Congratulations! May 13, 2013

It happened!  I graduated!!!!!  I am now a Master of Library Science.

 

It’s been about 3 months since I’ve posted on this blog and with good reason.  But now I’m back and hoping to add some more direction to this thing. 

 

While before I spent my time doing coursework, and student chapter and internship duties, now I’m busy applying for jobs and trying to stay active in the field until I find something.  I feel that is my biggest hurdle now.  I’ve gained a ton of momentum with all of my activities and I don’t want to lose it during the summer. 

The problem is that I don’t know where I will be at summer’s end, so I don’t want to commit myself to too much here in NC.  I am applying for opportunities all across the country.  Most of them will begin in July or August.  These next few months will be pretty unstable. 

 

Since I last posted I:

- Got my paper proposal accepted for the international library conference and I get to present it in Singapore in August

- Participated in National Library Legislative Day in Washington, DC for three days

- Presented at the Pop Culture Conference in DC

- Presented a poster on my information literacy research

- Presented research that I’m doing as part of my graduate assistantship

- Wrote the literature review as part of the research project I worked on with NC LIVE

- Got a job as a Library Assistant with Richard B. Harrison (RBH) Public Library in Raleigh

- Graduated!!!!

 

Now I am:

- Completing research on the health information seeking of Latinos in NC (maybe presenting at NCLA conference in October)

- Starting up a project with NCLA

- Working at RBH

- Applying to jobs

- Spectrum Scholar leadership institute at ALA conference in June

- Presenting in Singapore in August

- Crafting and pleasure reading!!

- Reading to keep up with what’s going on in librarianship

 

Anyway, what I wanted to say is that I think I want this blog to morph into a fountain of information about preparing oneself in grad school for the profession and, when I get a job, about being a new professional.  I’ve sort of been heading that way by posting about all the things I’ve been involved in and the opportunities I’ve taken advantage of.  I’ll be trying to do more of that though. 

 

So, stay tuned because I feel that great things are ahead!!

Hello 2013! February 19, 2013

Yes, I know it’s been over 2 months since its beginning, but I’ve been so busy with the million and one things I’m doing to get myself ready for graduation and my first librarian gig (fingers crossed), I’ve been a tad busy.

 

 

Graduate Assistantship

Internship with NC LIVE

Two classes

Part-time job as a page at a public library

Duties as President of my ALA student chapter

Two blogs: this one (which I’ve neglected) and a craft blog I just started (beingsuperandbetter.tumblr.com) ((why did I do this to myself?))

Trying not to forget to be social

Fun reading

Educational reading

I’m exhausted!!!

 

 

Anyway, I did want to share something though. I like self-help books. After undergrad, after I finished what I was “supposed to do”, I didn’t have a clue as to what came next. I realized I had to do something with what I studied besides learning it. Self-help books helped me get motivated and pointed me in a direction. Granted, I would pick and choose what I wanted to adhere to because, what do they know about my life??

 

A little while ago, I requested the usual, a book called “Twenty Something: Why Do Young Adults Seem Stuck.” By the time it came in, I had forgotten all about it. And when I held it in my hands, it didn’t hold any interest to me. I’m usually excited and filled with optimism.

 

I realized that it didn’t feel the same because I didn’t need it! For the first time, I was twenty something and I wasn’t stuck!

 

Now I’m not recounting this to rub it in anyone’s face. I’m posting this to say, if you’re stuck looking for meaning and direction (which is normal!) and thinking about throwing your hands up and doing the dishes, don’t give up! The feeling I had was euphoric, orgasmic even, and it’s definitely worth going through all that mess.

 

 

I am (will be) Librarian, hear me roar!!…… in 3 months.

 

Libraries/Librarians in Books: My New Obsession November 13, 2012

It started with What the Librarian Did

My friend writes erotica fiction and I’ve been trying to get her to write a story about a librarian and that started my search for books about librarians and/or libraries.  I did a search in the catalog and found this one.  It’s a romance novel about a librarian and a rockstar.  I read this from start to finish and loved the story.  I like romances where there’s a lot of back and forth between the “lovers”.  I don’t want love at first sight and all that mushy stuff.  I want a leading lady with some fight in her.  I would recommend this book for those who like romances with a twist.

 

 

Library Wars: Love & War.

