NMRT Notes

Update: This event has been rescheduled for Friday, April 10 at 2pm-3pm EST/11am-12pm PST. To join the chat please go to: http://connect.ala.org/node/237410 .

Feel like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done? Want to start the New Year with less stress and more time? Join NMRT for a live chat on Friday, January 30 at 2pm-3pm EST/11am-12pm PST to discuss tips and tricks to manage your time and workload. Whether you are a new librarian, a library student, or someone who has been a librarian for years, join us to share your experiences and learn something new!

The chat is open to all ALA members. To join the chat please go to: http://connect.ala.org/node/237410 (See instructions below to register)

1. If you are new to ALAConnect, here is how to join: If you want to log into ALAConnect, you will need to log in to the ALA website with your ALA credentials, update your profile, and select the option to include yourself in Connect. Once you have saved this new preference, you should be able to log in to Connect using your ALA member information. (It is recommended that you do this a hour or so before the chat to make sure everything is working properly.)

2. Once you have joined the community, you can join the chat here: NMRT January Live Chat: http://connect.ala.org/node/237410

Have you ever wished that libraryland offered something it didn’t? For example, a group for YA librarians who run robot teams to share ideas, or a writing circle to give you the motivation and support to write your first peer-reviewed article. If you’re a library school student or new librarian, you may have lots of ideas, but not know who to talk to about them. You might have an audience in mind, but think that you don’t have enough power or authority to bring them to fruition. Or you may have been a librarian for a while now, and are looking for a way to make your mark on the profession or your library.

I’ve got a crazy idea for you: take a deep breath, and “be the change you want to see in the world,” as Gandhi said. New to your job? Take advantage of the fact that you can get away with things now because “you don’t know how things work” at your workplace yet. In library school? You’re unbound by employer restrictions. Don’t let these kinds of things stop you. Think about what needs to happen to make your ideas a reality, and start hustling. If you’ve got a band of people who feel just as passionate about your idea as you, even better; you’ll be able to divide and conquer, and keep each other motivated. What’s the worst case scenario, after all?: someone says no, and your idea gets put on hold for a while.

Here are some examples to get you motivated: current NMRT Networking Director Tinamarie Vella wanted opportunities for folks to meet and network and get to know each other in person between conferences, so she’s set up networking socials for new librarians and library school students around the country. At ALA 2014, several library school students were talking about how great it would be if there were a roommate-matching service to help conference attendees find roommates to split the cost of a hotel with, and they’ve worked with an NMRT committee to create one going forward, starting with Midwinter 2015. And when Rebecca Miller and I were brand-new to working in Virginia libraries several years ago, we wished there were a group like NMRT but for Virginians, so new librarians could get to know each other and have programs devoted to our interests at the annual state conference. We successfully petitioned the state library association to form a Virginia New Members Round Table.

So #makeithappen in 2015, regardless of where you fall in the library hierarchy. (Pro tip: using the proposal template in step 8 here will go a long way towards getting administrative buy-in for your idea.) And if you think your idea would be a good fit for the NMRT, I want to know about it! Come find me at Midwinter, or shoot me an email at mlhodge @ gmail dot com.

Apply now for the Student Chapter of the Year Award!
Has your student chapter been active in supporting member involvement and leadership? Have you, or any of your individual members, been recognized for notable awards or achievements this past year? And in general, have you and your members had an exemplary year of engagement and programming? If so, apply now for the Student Chapter of the Year Award!

Purpose of the Award
This Award is presented in recognition of a chapter’s outstanding contributions to the American Library Association (ALA), their school, and the library/information science profession. The purpose of the award is to increase student involvement in ALA through student chapters, and to recognize future leaders.

Award and Award Criteria
All ALA Student Chapters in good standing are eligible to receive the ALA Student Chapter of the Year Award. The selected Student Chapter will receive $1,000 to help defray travel expenses to ALA Annual; the winning chapter and the runner up will each receive a certificate. Both will be recognized at the NMRT Student Reception at the 2015 ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA.

Nomination Form
To download the nomination form, and for more information on the form, please visit the NMRT Student Chapter of the Year Award website at http://www.ala.org/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/awscotya/scotya. Please e-mail the completed form and any supporting documents in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format to the committee chair, Michelle Demeter (mdemeter@fsu.edu). The deadline for submitting a completed nomination is March 2, 2015, 11:59pm EST.

If you have additional questions, please contact Michelle Demeter (mdemeter@fsu.edu).

The NMRT Resume Review Service Committee is recruiting volunteer resume reviewers and booth greeters, as well as taking resume review appointments for ALA 2015 Midwinter Meeting. We are in need of volunteers to greet participants, and/or review resumes and cover letters. Librarians from all types of libraries and specializations are invited to volunteer.

