| Sara B. Metcalfe |
Practical Experience
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Practical Experience Over the course of completing my Masters in Library Science, I have advanced from a library assistant to the head of a small branch library. Because I was actively pursuing the degree, the library's upper administration took a chance, and offered me a "real" librarian position. Though all of the courses I took I was able to incorporate into my professional life, I have only included a few of the highlights. My final two courses ILS519-Acquisitions and ILS565-Library Management could not have come at a better time, and offer examples on how I was able to use the information I learnedsss. One of the most daunting tasks I've faced while working as a librarian, is that of collection development and acquisitions. Much of the material in the library is very old, and dates back to the 1920's and 30's when the library was first created. I doubt very much whether it has ever been weeded. Also, because the library budget is very limited, we have to be very careful about what we purchase. Professor Bielefield, who teaches the course, has been a great resource to me in my professional life. My papers have often been based on problems or issues I was facing in my own library. She would often lead me in the right direction by offering suggestions and resources I may wish to consider. Working in a library with a support staff of eighteen work study students has proved to be quite a challenge. As this is just a part-time job for them while they are in school, it is very difficult to get them committed to working. One of the best assignments for this class was having to read a management book and write a book review on it. It taught me how to manage my employees without having them manage me, or take time away from more important projects. I had always looked at cataloguers in awe, which I believe was partly due to my lack of knowledge in this aspect of librarianship. I had always been told that cataloging was very difficult, and that it took a special person to master it. To me, the books I purchased for the library therefore just magically appeared in the catalog. During the spring 2001 semester, I decided it was time for me to investigate this secret world. To my surprise, it wasn't nearly as difficult as I had expected. In ILS506-Information Analysis and Organization, we learned not only the practical aspects of cataloging, but the theoretical as well. I found cataloging so fascinating, that I opted to take the advanced cataloging class the following fall. By taking these classes, I was much more comfortable with the idea of cataloging, and took over cataloging my own books. This hands on experience has made a world of difference in my studies. Not only was I learning about key library concepts, theories and techniques, but I was actually doing them. I was able to learn more about libraries by being able to implement many of these ideas into my daily routines. |
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