Planning for the First Time Job as a Means to Get the Ideal Job

First off, my apologies for the length of time that I allowed to elapse between posts. As we all know, life happens and time got away from me. However, as my second semester has comes to a close, there have been som incredily value lessons learned that I would love to share.

The idea behind it all is planning.

Sure, everyone plans for something unless you are a 100% spontaneous individual. If so, I envy your ability to be so free and willing!  But for the vast majority of us, we are planners. Even if you don't think you are, you may be.

One thing we have been encourage to do as LIS students in Wayne State's program is to plan for the future in order to allow ourselves to know what is needed to be done in the present. Major concepts here include networking, job website monitoring, joining professional associations, volunteering, and interning.  While not professionally employed, I would like to add my two sense in here and say I totally agree.

However, there was a very valuable exercise/assignment I did this semester that I think provided even more insight. In order to get that dream job, you need to get that first job, e.g. the job you would be applying for right out of grad school, which is the one that will place your feet on the correct path leading towards your ideal job. I hadn't really thought about that previously because every other assignment was focused on the dream job!

Because of this, I started thinking a bit differently and started planning for what the first job would be. Let me tell you, it has made such a difference! Before, I felt a bit lost because any ideal job would have requires of several years experience with this or that and I wasn't sure how to go about getting those years of experience. Now, I have more of a direction! I looked at it as a mission statement for myself, which as both long term and short term goals, essentially.

If this is something you are struggling with, as well, then I urge you to do the same. Take that ideal job and strip it back to see what is the first job you would need. Then, simply go from there!

Anyway, I know this has been short, but I hope it has also been helpful.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday.

One Semester Down - A Few Thoughts of Reflection

It is almost hard for me to believe that four months have gone by and that my first semester of grad school is over. This time last year, I couldn't have imagined that I would be here and feel the way I do.

Traditionally, I am an introverted person. For example, it usually takes me a while to make friends o open up and I tend to enjoy spending time with people in small groups as opposed to large. Well, at the start of this year and program Since the beginning of this year and this journey (and as a part of my New Year's resolution), I decided I would be as zealous as I could be. I want(ed) to be as involved as I can, get the most out of this experience as I can, and make friends and network. I am happy and proud to say that I am very much following this creed.

Over the course of the semester, I continually heard that experience and networking are everything. With my new found creed and this knowledge, I organized several volunteer opportunities that will help me to gain experience in not only archival work, but also digitization work. Some of the projects I will be working on are through the NDSA student group I joined and others are with museums in Detroit.

With the knowledge I have gained over the course of my first semester and combining it with the experience I will gain over the summer, I plan to have a solid basis. With that basis and my drive and optimism, I believe I will be able to continue on in my professional career and get to the positions I desire in either an academic or museum setting.

Moreover, I think I being many other things to the proverbial table once I am in that professional career. I have been able to hone in on my time management and organizational skills over the course of this semester. I have also learned a ton about what it means to be an information professional in that you do not need to know everything, but you need to know how to find information. I have learned about and have been challenged in several ethical scenarios presented and have learned that the ALA standard is not always accepted by everyone. I have learned the history of LIS field and to be honest, I think it's important to know where you have been in order to know where you are going.

I am still very excited about my future and couldn't be happier with the decisions I made to get me to where I am today.

With that, I would like to say thank you to my readers for sticking it out with me. Since I do plan to continue this blog (it was a course requirement originally), I hope to be able to branch out on the topics and hopefully see some interaction.

Please drop me a line if there is something you would like for me to research or discuss!

Thank you.

Mel

Revisiting My Assumptions/Assertions/Beliefs about LIS

Back in January, I had just started my first semester of grad school in Wayne State University's Library and Information Science program. I wrote a blog entry called "Assumptions/Assertions/Beliefs of the Library and Information Science Profession", where I explored my personal assumptions, assertions, and beliefs of the LIS field. To recap, they were as follows.

• The LIS profession is made up of people who care about others. 
• The LIS profession is made up of people who know how to find information.
• The LIS profession is made up of people who strive to make a better future.

*Please see the original post to see the explanations for each bullet point. 

