new beginnings in a new year.

It's been a little while, but my second to last semester in library school began yesterday, and I'm getting back into the swing of things. I had my first class, Cataloging and Classification I, last night, and was pleasantly surprised. Even though I've never been much interested in cataloging, I felt like it was something I should be pretty confident doing, and something I needed to learn more about. And I enjoyed the first lecture more than I expected - there's something relaxing, and almost comforting in the order and organization that cataloging employs. I can definitely see the appeal. Plus, with all of the changes underway - RDA moving in, MARC moving out (my professor says it will be gone in five years) - it's definitely an intriguing time to learn about cataloging.

Overall, with this class and the two others I'm taking, I feel like this semester may be a bit challenging, but I'm ready for it. I selected classes this time not necessarily doing things I loved, but things I didn't know much about but will likely help me in my future pursuits. And I'm excited. For a long time, I was terrified of graduating and being jobless forever. But I've been feeling much more optimistic lately. This new year has really managed to do a 180 on a lot of things in my life.

Speaking of which, I changed my mind again.

I know I've talked a lot about young adult services, and I'm definitely still interested in that area of library science. But I've made the decision to delve back into academic libraries. As far as my future is concerned, I feel like immersing myself in the academic library field is my best bet, at least for now. I've always wanted to be a part of the academic world, and for me right now it is becoming the option I am more excited by. So I'm going to try to find a practicum in a university library for the summer and see where it goes from there.

As far as library school goes, those are the basic updates. I'll be around more this semester to share what I'm learning.

Okay Gaiman, you're in. Your job is to get lunch. And lose the British accent.

The Simpsons - The Book Job

Yes! A Simpsons episode about YA book mills. Must watch. If you're into that kind of thing. Which you should be.

i'm a mess. always.

I promised I'd be around and here I am, even if it's taken a little while. Seems like everything has been piling up at once - financial woes, getting extra hours at work, finishing up final projects and assignments as the semester winds down, trying to maintain a bit of a social life. It's been a bit difficult to balance everything, and I am so ready for the end of the month, Christmas time and a bit of relaxation. (And getting to read for pleasure, rather than school, again.)

Speaking of school - after some deliberation, I decided recently to wait until summer to complete my practicum and graduate. I had been planning on graduating this spring all along, but deadlines were missed and I felt nowhere near ready. As I mentioned before, I haven't been much on the ball lately especially when it comes to the library world. I'm hoping this little extension will allow me more time to get involved in some organizations, network, gain some more knowledge and prepare to get into the work force.

At the moment, I'm working on a project for my Risky Teen Services class that involves reading graphic novels, playing video games, and listening to music. I am SO ready to be a teen librarian.

Here's a cute Finnish library ad (thanks The M Word):

welcome to my life

So, as promised, here I am again. Here are how things are going:

- I'm in my second to last semester of library school and I am t.e.r.r.i.f.i.e.d. I have convinced myself that there is no way I am going to get a job afte graduation.. Ever. Probably not the best way to look at things.. I don't think "zero confidence" is the kind of characteristic an employer is looking for. I'm working on it. But suffice it to say, I'm super nervous.

- I got a job as a barista three months ago. I've been working at Starbucks full time combined with full time school. It's been pretty stressful. But the job is pretty great - I have some really awesome coworkers, and of course, there's the customer service aspect. Basically as a barista, you're required to become all of your customers' best friend. I really do think this will apply to the kind of job I want as a librarian. For now, I'm enjoying being surrounded by coffee all day.

- After about five years of not having one, I finally got a car. It is beautiful and flawless. I can't begin to describe the freedom I feel being able to drive myself places. It's so refreshing.

- I've had a fair share of personal issues in my life, and I've let it get me down for too long. It all really stopped me from thinking about and preparing for the future. It's time to turn that around. Hence starting this blog back up.

I'll be updating much more frequently now, about the classes and workshops I'm taking and my search for a practicum (gulp). Tonight, I think I'm going to cuddle up with an issue of the New Yorker and a beer after a long shift. More coming very, very soon.

WhooOoooOooaaa

Hello darlings - if I have any followers left..

I'm coming back. For real for real. And soon.

I'd write more, but I'm actually sitting in my Selections and Acquisitions class learning about pests munching on and murdering poor little library books. So I should probably get back to that.

But I'll be writing more soon. Kind of lots to talk about.

TTFN (bet you didn't think you'd see that little gem of Internet history back in your life again..)

short and sweet

I have a really great boyfriend. He made this for me last night.

Salmon with onions and honey mustard and deliciousness. It was worth my impatience.

I've been trying to make some changes lately and even though I'm just in the beginning stages, I really think they are going to pay off. Another big change is coming my way soon - I'm moving next week! Just a couple of blocks away, but it will be my first solo apartment, and I'm really excited. I'm looking forward to decorating with whatever cute or weird things I can find at the two really awesome antique stores nearby, and being able to go downstairs to get sushi or bagels or coffee whenever I want.

This post is kind of all over the place already, so here are a couple of books I'm reading/have been reading recently. I recommend them all; Will Grayson, Will Grayson was a bit of a disappointment but has its funny moments and I REALLY recommend the audiobook.

free access to all - right?

This article from the Atlantic suggests that public libraries begin charging a small fee (~50 cents) for checking out books and other materials. The article raises some interesting points, most of which I disagree with, and the comments are filled with librarians refuting the content of the article and bringing up some really great and essential arguments about the rise of public library use in the last 10 years, and the absolute necessity of keeping services free. Because to many people, whether those of us with privilege ("privilege" is always one of those words I can never correctly spell, by the way) would like to recognize it or not, a $.50 charge per item is not a small fee. I appreciate the comments on this article because they really show exactly why libraries are needed and their true value in today's society, and also, why keeping them free to the public is entirely necessary - arguments that I wholeheartedly agree with, but have trouble articulating at times to people who ask me, "Why do you want to be a librarian? Aren't libraries gonna disappear in ten years anyway?"

This idea of charging fees in libraries was brought up in one of my classes recently, and there was a good discussion about how public libraries could go about charging for services while at the same time keeping services free for those who need them to be. Charging a small fee for the newest items, or certain types of DVDs, is perhaps one way. I am extremely passionate about the idea that libraries provide free, equal access to information to all regardless of socioeconomic status or any other factors, as I know most other librarians are, so I just hope it doesn't come to something like this (at least in our time). But as people are becoming more and more dissatisfied with the rise of taxes and the poor state of the economy, it is something librarians need to consider and prepare to possibly eventually accept - or argue against.