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A Very Belated Update

I realized I never shared my final reflection. A lot has happened within the past month, including graduation. I officially have my MLIS, woohoo!

During finals week, I went into the library one last time to learn how to create original records. Because I gained such a strong foundation in copy cataloging, the original cataloging process made sense from the get-go. I spent the remainder of my shift processing duplicate zines. I was ecstatic that I processed five categories of zines during my time with TCS, and cleaned up the spreadsheet so it was more readable and easier to navigate. I know it will be in good hands for the next intern.

The DFW was one of the most beneficial experiences of my MLIS career. I couldn’t recommend it enough to folks who are interested in gaining a unique library work experience. I learned so much more than I expected, and now feel much more confident in my skills as I enter the job market. Signing off for now, until next time.

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Types of Public Librarians - Cataloging Librarian

what they do in one phrase: create a smooth search experience for users navigating the catalog

job responsibilities: catalogers are the backbone of the online catalogs. They create, update, and maintain the bibliographic records of information about the materials that the library holds and circulates. Though many bibliographic records have already been created by the major publishing firms, there are plenty of other items, such as zines, that require the creation of a new bibliographic record, which can take a substantial amount of time to complete.

how the role operates at SPL: the catalogers spend at least half of their time cataloging mass-produced media, and the other half of their time on special projects, such as this zines project. Typically library associates will get a larger bulk of the mass-produced media to catalog.

key personality traits: being okay with working on computers all day is paramount. Attention to detail is also essential to this role, there are many items in a bibliographic record that when changed can greatly affect the record. This is not a requirement, but I noticed that the catalogers are okay with limited people interaction. After observing each type of librarian, I’d assume that catalogers are the most likely to thrive off of following more repetitive routines and procedures.

how to get the job: I did not get a chance to chat with the librarian I shadowed about this. However, in my observations, it seems that the major prerequisite for a cataloger role is to have taken a cataloging course during the MLIS program. Turnover seems lower in cataloging, so I imagine it might be tougher to initially break in.

obstacles and challenges: it’s a bit oxymoronic that finding information to help others find information is not easy. For example, my mentor cataloger and I were looking for a subject heading about allyship, but to our surprise, it was unavailable. We ended up using the next closest subject heading, sexual minorities. Now, I’m not sure about you, but I have never used the term sexual minorities a day in my life, and I can’t imagine me or my peers searching for books about allyship with that term. With a push for updated, if not completely revamped, classification systems, specifically with a DEI lens, catalogers have to keep updated with the changes to ensure that their catalog records are reaching the relevant users.

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Types of Public Librarians - Readers Services Librarian

what they do in one phrase: connect patrons to their next book

job responsibilities: though the purpose of the role is to get patrons their next book, it is done through building connections. The librarian I shadowed said hi to everyone, checked in with all of the patrons sitting at the chairs across, and talked to the regulars about their life problems. By getting to know patrons as unique individuals, they can give more informed book recommendations.

how the role operates at SPL: the readers services team at the central library is only dedicated to providing readers services. Branch librarians may have readers advisory responsibilities on top of other operations, as they are the only librarian.

key personality traits: this is copied from a previous reflection - “Working in readers services is probably what most folks think of when they think of librarians. I think any librarian in a readers services role should be especially personable - it would also probably be helpful if they are more extroverted because they are always talking to others and pivoting from one task to the next.” They should also be resourceful, and competent in giving recommendations beyond the Goodreads top reads. Though important to any type of librarian, a great readers services librarian must be especially keen to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ensure that the collection offers materials representing the increasingly connected and diverse world.

how to get the job: as far as I know, readers advisory roles are open to folks at any stage in their career.

obstacles and challenges: as libraries evolve, there is a push for libraries and library staff members to provide more social services (hello, vocational awe). Though libraries are a great place to make those connections to social services, there is pressure to de-emphasize books as services. However, books are still the core reason for why a library is a library. Using a library for entertainment (i.e. borrowing books, DVDs, video games, etc.) is no less valuable than using a library for social services. I think one working in readers services will need to be cognizant of this increasing tension, and be unafraid to advocate for their work. Additionally, similar to youth and teen librarian roles, readers services librarians typically work irregular hours.

