75 Books for 2011 Challenge

I have decided to participate in the 75 books for 2011 Challenge on LibraryThing. This year alone I have read about 50 books so far and that not even starting at the beginning of the year. I am sure I could do one the 100 book challenges as well. This looks to be an interesting quest. I wonder what book one will be?

The Right Choice

So, I've doing the reference thing for a couple of weeks now, and I'm still not certain this is for me or not. I feel like that with being a librarian as a whole, and I'm full of doubts about my self in this profession. There are several times I think did I do the right thing by getting a second degree, giving up my jobs and starting back over again. When I made the decision to go back to school, I guess I wasn't thinking about how hard it was for me to find a job after I graduated from undergrad. Now, I wish I had thought about it more as the rejections keep rolling in and I have to content myself working two part-time jobs with the oddest hours and no time to do much of anything.

Work Day 4

This is my fourth day on the job and I feel a little better about my situation. I had checked out the book "Conducting the Reference Interview" by Catherine Ross and was talking about looking through that, however my supervisor  said that it would be a little bit more in depth than what I'd be doing at the desk. He told me when he first started as a reference librarian, his supervisor at the time did not feel the need to bombard him loads of literature on doing reference. He said she just put him at the desk and told him to do reference. Of course, she would correct him when he was wrong. So, basically the same will apply to me. Its nice to not have to come in and not be expected to be a reference librarian. I feel slightly less stupid.

Out of my Element

Today was my third day as a Reference Librarian and I feel so dumb. I had a patron ask for books on horse slaughtering, and I do not believe I was successful in answering her question. I know I'm still learning and performing reference interviews will become better for me. In class, I remember we had to conduct a reference interview from the patrons standpoint, however being on the other side is whole different ball game. Though I feel completely stupid at this moment, I know library school provided me with the tools to do this. My task now is how figure a way that works for me. On a happier note, I get my own section to order for and its the arts section(760-799), though I do wish I had taken a collection development class but my inexperience could help or hurt me.

Officially a Professional Librarian!

This past Wednesday, I became a Reference Librarian at my local library in Tuscaloosa. It is only part time, so I still have my night job at the University. I never thought about being a Reference Librarian, I focused more on archives, museums, and youth services. I did do well in my reference class, though. I know I can do this, just still wrapping my mind around the idea. At the moment, nothing extremely hard has come up and I've been able to help people find material. I have a feeling that everybody is going to train me, so soon all the things I need to know will be filtered, and filed properly into my fuzzy head. Who knows I may come to love reference work.

Down to one

My last day at one of my part-time jobs is today. It was a temporary position that was supposed to be extended if I needed it but the person that said I could do that resigned a month ago. So, that leaves me with one part-time job, which is better than nothing. However, it is not enough being that I have lots of bills to pay and after the government cuts me not much is left. I am on the job hunt still, and I know that everything will be fine eventually. I am trying to remain positive but sometimes it 's just so hard to smile when I'm crying on the inside.

Job Hunting Sucks!!

I am still seeking employment as the rejections letters, emails, postcards and phone calls keep coming in. Job outlook to me, not so great. The killing part, loads of library jobs out there...the problem the required qualifications. I have 10+ years of library experience in a variety of library setting, however these jobs are not considered as professional library experience. So, what am I supposed to do, well work two part-time jobs as apparently I'm qualified to do that. If I had known that I would end up back where I started, well worse off than I started I would have just kept my full time and part-time job as a non-librarian. Why? because now I'm working one job that's okay and one that like really people, its not that deep, you don't pay me enough for this. I'm just irritated with all this because I don't want to just go through the same cycle, work, sleep, work, sleep. I want to live life,one excellent paying job and happiness at least some. I want to cease to exist but live.

Strangest Interview

Okay, so in my previous post I discussed how strange the interview was, in reflection I believe he had no intention of hiring me. Why? because he didn't ask any questions, and basically said I didn't have the qualifications for the job, but since it was being made entry-level expectations were low. When I asked what skills I needed to be successful in the job, he just shrugged his shoulders. I understand that this is new thing he is doing, however all employers have an idea of what they want someone to be able to do. Remember, I said he talked the entire time, so he went on to say that he doesn't discriminate by race, sex, and stuff. However, he preceded to give me an example of how he wasn't racist because he does this competition with these guys who happen to be black. I thought this odd, and so did a few of my friends. Anyway, I didn't get the job but they want to maintain my application for future employment, whatever.

Welcome to my world!