 

To be honest, I still strongly believe in these assumptions, assertions, and beliefs. Here's why.

• I took three classes this semester. While some were online and one was in class, I learned that all of my professors are truly passionate about what they do in the LIS field and about teaching others about it, what they do, and try to help students develop their own set of skills and passions.
• I learned very valuable lessons over the last few months. I learned that as a person in the LIS field, you cannot know everything. It's impossible for any one person to know everything....and that is okay. What we do in the LIS field is not to know everything, but know how to find information or at least know someone who does know the answers. While in a LIS grad program, you here about how small of a professional community we are. Just last week a person who graduated from the program a year ago said that she uses her networking skills to connect with people that specialize in specific areas of LIS and know the information she doesn't or even if they know more than she does.
• People in the LIS field (for the most part) believe in the free access to information for all. I say mostly because there are those who believe that certain explicit information should be restricted. Anyway by providing access, LIS professional DO strive to make the future just a bit brighter. People and learn and research and better their situations. Others can build businesses. I still, also, believe this is true through the digital preservation process, which if you follow my blog you know is close to my heart. By working in preservation and archiving, we can continue to explore our past and present and make them available to the future!

Needless to say much more, I have learned so much from my professors and colleagues. I have been truly challenged in certain areas, but these beliefs still hold true. Regardless, I look forward to the future semesters and how they will make me grow as a person and as a professional.

Thanks!

Mel

Professional Blogs

I had a meeting with my advisor a few weeks back and something we discussed at length was the importance of professional blogging. The purpose of blogging is to share one’s ideas and thoughts with others. In a professional blog, the ideas and thoughts expressed focus on professional content and research. Following these blogs allows a person to stay up to date on current issues or topics, as well as, the ability to network with other professional that are interested in similar topics.  Two professional blogs that I follow are Librarian in Black and Tame the Web. Although they are very different, both blogs provide information relating to the digital services and technology.

The “Librarian in Black” is a blog started in 2003 by Sarah Houghton, the Director of the San Rafael Public Library in California (Houghton, About, 2003-2014). In general, the blog consists of information relating to library web and digital services, but over the last few months, Houghton’s posts have focused more actively on current issues and her reactions to them, such as “Something’s Wrong When Sarah’s Quiet” and “Musing on the new California State Librarian appointee”.  The former touched on topics like the ALA Conference Code of Conduct and Slate.com’s blog This is What a Librarian Looks Like. The latter went more in-depth on the qualifications (or the lack thereof) of Greg Lucas to the position mentioned. While it is an interesting blog, the contents are strictly the opinions, informed or otherwise, of Sarah Houghton.

The blog, “Tame the Web”, was started in 2003 by Dr. Michael Stephens, an Assistant Professor at the School of Library and Information Science at San Jose State (Stephens M. , 2003-2014). This blog focuses on the library, technology, and people. It is quite an interesting sort of blog because it allows posts from other professional contributors besides Dr. Stephens from the field. Most recent posts include “Office Hours: A Genius Idea” exploring the concepts of adding a Genius Bar (as borrowed from Apple) to libraries, “Fair Use in the Eyes of the Beholder…Or Not” by contributor Troy Swanson identifying issues with YouTube copyright enforcement that affects their library’s account and video sharing, “Using and Apple TV on the Second Floor of the Chattanooga Public Library” by contributor Justin Hoenke, and “Really? No Place for Collaboration at the Library”. After researching the blog, past entries focus more on technology. Still, this blog was very fascinating to read and provided hyperlinks to other blogs, articles, website, etc. to help enhance the site, itself. All the contributors had their contact and social media sites listed and linked, as well. While some posts are opinion based, some are anecdotal and other are informative with a research basis.

By following both blogs, I have learned quite a great deal not only about the field of LIS and a technological or digital focus, but also the process of professional blogging. I have become aware of issues that I would not have known of previously, as well as, the general reactions of others to these issues. Moreover, I am learning how to construct my blog going forward as I, too, become a professional. By knowing what I find interesting in other’s writings, I am about to better write my own blog. I look forward to putting this into practice as time continues and I hope that it benefits you, my readers, as well.

