Mid-Semester Review

The main things that I've noticed from my participation throughout this semester is that I love my job, and am very focused on working in Teen Librarianship, and that I am very passionate about the current state of e-books and libraries.

I honestly hadn't realized how passionate I am about how publishers will not cooperate with libraries to make e-books available and affordable to them until we started discussing it in class as part of my team's Think Tank activity.  I know that when my library has discussed subscribing to Overdrive and offering e-book loan to our patrons that I didn't really see a call for it in our community.  We don't get many requests for e-books, and the cost to subscribe to the service would be 1/8 of our entire collection development budget (that does not take into account the cost of then purchasing the use of any e-books from the service).  It really bothers me that some people don't see how much this affects those that are economically disadvantaged already.

I understand where the publishers are coming from, but I also think that this is just making it harder for the poor to be able to access this new technology.  I haven't really used e-books because I know I can't afford to pay $10 (at least) for each book I read.  I rarely buy books, I almost always check them out from the library instead.  The fact that these publishers are making it almost impossible for libraries to get their books (by most of them not even offering libraries the chance to purchase the books), just makes people like me unable to use this format.

The ethics paper also made me think some about my job at the library.  One of the first questions I was asked when I interviewed here was how I would handle the homeless patrons.  I said I would treat them just like anyone else, because I already did that working at a local cafe.  In fact, one of the more well known local homeless guys had his own table at the cafe and would come there almost every day, so I was used to working with the homeless.  While working on the Ethics Case paper I really had to think about the impact that the library has on the homeless population, and the impact they have on us.  At my library we've only had to ban one homeless man that I know of, and he did not get banned because he was homeless or smelled bad.  He was banned because he was a violent schizophrenic who refused to take his medication and was also hitting on underage girls.  That kind of behavior would get you banned from any library (I'd hope).

Job Analysis Pt. 2

Youth Services Librarian, St. Louis Public Library

According to the ad for a Youth Services Librarian at the St. Louis Public Library, the position requires someone with "outstanding verbal and written communication skills."  They are also looking for someone who has a strong commitment to serving a diverse population.  The position also requires that the candidate have an MLS from an ALA accredited school, and 3-5 years experience working with youth.  They want someone who can do storytelling and that has program skills.  They also want a librarian who has a strong knowledge of children and teen literature, and someone who can do community outreach.

Right now, I have over 8 years experience working with youth.  I have planned and run programs for most of my time at the Benton Harbor Public Library.  I also run collection development for the Teen Department, have developed a Junior Graphic Novel collection, and helped in the selection of our Adult Graphic Novel collection.  I have volunteered to run story time at my library when my boss was unable.  I was in charge of story time for the last month of our Summer Reading Program because my boss had a broken arm.  I also have run teen and youth book groups.  I've done community out reach to local schools (even those that are out of the normal age range of the patrons I serve in the Teen Department).

I also have strong written skills.  I've done well in my past writing classes, especially Technical Writing.  I have some grammar and punctuation problems, but I am pretty good at editing, especially with some help.  I've been published in VOYA (Voices of Youth Advocates), and I am going to be published next year in the Johns Hopkins Press.

What I lack to be qualified for my dream job is my MLIS.  I need to finish my Master's Degree, and I plan on doing the Graduate Certificate in Public Library Services to Children and Young Adults.

Director of Exhibitions, Indiana State Museum (Indianapolis)

This job would require some different skills than the job as a Youth Services Librarian.  According to their ad, the Indiana State Museum wants someone who has strong management skills and who is able to manage staff schedules and budgets.  This person would most likely also have to be creative.  He or she would need strong communication skills as well.  

There is a certificate program within Wayne State University that would work well for this position.  So, if I wanted to be the Director of Exhibitions at a museum I would want to complete my MLIS and then do the Graduate Certificate in Arts and Museum Librarianship.  Another option would be the joint Master's program with the MLIS and the MA in History Degree program.

I am not sure what else I would do to get the job as the Director of Exhibitions other than to try to get a lower level job at a museum now so that I could start working within that environment.

Job Analysis Pt. 1

Looking through the ALA website at job postings I found one that I liked.

Youth Services Librarian for St. Louis Public Library.
http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/Youth-Services-Librarian/20832.cfm

After I did this search I figured I'd try to "think outside the box" and see what other career I might want that would be related to the MLIS study.  Another job I'd consider would be the Director of Exhibitions, Indiana State Museum.
http://www.indianamuseums.org/index.asp?p=7

One of my favorite things about working in a library is putting together displays.  And I love art, and art history.  Researching different artists and art forms could be very interesting, and figuring out how to display them would be challenging, but use the skills that I've developed working in a library.

I know that there are many other jobs out there that I might enjoy that go along the lines of what I will learn for my MLIS.  I might enjoy being an archivist, or working in advertising.