Ponderare

This blog shall contain my reflections on the Masters of Library and Information Sciences program at Wayne State University, and on the profession itself. Within it shall contain multiple blog postings about various topics to encourage a deeper idea of librarianship, the library institution, and the essential part of a librarian within the community.

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Final Reflections

Final Reflections

     I have learned so much this semester from our readings, discussions, and projects, and each new thing I learn the more excited I become to continue on in this profession. I came into this class having worked in the public library field for several years, and knowledge about certain topics from extensive research I had conducted. I had a very good grasp of the Library Bill of Rights, and the Freedom to read Act. I knew about the different types of libraries and already a good insight into some of the cataloging systems we use. I feel upon the completion of this class I learned quite a bit, and yet not very much. The more I have learned the more I realize that librarianship is not just about customer service, programming, and readers advisory, but also considering the user and the user experience while using the library.

     I bring with me to my future (as well as my current) profession, my enthusiasm. Hands down my love for the library and the patrons who come to ask me questions shows greatly. I enjoy working with children, and I believe that my questions and ideas are relevant to the field. I believe that my natural curiosity is another bonus I bring when entering a professional environment. At my current place of employment I believe that these qualities have shone through. On an off note I also am extremely familiar with the dewy decimal system so I tend to not need to look up the location of items.

     I never thought that I would become a public librarian, let alone a children’s librarian. During my time at Southfield Public Library I dreaded my time shelving on the children’s floor; they were loud and noisy, and parents tended to not look after their children. All these feeling began to change the moment I was asked for the first time what book I would recommend. As I progressed further into the semester I found I tended to gravitate towards issues within the youth services librarian sphere. I liked to share my joy of reading with the youngsters that approached me. I enjoyed helping the youth librarians plan and implement their programs. In the end while I still find the field of Archives incredibly interesting, I feel that I can impact more people and children as a public youth librarian.

     I have known that the role of the librarian is not just to sit there and recommend books, but rather to also teach people and those of the younger generations, how to successfully use the library and all its resources. Librarians assist in making information easy and accessible to the community in which the serve. The library is also an essential piece of the community, people come there not only to read books, and pay extraordinary late fines, but to obtain important forms such as tax, and other necessities. People come to use the computers if they are not able to access one at home. The list goes on, and on. 

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Revisit Assumptions/Assertions about LIS

Revisit Assumptions/Assertions about LIS

     My assumptions have drastically changed from when I first started as an MLIS student in September, then I was aspiring to become a university archivist, or museum librarian/curator. I have since switched what I wish to do in my career, I now wish to focus my studies on youth librarianship and teen services, taking electives in cataloging, and scripting and advanced reference services (the last one I am not certain on, but I do believe that it would be quite interesting.) I enjoy working with archival documents and materials, but I believe that a certificate in youth services will better serve me during my career. I want to share my love for books and reading with the younger generations, making the library and reading a fun endeavor for kids. I am still immensely interested in the librarian as the censor, along with the ethics of our profession. I guess children’s librarianship has been what I was gravitating towards for a long time, I just never knew it. I think the librarians at my place of employment also have contributed to my decision. Seeing the joy, and fun they have with their jobs really motivates me to do the same.

     Regarding some of my other assumptions about LIS, I believe that many of them have stayed the same, I still know that Archiving positions are sparse, but so are youth services. These realizations have just made it even more apparent that I must be sure to make connections and network now. About the cataloging class I still think that it will be challenging, but the little that I have done already has been interesting. I currently have been just doing link cataloging, which barely scratches the surface, but I have found it enjoyable thus far. I think I like the challenge of finding that perfect niche for something. I also love and hate the vast variety of ways to catalog. 

     When completing the team blog assignment I was able to delve deeper into the issues that revolve around publishing, e-books, and copyright. These are very prevalent to the profession now, for the public library especially. Should there be a limit to the number of people that can check out one e-book before a new one must be purchased? Since the court decided in the favor of Google and their recently closed case, accessibility and equal access to materials have also opened up.