 

References

Houghton, S. (2003-2014). About. Retrieved from Librarian in Black: http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/about

Houghton, S. (2003-2014). Main Page. Retrieved from Librarian in Black: http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/

Stephens, M. (2003-2014). About Michael Stephens. Retrieved from Tame the Web: http://tametheweb.com/about-michael-stephens/

Stephens, M. (2003-2014). Main Page. Retrieved from Tame the Web: http://tametheweb.com/

Comparative Analysis of Professional Journals

An important part about being in the LIS field is staying informed on various topics, aspects, and issues within that field. There are multiple different publications and journals that cover topics and news on a more general level, but there are also sources that hone in on more specific specializations of LIS, such as public librarianship, academic librarianship, information technology, and digital preservation and archiving. Because of this wide assortment, any professional can be informed on news not only in their chosen fields, but also in other fields of interest or general curiosity. Taking myself as an example, as I continue on in my education and future career, I would want to read and possibly write for a journal that focuses on digital preservation and/or archiving. However, it would also benefit me to read journals on the topics of information technology or general library news. Today, I would like to unpack two such journals to see who they are really written for and what kinds of materials that can be found in them.

First, I would like to look at The American Archivist. This journal was “established in 1938 [and is] the best publication of its kind in the archives field” (CommonPlaces e-Solutions, LLC, 2014). The Society of American Archivists (SAA) describes this publication as the following.

“This journal seeks to reflect thinking about theoretical and practical developments in the archival profession, particularly in North America; about relationships between archivists and the creators and users of archives; and about cultural, social, legal, and technological developments that affect the nature of recorded information and the need to create and maintain it” (CommonPlaces e-Solutions, LLC, 2014)

Available both online and in print, this journal is free to the public, but is intended for members of SAA, as well as, others in the archiving profession. The materials published in this journal include, but are not limited to “digitization and digital preservation, reference and public services, preservation, records management, photographs and visual arts, disaster and contingency planning, copyright, intellectual property, legal issues, and authenticity” (Society of American Archivists, 2014).  Moreover, it offers “peer-reviewed research articles, case studies, in-depth perspectives, and international scene papers addressing a wide variety of topics” (Society of American Archivists, 2014). These peer-reviews are important to editor, Gregory S. Hunter. He states, “as SAA members and subscribers, this is [their] journal. [Hunter’s] goal is to make it as meaningful and useful … as possible.” (Hunter, 2013). By providing peer-reviews in the journal, it allows subscribers to talk to and influence other subscribers. It also provides continued success of the journal. The information found in this journal would be of particular interest to me because it provides interesting articles and visuals.

Another publication, different from The American Archivist, is the Reference and User Services Quarterly. This scholarly journal is “the official journal of the Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association. Its purpose is to disseminate information of interest to reference librarians, information specialists, and other professionals involved in user-oriented library services” (RUSA, 2014). More specifically “the scope of the journal includes all aspects of library service to adults, and reference service and collection development at every level and for all types of libraries” (RUSA, 2013). The material covered in this journal include, but is not limited to recreational reading, volunteering, self-censorship, the adventures of learning, social media and reader’s advisory, reference and research resources, marketing in the library, and the value and effects of programs in the library (RUSA, 2013). While this journal is peer-reviewed, it was difficult for me to find reason behind why.  Regardless, this journal is not something that I would find particularly interesting.

The comparing and contrasting features of both journals are apparent. A similarity they both share is the fact that they are written for a specific audience. They both also strive to publish materials that are important to their designated fields and further the learning and understanding of their audience. Moreover, they both allow peer-reviews to give their audience a voice. To contrast that, though, the audiences they write for and the materials covered are vastly different. Also they contrast to me specifically because I find one interesting and the other not as interesting. However, I do see the value in both.

All of the similarities and differences show that each field within LIS is very different and can cover very different information from another. To imagine one journal containing it all would result in a thick, heavy book that only covered each topic superficially instead of in-depth. Moreover, I believe these journals and their features prove that you can’t know everything about everything. The journals allow for individuals to further their learning and understanding of any field.