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Types of Public Librarians - Genealogy Librarian

what they do in one phrase: provide genealogy services to patrons

job responsibilities: genealogy librarians navigate a variety of physical and digital sources to support patrons in conducting genealogy-related projects

how the role operates at SPL: the genealogy librarian sits with the history librarian so many of their responsibilities intersect with one another.

key personality traits: an interest in genealogy and history is an absolute must. Many patrons are coming to the genealogy unit with sensitive needs and potentially thorny topics, so genealogy librarians must be ready handle information in an empathetic and sensitive way. One should also be willing to learn new technologies. Based on my experience working with historical documents in UW’s Government Publications, Maps, Microforms and Newspapers unit, I imagine working in genealogy requires a level of comfort navigating confusing language. 

how to get the job: the librarian I spoke to had a personal interest in genealogy, and through a series of events, landed a role in the genealogy section of the library prior to graduating. It appears that folks can land genealogy librarian roles at any point in their career.

obstacles and challenges: technology within the genealogy space has rapidly changed within the past decade. The librarian said they entered the role when Ancestry’s online database was new, and it has only increased the amount of connections and information found. Genealogy librarians should be ready to address the implications of what it means to have this information online, and how to make genealogy more accessible.

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Types of Public Librarians - Youth and Teen Services Librarian

what they do in one phrase: provide library services to youth, teens, and their families

job responsibilities: each day is different in this unit. There could be various programs taking place, helping families find their way around the library - great for folks that like being active! They also provide reference support to their respective units.

how the role operates at SPL: the largest group of youth and teen librarians sit at the Central Library. Starting off your career at a central branch is fantastic because you can focus on getting great at your area of expertise.

key personality traits: they should be nimble and able to work on their feet. They must also be great active listeners and observers, as they are working with a wide range of ages. Every youth and teen services librarian I’ve ever met also seems to have a creative streak. 

how to get the job: from what I gathered during my conversation with the librarian, it is possible to get a job in youth and teen services right out of a MLIS program. Anecdotally, most of the openings I’ve seen are for youth and teen librarian roles.

obstacles and challenges: scheduling is one of the toughest challenges to navigate due to the strong emphasis on programming. Generally, you will have to work evenings and weekends, and in many systems, your schedule will be inconsistent from week to week.

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Types of Public Librarians - Special Collections Librarian

what they do in one phrase: manage the operations of a library’s special collections unit

job responsibilities: special collections librarians field reference questions about the special collections. They work with many community members, though they also see many researchers. Many special collections librarians also have cataloging experience because special collections and archives tend to follow different procedures than general catalogers.

how the role operates at SPL: prior to the pandemic, anyone could walk in for service in special collections. Some days they got zero patrons, or they juggled four patrons at a time. Nowadays, patrons are required to make an appointment in advance. This allows librarians to confirm that they have the requested materials, and conduct additional research before the patron comes in, especially if the patron has a particularly complex question.

key personality traits: in my perspective, special collections librarians tend to possess a generalized skill set and specialized knowledge about a subject area. For example, they might know a lot about PNW history, but might know a little bit of reference, a little bit of cataloging, etc. With that said, teams are usually supportive of professional development opportunities. For example, one of the librarians I chatted with is taking a cataloging course so they can do more of the cataloging work within special collections.

how to get the job: depending on the institution, you don’t need to have knowledge about certain subject areas going in. It is highly recommended to have an appreciation for history though. Though I could not imagine working in a special collection and not liking history to some degree.

obstacles and challenges: finding space to house items will always be an issue special collections librarians are up against. They have a huge backlog of items acquired from various sources that still require sorting and cataloging.