     From my colleagues I have learned much, we have been able to discuss many topics that are the center of the library science profession. Where I once did not give much thought to the cds that people checkout and burn, I now know much. I have also learned significantly more about privacy, about flash drives, and similar items. 

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Blogging About Professional Blogs

Blogging about Professional Blogs

Awful Library Books

Weeding

     This blog centers on the act of weeding a library’s collection and why it is extremely important to do. As these women state, “weeding is necessary to remain relevant to our users and true to our missions. They include materials that other librarians from around the world have submitted, and discuss why it might be a good idea to discard it from the collection, they also give insights to a possible new home for some of these items. I think one of the most important things to note from this blog is that no matter the content, libraries must follow their mission when selecting whether or not to keep items that have been weeded. Another important aspect of this blog is that it offers up pieces of the librarian’s role to the public, in an interesting and humorous way. It is just funny to see items that are found in a library’s collection. For example, one person found a book in their collection entitled The Beginner’s Guide to Animal Autopsy which was found in the children’s nonfiction section (Hibner, 2013).

     Another topic that they cover is entitled Condition/Processing Fail. Here they offer up instances where barcode stickers were placed in unfortunate places, covering up letters in a title, such as in this instance, (Hibner, 4/27/12). They also show books that were damaged by patrons for example the post entitled “When bad things happen to innocent library books”. I think that this is particularly interesting because it displays the things that actually happen to library books sometimes. I know I have had multiple instances where I have found food smashed in the middle of a beautiful reference book, or people try to return items they dropped in the toilet. Maybe by showing some of these things to the general public, they might think twice before taking a library book into the bathroom with them (Hibner, 4/11/13).

Swiss Army Librarian

     This library offers a section entitled “Reference Question of the Week”. Here he discusses the different instances or weird occurrences that happen while he is on desk. Here is one idea that I don’t know if I would have thought of. A patron came in asking if there were any slide projectors that the library had for public use. The answer was no, but the librarian thought of a great alternative, put them under a microfilm reader. Well the experiment worked and the patron was then able to look at old photos that she hadn’t seen in years (Herzog, 11-23-2013).

     Another interesting blog entry that this person has posted involves the differences between a librarian, and the librarian department head. He goes though and lists the things that make the first job so very different from the second. The differences between the two positions boils down to “the laundry list of least-fun things to do about the job: paperwork, staff management, and more meetings” (Herzog, 11-14-2013).

     From both these blogs I was able to learn quite a bit. First off the Swiss Army Librarian writes an a number of topics, but the ones that I was most interested in were the ones about different positions within the library itself. It was immensely helpful to learn about the different types of jobs from a person who seems to have done it all. He also offered assistance when a person wrote to him about what to generally expect during an interview for specific positions. I shall keep that stored away for future use most defiantly. From the Awful Library Books page I was able to learn a little more about weeding, and collection development.  

References

Herzog, B., (11-14-2-13). Differences between Librarian and Department Head. Retrieved from www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2013/11/14/differences-between-librarian-and-department-head/

Herzog, B., (11-23-2013). Reference Question of the Week -11-17-13. Retrieved from www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2013/11/23/reference-question-of-the-week-111713/

Hibner, H., (4-27-2012). Bad Labeling/Friday Fiction: The Grape Thief. Retrieved from awfullibrarybooks.net/bad-labelingfriday-fiction-the-grape-thief/

Hibner, H., (4-11-2013). When Bad Things Happen to Innocent Library Books. Retrieved from awfullibrarybooks.net/damage-and-mold/

Hibner, H., (10-7-2013). Serial Killer Training Manual. Retrieved from awfullibrarybooks.net/serial-killer-training-manual/

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Banned Books Week, The Family Book by Todd Parr

Banned Books Week Extra Credit The Family Book by Todd Parr

     Todd Parr’s picture book entitled The Family Book has seen its fair share of challenges. The contesting reason given for its ban? “because of a line that reads, “’some families have two moms or two dads.”’ (Doyle, 4). This book was written to help children understand tolerance, diversity, and bullying is now being removed from the curriculum because of this one page. It was donated to the schools by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), along with other materials as well. The Illinois Erie elementary school district decided to not only ban this title from their collection, but also everything that was “furnished” by the GLSEN, which included learning materials and programs aimed at preventing bullying (Doyle, 7).