 

References

CommonPlaces e-Solutions, LLC. (2014). The American Archivist. Retrieved from Society of American Archivists: http://www2.archivists.org/american-archivist

Hunter, G. S. (2013). From the Editor. The American Archivist, 76(2), 299-301. Retrieved from http://archivists.metapress.com/content/d67760v45683j65n/?p=e871bc20646c4ba582e1893bfc8eb392&pi=0

RUSA. (2013). Frontmatter. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 53(2), i-93. Retrieved from http://rusa.metapress.com/content/gl6570020747/

RUSA. (2014). Welcome to Reference & User Services Quarterly (RUSQ). Retrieved from RUSA: Reference and User Services Association A Division of the American Library Association: http://rusa.metapress.com/home/main.mpx

Society of American Archivists. (2014). Welcome to American Archivist Online! . Retrieved from Society of American Archivists: http://archivists.metapress.com/home/main.mpx

Made It Half Way - Reflections and Confessions of My First Half of My First Semester

I am happy and proud to say that I have officially made it through the first half of my first semester of grad school. I have never read so much, but at the same time I have never learned so much either. The last 8 weeks have taught me so much about myself and the profession that I am excited to be a part of.

I have always been one of those people that needs to write to process my thoughts and ideas. I would love to share that this blogging experience has even been really helpful for me to do that. Maintaining this blog has allowed me to examine my decision of entering grad school to pursue this professional field and how I feel about it. With every blog entry I write, I try to be open and honest to you, my readers, so that my experiences may in some way help or give insight to you! Also, it has helped me to value the exercise and practice of blogging since it is an important social media tool used in my new field.

As far as my studies are concerned, the last 8 weeks has opened my eyes to the various concepts and issues in this field.  For example, we had an Ethical Scenario paper to do as an assignment a few weeks ago.  My topic of choice surrounded homeless individuals in the public library and how to handle that. I was under the impression that the public library is open to all and to serve all. I was very much surprised that not everyone feels that way.  In my research for my paper, I found and overwhelming amount of material that shows there are several people and groups of people that try to limit abilities of homeless individuals through policies that can be applied to all. (Please note, these policies probably wouldn’t be enacted if homeless individuals didn’t frequent the public libraries.) However, I was also very pleased to see that there were several people and groups of people that believe in what I believe in and fight for the rights and further outreach to homeless people through the public library.  Another example is an interesting topic that I have encountered of “bookless libraries”. A group in one of my classes posted an article about entirely digital libraries. Never before had I even considered a bookless, digital library. It was thought provoking and interesting. While I don’t think that it is for everyone or everywhere, I can see the value of eBooks, computers, online databases, and iPad or tablets in a world that is turning more and more to technology and away from the traditional.

Needless to say, I am so excited for the second half of the semester.  I am becoming more involved in the NDSA student group and have submitted my resume for volunteer work at the Detroit Museum of Modern Art. I am trying to build relationships with professors and advisors so that I can have good character references when I apply to other volunteer opportunities like the DIA and the Detroit Historical Society. I’m looking forward to a few of the remaining assignments in class such as HTML Coding, learning access to research/reference topics, blogging, and more current topics/issues in the world of LIS through Think Tank activities and the like.

So, with a few weeks left, I hope you stay tuned and are as excited as I am!

Melissa

Do my Goals Match my Ideal Job?

Hello, Readers!

Over the last several weeks, I have done a lot of “talking” about my personal goals, professional associations, and actual job listings that match what would be my ideal jobs. Now that I am 7 weeks into the program, I have been challenged to see if the job listing I chose earlier actually fit into the personal goals I listed during week 3. I think this is an important practice for anyone to do in the course of their study in order to identify if what you want is what you are working towards!  It helps to be able to focus and put time and energy towards things you want.

So here we go!

During week 3 when I posted my original personal goals/objectives, I was slightly vague because I was still working out a path myself.  I did state that I had hoped to work in resource preservation and archiving. While I mentioned working within the museum setting, I revealed I also had an interest in working with resource preservation and archiving in an academic library setting, as well.

