Book Club First Selection Pick....

I just started a book club, though the numbers are small, it's a start and I'm excited about it. Our first book will be Wench by By Dolen Perkins-Valdez, which provides a different take on the relationship between slaves and the master they serve. Click HERE to read a review of the book.

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.