“How’s School Going?”
Since I get this question quite often, here’s my attempt to answer it definitively.
I am taking 3 classes this semester- Cataloging, Special Libraries, and Foundations of Library and Information Science.
Cataloging is by far going to be the hardest of the three. There’s not a lot of reading, but there is a lot of hands on exercises , practical applications and the like. There are several short papers exploring online cataloging resources, comparison of different library catalogs, trends in technical services, etc. I’m glad that the class includes discussion of the future of cataloging and not just the practical aspects of current cataloging. As useful as the MARC21 format has been, I can see how a move to something new (and more flexible) would be useful, and I look forward to reading about the options.
Although I may perform some cataloging functions, I doubt I will ever catalog full time. However, I can already see that this class will help me understand how the library works, now to find things, and why things are the way they are. I’m quite glad that I am taking this class before my reference class. After this week, I have an assignment due every week for Cataloging – this class should keep me on my toes.
Special Libraries is a class I chose, in part, to balance out Cataloging. I knew Cataloging would be a lot of work, and hoped Special Libraries would offset that. I was partially right. The bulk of Special Libraries consists of field trips to various special libraries in Omaha and Lincoln. Four are required – McGoogan Medical Library, UNMC, the Nebraska Library Commission, Schmid Law Library/UNL, and Offutt Air Force Base Library in Bellevue. We then get to choose three other libraries to visit from a list, I will be going to the Nebraska State Library in the Capitol, the Lincoln Correctional Center library, and to the Ford Conservation Center in Omaha. Whew! We also have to read articles and websites in preparation for these visits, and develop meaningful questions. Not too bad. There is also a final presentation – we are to choose a recent book from the library profession and do a power point-ish presentation on it.
I think I will enjoy this class a lot, and I hope to come out of it with a better idea of my career options.
Foundations of Library and Information Science is a (duh) foundation course. It’s a bunch of reading and open book multiple choice tests. I really need to dive into this and get it done- many people have told me I can finish it in a couple of weeks easily.
I have looked at the course options for other library schools and, not surprisingly, there’s a much bigger variety of classes at other places. However, even with my limited options I’m still not going to be able to take everything I want, so it does not really matter to me. I imagine that I will never really be done with school, and as the reality of this wears in, I find that I’m ok with it. I get restless when I’m not learning something, and I learn best in a structured, classroom like environment, even if not in an actual classroom. I feel like, after years of waiting for my life to start, it did- what it took wasn’t an end to my education but a decision on where my education is going.