Willkommen und Lebewohl

E-portfolio landing page on Blackboard

MLIS in folders...

"Welcome to your last semester!"

Last night at 11:59:59p, my final, final project for graduate school was due: the infamous e-portfolio. Now...I wait, impatiently, for my score which will likely take a few weeks.

I'd like to thank my family, friends, academic advisers (Gonzalez, Mika, and Anghelecu), professors, LIS classmates, and colleagues for the support, encouragement, and the learning experiences gained throughout my journey.

Special and heartfelt thanks (Herzlichen Dank) to Christie Williams, Jaysen Chesko, Janet Curtiss, Melanie Most, Matt Fredericks, Sue Todd, Gail Nartker, Marcia Dievendorf, Kate Van Auken, and Birchfield Studio (Don and Andrea).

I am DONE! Rest assured, Hermionish will continue with my professional experiences and bookish adventures. 

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...

Oath of Office

On Tuesday, December 4, I took the Oath of Office -- pledged to support both the U.S. and Michigan Constitutions -- and am now officially a Trustee for Watertown Township in Sanilac County, Michigan.

While exploring in the township hall, I found some maps which I'd like to peruse one of these days:

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.

Practicum Update

Loving my practicum experience thus far and wishing that I could just focus my time, energy, and effort at my site this semester instead of taking a second class. My project for the semester entails working with the library's legal collection -- the 340s -- which includes resources for the area attorneys (CADL houses materials for the county law library) and building pathfinders/annotated bibliographies for the patron-base. After surveying the collection, I'll putting together a survey for the two populations in order to better understand their information needs.

I've been drawing on a lot of content in which I learned from my Collection Development class (dankeschön, Dr. Holley) as well as recalling my professional experiences in working with the legal community as well as clients needing legal advocacy. I'm thrilled to be working on this project for the library!

Pinterest for Public Libraries

Recently, a blog in which I follow -- Ideas from The School of Library and Information Science -- shared two posts written by Laura Brown on how public libraries can utilize the ever-popular Pinterest:

10 Ways that Public Libraries are Using Pinterest
10 More Ways that Public Libraries are Using Pinterest

(Thanks, Laura!)

Projects!

A week ago, I finished and submitted my final for LIS 6530 and later in the week watched the last lecture. So what have I been up to? Rebuilding the tractor registry for the Thumb Two-Cylinder Club -- while I am working from a print copy, the actual digital database was accidentally lost when my predecessor's hard drive was formatted. (I am currently on page 8 out of 12.)

When my eyes feel like I've dumped sand in them, I switch gears and work on an annotated bibliography of Holocaust literature for tweens and teens -- which I hope to publish in the near future.

Project soundtrack: Juno (Music from the Motion Picture)