The NMRT Resume Review Service booth, located inside the ALA Placement Center, is open Saturday, January 31st and Sunday, February 1st, from 9:00am – 5:00pm. The service is free of charge to anyone. Appointments are 30 minutes long and usually fill up quickly. While we encourage advance appointments, on-site walk-ins are seen as time permits. More information about volunteering and making an appointment is available at http://bit.ly/1vArIPT . If you have questions, please contact the NMRT Resume Review Service Committee Chair, Nicole Spoor, at nicolespoor@gmail.com.

Sarah Wade

Campbell University – Buies Creek, NC

Assistant Medical Librarian

A little about Sarah’s job:

I am the assistant medical librarian in a brand-new medical school and because of this, one part of my job consists of working with the faculty to build up our collection. Our building houses not just doctor of osteopathic medicine candidate students but also physician assistant candidate students, so we work with faculty in both departments. I also answer and help with reference questions, create LibGuides, and work with campus-wide library programs and activities.

1) What are some things you like about your job or working in libraries in general?

One thing I really love about my job is the opportunity to learn from different professionals in different medical disciplines. The professors that work here are some of the best in the field of medicine and because of this they have a lot of knowledge to share with others. Something else I really love about my job is the opportunity to work with the students. Because we are a small library I have gotten the chance to get to know some of them very well which makes it easier for them to approach me and makes me feel like I am better known in the medical school.

2) What’s a project or committee you’re working on right now that you’re excited about?

Every spring our main campus library hosts an academic symposium where the students on campus can exhibit any research work they have done. This was one of the committees I became a part of when I took this position and I have gotten really excited about it. This year we will also include both our distance education students and the PA and DO students.

 3) What got you interested in libraries?

I think, like a lot of my fellow librarians, I was a book- and library-lover from childhood. I have always loved libraries and am very passionate about their importance and place in society. When I was a little girl I used to pretend my living room was a library and I made my younger brothers go through and check books out. I had the due date cards (index cards cut up with a scribble for the date and signature) in them and everything.

4) What is one of your favorite things about NMRT?

I really like the resume review service. I think it helps those that are struggling to find a job be more aware of the weak places in their resume and gives them a better idea of how to fix them and make their resume better. I know I personally used it when I was looking for a job.

5) Do you have any advice for other new librarians?

When you first get out of school it can be hard to find jobs in libraries so don’t be afraid to use your connections. Did you do an internship? Ask the person you worked for to help you. He or she might know of a job or might even be willing to create a position for you. That is how I got the job that landed me where I am now. I knew someone at the university I currently work for and she knew I was finishing up library school and so she specifically asked me to fill a library assistant position. I will forever be thankful to her and thankful that I was willing to put myself out there and make it known who I was and that I was interested in working for academic libraries.

6) What advice do you have for job-searching librarians?

Don’t wait for the jobs to come to you because they won’t. You need to put yourself out there and make it your job to find one. Even if it is a job you are not sure you will like or you think is beneath you, apply anyway. You might be surprised and turn out to really like it or maybe it will lead you to something even better. Once you get in that position you are more likely to be hired for a better position than someone who has not been working in that particular library and doesn’t know the ins and outs of the cataloging system and the circulation system, etc. Libraries want someone who is competent in their products and is confident about what they are telling the patrons. Be that person!

7) What strategies for finding entry-level library positions have worked for you?

While I was working as a library assistant I started looking for full time jobs and when I did that I utilized a lot of different websites and joined several listservs. I also put an alert for the term librarian on Indeed so every morning I got an email with all the librarian jobs that had been listed from the previous day. I also checked out all the local universities and colleges that were near me. One of the websites I thought was really good was the ALA JobList. One of the things I like about it is I can limit my search by keyword, city, and state. The other nice thing is it lists all library types and not just one particular type. The listservs I joined were NMRT, College and Libraries Section, University Libraries Section, and now that I am a medical librarian I have joined the Medical Library Association’s. The College and Libraries Section and University Libraries Section are both run through ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries). I joined this one because I work in an academic library, but if you work in another kind of library they are sure to have their own association and that association will more than likely have a listserv you can join.

Are you a new NMRT member? Consider nominating yourself for our NMRT Member of the Week spotlight–we want to get to know you! New or experienced, give the gift of recognition by nominating a librarian that deserves to be featured here!

The NMRT Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the following candidates for election. Before the elections next April, NMRT members will have the chance to get to know the candidates via our Candidate Forum.

The forum will take place on the NMRT blog, Notes, in late February. Each candidate will be discussing their qualifications and motivations for running, as well as answering questions posed from the NMRT membership.

Have questions about the nomination and election process? Contact Tammy Ivins (nominating committee chair) at NMRTNominations@gmail.com.