Here’s the premise from this young adult graphic novel: Because of the Media Betterment Act and its resulting committee, there are regular book hunts.  The committee wants to exercise censorship over all media, including restricting offensive books.  Local governments set up armed units to fight the censorship under the Library Freedom Act.  That’s where the story starts; with the main character, Kasahara, training for the task force.
It’s pretty incredible to read about these defense forces risking their lives to protect books.  There are Librarians who are in charge of the books, a defense force that is the military force that protects the books and the task force does both jobs because they have to be ready for any eventuality so they have to know how to perform all kinds of jobs.  And of course there are multiple love stories!
I read all 8 books in this graphic novel series and was disappointed that the 9th one doesn’t come out until April 2, 2013.  It was my first time reading manga and luckily the security guard at the library where I work showed me how to read it.  The format is a tad confusing, but once you get used to it, it’s a lot of fun.  They’re a short read and the story is so interesting that you can get through them very easily.

 

 

The Night Bookmobile.

This one is by Audrey Niffenegger, who also wrote The Time Traveler’s Wife.  I’ve never read anything else by her, but when I was checking in books and I came across this one, I just had to read it.  It is also a graphic novel, but this one is in the adult section.  Just to give a short synopsis without ruining the story, a woman is taking a walk at night and comes across a bookmobile….. I don’t want to say anymore that will ruin the mystery and the surprises in it.

Just trust me, it’s delightful and strange.  It’s definitely for adults and again, it’s a great short read.

I’m always looking for more, so if you have recommendations, please let me know!

NaNoWriMo November 1, 2012

It has begun! I am officially a participant.  Wish me luck!

 

 

Resumes are the New Hot Topic October 25, 2012

Last night our ALA student chapter had its first event, a resume review workshop.

 

 

We had 3 professionals involved in libraries come and sit down with students on a rotating basis   to review their resumes and give advice.  These lovely people:

 

Tiffany Allen: Director of Library Human Resources at UNC Library

Rich Murray: Duke librarian and author of What Do Employers Want: A Guide for Library Students

Tamika Barnes: Library Director at the EPA

were spectacular and none of the students came out crying, which is always a plus!  I was really worried in the beginning about the turnout, but we had around 10-12 students get in and the original 5-6pm time limit went to around 7pm.

Today, at my shift at Cameron Village, I ran across this book:

I am an avid user of Pinterest, but I browsed the book to see if there are some tips that I hadn’t known about and I came across a new way to use it!

You can pin your resume!

This is one of my favorites and I am completely jealous of her cool looking resume.  I’ve always been a fan of infographics ever since I saw it used at the Public Library Association in one of the sessions I went to.  They used it as a great way to show the value of the public library.

There are tips on creating your own infographics here and also here.

I haven’t gone through to try them all, but when I do, I will post an update.

From what I’ve been told, there is no way that this would be allowed in a physical format, but it’s a fun way for people to see you and your experience on paper.  Plus, it will be a blast getting to try out this new technology.

And lastly, speaking of technology, I was introduced to a new app recently and now that I’ve gotten the hang of it, I am a bit obsessed.  The app is called SuperBetter.  The person who told me about it is in med school and she said that some doctors are prescribing it for people with anxiety and other issues like that.  Here’s their graphic on how it works:

When you choose your problem, it gives you quests, powerups, bad guys, and future boosts, which you can complete whenever you want and when you do, you click the ‘I did this’ button and it logs it for you.

I think it’s a great way to get handy tips to help solve certain types of problems and for me, it’s a great way to stay mindful of the daily things I want to do to better myself.  I love it!

If anyone else has some great apps or new technology that I must know about, please let me know!  I’m starving for new toys.

Enjoy!

How Much is Too Much? October 15, 2012

This is a question that I have been asking myself lately.  When you stack on top of stacks that are on top of stacks, something’s bound to fall…eventually.

 

It seems as though the closer graduation gets, the more activities and projects I tack on to my already busy schedule.  I need to be prepared!  I don’t know if the time of this post is somewhere you can see, but it is 5 am and I have been up for an hour already.  I went to bed at around 11:30pm.  There is just so much to do.

 

Starting with a 3. something mile run at 6am.  I am running a 5k in 2 weeks and because of my flirtation with the edge thanks to too many commitments, I have been slacking to keep sane and thus not training for it.

 

I am NOT a long distance runner!  I repeat, I am NOT a long distance runner!  