     There were several factors in my choice to read this book for banned books week. The first, involved the fact that I never really considered the implications of banning a picture book before. Banning a picture book actually might be worse than banning a novel in some instances. A picture book is something that we are introduced to when we are first learning how to read, the lessons and stories that we are exposed to stay with you all your life. I still remember that you should never stand on a swivel chair from Officer Buckle and Gloria and I still remember one of my favorites Thank you Mr. Falker. I remember learning from this book that you should never just stay quiet about something, especially if you don’t understand the material you are presented with.

     That being said, it is incredibly disappointing but not all together surprising to hear that people cannot even tolerate the idea of “some families have two moms or two dads” (Parr, 15). I am not a parent, but one would think that they would want their children to be ready for all the world throws at them. People are different, their cultures are different, and their languages are different; why not prepare your children for that rather than sheltering them from these differences?

  References

Doyle, R., (2013). Books Challenged or Banned 2012-2013. Retrieved        from www.ila.org/BannedBooks/BBW_2012-2013_Shortlist.pdf

Parr, T., (2003). The Family Book. New York: Little Brown and Company.

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Comparative Analysis of Professional Journals

Comparative Analysis of Professional Journals

The Horn Book Magazine

A)     Intended audience(s)

Children’s librarians, teachers, Teen Librarians, publishers, authors, critics, scholars, Library science students, parents, Childcare facilities,

The intended audience for the Horn Book is

B)      Kinds of materials it publishes

The Horn Book Magazine, blogs, interviews, The Horn Book Guide; which discusses targeted issues and subjects within the library science field.

C)      Whether the journal is peer-reviewed or not (why is this of importance?)

Yes, it has both principal reviews, and guest reviewers. Receiving this kind of input is incredibly important because it displays to your readers that this magazine is not just a bunch of one sided views in concern towards literature, but rather a well-researched magazine full of ideas that span far and wide.

D)     Any characteristics you find of particular interest in light of your own professional goals or in relation to this course.

This publication is going to be very useful to me in my future career path choice. The Horn Book Magazine offers reviews and commentary among children’s literature authorities. I have been slowly sifting through the issues we have at work while there are no patrons. I find it fascinating and very interesting.

Art Libraries Journal

A)     Intended audience(s)

This publication is intended for those who are in the field of Art Librarianship, Curators, Archivists, Museums, Architects, Art Historians, Audio Visual Librarians, Catalogers, and the Library community in general.  

B)      Kinds of materials it publishes

This journal publishes Art Researchers’ Guide to Dublin, Art Researchers’ Guide to Edinburgh, Art Researchers’ Guide to Leeds, All this Stuff: Archiving the Artist, Displays and Exhibitions in Art Libraries, First Steps in Archives: A Practical Guide, Art Exhibition Documentation in Libraries: Cataloguing Guidelines, Artists’ Books: A Cataloguers’ Manual.

C)      Whether the journal is peer-reviewed or not (why is this of importance?)

Yes, this journal is peer-reviewed. This is important because this allows them to get ideas and feedback from their subscribers. It is also an important practice because a singular way of thinking is not always the best route to take.

D)     Any characteristics you find of particular interest in light of your own professional goals or in relation to this course

     I would really like to read their Artists’ Books: A Cataloguers’ Manual. I feel that it would be incredibly interesting to see the particular specifications that are used when cataloging items designated to an Art Library.

Important Similarities? Important differences? What do these similarities and differences tell you about the LIS field?

