Final, Final Grades

It's weird to think that this is the last time I'll post anything about grades outside of my e-portfolio. Here they are for Fall 2012 term:

LIS 7640: Practicum = S (Satisfactory -- pass/fail)
LIS 7996: Research Methods = A (4.0)

I'll be graduating with a cumulative grade point average of 3.94. Could be better, but still not too shabby...

Currently reading: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin. 

Mission Accomplished

Proposal writing process...

On Thursday, I submitted the capstone project for LIS 7996, the research proposal, which just happened to be the very last course assignment I had for library school (outside of the e-portfolio). The feeling I had was indescribable -- bittersweet, only begins to sum it up. I have thoroughly enjoyed my journey and have been reflecting upon my personal as well as professional growth.

With that said, I have started to work on my reflective essay which is a component of the e-portfolio, a requirement for graduation that is due on March 3. Ultimately, I'd like to have the essay in draft form by the first of the year. I am thinking that I'll likely share the content via this blog since it captures my library school journey.

Selecting just three learning outcomes to write about in my reflective essay has been quite challenging thus far -- I have so much to say and very a limited space to do so...

Practicum: Complete

Utterly exhausted...

Yesterday evening, I officially completed LIS 7640 -- my public library practicum: I logged my last few hours at CADL, wrote a blog post about my activities and observations, and published a summary of my overall experience!

I wrote:

My practicum experience mainly focused on surveying both the legal community as well as the library's patrons as to their legal information needs, reviewing and then weeding the library's legal collection, and creating a pathfinder of legal resources. For these projects, I utilized knowledge and skills acquired from LIS 7340 (Collection Development with Dr. Holley).

My secondary projects involved creating three annotated bibliographies for the library's young adult department -- Hunger Games Read-Alikes, Exploring Books Across Genres: A Guide to Teen Lit for Girls, and Exploring Books Across Genres: A Guide to Teen Lit for Guys. For these projects, I utilized knowledge and skills acquired in LIS 6530 (Young Adult Literature with Suzanne Todd) and LIS 7250 (Programming for Children and Young Adults with Suzanne Todd).

I am very satisfied with my experience and I am aware that my site supervisor is satisfied as well: "You give me new faith in the profession and what it is and will be. Thanks for everything you’ve done and especially the joy and enthusiasm you bring." Dievendorf provided me with a copy of my evaluation and it honestly brought tears to my eyes -- it was that touching. While CADL is not currently hiring, I have been asked if I would be interested in working on additional projects for the library. I am honored and have already made arrangements to do so.

As part of our final practicum posting, it was optional to provide a picture. Before leaving, I made a point to take snap a picture (via my webcam) which I've embedded in this post. I would have much rather used this picture (which I snapped on my way to my practicum earlier in the week):

So...now all I have left is finishing up my research proposal for LIS 7996. Currently, I am over halfway done writing the literature review and then I will be onto methodology, analysis of the data, limitations, and possibilities for future research.

In the next day or so, I'll share photos from my practicum experience -- mostly snapshots of various books in which I encountered while working. Only the bibliophiles out there will likely appreciate them.

Proposal Writing

Last night, shortly before calling it a day, I received feedback from Dr. Charbonneau concerning the outline I submitted for my research proposal in LIS 7996 which just happens to be the capstone project. 

With the proposal due in just two weeks (12/9 @ 9p), in the spirit of being proactive, I spent the better part of the day working on the draft -- mostly the introduction which included: statement of the problem (my topic); conceptualization of censorship, intellectual freedom, challenges, expressions of concern, oral complaints, written complaints, public attacks; and the purpose of the study. (Nearly three pages of content.) Tomorrow, I will focus on laying out the research questions and the literature review.

It is my sincere hope to actually conduct the proposed study with my friend and LIS colleague, Janet Curtiss.

Unfortunately, after an unexpected BoS while working on my outline last week, I've been dealing with Office 2007 stability issues on my laptop, Patton, ever since. I haven't been able to successfully format my document without the program locking up. I'm currently downloading Office 2010 from the School of Library and Information Science in hopes of rectifying the issue. I really don't want to work on this project upstairs in my office on the desktop. *fingers crossed* (Thank you, Jaysen, for tech support and listening to me rant earlier.)

