Comments | pallagia: This and that

pallagia

This and that

Aug 21, 2003 09:58

Well, it has been an interesting 6 days since I wrote here. As all of you who read this probably noticed, I was a bit spastic on Friday. Things were just coming to a head all around, and as often happens during those times, I had a bit of a mental implosion. Luckily, there wasn't any permanent damage and all is well in Robinville once again ( Read more... )

Comments 27

deathmatewd August 21 2003, 08:28:15 UTC

Check out HigherEdJobs.com

That has job listings from almost every college in the country, sorted by category. I know the SUNYs post there, as does skidmore. Might help, might not.

pallagia August 21 2003, 08:30:33 UTC

Excellent! Thanks! I'll look now!

You go, Girl! opalene August 21 2003, 10:15:55 UTC

rockingrobin, you've inspired me! It sounds like you really have it together and really know what you want. That's awesome! I also think you would be really good in college administration. It seems like a field that you would really enjoy and could contribute to. I really relate to the "I'm not in a rush" thing. I always think that I am behind "the others" (whoever they are), and that I should be doing certain things in my career, personal life, etc. But, you're right, life is not a race, and how can you enjoy it if you don't take your time?
I will keep my ear/eye out for any jobs I come across.

Re: You go, Girl! pallagia August 21 2003, 11:00:26 UTC

Thank you hon, for this and all your other comments to me! I REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate them!

Librarian? fraudirector August 21 2003, 10:35:04 UTC

1) I like pseudo-academic positions. Things like college administration, working in the business side of a non-profit, et cetera. The jobs tend to require you to have a knowledge of both practical business aspects, in addition to having an understanding of academia ( ... )

Re: Librarian? pallagia August 21 2003, 10:41:22 UTC

Can I get a job in a librarian type job where I can go to school for the MLA part time?

Seriously, I worked in a library in high school. It wasn't a bad job. I liked it. And I've often thought about it. Hmmm....let me know more!

Re: Librarian? opalene August 21 2003, 10:43:43 UTC

I can TOTALLY picture you in a librarian-type position! They must have program directors and things too. What a great idea! I've always wanted to be a librarian, so if you got a job doing this, I would be secretly jealous. =)

Re: Librarian? pallagia August 21 2003, 10:53:19 UTC

(Bursting into song....)
Robin librarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrian!

You know what is funny? I've tossed this idea around in my head for years, yet never seriously put two and two together! I worked as a librarian in high school (and a year of college) and liked it a lot! I like to organize things, LOVE to read (something you and I share) and generally enjoy the kinds of things you do at a library.

Now the only thing I'm saying to myself is, "Darn, why didn't I listen to fraudirector sooner?
Because I'm dense, I guess. :)

Time to research!

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Time to play devils advocate (pinball noises ensue) saintfuzzball August 21 2003, 11:05:42 UTC

Not to rain on the idea of being a librarian or anything, but I think the idea may be slightly sketchy. Granted my knowledge of the profession is kind of limited. (I've worked at different libraries at different lowly positions.) Most of the people (non students) I see working in libraries on campus don't really deal with people much. They seem to all be caught up in the business and politics of running the place. They deal lots with the problems of other libraries and see very few patrons. Now that doesn't necessarily sound like it's against what you want, but from what I've seen, very little time is spent actually getting to "provide guidance or assist individuals as they figure out how to go down their own learning pathways", as was one of the things you were looking for ( ... )

Re: Time to play devils advocate (pinball noises ensue) fraudirector August 21 2003, 11:45:13 UTC

saintfuzzball brings up some good points, but also correctly identifies the reason for the observations. Most student jobs, and lots of the jobs in libraries in general, keep the place running and don't necessarily work with the public.

On the flip side, there are folks who work with users/patrons of the library on a regular basis, and if you get into the right job, are actually doing a little teaching as well. This is why I suggested reference in an earlier post. My current schedule includes about 10 hrs a week at the reference desk, teaching a 1 credit grad class in library and research skills and a wide variety of library intros during orientations and classes where I'm asked to come in and teach to a specific assignment.

Along those lines, what you want to see in a job description is something akin to this chunck I stole from RPI just a moment ago... The librarian also provides instruction, reference, research and consultative services using new and emerging technologies and serves as liaison to faculty and students in the School of ( ... )

And while I was writing my post.... saintfuzzball August 21 2003, 11:09:25 UTC

...Im noticing some of what I questioned was addessed. he he.

Re: And while I was writing my post.... pallagia August 21 2003, 11:20:17 UTC

Hey, I need to hear what people think, and your experiences are valid as well. Both you and fraudirector have more recent experience than I. Basically, I think that the thing I like about this field is that I like the basic ideas better than the work I've done in the past. I have never been fond of being an extreme techie, I use tech as a tool, not for its own purposes. Also, I want to work with adults. Education was closer, but the situation I was in there was not geared towards what I enjoyed. I wouldn't mind working in a museum, but I don't want to work on programs all the time.

Anyways, I'm logging all takers. Keep the thoughts flowing.

Re: And while I was writing my post.... psychowoof August 21 2003, 17:37:22 UTC

Also, I want to work with adults.

Then, do you REALLY want to go into academia? Chronologically, college students are older than kindergarteners, but often they are not mentally older. Just think of all those losers you had in classes with you in college who whined about the library not being able to help them (of course, they won't admit it's because they waited until the last possible minute and harrassed the hell out of the library staff), you'll now be dealing with them and having to fake the happy face while privately wanting to strangle them. :)

Don't get me wrong, there are many wonderful moments in academia - but it certainly isn't rose colored, and there's a lot of fertilizer from all directions.

Re: And while I was writing my post.... fraudirector August 22 2003, 06:32:33 UTC

Agreed, but the rest of her post lead me well away from public libraries, which is where she would truly be dealing with adults. That environment is so very different, particularly with all the Internet filtering laws, etc. that are being placed on libraries. Lots of ugly censorship things I'm happy I don't have to deal with, for that I'll take the immature students, because you can generally balance it with some faculty and graduate students who are more mature. :-)

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