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Types of Public Librarians - Selection Librarian

what they do in one phrase: build and refine a library’s collection

job responsibilities: like any librarian job, conducting research is a daily responsibility. They leverage a variety of sources, such as book lists, professional publications, social media, and community feedback, to expand and refine a library’s collection. Selection librarians also regularly deal with budgets - at library systems as large as SPL, the budgets could be in the multi-millions.  

how the role operates at SPL: each selection librarian is in charge of a different section. Though they lean on each other for support, selection librarians get the final say in their purchases, and must have solid justification for their choices. They buy materials for all branches, which requires an understanding of what community members of different neighborhoods need.

key personality traits: it’s a great job for introverts (fellow introverts, rejoice!) because the role is autonomous. Having a strong attention to detail and being okay with routine is also important because it is a process-oriented role. It is helpful to have a pulse on trending topics and news.

how to get the job: selection librarians are generally mid-advanced career professionals that started in public services. For example, the children’s materials selection librarian started their career in youth and teen services.

obstacles and challenges: intellectual freedom is a contentious topic that selection librarians grapple with daily. 10 years ago, only certain populations had a tendency to facilitate book bans, but nowadays, it comes from folks of all backgrounds. The rise of e-books has also greatly increased the costs of buying new materials.

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Reference Questions

A few weeks ago, I shadowed a librarian at the history desk. History was my favorite school subject growing up, so I was eager to see the history desk’s operations. I was lucky enough to get three reference questions, which I will detail below. The names I used are fake for privacy reasons.

Jack was looking for a report about Lithuania's eligibility for EU membership. Despite not having a report name, I thought it would be easy enough to find. It was not. I had wrongfully assumed that the EU had an easily accessible library that holds the reports about countries’ interest in joining the EU. Putting together context clues, such as finding the year Lithuania joined the EU (2004) and working backwards from there, got me the report I needed. Also, did you know that over 90% of Lithuanian voters voted in favor of joining the EU?

Jack, the same patron from question #1, was also looking for a booklet about anti-Semitism in Lithuania that was authored by a political commentator (I forgot their name). Again, this question was harder than it appeared. I scanned the author’s Wikipedia page a few times before landing upon a potential document name. The in-text citation had a link to a document. Time for me to check my bias, I should not have assumed it would be written in English when the patron said the author was Lithuanian. Duh! After doing some cross-checking, I confirmed it was the document the patron needed.

Paul called the desk looking for the date and time to a local pastor’s memorial service. It turns out this information was publicly available on the church’s website with a link to the livestream included.

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Zine Collection Development Guidelines Updates

My original plan for this artifact was to make recommendations for future additions to the zine room. However, this plan was foiled. Not in a bad way! As how many things in life goes, it is more complex than it appears. Here are my learnings from the experience.

There were many complicated feelings involved when SPL acquired the ZAPP collection. Because many ZAPP volunteers were zine producers or friends of zine producers, ZAPP can be a sensitive topic for some folks to think about.

Currently, additions to the zine collection are mainly done on a passive basis. It is tough to solicit for zines. How exactly do you ask someone to part with their art? By letting authors actively consent to sharing their zines, it ensures that they are okay with publicizing their work.

Some zine authors don’t want to make their work available for public viewing. Maybe this surprises me because I grew up in during the rise of social media, when it is encouraged to share your work, especially if it is aesthetically pleasing.  Besides parting with your art, there are privacy concerns to be considered. For example, a queer author might have created a zine about queer identity decades ago, but the author might not be openly queer yet. If we created a catalog record that publicizes identifying information about the author and zine, we could be potentially exposing information that was meant to be private. Ethics aside, some authors might have only intended for a couple of friends to see the zines, not potentially thousands of library patrons. 

There is a lack of physical space. This is a never-ending issue in libraries across the country, and it is no different for the ZAPP room. It’s hard to acquire more zines when there is no space to accommodate it.

This experience made me particularly grateful for my MLIS education. I know there are a lot of, ahem, thoughts about the value of the MLIS degree and the LIS sector as a whole. Though I agree with many of the critiques, getting my master’s degree shaped me to think more critically about the ethics of information management. I’m not sure if I would have developed this mindset without continuing my education.