I never have been and I never will be.  But Color Me Rad was just too cool to pass up!  AND it’s being held in Raleigh, so I don’t have to travel anywhere to do it.  So hopefully, I can run everyday until the run and be ok.

 

These past two hours, I have been pulling a “Tamara” and making to-do lists.  That’s what I do.  I make to-do lists.

Write in my blog

ALA student chapter duties

Conference proposal

Scholarship app

Schoolwork

And there are sub-categories under some.  They never stick though and I’ll be making another list soon enough.  That’s what I do though and I’ve been doing ok so far, so it’s not all bad.

Point…..

Know your limits!  You may not be busy with your commitments at that moment, but who knows about in a couple of weeks.  Things pop up, then you’re left with a two page to-do list and not enough time or energy to complete it.

Breathe.  I embroidered this onto my laptop case, because I forget to do this often. Breathe, get your wits about you and breathe again.

Meditate.  Have yet to master this one, but it’s a good skill to have.

Ask for help.  I have a perpetual aversion to this for some reason, but I’m working on it.

Listen to your body!  I am a firm believer that your body knows what it needs and will tell you if you listen to it.  The big problem for most is the not listening part.

 

So these are some things that are helpful if you also share my problem.  Oh and lists!  Lists are great.  Putting your mind on paper so you can clear it for a moment is one of the best things ever.  Just keep up with your paper mind, so you don’t lose it!

 

It’s called a mind dump.  I read about it somewhere.  Every night before bed, you’re supposed to write down everything that’s flowing through your mind, so it will rest and you can fall asleep peacefully.  I don’t do it because that just starts the thought vomit that doesn’t want to stop….once I get rid of something, another things comes up to replace it.  But, give it a try!  It may work for you.  It’s a fantastic idea!

 

What was the question again?  Oh yeah, how much is too much?  It’s different for everyone, so again, know your own personal limits!  I know mine, so that’s why I’m up at now 5:30am trying to get things done.

 

It’s October Already! October 1, 2012

Can you believe it??!  Today is October 1st and I’m freaking out! I’ll be graduating in May and I feel like there is so much to do.

 

This semester has been going extremely well.  My internship at Meredith College is shaping up to be a great experience.  I’ve written my proposal for a poster session at the 2013 Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) conference in Indianapolis.  It’s based on the weeding project I’ve been doing as part of my internship.  Every time I go to a conference, I go to the poster sessions and I’m always left wondering how they got to do that and wanting to do it too.  So, I really hope I get chosen because it will be a great experience and it will look amazing on my resume.

 

I’m still volunteering at the reference desk at South Regional Public and still loving it!  I really do like the relaxed atmosphere and talking to everyone who comes in.  I especially love when people are super happy when I find the book they’re looking for or recommend a new one.  Right now, some of the librarians are talking about doing a conference panel of some sort at the Pop Culture conference hosted by the Pop Culture Association and the American Culture Association and they are graciously including me, which I am stoked about!  And if I get to talk about what I’m thinking I want to talk about (it’s a surprise!), then it will be the experience of a lifetime.  In another life, I was going to be a cultural anthropologist, so getting to combine that and librarianship and talk about it in front of people would be a dream.

 

I’ve been alerted to numerous library assistant jobs as of late and I’m applying to them all!  I’m really ready to make that next step up from Page to Library Assistant.  It pays more AND I’ll get to actually work the desk.  Cross your fingers!

 

My classes are going great as well.  I’m taking Introduction to Digital Libraries and Health Science Information Resources.  I was a little disappointed at first with my Intro class because I guess I didn’t really know what would be talked about in the course.  But now we are getting into the more practical part, which is what I was hoping it would be.  We will soon be scanning images to create our own mini digital collection and I’m really excited about it.  My HSIR class is interesting also.  I took it because it was the only resource class that I could fit in this semester, but also because I want to work with Spanish-speaking populations and in public libraries, they focus a lot on distributing health information.  There are tons and tons of amazing resources that we’re learning about, so its been really helpful.

 

Lastly, I am now the President of our ALA student chapter.  I was Vice President last year and it gave me a lot of experience with planning and leadership, so I know I’ll get a lot more this year.  I’ve an amazing executive board and we’re trying to do a lot to increase the status of our chapter.  I think we’ll succeed!

 

Well, now you know why I don’t post as much and why I’m so tired! And yet, I still feel as though I’m not doing enough.  Hopefully I am and when all is said and done, in May, I will have a nice job waiting for me when I graduate!