     Both the Horn Book Magazine, and the Art Libraries Journal offer well researched, and reviewed content, allowing people within their targeted professions to learn more about their topic. Both also offer subsidiary subscriptions in conjunction with their major publication. Both publications are created with a targeted audience in mind, and generally do not stray from theirs. Both also offer an employment page where their readers can seek jobs within the profession.

     One of the biggest differences between these two publications is the content, and intended audience. The job pages on each website are also different, the Art Librarians Journal offers a wide array of places that are currently hiring whereas the Horn Book Magazine only offers for their publication alone. Another big difference happens to be the span of information that is offered through these publications, the Art Librarians Journal offers a small focused subject area, whereas the Horn Book Magazine offers information from publication to choosing a book for reading lists and story times. There is some overlap in intended audience, but I feel that the Horn Book Magazine is more versatile and encompasses a larger group than just for children’s librarians and teachers.

     These similarities and differences tell me that the Library and Information Science filed is all encompassing. We have the focused journals like the Art Librarians Journal, as well as publications such as the Horn Book Magazine. This also displays the wide array of topics that are covered in our field. We have general subject guides in the non-fiction area, and then specific types of dung beetle that can be found on this planet. 

References

Art Libraries Journal (2013). Retrieved from http://www.arlis.org.uk/index.php

Horn Book Magazine., (2013). Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com/

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Mid-Semester Analysis and Reflections

Mid-Semester Analysis and Reflections

     During out discussions we were able to explore many different topics involving the field of Library and Information Science. My posts from our discussion boards usually consists of the topic that we are discussing, such as during the think tank activity #3 I wrote about the library as a disaster center. I also discussed in this particular post about how in becoming that disaster center, the library is becoming an essential part of the community. In their eyes the library becomes an area where they know they can go to in the event of disaster. I believe that the nature of my posts has not really changed all that much. I have been (or would like to think that I have been anyway) thoughtful with my contributions to our discussions in class and in the online discussion boards.

     I have noticed that I have learned to listen more to my peer’s ideas, rather than just blabber my own. At the beginning of the semester I was always trying to say my two cents. I was and still am interested in the ethical debates we were having. I know that we will face instances like this during our careers. I know I will run across staff who try to place their own morals and beliefs upon either patrons or other staff members. I like the thought generating questions that we were asked to create. I personally am never able to think of a creditable answer if I am caught by surprise, so discussing these topics and getting other student’s feedback was extremely helpful. Thus discussions about ethical procedures are always worth another glance or even two.

     I enjoyed getting to display my thoughts through script rather than straight verbal. I also feel that in writing and discussing these things, it allows us to truly sit down and think about the situations or scenarios which we are discussing.

     During the second half of the semester I see myself learning to listen to people better rather than just blab whatever is on my mind without thinking about it. Well at least I hope this will be the case. 

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Job Analysis Part Two

Job Analysis Part two

     To obtain the position of History Liaison Librarian at George Mason University I need to first complete my MLIS degree from Wayne State University, in conjunction to obtaining my MLIS I would also need to receive an Archives and Record Management certificate. It also might be a good idea for me to dual-enroll in the history Master’s program that Wayne also offers, and maybe get my youth and teen services certificate later on after I have gotten my MLIS. I would also make sure while I was a student to make myself known in the field; by involving myself in the Society of American Archivists, and other applicable societies as well.

     After receiving my two master’s degrees I would then be ready to start looking for positions in the Archiving field. As I made my way through my first fletching years as an Archivist I would continue to volunteer and contribute to the conferences and other events held by the societies that I belong to. The next step after I feel I have gained more than sufficient experience to apply for this job I will begin to apply.

The skills and knowledge necessary to perform this job include but are not limited to: knowledge about print and electronic collections, specifically in the field of history, persistence in keeping up to date on current and impending technologies for learning and research in history, possess impeccable researching abilities, and enjoy conducting research, and the ability to teach and discuss these abilities with others, the ability to integrate library resources into history curricula and research projects, maintain relationships with the history department. The person who applies for this position must possess the indefectible ability to affectively and effectively communicate with his or her fellow colleges, students and others they meet while holding this position. The person selected must also possess the ability to effectively communicate in speech and writing.

