics in the field, feeling the throes of thousands of librarians gathering to embrace their careers as resources to their communities and the changes within... Immediately, I knew I wanted to attend. Why?
1. I could get funding (and I did!) 2. It gave me five days off in the midst of my final semester (mini professional vacation) 3. I could go somewhere and really see how library land operates on a larger level--no matter what they teach you in your program, you can't begin to understand librarianship until you're with librarians and in the field. So, I did. And, I wanted other people to attend. As Co-President for our Student Chapter of ALA, I recruited seven other students from Pitt to attend ALA in Chicago this year. Then, I joined NMRT committees to prepare for next year, and I volunteered to write a piece for NMRT's Footnotes recapping my experience at the conference. I'll be discussing how my preparation shaped up against my experience. I suppose this post is preparing me for that article. Next? #nmrtchat . First Twitter chat ever, and first time discussing library stuff with librarians whom I don't know. Extremely exciting. I even gushed when people responded to my questions and yelled at my boyfriend to come look. Of course, he couldn't feel the excitement I did. I also signed up for the NMRT Mentor/Mentee program, and I am happily paired with a recent librarian from Loyola Marymount University. We'll be meeting up at the conference. Now... I am reading Footnotes, blogposts from Librarian Wardrobe, asking professors at Pitt, watching webinars about attending the conference. I'm also reading the million emails from the Information Literacy, NMRT, and College Libraries listservs and scanning the #ala2013 feed for any recommendations. I'm pretty sure that the other students are getting tired of my "You have to check this out!" emails at this point. We're doing our final preparation meeting tonight, where we'll share tips with one another. So, am I prepared? Well, after looking at the Scheduler and being frustrated there are 7 things I want to do at 8:30 Sunday morning, I'm hoping so. I'm going in with an open mind, business cards, walking shoes, an extra bag, and my phone charger, as well as a spare book if I have time. I've also finished all of my assignments due during the conference, so no worries there. I'll at least be happy to return and share everything I've learned since attending. Hope to see everyone there!
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As I'm nearly finished with my library science education, I try to focus my extracurricular reading--LinkedIn discussions, INALJ articles, listserv emails, and other publications-- on best practice guidelines for professionals. Last month's NMRT discussion focused on Professional Branding and creating a brand for networking. It's difficult as a student with no professional (paid, non-student) position to feel that I have a grasp on how I'll do in the library world or even my personal brand (or identity). However, difficulty rarely stops a good librarian, so I do my best. Things I've realized that are a part of my Librarian identity: the focus on the user--libraries and service professions/institutions are nonexistent without a user base to support--as well as encouraging the adaptation of libraries to a changing society. I want to be aware of what's out there, be able to effectively evaluate the changes and potential technologies, and make the decisions that will most positively impact my library users. And, I'm doing this by guiding my research, attending various sessions at ALA, searching for continuing education opportunities, and exploring the literature. But what about my identity? Holy cannoli, that's a big question. I've spent so much time on preparing to be a librarian and learning the tricks of the trade that I've had little time for me. Sure, I relax once in awhile with a good read, learning a new board game, volunteering, or playing a video game. I also take walks and read the news when I can. Yet, I regret to inform you that I have not explore any amazing unique hobbies or challenges since August when I started the program. No Zumba classes, no gardening (that's probably a good idea--I'm horrid although I love it), and no creative writing (until now). What else makes me "me?" I suppose my librarian brand or identity feeds into everything else that makes me who I am. And, I don't think I can complain about that. I look forward to ALA Annual, graduation, and the procuring of a career to help me figure out the library stuff so I can work on the rest. In the mean time, I welcome recommendations :) Today is the first day I'll start publishing my blog posts. Although I've been writing since college, I have not put anything not course-related online or in print in awhile. I am not sure why, but I've realized that putting all of my thoughts and resources online rather than on random scraps of paper, reminder notes in my phone, or scribbled in the plethora of half-used notebooks I own. With ALA Annual coming in a few weeks and graduation looming in August, it is probably about time I invest more time sharing my experience as a librarian-to-be online. I have learned so much about myself as an individual and adult, during my move to Pittsburgh, as well as how rapidly the library and information sciences world is changing with society and how my role is changing, as well. With that, I bit you good night, and prom |
Stephanie FreasRecent MLIS graduate & lover of writing. This is a narrative of my first look into the librarian profession. Archives
November 2013
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