Hello all, I am a recent graduate of the University of Alabama and welcome you on my endeavor to find a job as a librarian.Currently, I am working two part-time jobs in an academic and public library setting and I am exhausted. I wonder if by the time I do get a job in my profession that I will be completely burned out. I had an interview last Friday for a job working entry-level and the interviewer asked if I was okay working with someone who made 25,000 bucks more than me. I said sure because realistically I have to get my foot in the door somewhere, and I know I'll have to work my butt off to get a chance at other opportunities. So, the interview was interesting in that I didn't have to talk much at all, the Director talked the entire hour and a half. At the close of the interview I was asked questions like my favorite color, what kind of pets do I like, what sport do I like to watch and other things. I thought this was odd but he had his reasons why he asked the questions, he said it was to make sure people were matched with similar personalities. I forgot one of the first questions asked was am I okay working with a Tennessee fan. Hmmm, YES! I need a job, so who you cheer for doesn't matter, though I'm ROLL TIDE all the way. I had more to say in this blog post, however I lost my train of thought from all the screaming children in the library today, as I patiently wait for the ones that need homework help.

Book Review:Insatiable by Meg Cabot

This book took me longer to read than usual.Why? It was boring, and basically I made myself finish it because I wanted to see how the love triangle would end between the main characters, of course I was left unsatisfied. What I believe will happen as with everything I've been reading lately that this will be a series, which I will be conflicted to read. Should I continue or not? It was 200 pages in before the pace started to pick up.This book for me seemed like just every other vampire book and parts of it seemed like Trueblood. The main character Meena is psychic, with the ability to see when people die, Sookie can read thoughts, the brother in the book is not very high on the intellectual skills, same in Trueblood. The male love interests both want her for her ability for whatever reason, same with Sookie. Now this show is not the only thing that this book made me think about while I was reading, in Bram Stokers' Dracula the main characters name was..you guessed it Mina. Overall, if you can get past the beginning of the book is okay...the only other book by this author I've listened to was Jinx.With so many people on the vampire writing bandwagon lately, it really needs a original twist to be different and captivating? Otherwise,can you say overkill.

Still job hunting

I received another rejection email, amazing I am not qualified enough. I'm okay about it though, its just so tiresome this whole process. My part-time job is temporary till the end of September, so that gives me two months to get a full time job.

Uncertainty

Before I made the decision to go to library school, I was working two jobs just to make it. I was a full time Library Associate at a public library and a part time night supervisor at an academic library. I was making good money, but I was unhappy having to work so much just make ends meet and to top it off there was no room to grow in either position. So, I had a huge choice to make stay in my current state or change my status. Of course I chose school as I wanted to put myself in a better position to move further in my life. There are times when I question myself about my recent choices as I live at home with my grandparents, well grandparent since my Nana passed a couple months ago. I have many bills to pay and am working part-time temporarily, which is not enough to do much. I have wonderful friends and family that help with food sometimes but mostly I just make it day by day.It's tough, and you learn how strong you really are in times like these. I am trying to remain faithful and trust that things will be fine, however the majority of the jobs that I see on the job boards are academic positions and they take forever to go through the application process and for someone in my situation I need a job now before I have to start back paying loans. I am now back where I started in 2004 when I got my Bachelors (just more qualified or too qualified for some jobs) and it took me six months to get a job, well actually two jobs. I sit here thinking about what happens next and my future as a Librarian somewhere.

It's been awhile, but I'm still here

Since graduation in May I have been working part-time temporarily at my old job. In that time I have read about 20 or more books, I know greedy for books. I must say that school kept me pretty busy and away from the pleasures of reading, but so many books and I have nothing but time now. The job hunt is going slowly as I had to make sure my resume was professional and all, which took forever as I dragged my butt doing it. It was more so that I was so burned out on the experience of it all and I also lost someone I loved a month before graduation, my grandma. Needless to say many emotions and exhaustion all came crashing down on me at once. Yet, I'm still here not a hopeless librarian, WOW! I'm a librarian, but one with big dreams.

Book Review: Mare's War

Davis, Tanita S. Mare’s War. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. 341pp. Ages 11-17

Mare is not your ordinary grandmother. She doesn’t sew or knit. She wears stiletto heels, drives a flashy red sports car, and believes she is too young to be called Grandma. Ocatavia and Tali have the opportunity to spend their summer getting to know the grandmother they never knew, yet neither is thrilled about the idea. Tali had planned to spend her summer saving money for a car. Octavia hoped to hang with her friends. However, Mare has other ideas, such as driving from California to Bay Slough, Alabama, for a family reunion. The journey will be one they never forget as Mare tells stories about her time in the Women’s Army during World War II. Wittingly charming and hilariously intriguing, this book’s storytelling style will grab tween and teen's attention until the very end.

