Diploma happy dance!

My diploma came in the mail yesterday.  Hooray!  Now I can truly call myself a librarian.  All that’s left now is to find a job in a notoriously bad market, but I did it once; maybe lightning will strike twice.

AACR2: The Movie.

Okay, it’s not exactly news, but I followed a link in my American Libraries Direct newsletter today and discovered AACR2: The Movie. I found it funny, and thought I’d share it. I think any current or former library student who struggled with the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules will identify with the “good cataloger/bad cataloger” plot.

Besides, why read the AACR2 when you can just wait for the movie to come out?

The harridan or the harlot?

Lately I’ve been thinking about the general image of librarians in society. I suppose, however, I should say the images of librarians. There’s the stuffy, uptight, bun-wearing, finger-shushing hag on one hand, and then there’s the sexy, uninhibited, provocative Playboy-centerfold disciplinarian on the other.

Quite an interesting two-sided coin, isn’t it?

Much as I hate to confirm any generalizations, in a lot of ways I realize that I fit in nicely with at least some form of the traditional librarian image. I’m a mousy brunette, I wear glasses, I tend to correct other people’s grammar, and I read constantly. If you throw in the part about being the wife of a (soon-to-be) pastor, then that pretty much seals my fate as far as first impressions go.

Even so, I like to play with (and play off) that stereotype. Self-parody can be fun, and I can think of far worse professions for stereotypes. Lawyers, for example. Or DMV employees. Sexy librarian beats boring accountant any day!

In the clear!

I got an e-mail from my advisor tonight: I’ve officially been cleared for graduation!  I still have to wait for my diploma to arrive in the mail, but for all intents and purposes I have graduated.  If I wasn’t so tired from being at work all night, I’d probably celebrate.

Still, I don’t think it will truly become real to me until I hold the document itself in my hands.  At the very least, that will be the final step, and I’m eager to have every loose end tied up.  Then, I will most certainly party until I can’t remember why I’m partying anymore!

A prime, Grade-A (almost) librarian.

Well, my final grades are in. I have officially gotten straight A’s throughout my Master’s program and will in theory finish with a 4.0 GPA! The bad news is, I still have to wait until next month to be cleared for graduation, and then wait even longer until I receive my degree in the mail. Still, at least the suspenseful part is over. Now I can stop checking my transcript every hour and go back to catching up on all the reading I missed while I was studying…

I have to admit, though, I can’t wait to change the Education section of my resume from “Enrolled” to “Graduated”!

Falling into the entry-level gap.

This is an interesting article by Rachel Holt and Adrienne L. Strock that appeared in Library Journal a couple of years ago. It describes the entry-level gap problem that has been causing new library science graduates (including myself) heartburn over the last few years. A quote:

“The evidence strongly suggests that new librarians are neither sought nor considered for even entry-level librarian positions. The evidence also suggests that the jobs that new professionals need to gain vital experience are the very jobs being cut or greatly reduced. This population is being squeezed from both sides. They cannot find viable jobs to apply for nor can they get hired when they do apply. The threat to librarianship is clear: many qualified individuals will abandon the profession if the situation does not improve.”

I have a small advantage, though, in that I have a little experience working in a public library earlier this year. It was only for a few months, but it’s still more than many of my less-fortunate colleagues have. I still remember getting blown off even for volunteer library work, so getting that job was truly a blessing for me. I don’t know if that will be enough, but it’s certainly better than nothing at all.

From distance education to distance job search.

I know from personal experience that looking for entry-level library work is a difficult process, especially with the library job market being what it is right now. I have to say, though, that it’s even worse when you’re on the brink of moving to a new location!

Bryan and I are in the middle of a back-and-forth with a church in Omaha where he will (in theory) be starting his first call as an associate pastor. I, of course, am trying to get as much of a head start as possible in looking for library work in the area. I learned the hard way some time ago that libraries can take a terribly long time to get in touch with applicants (which generally isn’t their fault, as I recognize the sheer amount of red tape and other roadblocks involved), and I know that applying as early as possible is the best strategy. I’ve been combing all kinds of job sites and library web pages for possiblities and applying for just about everything I’m qualified for–or that I’m about to be qualified for. So far I’ve had one rejection and one “apply again when you’re settled,” which isn’t helping my anxiety!

Fortunately, I’m also following up my secondary job specialty, data entry. I figure that even if I can’t find a library job right away, I can at least earn income in the meantime. Not to mention the not-unlikely possibility that I’ll need a second (part-time) job to supplement the income from my (likely part-time) library position.

Ah, well. I’m staying as optimistic–and patient–as possible. After, all impatience can at least wait until I officially have my degree!

My first, shaky steps into a new medium…

As a (soon-to-be) neophyte librarian, I’ve started this blog to keep track of my thoughts and experiences. I will graduate from Drexel University’s online Master of Library and Information Science program in mid-December January, and I currently live in northwestern Illinois with my husband, Bryan.