Interview with Supervisor

Introduction

I have focused my studies and my internship placement on information literacy instruction in academic libraries. Research and instruction librarians develop learning modules, curriculum, and instruction to help students find the information they need as undergraduate and graduate students. Research and instruction librarians work directly with students, teaching them how to use the library resources, research effectively, and develop critical thinking and searching skills. Additionally, research and instruction librarians work with faculty members as liaison librarians. If faculty members need specific texts, journals, or instruction for their students, they contact their liaison to find what the library has to offer. I’m hoping to learn more about making connections in the library field and in continuing my education after library school.

Question 1: What is the hardest part of your job?

The hardest part of my job? I think coming from a school library where I was the one person who did all the library things, so it has pros and cons, but here in an academic setting as opposed to a school setting, things take a very long time, so it takes longer to go through policy and get things approved at different levels on a university campus. If you want to make a change to the collection or weed or purchase things or do a program, all of this stuff takes months and months of planning and getting approval, and so sometimes you could feel a little frustrated and then things are taking a long time to happen, whereas when I was a high school librarian, the principal was like, whatever you want to do, just do it, just make it happen, I trust you. So, I could go buy books and I could buy something for the library. I organized a field trip three hours away and nobody blanked an eyelash, so I think just being patient and having the vision, but having the patience to understand what you want to happen is not going to just happen overnight. So I think for me, that's the most challenging because I like seeing an active difference, so that's the biggest struggle for me for sure. 

Question 2: How do you make connections in the library field? 

Oh, that's great. I think a little bit of everything, so social media. I would just search for tags and search people's names who I knew were in the area or librarians, and I would add people on social media, and when I was in school, I would say, hey, I'm in school to be a librarian, can I ask you a few questions about how would you prepare for your first job? I've made all my school librarian friends that way. Especially in school library, you're a little bit more isolated, and so definitely social media. Keeping connections, so you're shadowing and getting practice coming to different places, you get to see how different library settings work. Keep in contact with them and be like, thank you so much for this experience. Just stay in contact with people, and say if you ever need any help, I'm here. Just remind people that if that job ever opens there. I'd also say being a member of TLA and going to a conference, you will meet your friends. Everybody's pretty busy, but you go up and introduce yourself to people, “Hi, I'm so -and -so, I work here. This was a great presentation.” Or “Do you have any advice about this?” And because librarians are the most helpful people on this planet, no one will think twice. They’ll be like, “Oh my gosh, what's your name? Like, let's take a selfie!” So making those connections. And like I haven't talked to my school librarian friends in a very long time, but I know if I text them or message them on Instagram, they'd be like, “Oh my gosh. Hey, how are you?” So just putting yourself out there in that way. 

3) What are good ways to continue education after library school? Like you already have your masters degree, you've had school library jobs. Now you're in academic library, so how do you keep learning? 

This is a great question because you will never know everything there is. The degree is one thing, but experience in one job is great, and then you go to another job and then it's a whole new learning experience and learning curve. So don't be afraid to talk to people in different library settings. Never be afraid to shadow them or ask them what their day is like. Never stop learning. Go to professional development opportunities. Free webinars like Niche Academy will have some free webinars for school librarians. Academic librarians go to TLA and talk to people online. Reach out to your professors after a few years  have passed. I haven't done that yet, but just keep talking to people and keep challenging yourself. So if you start to feel stagnant in one job, be like, OK, what else? Is there for me to learn where? Should I go? Don't don't feel stagnant in a location. So I know some people, especially in the world of teaching. Some teachers can stay there for like 30 years and that's great. That might suit them. But I think if you always want to learn and continue to grow, move to a different setting, where you’ll have different challenges and different advantages, so don't be afraid to mix it up. 

4) How do you feel your job helps the students that you serve?

I think building a relationship with them helps break down the anxiety and worry that they have from asking for help. So if I can be friendly at first and say, “Hey!” and, you know try relate to them on some level like, “Oh my gosh, I still get lost in this place.” I think that helps them realize, like, “Oh, she's not here to reprimand me for not knowing something.” And I could tell them all day, “Hey, like we're here to help,” but until they actually reach out for help and have a good experience with that, they're not going to fully understand. So just keep reiterating that smile to them, a couple students that have come in, they don't really need my help anymore, but they'll come in and talk to me and like, tell me about their life. And that's one thing I miss about teaching is you have those continuing relationships. And so if you can just remind your students, your faculty, that you're here for them and show that in the small ways, I think. That's the biggest: Smile. Talk to them. Ask them about their lives. I think it really just comes down to relationships. Yeah, I think having those interpersonal skills is incredible. 

5) So this one kind of goes with students and you mentioned it a little bit. How do you let faculty know how much you can help them? 

This is a tricky one because faculty are very, very busy, so at the beginning of the year, we send liaison emails. “Hey, I'm your library liaison. If you need anything or questions, I can be the person to represent and advocate for you at the library.” So I send those, and they  usually don't reply because you know, it’s the beginning of the year. Then I'll send another one a couple months into the semester and say, “Hey, here's all the events and programming we're doing. You know, let your students know they can follow us on social media. We, you know, we're here to help students with research or if they just need to find a sense of community, we're here for them.” And then really honestly, it just comes down to experience. So, we have one good interaction with the faculty or teach one instruction and they will tell each other, “Hey, this librarian, Emily, she's really great. I recommend you try her out even if they don’t fall in my responsibility. I got an email sent from a professor who said, “Hey, so you know I'm chemistry, but I've heard great things about Emily. Do you think she would want to teach my FS class?” “Yes, absolutely!” So word of mouth and slowly building a reputation. But it gets there and gets there. 

6) And then the last one is if you could work in another library role, what would it be? 

Oh. Definitely something front facing. I don't like shelving. I don't like administrative stuff. I don’t like budgeting. I could never be a library director for that reason. I do not want to be stuck behind a desk in my office all day like no. I would probably want to work with library science students or be in some type of leadership role, but still have interaction and an important role in the library. Interacting with patrons or students. I don't think I could ever give that up. Yeah. So something like what I'm doing now, but if I got the chance to, also teaching  as I love teaching, so if there was ever a chance where I got to be an adjunct or assistant professor somewhere and do that part time. I'll teach one class and do this. I think I would be super happy. Yeah, that's a good question. 

Conclusion:

Emily offered some great insights into continuing to remain curious and adventurous with my career. She also reminded me that librarians are kind and helpful, and they love to make connections. I can network with librarians in my field and learn from all of them, whether or not we have the same specialties or emphasis in our profession. She also demonstrated the importance of continuing relationships with students and faculty to offer help to people who might not be great at asking for help.