#thespookylibrarian

[thespookylibrarian]

I have a really sweet coworker who just immigrated here from another country about a year ago. She came into work all excited the other day, saying “I heard some news on the radio that I think is good for you!” 

She proceeded to tell me about the Florida law (HB 1467) requiring a certified media specialist to review books before they can enter school libraries and classrooms.

“More jobs for future librarians like you!” she said.

Sad to think this is how a lot of people probably see this law, and that many won’t bother to investigate further into how vague and harmful it really is for students (not to mention the teachers who could face a third-degree felony for violating the law). 

I don’t know if this is an area of librarianship I really want to go into, but literacy has always been at the forefront of my academic/professional interests. That includes cultural literacy, which tends to fall under HB 1467′s broad language (re: theories that could lead to "student indoctrination”). 

I’ve found myself thinking about the ways I could shape my librarian studies/career into something that involves combatting these and similar laws affecting our education system, but I’m still not 100% sure what that would look like--hoping to take Intro to Info Policy in the fall for some insight. 

In the meantime, if anyone has any knowledge or experience regarding this topic, I would love to discuss it! I have a few friends in the K-12 teaching space but none on the librarian side, and they are dealing with enough already, unfortunately. 

[thespookylibrarian]

I got the position! So excited to be able to say I’m the Digital Research & Scholarship Graduate Assistant at my university’s main library. I’ll be working on projects related to open access initiatives/advocacy, academic publishing, and digital literacy--all areas that I’ve been interested in exploring for a future career.

Still not exactly sure when it starts, but I’ll have to start thinking about what classes I want to take this summer in the meantime...the position requires me to be a full time student, so I’ll go from one to two or three classes per semester. This means I’ll be cutting my hours and/or quitting my job at the coffee shop which has honestly been starting to wear on me anyway.

Even though it’s a remote position and a virtual degree program, this also means I’ll probably be prepping for a move back to the university when my lease is up. 

As exciting as all of this is (you know, all of my plans finally falling into place), it seems like good news hardly ever comes without bad news. I’m waiting on a call from the vet that will more than likely change my cat’s life forever, so I can’t really celebrate how I’d planned. Just hoping we can handle it quickly and everything will be okay in the end. If you’re reading this, I hope you’re hanging in there.

[thespookylibrarian]

It's been hard to make time for a little update here—lots of stuff going on, some of it not so great, but we're pushing through.

Summer semester was a LOT of work and I was grateful that my information ethics professor canceled our final paper at the last second. I don't think I would have made it through all three classes with A's otherwise. Overall, I did enjoy the assignments I had though!

For ethics, I got to interview my supervisor about information ethics in our academic library, which was enlightening to say the least. I also loved the professor and how she included current events in each lecture.

The graphic novels course I took was suuuuper chill, mostly a readers' advisory sort of class. My final project was an info graphic on LGBTQIA+ paranormal graphic novels, which I had so much fun with. (I have lots of recommendations if anyone is interested!)

As for the research class...I really didn't mesh with the professor's teaching style at all. Still, I convinced my group to write our research proposal on how Florida's K-12 book challenges are affecting incoming college students and had a blast putting that together. I don't know how great of a researcher I would be (not in love with the science aspects), but it would be really cool to put this proposal into action.

My graduate assistantship with the library got extended through graduation! Incredibly grateful for that. I spent the summer redesigning the library's open publishing website and working on some instructional materials (WordPress tutorials, copyright, etc). I've also led a couple of consultations with researchers who are looking to build websites using our hosting platform—a little nerve-wracking, but I'm getting the hang of it.

Anyway, that was pretty much the summer. Will do a separate post on the fall semester at some point.

[thespookylibrarian]

"This construct (neutrality) limits libraries to a passive “diversity” designed to ensure (at best) basic universal access to already-existing space and resources (through collection development), and a path to librarianship for aspiring students of all backgrounds. It does not encourage the library to actively engage with community issues unless those issues are “apolitical,” and does not obligate the librarian to seek out and attempt to ameliorate conditions within local communities."

Libraries on the frontlines: neutrality and social justice

[thespookylibrarian]

Finally on summer break! Hope to write a bit about my experience with the graduate assistant position and the courses I took before the fall semester starts and I'm buried in stuff again (halfway through my program now!)

[thespookylibrarian]

So, it turns out I need 9 credits even in the summer to receive the tuition waiver that comes with the graduate assistant position hahahhahaaa...

Extra unfortunate that I kind of hate most of the classes offered during the summer. So, I’m trying something new--I emailed a professor whose class is currently full to see if he’ll open up a spot for me. I really have no interest in the other courses available, so here’s hoping that he can help me out.