     As of today, I possess several of these capabilities that are required for this job. I possess the ability to effectively communicate my thoughts and opinions to my fellow colleagues, and associates through speech and text. I also retain the aptitude for research, and I enjoy doing it as well. I know that as my studies progress I will gain the skills and knowledge in regards towards electronic and digital collections. These things will come with time, and experience.

     I still feel that the goals I set at the beginning of this semester are still the way in which I will be continuing on in my education. While the history liaison would be extremely interesting and amazing, I feel that first completing my MLIS, then going back to obtain first my undergraduate degree in history, and then getting another Master’s degree is a little far-fetched, and would take much too long, and accumulate too much debt to allow me to pursue this plan. 

References

George Mason University. (2013). History Liaison Librarian. Retrieved from https://jobs.gmu.edu/postings/31903.

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Job Analysis Part One

Job Analysis 1

     During my research for this blog post I came across a listing for employment at George Mason University for History Liaison Librarian. This has to be one of the coolest jobs I have come across in my search. Not only does the job let you work with electronic collections in history, but it requires you to do research! If I have not made it apparent as of yet, I am a research junkie, as a friend has so blatantly put it. When tasked to write research papers during my time as an undergraduate I found that I was really, really good at finding articles and other primary sources, in fact my English and History major friends usually asked me to help them in their quest. The fact that I can continue to find new and creative ways of searching for items is extremely exciting. This job sounds absolutely perfect for me, it almost feels as if I should be the one paying them to work there.

     This position requires the applicant to possess an ALA-accredited MLS or ALA-recognized foreign equivalent, and an undergraduate degree in history or equivalent training and experience. While I do not possess a history undergraduate degree, I can easily go back and obtain one; I minored in history and only have 12 or 15 more credits to go to obtain it. A second Master’s degree in a subject relevant to the position is also preferred.

     Taking a position like this or similar to this would defiantly be a step towards working in an academic library as their archivist, or maybe it is a step above that. Yes I would say that this job is a step up from just being an archivist.

     A second job that has caught my attention is a cataloging position at Missouri Western State University. Cataloging has always fascinated me. I really enjoy the hunt to define something; to organize it, and make it easier for someone to access or find. Database researchers are really only as good as the catalogers who have created the system. I find the little nuances complicated, but at the same time challenging. This position requires a Master’s degree in Library Science or its equivalent from a foreign country, and one year prior experience of professional technical library experience. I guess I like the uniformity and yet extremely different ways you can catalog something. Just as in a grocery store one may put the crackers with the snacks, or with the bread. So many different ways of making a box of crackers accessible to many. I like the challenge of finding the perfect niche for the item I am holding in my hands. 

References

George Mason University. (2013). History Liaison Librarian. Retrieved from https://jobs.gmu.edu/postings/31903. 

Missouri Western State University. (2013) Assistant Cataloging     Librarian. Retrieved from www.missouriwestern.edu/hr/adminprof.asp

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Professional Organizations

     There are several LIS professional associations that I believe fit my personal and professional interests, but I believe that the American Library Association (ALA), and the Michigan Library Association (MLA) are the two that will be the most beneficial to join.

     The American Library Association is a national association of library and information science, and can in some ways be considered one of the leading associations in the United States. The purpose of the ALA as stated on their website is “The object of the American Library Association shall be to promote library services and librarianship”(ALA statement of purpose). Their mission “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” (ALA mission statement).

     There are several different types of membership in the ALA there first is the ALA personal membership, the join membership with participating chapters, organizational memberships, corporate memberships, divisional memberships, and round table dues. Each different membership comes with different dues. Under the personal membership there are: Regular, Non-salaried or unemployed regular, Student, Library Support staff, retired, trustee, friend, international, associate, life, and continuing members. The joint membership program offers students, library support staff, and trustees to join ALA and your state library association for a combined rate, unfortunately Michigan does not offer this. Organizational memberships are broken down into very small, small, medium, large, and very large these classifications are decided upon by population size. Corporate members are outside corporations who wish to be advocates for libraries and librarians.