Breakfast for the brain: cheese omelet, hash browns, and rye toast

Go Placidly

I've not forgotten about this blog. Promise.

Between class, my practicum, workshops/trainings, the election (yes, I am now an elected township official) and some unfortunate family drama, I've had quite a bit on my plate lately. My practicum has been going extremely well. I have been loving every minute and will be sad once I've reached my hours. Unfortunately, the library is not in a position to hire at this time.

Tomorrow is a homework day. I hope to have the outline for my research proposal for LIS 7996 complete or at least as close to complete as possible.

Until I can write a more substantial post, I'll leave you with a poem which was recently shared by a library colleague and is incredibly fitting...

Desiderata (1927) by Max Erhmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Midterm

Midterm time is here. In hopes of preparing for next week, I've blocked off today for some much needed quiet library time in order to work my way through a study guide for LIS 7996.

Which library am I working out of today? Oxford Public Library in northern Oakland County...and in my favorite study spot: the northernmost bump-out. I've been here since shortly after the library opened at 10a and hope to make some more progress before breaking for a late lunch in a few hours. 

Whirlwind

Busy doesn't even begin to describe this semester...and I cannot get over how fast it's moving along. It's been a whirlwind...

I've been spending my time doing homework/reading for LIS 7996, working at my practicum site (Caro Area District Library), and attending workshops to broaden my learning experiences...

Earlier in October, as part of my practicum project, I launched a survey in hopes of raising awareness and gaining insight into the information needs and practices of the legal community in Tuscola County. This morning, a similar survey targeting patrons and their legal information needs was launched within the library. 

Last week, I attended two "meet the candidate" sessions at Thumb area libraries which were facilitated by Bryon Sitler, Director of White Pine Library Cooperative. Session 1 was at Rawson Memorial District Library and featured 84th District House candidates Terry Brown (D) and Dan Grimshaw (R). The second session was held at Sandusky District Library and featured 83rd District House candidate Carol Campbell (D) -- Paul Muxlow (R, incumbent) was not present. All of the questions in which Sitler asked were relevant to libraries and the various issues in which they face.

Terry Brown (D), Me, Dan Grimshaw (R)

Carol Campbell (D) and I

To bed I go...

Slaying of a Hypothesis

Epigraph from chapter 5 in the Wildemuth text (LIS 7996):

"The great tragedy of science -- the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact." --Thomas Henry Huxley (1907)

A Fair Assessment

From the epigraph in chapter 4 of Applications of Social Research Methods to Questions in Information and Library Science (Wildemuth, 2009): 

"To describe is to draw a picture of what happened, or of how things are proceeding, or of what a situation or a person or an event is like. Description is concerned with making complicated things understandable." --Keith Punch (1998)

This afternoon, I start my practicum at Caro Area District Library under the supervision of Library Director Marcia Dievendorf. To say that I am excited is an understatement and to mention that I am nervous is a fair assessment. For my practicum class, I am required to keep a blog (embedded within Blackboard) to record my candid thoughts, observations, and reflections. I plan on doing a watered-down version here that will just capture my experiences without reporting any sensitive or confidential information.

In other bookish news, yesterday afternoon, I picked up materials from Sandusky District Library for the upcoming book discussion groups that I am leading for The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I've been squeezing in a chapter here and there in between my readings for LIS 7996 so that the story will be fresh in my mind. I should probably record my thoughts and a few of my favorite passages here...

Formalized Curiosity

The following quote appeared in the first part of one of my textbooks for LIS 7996:

"Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose. It is a seeking that he who wishes may know the cosmic secrets of the world and that they dwell therein." --Zora Neale Hurston (1942)

The End is Near

I just registered for the very last class needed to complete my POW for a MLIS: a practicum!
I'm still awaiting word on where I'll be placed...and hoping that the library will be in a
position to hire in the near future. *fingers crossed*