I’m also drawing up a potential schedule for myself because I know if I don’t block out time specifically for resting and movement/disconnecting from the web, I won’t take any. Not a workaholic, just an adult with undiagnosed ADHD lol. 

[thespookylibrarian]

two days into this GA position and I already feel like I’ve found my people 

[thespookylibrarian]

end of semester update

Our final presentation went well, and my final grade is an A! I’m glad I took this class first...it wasn’t terribly difficult or assignment heavy, though I never did get to all the readings. Will probably peruse them over the break because they did seem really interesting, I just got overwhelmed. Anyway, I’m at the library today trying to reorient myself and prepare for next semester. 

After looking through all of the LIS classes again, I think I have a better idea of what I want to take? Maybe? One of the guest lecturers suggested taking a marketing class, and FSU happens to offer “Marketing of Library and Information Services”. I wasn’t originally considering this class...so if anyone else recommends something like this, please lmk! I’m not sure how helpful it will be in an academic setting, but I may land a job elsewhere so...

I’m also thinking about:

Cataloging and Classification (not sure why this isn’t a req class tbh)

Storytelling for Information Professionals (idk...for funsies?)

Diverse Resources for Children and Young Adults

There’s also an IT class recommended but...meh, I’m not sure I really want to go down that route, as helpful as it may be. This also has me thinking about the grant writing class...I’m sure these would make me more marketable but it would prevent me from really focusing on a specialization. 

I had hoped to take Intro to Info Policy (a core class) next semester, because I think that might be an area that interests me. Unfortunately, it conflicts with my current work schedule and I’m not sure I feel like changing that at the moment. Instead, I’ve registered for Digital Libraries which will count towards my User Services certificate and help me start to explore my other interest: digital literacy. Anyone taking anything fun in the spring?

[thespookylibrarian]

The imposter syndrome is so real right now, fuck

All of my peers sound so gd smart. But I guess it’s good when you really think about it, since I get to learn from them. At least my group seems nice, and we’ve chosen my alma mater’s library as our subject for the semester project, so I’ve got a little bit of an edge.

[thespookylibrarian]

Law librarian Emma Wood (n.d.) reminds us that libraries are “one of the last pure forms of community space.” In the “ache of absence” caused by pandemic closures, “[m]ost people have gained a stronger appreciation for their third places,” she says. She goes on to predict that “library support and advocacy are poised to grow in response to renewed interest in social space and programming.”

Five Steps of Outcome-Based Planning and Evaluation for Youth Services

[thespookylibrarian]

I have an interview for a graduate assistant position with my school’s library tomorrow! I’m more nervous than anything because I didn’t get the position I interviewed for last year, but I’m thinking this one aligns better with my career interests anyway. 

It involves digital research and scholarship--specifically open access academic publishing and research support/instruction. Taking this evening to look over the questions they sent and prepare soooooo we’ll see

[thespookylibrarian]

I was once told that librarianship is about 50% acronyms, but now...I’m pretty sure it’s actually closer to 90

[thespookylibrarian]

Had my interview for the library assistant position today. They asked a lot about my cataloging experience, which is nonexistent at the moment. Oops. I haven’t even taken a cataloging class yet, but I spent some time today introducing myself to MARC 21. You have to start somewhere, right? I did my best to convey that I’d be the right person for the position anyway, but we’ll seeeeee. I do have experience learning new software and navigating databases, so hopefully that helps. 

The hiring committee also mentioned that one of the job duties includes repairing books which sounds so freaking cool. Fingers crossed

[thespookylibrarian]

Futures says it would be easy for adversaries to call out librarians for attempts to censor content even if the books on Hoopla's digital shelves that contain disinformation that has been historically and medically debunked. “The conversation around this should be nuanced,” Halperin said. “It’s not just a simple question about censorship. And the conversation about speech has been so poisoned by the book banning from the right, which means that we can’t have a nuanced conversation about what [materials] are appropriate for libraries to collect, what are appropriate collection development policies, what is appropriate for communities and what is useful for communities."

Ebook Services Are Bringing Unhinged Conspiracy Books into Public Libraries by Claire Woodcock (Vice)

[thespookylibrarian]

I’m at my local library today to do some school stuff and a new display caught my eye that I thought I’d share. It’s geared toward young adults and encourages them to write in the books! 

Seems like maybe these copies were going to be taken out of circulation, but instead they thought it would be fun to let the kids doodle in the margins, highlight bits they like, and otherwise share their thoughts in the pages so the next reader can see them. Very cool, would love to see other libraries try this out. 

[thespookylibrarian]

bro libraries are so fucking cool wth

they’re all so unique and specific to their communities

i know this may be kind of uhhhh obvious but really thinking about it like

man

amazing places