Book Review: After

Efaw, Amy. After. New York: Viking, 2009. 350pp. Ages 14-18

Devon is determined, driven, and pregnant at fifteen. She has everything going for her until she is arrested for the attempted murder of her child. Devon has blocked out her pregnancy, as she is unable to face the reality of what has happened. She begins to withdraw from everyone and everything she loves. Even after she has the baby and dumps it in the trash, she remains in denial of her pregnancy and murder. However, as memories of that night come to light, does Devon really know what she did? The front cover of the book displays a reflection of the truth that Devon hides from herself. Teens will likely find the book topic vividly realistic and appealing, as they are drawn into the mind of Devon from beginning to end.

Book Review: Almost Perfect

Katcher, Brian. Almost Perfect. New York: Delacorte Press, 2009. 360pp. Ages 14-18

Sage has a secret. Logan has a problem. He is still in love with his ex-girlfriend Brenda even though she cheated on him; Logan hopes Brenda will come back to him. Sage is the new girl in school, strangely beautiful and the perfect girl to help Logan get over his feelings for Brenda. Logan is instantly drawn to Sage, but she is not allowed to date, so they decide to be friends. The chemistry between Logan and Sage becomes too much when they kiss and Sage reveals her secret. She is a boy. Struggling to come to terms with this revelation as his world gets turned inside out, Logan’s strength and understanding is tested. Witty and heartfelt, this is a must read for any teen coming to terms with their sexual identity or the acceptance of others.

Internship Day 3

I learned how to archive maps today. Jason, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens(BBG) Library Archivist showed me how to clean and repair maps of the gardens. We used this funny looking sponge and shavings, which I was told are just ground up erasers. I removed tacky stuff with this neat little rubber cement eraser. I also got to play with this really expensive tape to fix the tears in the maps. All the maps today were of the Japanese Gardens, that I have yet to see, but it looks pretty on paper.

BBG Internship

So, today I got listen in on a conference call about the possibility of using Alabama Mosaic to digitize scrapbooks and other materials in the Archives. I had to assist in measuring these books as the vary in sizes, the biggest was about 20 by 25, and this was to help Hope and Jason decide on scanning equipment for this project. I found out about a special that I will get to work on while Christopher and Jason work the maps, I get to photograph the Japanese artifacts and fossils in the Archives room. Jason purchased this little photo studio in a box, which I thought in my head "That's it, you paid how much for this", but it will work I guess.

What's up on my reading?

I am currently reading the Mortal Instruments series book one City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, and I must say so far I like it. I am awaiting the final book in the Hunger Games series, and trying to incorporate some adult fiction into my life again. Just finished Blood Game by Iris Johansen, the Eve Duncan series, which I love, love.I like mystery, suspense, and romance novels. However, I like Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series about the fairies, take note though these are some hot books. I have a trunk full of books that I intend to read.

2010 Census

So my project for this semester as an GTA in Government Documents is to locate events that we can participate in or host in Tuscaloosa or on campus. This event would need to increase awareness about the Census as well as encourage participation amongst the students and the community. I also have to create a libguide containing Census information. I have no idea what to do, though I'm sure my brain will click eventually, and everything will fall into place.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

I get to intern at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham this semester. I am excited about discovering if special librarianship is the direction I want to go. I will possibly get to do some archiving work in the rare books section, which is really cool because the library may start digitizing the archive collection. I am thrilled because I'm interested in photography and learning as much as I can about that. Ms. Hope Long is my supervisor and she asked me what I wanted to do with the internship and I really don't know what I want to focus on. I try not to limit myself because there is so much I like to do and I want to learn every aspect as I can, mostly because I'm in a field where anything is possible.

Shadowland

This is book three in the Immortals series and I find myself becoming annoyed with the main character Ever, she is so impatient. Ever reminded me of how in the Twilight series, which I like, Bella worked my nerves too, yet I will patiently wait for the next installment to see how Ever grows.

Spring Semester

I have a full load this semester. A job working in Hoole Special Collections, my assistantship in Gov. Docs. and an internship at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Along with these, I'm taking three courses,and have organization stuff to attend to as well. I am once again a BUSY BEE!!!