Vice-President/President-Elect
Jessica Sender
Kate Kosturski

Member Services Director
Stephanie Santiful
Margaret Howard
Sarah Abrams
Julia Frankosky

Leadership Development Director
Nicole Spoor
Michelle Demeter

Secretary
Sam Millsap
Karen Doster

Casey McCoy

Lincolnwood Public Library District -  Lincolnwood, IL

Program Coordinator

A little about Casey’s job:

As the Program Coordinator I am responsible for coordinating budgeting, scheduling, and evaluating outside programs & presentations by speakers, authors, and performers. I’m also responsible for establishing relationships to broaden the range of programs offered by the library as part of the new Community Engagement Department.

1) What are some things you like about your job or about working in libraries in general?

I love working with people, whether that means working on a task with my department, scheduling and setting up performers, or helping out patrons. I have always worked in customer service and thrive off engaging with diverse populations.

2) What’s a project or committee you’re working on right now that you’re excited about?

I’m currently on my library’s Circulating Device Committee with the goal to introduce Kindles, iPads and laptops to circulation. My main role in the group is to research marketing details and how to best engage our community with the new devices. I am also learning a lot about creating library policies and the importance of having a wonderful technical services department.

3) What got you interested in libraries?

I originally applied to GSLIS with plans to focus on Community Informatics and to go into non-profit management; I actually denied any interest in working in a library! After my first semester I started to realize how community engagement and technology is actually a big part of today’s public libraries, so I began volunteering at our local library’s teen makerspace. This got me hooked and led to my first library job after graduation.

4) What is one of your favorite things about NMRT?

I love all of the resources NMRT provides. I am a new member, but have followed along with NMRT news and events for the past year. NMRT was especially helpful when attending my first ALA Annual this summer in Las Vegas, which was very intimidating for a new professional!

5) Do you have any advice for other new librarians?

Find a good balance between Libraryland and your personal life. It is very easy to say “yes” to every opportunity and feel pressured to serve on all the committees, but this is also a quick way to burnout. Personally, I vowed to leave work at work and not feel guilty about binge-watching Orange is the New Black instead of reading the newest YA book series. Burnout is still inevitable sometimes, but I will at least have other hobbies to escape to.

Are you a new NMRT member? Consider nominating yourself for our NMRT Member of the Week spotlight–we want to get to know you! New or experienced, give the gift of recognition by nominating a librarian that deserves to be featured here!

Sean Buckner

J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

Digital Preservation System Coordinator

A little about Sean’s job:

I administer the library’s Ex Libris Rosetta digital preservation system and oversee the ingestion of all digital content into the permanent repository. I ensure the integrity of the preservation master files and corresponding metadata preserved within Rosetta. I help coordinate digital preservation activities, manage legacy archives, and establish submission standards and workflows.

1) What are some things you like about your job or about working in libraries in general?

I love the university environment and the mission and work of academic libraries. I feel that my efforts and accomplishments are services rendered to the university and library patrons, and that my work with digitized historical materials is a form of outreach to a larger academic community.

2) What’s a project or committee you’re working on right now that you’re excited about?

I have for some time been working on inventorying, reorganizing, and preserving the archival master files of the Utah Digital Newspapers program. I love viewing Utah newspaper front pages from the late 1800s and early to mid-1900s and the historical record they relate. It helps me to appreciate even more the virtues of digital preservation.

3) What is your dream library job?

Since the beginning of library school, I knew that I wanted to become the digital preservation librarian for a university library. I feel extremely fortunate to be given that opportunity so early in my career as very soon I will be leaving my duties at the University of Utah and assuming the new position of Digital Preservation Librarian at Texas A&M University.

4) What got you interested in libraries?

I have served as a Military Intelligence professional and linguist in the Army for almost 13 years now. My experiences working with people of various ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, my efforts to gather and provide information to others, and my love of academia all kind of blended in a way that got me interested in working in libraries. Additionally, my wife has worked in libraries a little longer than I and her professionalism and work ethic have to me served as an excellent example of true librarianship.

5) Do you have any advice for other new librarians?

Having come to librarianship later in life and in a roundabout manner, I have many years of varied experiences to draw upon. Looking back at those experiences, I have discovered that my greatest opportunities and subsequent accomplishments have almost always come about from situations that at the time I considered to be less than ideal. My advice to other new librarians would be to accept work, projects, and tasks that may not be your first choice or most desired. Embrace challenges and draw experience and opportunity from circumstances.

Are you a new NMRT member? Consider nominating yourself for our NMRT Member of the Week spotlight–we want to get to know you! New or experienced, give the gift of recognition by nominating a librarian that deserves to be featured here!