Hey friend/ colleague in the information science industry. How are you? It is the beginning of a new year and with its arrival I have redoubled my efforts to be as productive as possible with whatever projects I am given in the Library. Academia is a bit different from what I’m used to but now that I am also a year and a half into this sector of librarianship, I’ve reached a nexus where I can show competence when given topical assignments and projects. Confidence is building but its a a work in progress. And comes and Goes as it pleases (Its downloading surely right?)
Previously in the Public library, projects were typically events that needed an audience. So the planning around the aforementioned events always had the patron in mind and how they would receive and percieve library resources and the space as an entity. In the college/University world, the projects are only sometimes events and the rest of the focus is on internal workings and upgrading workflows continually providing an experience for students and faculty, that increases their ability to pursue meaningful actualization while a part of the college.
I have been selected for a new project where i can assist in creating ways for faculty to implement a commonly read book into their curriculum. What this looks like for me (even though the real planning hasnt started) is collaborating with my co workers who have experience in this area, identifying the purpose of the lessons, and creating the stuff. So essentially its lesson development but for faculty (Am I an overqualified teaching assistant? Ha really don’t mind I’m happy to be here). After the initial structure of the material is complete the faculty will implement it as they see fit for stakeholders that are reading the common book.
Now mind you reader, I was excited about this because I did spend a little bit of time as an education student while in undergrad (unfortunately i grew out the desire to grade papers). Still during that very brief period in undergrad i had only designed a few lesson plans.
If we take my experience in the public library, often researching and sometimes designing STEM and Art programs for youth, it is similar to a lesson plan but the outcome is fundamentally different. The experience in the public library was about creativity and introduction to different concepts for a particular age range (18 and under). It was also about having fun while learning.
In the college atmosphere it may be more for critical thinking and exploration of the self. This isn’t to say that critical thinking and fun while learning are mutually exclusive but the aim cannot be so fun that the deeper conversation becomes impeded by the activity.
That was a mouthful.
So, Where are we now? Currently we have not selected the book that the lessons will be based on so things are somewhat in limbo. But they are progressing. Slowly. Very slowly.
As I’m writing this I’m hoping to prioritize building at least a tolerable familiarity with what is most useful to faculty for teaching. I also need to identify the best uses for each independent school at the college. There’s ways to go about researching this, but I’ll probably just talk to faculty in the meetings and see what they say.
I don’t have a say in what book gets selected, I am merely the “Poindexter” (hopefully like C.C. Poindexter) that co-leads the committee. There are others that will be helping me as well, and I am confident that with the team that has been formed by Management we will be able to brainstorm and create in a timely manner. We’re certainly not racing and I don’t want to rush the “deliverables” (did i use that jargon correctly?) and create something that has minimal impact to the already select few that will be reading the chosen book.
I am excited at the opportunity to collaborate across departments because that’s genuinely where I shine. The project management side of things is fun for me also as I grow into an emerging leader capable of being apart of large projects.
phew. okay. so lets recap.
- Staff/Students are voting on a book
- That book will be read and discussed for various applications
- One of those application are lessons for faculty to use
- Each school at the college will receive personalized material
- I am co leading one of the groups creating the lessons
- (i’m not sure what data will be gathered after we give faculty the lessons but if we do receive feedback, I will read it voraciously)
That’s mostly what I’ve been waiting for at the start of this new year.
Personally I’ve been reading a lot of good books, revising one of my short stories/novellas (i can never decide what it is), and doing training. I also received permission from my supervisor to take an American Sign language class for better representation and communication in our library.
I hope this post finds you starting the new year with big goals and the determination to fulfill them.
Best,
The Information Professional 
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