Is there a librarian who inspired you?

 

More than likely, you're in library school if you read this blog.  Do you remember the first time you thought about becoming a librarian? 

I remember clearly being about 5, and going to Northland Public Library, which was just up the street from my house.  It was the library where I would get my first job as a page when I was fifteen, but when I was five, I knew I wanted to be just like the Children's Librarian at the time, who smelled like cinnamon and didn't mind if you checked out so many books the shelves looked bare. I've graduated a bit to the teen and adult services track, but I would still kill for a job in my hometown library-- after all, I've wanted to work there since I was five!

Chances are, you know a rockstar librarian-- from your hometown library, to where you work now, and that person deserves to be recognized for their awesomeness.

Nominate a librarian you love for ALA's I Love My Librarian Award-- check out the ALA News Press Release here for more info: http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/ala/nominations-open-through-september-12-2011-i-love-my-librarian-award

$5,000 sounds like pretty good recognition to me!

What does it take to be a professional librarian?

Blogger Mr. Library Dude shares his insight into what makes a professional librarian in this post:
 
"I graduated from a top library school." Yeah, so what?

His basic premise? 

"Library school is what you make of it. The MLS is just the basic requirement for the job. If all you do is take the required courses, but get no work experience, then you are setting yourself up for failure."

 So what can you do to make sure you succeed, according to Mr. Library Dude?  Get experience!  As much as you can during your degree-- put those skills you learn in class to work right away so that you have working librarians as references and real experience to prove you're right for  the job.

Most SLIS students see the wealth of campus library jobs as the program's main strength-- take advantage of it! 

Calling all Emerging Leaders!

SLIS graduates are known as innovative leaders in the library world-- not surprising considering the excellence of UW's program-- but did you know you can kick-start your career right now by applying for the ALA Emerging Leaders program? You can!

ALA Emerging Leaders Interest Group

Are you under 35 or a new library professional with under 5 years experience?  Are you interested in serving ALA by participating in problem-solving taskforces?  Would you like to attend ALA conferences, make fantastic professional connections, and boost your librarian cred?

Applications for the 2012 class of Emerging Leaders are now being accepted. Deadline for submission of the application and all references is August 1, 2011.  

Check out the ALA Emerging Leaders Interest Group page above to check out the Selection Criteria. The application can be accessed at: http://www.ala.org/cfapps/emergingleaders/index.cfm.

Current SLIS student's YA Lit for Adults reading program in the news!

Toni Streckert, a current SLIS student and the Outreach and Teen Services Coordinator at Monona Public Library is in the news this week! 

Monona Public Library

Streckert, a self-described "book pusher," noticed adults who were looking for tight, fast, well-written reads in the YA section-- not the adult fiction shelves.  Since she has a great appreciation for YA lit--"they have some of the most exciting, concise writing"-- she started recommending titles.

Her innovative YA Lit for Adults Bookclub has garnered lots of attention locally as a great place for adults to confess their love of Young Adult literature and get new perspectives and book recommendations. Librarians, school teachers, parents, and lovers of literature who were drawn to the genre come to Monona to talk about a new book every few weeks and share their opinions.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman for May 17th

 The next meeting is on May 17th, and the group will read Unwind by Neal Shusterman. 

Check out the full article here:
Book clubs appreciate grown-ups' newfound attraction to teen lit
OR log onto Monona Public Library's website to sign up for the next meeting!

UW SLIS alum Lillian Wallis leaves massive gift to Hennepin County Library

Lillian Wallis

Who says the good die young? 

Lillian Wallis, who graduated from the UW School of Library and Information Studies in 1950 died at 85 in September, 2010 after a long life of travel and library service.  But what might have been a sad post on the loss of a great librarian who really believed in how libraries could serve and enrich a community has turned into a much more fitting elegy:  celebration!

Lillian, who retired as technical services chief from Minneapolis Library in 1987, willed the bulk of her estate-- $646 thousand dollars-- to Hennepin County Library.  In typical librarian fashion, she organized her life and her finances in such a way that her legacy and impact on her community will continue long after her death.  Her gift stipulated that the money should be used to buy popular titles that circulate.  Brava, Ms Wallis!

Read the full article from the Star Tribune here: 
Librarian leaves $646K gift for Hennepin bookshelves

ALA calls on Congress to restore support to libraries in FY2012 budget

Check out the eponymous article here:
ALA calls on Congress to restore support to libraries in FY2012 budget.

This press release, of April 15th, is about the deep cuts to library services that the new federal budget bill, H.R. 1473, could make.  The bill includes a $28 million cut to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and shuffles the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program (which is the only federal program for school libraries) off on the Department of Education to determine funds for school libraries. 

ALA is making a case to Congress as the budget process moves forward.  ALA President Roberta Stevens  says:
“These cuts in funding hurt people throughout the United States who depend on libraries. We are putting our nation at a disadvantage as we compete in a world that realizes and values the importance of being educated and informed.”

Librarians: Masters of the info universe

When the economy looks bleak for just about everyone, sometimes it's hard to believe that you're on the right track in a degree program.  Well, here's a good reason to be confident in an LIS education:  CNN thinks librarians rule the world!

 

This morning's article, titled Librarians: Masters of the info universe, CNN librarian Kerith Page McFadden highlights some of the important things librarians are capable of doing in a world increasingly overloaded and information-sick, and gives an ego-boosting run-down of some of the famous thinkers and leaders who have been librarians or library workers.  Check out some these highlights, be confident in your degree, and celebrate National Library Week with us!

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Past library workers include world leaders and a famous lover...guess who!
• "Star Wars" creator George Lucas has his own research library on his Skywalker Ranch.
• The chief librarian of Basra, Iraq, saved 30,000 books by removing them from library before it was destroyed.
• A librarian found one of Beethoven's final compositions at Palmer Theological Seminary when she was clearing out the archives.