I think that this goals do fit into the job description I listed in my last posting of University Librarian for Special Collections and Archiving.  As described in that job posting, the person would be working as part of a management team within the archiving field at an academic library. 

As of today, I am building a solid basis towards that role.

·         I am working towards my ALA accredited MLIS degree, as well as, a certification in Archival Administration.  I am mapping out a path through the courses so that I can take a variety of archival, management, and information technology classes.

·         I am applying to volunteer at not only the Detroit Institute of Arts, but also the Detroit Historical Society. This experience will allow me to have a solid basis of working within an archival field.

·         I am looking for a part-time job within a public or a smaller academic library, which helps to get “my foot in the door” for practical and professional librarianship experience.

·         By joining the NDSA student group at WSU, I will have access to various research projects involving digital technologies that I can get involved in.

·         I am continually building upon my communication skills (both written and oral), while working with groups and teams during my coursework.

·         And, I have a desire to continue my education after this degree and work towards a Ph.D.

Anyway, I know the road to this career will be long and there is always the possibility that I may get side tracked along the way. I am hoping that my drive and the support from my family and friends will help me to be strong and stay the course.  If down the road I find that my goals change, I hope to be brave enough to change my path, as well, to be in conjunction with my new goals.

 

At any rate, this evaluation practice is one that can be continually conducted and the results helpful to shedding light on if what you are doing is helping you to reach what you want, ultimately.

Thanks for reading and have a great rest of your day!

What Would be My Dream Job and How to Get There

There are several things that I am learning about as my LIS program continues on throughout this first semester. One of the items is that it is important to look ahead at potential career possibilities, find the type(s) of career that interests me, and analyze the skills and competencies requires to make sure that one day I’d be able to perform that job.

While I know I would like to focus my concentration on Archives and Digital Management Content, there are a few different types of job, that I would be interested in working in some day.  Below is short list of these jobs and some quick analysis!

Associate University Librarian for Special Collections & Archives

This position is what I think would be an ultimate goal of mine.  It combines the worlds of academia with document archiving in a senior management position.

The following information has been taken from an actual job listing. Per GW Job Listings, for this type of position you need:

• “ALA accredited MLS degree
• 10 years of experience or more as a professional librarian or archivist with increasingly responsible positions in collections development, special collections, or acquisitions
• At least five years of experience in a managerial or supervisory role in an academic or research institution” (Associate University Librarian for Special Collections and Archives, 2014)

Other experience desired is:

• “Ph.D. degree in a subject discipline
• Experience working in a research library and supporting university faculty with their research that involves digital technologies
• Work in digital humanities and experience with technologies used to support digital humanities scholarship
• Experience in budget preparation, projection and analysis and grant proposal development
• Knowledge of an experience with current digital collection management practices and issues
• Able to work with other faculty to develop collections that can be used in research and teaching
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Ability to work effectively as a part of a team” (Associate University Librarian for Special Collections and Archives, 2014)

I believe this job would be very tasking and yet very rewarding. With this type of position, you would be working within the world of academics as I have mentioned earlier.  You would be working on a team and reporting to a Dean or Director of some sort.  While developing policies and strategies, you would be improving the collections and services giving 21-century research libraries their importance and place (Associate University Librarian for Special Collections and Archives, 2014).  You would still be interacting with users such as students, faculty, and other scholars giving the position that level person to person contact, too. You would be in charge of important decisions while still operating within the ideals of traditional librarianship. 

A job that one may have before reaching this goal may be the following.

Archives and Special Collections Coordinator

This type of position would most likely be found within the world of academia, as well. The person in this role “develops and implements uniform arrangement and description standards and ensures the materials or efficiently and effectively processes…[as well as]…creating, revising, and encoding finding aids” (American Library Association, 2013). This type of position works with both the physical and the digital collections of the University library.  They would report to department heads and overall the Dean or Director.