As far as feasible changes go, it would be great to acquire more materials to maintain the collection. Currently, the ZAPP team is borrowing a computer and scanner from a branch library that is going through renovations. As more zines are acquired, more envelopes are needed to store the zines for circulation in branch locations. I believe that these tools would not fall under a selection budget, but I hope that SPL will provide these items to enhance the user experience in the ZAPP room.

Also, I constantly wonder where these zine authors are today. Do they know that their zines are in a library? If any zine creator sees this, just know that your art is appreciated!

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Copy Cataloging Zines

So my original plan was to create a video tutorial on copy cataloging zines. However, I have not figured out how to create a video through my SPL computer. So I will pivot the purpose of this artifact to share some of my learnings as I copy cataloged zines throughout my DFW.

Cataloging in the classroom ≠ cataloging in the workplace. If you were like me, you left your cataloging class demoralized and confused. Worry not, because cataloging is way more interesting on the job.

You will never memorize every field and rule. That’s okay.

It’s a lot of muscle memory. Keyboard shortcuts become your best friend - when in doubt, it’s F2, F8, or F10. 

There can be a lot of research involved. This was one of the most interesting parts of the job for me. I loved scouring the internet for any context clues that gave away the author, date, etc. And with that said...

Zines rarely have the metadata catalogers usually record. Why is the author name missing? Why is issue 4 the spring 1993 edition, then issue 5 the June 1993 edition? These illusive questions haunt my fairly-organized self.

I have always respected the cataloger’s work, but truly, I have gained so much more respect for catalogers after this experience. Thank you to all the catalogers that created the original records in OCLC, because that is! not! easy!

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Types of Public Librarians

Welcome to the first post of my series - types of public librarians! 

Prior to joining the team, I thought there were only two types of librarians: public services librarians and technical services librarians. What I didn’t know was that there are several types of librarians under those two groups. Through this series, I will share a breakdown about each type of librarian I connected with during my time at SPL.

Note: thoughts are based on my personal opinions and observations.

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Week 10 - 5/29

Last week of school, ever!! I will still be in during finals week.

I shadowed one of the readers services librarians. Turns out it was my professor from my adult fiction genres class! It was an online course so it was great to put a name to face. Working in readers services is probably what most folks think of when they think of librarians. I think any librarian in a readers services role should be especially personable - it would also probably be helpful if they are more extroverted because they are always talking to others and pivoting from one task to the next. I noticed that the librarian I shadowed seemed to know everyone, and they introduced themselves to anyone they didn’t recognize. For example, we ran into the library’s HR team when they were on their way to a team outing, and the librarian asked the names of the folks they didn’t recognize. I also met the chief librarian (fangirled in my head a bit!). They were passing our desk and the readers services librarian introduced us, and we had a nice conversation. They seem like a very personable person that truly cares about staff and patrons.

The remainder of my shift was spent copy cataloging more zines. I definitely have zines copy cataloging down pat. Next week, we’ll be working on creating original records. Exciting!

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Week 9 - 5/22

And we are back! Because I was sick last week, I went in 2 days in a row.

The first day was very laid-back. The only task I focused on was recording duplicate copies of zines. I found a sewing zine that was particularly well done, and texted some photos of it to my mom since my mom loves sewing.

The second day was busier. I got back into cataloging, and I’m happy to report I copy cataloged 10 zines. The zines were varying levels of difficulty to catalog. Luckily, other catalogers already created records in OCLC - to whichever catalogers did that, thank you for making my job much easier. 

I also had a long conversation with the other ZAPP librarian, during which we dove into more specifics about collection management and library donations. More to come in a bit! 

The remainder of my shift was spent adding more duplicate zines to our records. I finally made it to the pop culture category, a category I was excited to delve into. Saw a zine about aliens in Star Trek and another zine about Degrassi episodes. I anticipate the next few sessions will be super fun!

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Week 8 - 5/15

No updates this week, unfortunately. I caught a horrible sinus infection at the beginning of the week, causing me to take a week off of class and work. Because I work in public facing roles, it’s so important that I’m healthy and energized so I can give my patrons and coworkers the support they deserve.

