Think positive thoughts...

and you'll amaze others as well as yourself.

I wanted to share my happiness. I applied for another library scholarship in May but I did not tell too many people. Well, this afternoon, the Central Mississippi Library Council informed me that I was chosen as the 2008 scholarship recipient! I was elated just as I was when I was chosen as on of the MS Library Commission's Public Librarian Scholarship Program recipients.

"You must be the change...

you wish to see in the world" said Mahatma Gandhi. Sometimes I feel very small and insignificant in this world but I have to adjust and think it's just a feeling and not at all a representation of my place in this world. Changing one's self is certainly easily said than done. Change requires so much energy of us both physically and mentally.


Gandhi's quote also reminds me of how librarians or library paraprofessionals should view our profession. Librarianship constantly changes to fit our patrons' present and future needs, otherwise I personally believe that (especially in public libraries) our jobs are meaningless. The first time I read Gandhi's quote I was working my first job in a library in north Mississippi and I thought it was beautiful and its meaning is ageless and inspiring. This field we call librarianship has definitions which surpass any book definition.

"Libraries are not made, they grow."

What an interesting quote to find! Through my studies in library and information sciences, I have developed and changed and accepted different theories on the meaning of library. What is a library's significance to its community? How can a library and its staff make people aware of its importance? I am currently taking a class discussing popular culture for library clientele. It's a pretty awesome class. We discuss the significance of popular culture and how it influences a librarian's decision to purchase and include a hodgepodge of genres or types of media formats.

One interesting aspect of this class is the discussion of technology, especially Web 2.0 applications. It seems that, more than ever, patrons want more control of how they find information, which is to be expected. As I've probably stated in previous blogs, I want to learn more about them so I can better understand those patrons who already use them and also to communicate with them the different free services their libraries offer. Despite all changes in technology it is important to remember that communities can build libraries but what matters most are the patrons who use it and the librarians who organize it and implement new and innovative ways to cater to present and future patrons.

hmm...halfway there and other places

Just the other day I was thinking about my graduate studies coursework and I thought "Wow, I'm almost finished". Then, the next thought came into my head..."What's next?" Most any decision I consider follows with a question to that effect and it's annoying (sometimes) to me. I think it annoys me most because obtaining this degree will allow for more opportunities of growth, which means more decisions to make.

Choosing to enter professionally into librarianship has allowed me to provide better service to patrons and to communicate more effectively with my coworkers. I may not know every answer but I am resourceful and I LOVE what I am doing, which makes me halfway there and other places (where ever that may be).

The first one...

Well...hello all who decide they want to know what I think!
I decided to try this blogging business because I want to join the rest of the cyber world. Generally, I write in a journal. I tried to livejournal and other things, but I haven't maintained them. I do wonder how many bloggers there are in the world and how many actually keep up with them...In my current profession I think these blogs are really (if not now) the next big networking tool. I also understand that blogs can do two things---they can hurt or help your career. I've read numerous articles about how future employers "google" their prospective candidates and for me it sounds scary. As I see it I think (for now) that blogs are an interesting way to get a personal view prospective hires.