Minimum requirements would be:

• “ALA accredited MLIS degree
• Formal training and coursework in archival management and theory
• Two or more years of professional archival processing experience” (American Library Association, 2013)

Other desired qualifications may be:

• “In-depth knowledge of library archives and special collection services, business practices, and methodologies
• Skill in conducting institutional research
• Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with students, faculty, staff and the public
• Experience and proficiency with current information technologies and computer applications
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Work experience in diverse populations” (American Library Association, 2013)

Anyway, I know that my dreams are not the dreams of everyone. Regardless, I strongly encourage you to do take a look at your chosen field and dream job.  See what is necessary and/or required.  This may help you or sway you to determine if that type of job and the work required to get it are for you or not.  If it’s not, then you are saving yourself a lot of time and efforts.  If it is, then I hope it helps to shed light on the next steps you need to take!

Melissa

References

American Library Association. (2013). Archives and Special Collections Coordinator. Retrieved from ALA Joblist: http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/Archives-and-Special-Collections-Coordinator/25170.cfm

Associate University Librarian for Special Collections and Archives. (2014, February). Retrieved from GW Jobs University Human Resources: https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/20206

LIS: Professional Associations

To understand professional associations, I think it is important to first understand what the words mean.  Merriam-Webster defines the word association as, "an organized group of people who have the same interest, job, etc." (Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2014a) For the word professional, one of the many definitions outlines it as being “(1): characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2): exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace” (Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2014b). Therefore, by incorporating both together, one can describe a professional association as a group of people with similar interests that is governed by a set of standards.

In my previous post on my personal goals and objections, I highlighted a few professional associations that I was interesting in joining on the student chapter level because they would help with bettering myself in my chosen profession. Each is different from the other and bring its own set of benefits.  Below, I have highlighted two: the American Library Association (ALA) and the Society of American Archivists (SAA).

American Library Association (ALA):

The ALA website is very helpful on providing information about this professional association.  Their mission “is to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all” (American Library Association, 2014). 

Per their website, a person can join as an individual, as a part of an organization, or as part of a corporation.  After joining, members enjoy the benefits of legislation advocacy, continuing education, the promotion of intellectual freedom, shared standards to help improve library service, a website with access to information, news, tools and services, networking, and focus/information on different types of libraries and library activities to name a few (American Library Association, 2014). You must sign up to become a member. More information can be found at http://www.ala.org/membership/how-to (American Library Association, 2014).

This ALA is very well known professional association in the LIS world.  They have a well-organized website and a large presence on Facebook with 28, 589 “likes” as of January 30, 2014 (American Library Association, 2014). Publications of theirs include but are not limited to the Ethical and Multicultural Information Exchange Bulletin, the Intellectual Freedom Report, and the Library History Newsletter (American Library Asssociation, 2014)

Society of American Archivists (SAA):

Much like the ALA website, the SAA website is very helpful in providing information on the organization. Their mission is to “promote the values and diversity of archives and archivists. [They] are the preeminent source of professional resources and the principal communication hub for American archivists” (About SAA, 2014). Their core values consist of the following:

·        “Advancing the public standing of archivists.

·        Ensuring the diversity of its membership and leaders, the profession, and the archival record.

·        Fostering a culture of creativity and experimentation across the association.

·        Providing an open, inclusive, and collaborative environment.

·        Providing excellent member service.

·        Social responsibility and the public good.

·        Transparency, accountability, integrity, and professionalism in conducting its activities.” (About SAA, 2014)

A person can join or renew a membership for 12 months for a nominal fee and enjoy number benefits.  These benefits include, but aren’t limited to receiving online access to American Archivists Online, a bi-monthly newsletter on current issues and topics in the field, discounts at various SAA sponsored bookstores and registration on continuing education workshops, and the ability to network with other professionals with similar interests around the country (Benefits of Membership, 2014).

Much like the ALA, the SAA have their own publications such as The American Archivist (The American Archivist, 2014) and Archival Outlook (Archival Outlook, 2014). The former is a journal and the latter is a newsletter.

There is a Facebook presence for WSU students to help provide information on what is happening with the student chapter (Society of American Archivists, WSU Student Chapter, 2014).  More information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Societyofamericanarchivistswsu.

If you are interested in either organization, then I strongly hope you check out their websites.  I learned a lot by just researching them to write this post and it convinces me further too strongly consider joining myself.