I’ll be working extra shifts over the next couple weeks to make up for this past week, and from weeks 1 and 2. See you then!

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Week 7 - 5/8

Week 7 was less meeting heavy. I had a quick 1x1 with my supervisor, then dove into cataloging. The cataloging librarian said I was picking up the process quickly! I was surprised but so pleased to hear that. Horizon and OCLC can get confusing because you bounce back and forth between the two software throughout the process.

The last few hours of the day were spent catching up on the duplicates project. This project, and my DFW as a whole, has once again confirmed that I love library and information science work. Not to toot my own horn, but I have to say I got a pretty good eye for research. For example, I was looking for a zine’s publication date because many zines don’t have the publication date. While skimming the zine, I found an article that referenced a charity fashion show in Hollywood. I Googled the fashion show, and found a sponsorship ask document for that fashion show on Scribd with the date printed, which helped me determine the zine’s publication date. So, this is all to say that you should hire me to be your private investigator or researcher. Ha!

Another part of the working with the ZAPP collection that I’ve enjoyed is diving into all these different domains. I’m currently processing sports zines, so I’ve read zines about football, skateboarding, even bowling. It’s interesting reading a piece of ephemeral from a certain point in time, many of which make references to cultural moments that were current at that moment. I’m almost done with sports, so I’m excited to see what category I get next!

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Week 6 - 5/1

There’s only one month left of school, and sooo much more I want to learn than what one month can fit. My supervisor was OOO this week, so they strategically scheduled many of my shadowing sessions this week. I was quite occupied all day, and loved it. I have a post coming up about different jobs in public libraries, so my conversations will be shared in detail there.

My first meeting was with the genealogy librarian at the genealogy and history desk. We were inundated with reference questions throughout our hour together, so we didn’t get much time to talk genealogy. I’ll also write more about the reference questions in a separate post for my artifacts.

My next meeting was with one of the children and teen librarians. We went to a coffee shop to chat, and they were gracious enough to pay for my matcha latte - so sweet! They graduated from UW a few years ago, so it was great to chat with a newer librarian.

I was double booked the following hour with the zine team meeting and cataloging shadowing. I quickly introduced myself, then took my required 15 minute break. The meeting wrapped up early so I was able to get cataloging shadowing in. This was my first time driving, with the guidance of the cataloger of course. Each time I connect with the cataloging librarian, I’m reminded that I’m never taking catalogers’ work for granted again - it’s the least visible, and quite tedious in some cases, but still a much-needed operation for a library to function.

My last meeting of the day was up in special collections. To be honest, I had never considered special collections and archives as a career path. I always assumed that I couldn’t do it because I’m too clumsy. The fear of breaking things is still there, but I learned that there’s actually more similarities than differences compared to other librarian roles. 

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Week 5 - 4/24

We are officially halfway through the quarter! This week was National Library Workers Day, so administration left snacks in the break rooms. I grabbed some fruit snacks and popcorn :)

I spent most of my day knocking out some zines for the duplicates tracking project. It requires a lot of attention to detail to ensure that all of the information is being recorded correctly. It has also been fun to take a quick break to skim through the zines. I’m in awe at people’s creativity and thoughtfulness, it inspires me to practice a creative pursuit of sorts.

A large chunk of my day was also spent connecting with my desk neighbors, the selection librarians - also known in some libraries as collection development. I was particularly grateful to connect with them because I was unable to get into UW’s collection development class before graduation. If I stay in public libraries, I would love to end up in a selection/collection development role. I love keeping track of media trends and getting the latest and greatest. I also would be excited to make collections more diverse, a main priority of SPL’s librarians.

Another part of my day was spent shadowing the ZAPP cataloger again. I cannot wait to dive in and practice cataloging myself. It’s not easy, that’s for sure! I am still getting accustomed to OCLC’s layout, and I’m a bit overwhelmed by the codes. Thank goodness they have cheat sheets that list out everything because I’m not sure how one could remember everything off the top of their heads.