A bit about me… I am a writer, yes, but I am a librarian by day. Why? Because it pays the bills and feeds the kitty. Every so often, folks ask me why I became a librarian, so here’s the story…
I, like many bright-eyed undergrads before me, decided to go to grad school and get a master’s degree in my chosen field–English. What does one do with an English degree you might ask… a lot, actually, but that’s a story for a different day. If you’re like me, you teach freshman comp as a TA and become an adjunct. The life of the adjunct is a cruel and brutal existence, only compounded by the cutthroat battle for tenure endured by hungry PhDs. I chose an alternative route… I got a library degree, stayed in academia, and managed to find a solid job with decent pay and room for growth.
I should like to share some truths and misconceptions about what I do:
- Yes, I read a lot. That does not mean that I read on the job. I check out books and read them at home, just like everyone else.
- Yes, many library resources are available online. Yes, people do still come to the library for help.
- No, I do not shush people. Actually, I’m a radical sort who thinks libraries should meet the needs of the people not the librarians.
- Yes, I wear a sweater and glasses. Libraries are cold because it keeps the mold off the books. And I’ve wore glasses long before I ever dreamed of becoming a librarian.
- I write a lot on the job. It’s a different beast from my creative writing, but it keeps the wheels going.
marginalia and such 