Anyway, as always, thanks for reading.

Melissa

References

About SAA. (2014). Retrieved from Society of American Archivists: http://www2.archivists.org/about

American Library Association. (2014). Retrieved from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanLibraryAssociation?ref=stream&hc_location=stream

American Library Association. (2014). About ALA. Retrieved from American Library Association: www.ala.org/aboutala/

American Library Association. (2014). How to Join or Renew Membership. Retrieved from American Library Assocition: http://www.ala.org/membership/how-to

American Library Association. (2014). The Value of Belonging to ALA. Retrieved from American Library Assoction: www.ala.org/membership/whyala/membtopten

American Library Asssociation. (2014). Round Table Publications. Retrieved from American Library Association: http://www.ala.org/tools/publications/rtpubs

Archival Outlook. (2014). Retrieved from Society of American Archivists: http://www2.archivists.org/archival-outlook

Benefits of Membership. (2014). Retrieved from Society of American Archivists: http://www2.archivists.org/membership

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. (2014a). Retrieved from Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/association

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. (2014b). Retrieved from Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/professional

Society of American Archivists, WSU Student Chapter. (2014). Retrieved from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Societyofamericanarchivistswsu

The American Archivist. (2014). Retrieved from Society of American Archivists: http://www2.archivists.org/american-archivist

Personal Goals/Objectives

Good evening, readers.

I’d like to take a moment to talk about my own personal goals/objectives for my studies now that I have told you about myself and a little about my beliefs regarding the professionals that work in the LIS field. 

To start, I am very excited about the future and my progression through my studies to it. While in school, I have a few goals in order to better situate myself for the future.  WSU separates their program into three parts. The part that I would like to concentrate on is Archives and Digital Content Management.  This part of the program focuses on the digital preservation of resources.  With this concentration, I would be able to help preserve current history and the present so that those in the future can study it.  Along with getting a Master’s degree in LIS, I would like to pursue a Graduate Certificate in Archival Administration.  While at Wayne State, I not only plan to use their Digital Media Projects Lab as much as possible, but also to be involved with student chapters of American Library Association (ALA), the National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA), and possibly the Society of American Archivists (SAA). I have a target graduation goal of December 2015. Being somewhat of an introvert, I have made the decided resolution to really make to most out of this experience.

There are also a few objectives that I have for my professional career both while in school and after.  I am currently without a job. (I had to choose between my corporate job and graduate school when it came down to it; so, I chose graduate school and I quit my job.) Now that I’m in school, I am currently looking for a part time position within a library or archive setting.  My goal is to have a job by May or June of 2014.  Also, I would like to use my free time to volunteer.  I have researched and am applying to volunteer at the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum (DIA) and possibly the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.  I would like to participate in internships, as well, if able but do not have any that I am looking at or into specifically. Any suggestions are always appreciated, though.

After school, I hope to have a bright future working in resource preservation and archiving.  This does not have to be strictly in a museum such as the DIA, but I would be very happy to find myself in that setting. I am also interested in working in a preservation/archival position within a library. The academic library that I worked in briefly for a few years during my undergrad had its own archive room and there was a resident librarian whose job was focused on working with documents that needed preservation.  She is one of the individuals that influenced me toward this field so obviously I would like to be doing something similar. 

Regardless, my goal is to work with resources that need preservation and/or archiving. My objectives to reach this ultimate goal are to use the knowledge I obtain while in school and network with my fellow LIS peers. I hope to make not only connections but also friends through this experience. 

Only 3 weeks down-a lifetime to go…and I couldn’t be more excited.

Assumptions/Assertions/Beliefs of the Library and Information Science Profession

So what can someone assume about the Library and Information Sciences (LIS) profession?

What do I assume about the LIS profession?

In my 27 years, I have spent many hours in libraries and subsequently around people in the LIS profession.  Because of this, it has led me to the below assumptions/beliefs or assertions about the profession.

• The LIS profession is made up of people who care about others. - In both my past experience, as well as, my recent beginning of this program, I have learned that the people who work in this profession truly do care about other people.  Librarians dedicate their profession lives to helping and bettering others in the community.  This is done through reference help when people are researching topics, through computer concepts help when teaching basic computer skills to those who don't know how, through teaching in youth services to help our younger generations learn various skills, and even through literacy training for those (of all ages) who don't have those skills.