     The benefits of belonging to ALA as a personal type are access to a wide array of periodicals and publications, numerous resources such as advocacy tutorial webinars, discounts to conferences, and other higher education, access to important ideas and insights, awards, scholarships, and grants, along with many different things. The student price is lower than the regular member price but has all the same resources. The student membership is only available to individuals who are enrolled in an ALA accredited program, and is limited to five years.  They publish the American Libraries Magazine, booklist, and the ALA award and notable seals.

      The Michigan Library Association is the second association that I believe most fits my personal interests and goals. The Michigan Library Association’s mission statements are Access to Information “MLA values free and open access to information and skilled professional assistance in information retrieval and research while protecting an individual’s right to privacy”. Professionalism “MLA values the advancement of well-informed and well-trained library professionals through quality professional development”. Sharing “MLA is a forum for collaboration, and partnerships cultivating cutting-edge ideas and awareness of best practices in an open and supportive culture”. Leadership “MLA provides leadership and empowers members to promote libraries as a powerful united presence that is civically engaged and socially active to provide for the sustained stewardship of informational, financial, and community resources”. Sustainability “MLA’s membership is comprised of more than 1,500 individual and organization member from public, academic, private, and special libraries. MLA serves all library professionals and their supporters” (MLA mission statements).

     As a member of MLA Organizational membership benefits include: statewide advocacy for librarians and library professionals, financial incentives/member discounts, professional development, current information and library trends, statewide networking and collaboration. Individual membership benefits include: statewide support for libraries and library professionals, professional development, statewide networking and collaboration, current information and library trends, member discounts and leadership and career advancement. MLA also offers student and regular memberships under the individual category.

     I would, (and have) chosen to join ALA because I believe that its membership will take me the farthest out of many of the associations. ALA encompasses many of the libraries in America, and offers the most opportunities. I have chosen to join the Michigan Library Association because it directly relates to the area in which I wish to work. Joining this association is a basic for an individual pursuing Librarianship in the state. The issues that are addressed are directly related to the ones that I will be, and am currently facing at my place of employment.

References

American Library Association. (2013). Mission Statement. Retrieved from www.ala.org/aboutala/

Michigan Library Association. (2013). Mission Statement. Retrieved from www.mla.lib.mi.us/about

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Personal Goals/Objections For Your Studies

Personal Goals/Objections For Your Studies

     There are many, many things I wish to accomplish as a Library and Information Professional. There are two places that I wish to one-day hold a position at: the National Archives and/or the Library of Congress.  These two places are the pinnacle of the library and information profession. It would be an extreme honor to work for both these institutions. The Library of Congress holds a spectacular collection with even a copy of Galileo’s Starry Messenger and a first edition of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. To have the chance to hold pieces of history in my own hands, and assist in its preservation would be absolutely spectacular. The opportunity to make these fragments of history accessible to not just scholars, but also everyone is what I strive for.

     I have decided to pursue a certificate in Public Services to Children and Young Adults, and then go back after I have a full time job to complete the Archival certificate. With these two certificates I will open myself up to more opportunities within both the public library as well as the academic. My more realistic dream job would be to work in a university archives. In a position such as this I would have more resources at my disposal, with a larger collection, universities tend to hold many unpublished documents that I wish to make accessible to all. I would also enjoy working in a historical society such as Meadowbrook or Cranbrook Educational Community. I think one of the careers I would enjoy the most though, would be working in a museum or archive working with artifacts personal correspondence, diaries and rare books.