• The LIS profession is made up of people who know how to find information. -  When I was a college student in my undergraduate years, it was extremely difficult to research a topic and sort through the plethora of sources that the school library had available.  Finding resources was never actually the problem.  It was finding "good and usable" sources relevant to the topic I was researching. Those who work in the LIS field are experts on finding this kind of information. They know how to research a topic and not only find the resources within the stacks of books, periodicals, databases, etc. of their own library, but also how to get it from other libraries if they do not! They are able to help sort through what is relevant towards the topic being researched and what is not.

I took this picture of the periodical stacks using my MAC computer at the Halle Library of  Eastern Michigan University.

• The LIS profession is made up of people who strive to make a better future. - This particular assumption is twofold for myself.  
• Because of my belief in the first two bullet points listed above, it leads me to assume that those who work in the LIS field believe in and work to make the future better through the community. While this may start within the confines of the four walls that make up the library building, it extends to outside in the community. Librarians arm people of the community with knowledge when they come into a library.  They provide them with assistance and help them to find what they are looking for.  People can then learn about all sorts of topics such as science, technology, war, travel, history, current events, etc. The information they learn becomes knowledge that taken with them and used to help to make educated decisions when met with challenges.  In this way, the librarian is arming the community with the knowledge today to allow for a brighter and better future tomorrow.
• The second aspect of this assumption (that the LIS profession is made up of people who strive to make a better future) is through the preservation of resources and history, today.  A very specific aspect of  LIS is preservation and archiving. I want to specialize in this field, myself. This encompasses the continuation of archiving the resources being research from the past, as well as, preserving the things that are happening at present.  Performing this function will allow communities of future generations to do the very things we are doing today in the library.  Without this pivotal role, libraries would be filled with the resources and technology of today but in 50 years that may all be outdated! Working in this field and performing this role, helps to make the future better and brighter!

It is here that I would like to note that this isn't a researched topic, but one of personal reflection.  These are my specific assumptions/ beliefs and assertions.  I hope this post allows you, the reader, to reflect on this topic and come to your own conclusions!  It really helps to remind me of why I believe the library and those who work in the LIS profession as so important not only today, but also in the future.

Author Introduction

Hello and welcome to A View from the Stacks!

My name is Melissa Fretz.  I am a graduate student at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI studying Library and Information Sciences. I just started my first semester this January (2014) and hope to graduate in two years with my MLIS degree. Working in the field of Library and Information Sciences is something that I have pursued for almost a decade and am most excited to get started.

During my undergraduate college years, I went back and forth between actively pursuing my dream of being a librarian.  I started actively pursuing it my freshman year at Cairn University in Langhorne, PA. I worked as a student aid in the library working mainly as a front desk clerk and shelving books.  Being around the stacks of various library resources was a dream for me. I absorbed as much as I could from both the reference librarian and librarian in charge of archives.  A lot of what they taught me has stuck with me to this day. Then, I stepped away for my dream temporarily in August of 2008. At that time, I moved to Michigan to finish my undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in Marketing and Supply Chain Management. I graduated in 2010 and for the last 3 years worked with a 3rd Party Logistics company.

My interest in Library and Information Sciences came back to the forefront of my thoughts shortly after starting my corporate job, but the timing never seemed right.  I reached out to Reference Librarian at Cairn University who was my previous boss and asked ofr some direction.  After some researching and waiting for the right time, I decided Wayne State University's SLIS was the place for me.  I allowed myself to follow my dreams by quitting my corporate job and applying to the program. This is where I am today and could not be happier.

Outside of school and work, I spend my time with my husband and our two cats in Northville, MI.  I enjoy cooking, baking, crafts, games, and rock climbing. I am currently trying to learn French, but my dream vacation would be to take a trip to Italy. (After French, I would like to try and learn Italian.)

It's been great sharing with you and keep your eyes posted for my future posts! Thank you for your time.

Melissa