     Library science has been the career that I wanted to pursue ever since high school. The profession just seemed to fit; not only am I an avid reader, and enjoy discussing literature, but these reasons were not my sole purpose for choosing to embark on this program. When I was in elementary school the Harry Potter books had just started to be released, and I, as and my brother, had our very own copies. I remember sitting down at school one day reading of Harry’s very first adventure. I was enjoying the thought of flying through the air on a magical motorcycle, only to feel the piercing gaze of the girl next to me. I sighed the big dramatic sigh of the prepubescent, and looked over at her. Katie’s—I believe here name was—eyes followed the book when I placed it down. She opened her mouth and said the most preposterous thing I had ever heard, “Magic isn’t real,” she said, “and it goes against GOD’s teachings to read it.” That statement floored me, I opened my mouth after a few moments of stunned silence and retorted, “It’s fiction you nincompoop, of course the story is not real, it came from inside the author’s head.”  Of course the teacher heard my part of the exchange and sent me to the principal’s office. I didn’t know then, but that was my first recollected encounter with censorship. I had several friends whose parents would not let them read the book for similar reasons—It contained the word “hell”, Harry and his friends “break the rules, and defy adults”—reasons like that. In fact, during sixth grade parents on the PTA tried to deny discourage the book’s presence. It never got anywhere and the idea was quickly shot down, but the fact remains, that it was attempted. I remember one of the school librarians telling me once that they could not display certain books because of their content.  I do not want to deny anyone the right to read what he or she chooses to read. I want to impart my love for and enjoyment of reading to others, young or old. I want to share my love for reading and literature with as many as I can. 

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Introduction

     Hello, my name is Emily. I received my undergraduate degree from Grand Valley State University in English Language and Literature last December, and I am now a graduate student at Wayne State University School of Library and Information Sciences. This blog shall possess posts about my personal goals, objections for my studies as a LIS student, my professional associations, two job analysis’, reflections, an analysis of professional journals, and several other topics all designated to deepen my understanding of the LIS program and the profession of librarianship as well.

     When I initially applied to Wayne State University I thought that obtaining a certificate in Archival Administration was what I wanted to do, but now I believe that I would also like to receive a certificate to be a children’s librarian as well. I am gravitating towards the field of archives because of my work at Grand Valley State University Archives. There I worked with the Head Archivist Nancy Richard, and was able to work on a project involving letters of a WWI soldier to his friends and family back home. To say the least I got very attached to Private McColl. When Grand Valley first obtained the letters during the eighties some were typed up using a typewriter, but this typist was not concerned about the preservation of the original spelling, and grammar; and thus essentially “edited” the entire letter to fit Standard English. At first it was difficult to read these hand written letters and comparing them side by side with some of the typed versions was also difficult. I ran into the dilemma of preservation of the original text, and the newer versions that also had become part of the collection themselves, for these “edited” versions were now part of the letters historical significance as well.

     I discovered my interest in children’s librarianship during my last semester of undergraduate study in my capstone class. The major assignment for us to complete was a semester long thesis. We could decide to do this paper on any topic that we wanted, as long as it was within the parameters of English. I chose to do my thesis on censorship of children’s literature, specifically looking at three series that influenced my love for books and reading as a child; The Wizard of Oz series, by Frank Baum, the Nancy Drew mystery series written under the pseudo name Carolyn Keene, and one of the most censored/attempted censored books of our time, the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. I also delved into the history of censorship, dating back to the librarian as the censor, to the shift of the parent/school now attempting to censor these books. I enjoyed the research (which is evident in the piles of articles and other sources that I found, which are continuing to grow and develop even now. I focused on the argument that censorship is too simple of an argument; it discourages people from reading, and the act itself.

     The assumptions that I hold about the LIS program vary. I know that Archiving positions are difficult to obtain, because of the outpouring of students from both Wayne and the University of Michigan. I know that I will likely have to go out of state for more employment opportunities. On the other hand, the little that I have done is so interesting and fun! Co-workers have also informed me that the cataloging class is difficult, regardless I look forward to it, and I expect the classes to be as intriguing and interesting as 6010 has been so far. This profession is particularly exciting because of all the changes occurring with digital records, and audio books along with so many other things as well. 

[ellisonea]

"A room without books is like a body without a soul."

Cicero (Attributed)