A Pause for Reflection

I hate to admit it, but I am terrible at consistency with blogging.  Mostly because I know that I can abandon it in favor of the more pressing issues of life, and pick it back up later -- but I feel like that's kind of a cop out in a way.  At any rate, finals are over, which is a blessing, and I'm currently at home ruminating over my first semester as a Library student.

I've concluded that while the classes I'm required to take /are/ important that the EXPERIENCE I'm getting working at the Archives of Traditional Music and volunteering at the Black Film Center / Archive have been the most valuable parts of my semester.  The cataloging skills that I learned at the ATM are invaluable for the career of music librarian, coupled with the class I took on it (even if I am still kind of worried about my future with RDA, since it was barely touched upon).  I was exceedingly lucky to get a job that taught me so much in so little time.  Not only that, but with a boss I respect and admire, and in a place where I could easily see myself working for the next year or so.

My management class taught me that while I may never consider myself by any means "business savvy" that the skills I learned at summer camp about leadership, teamwork, and role modeling extend far beyond any wooded area filled with children.  It kind of makes me sad, knowing that I will be unable to return to what I call "my camp" this summer, but I am currently hoping that I'll be adopted by a new camp, Interlochen Arts Camp, to work my summer as an intern.  I know that I am qualified, and am currently keeping my fingers (and toes!) crossed that it all works out.  Plus, I mean, I look good in powder blue.  (Part of the everyday uniform at Interlochen.)

My Reference class, while a bit of a grab bag of topics and skills, taught me about the reference interview, and the challenges that accompany it.  It made me extremely thankful for the wonderful reference librarians I've dealt with in the past, and will hopefully encounter in the future.  It also forced me into the creation of my second ever pathfinder, which I think is a good show of my skills in searching, researching, and promoting information on the web.

I am incredibly excited for next semester, because I get to start my internship, which kinds of rolls all of the above-mentioned skillsets into one job.  I am working as an Acquisitions intern in the Music Library, which means I'll be examining policies and budgets, and seeing what kinds of books and materials that I can find that can help better the library.  I have yet to pick a topic, which my adviser instructed me to do over break, but I am primed for the challenge.  My internship blog, which will have to be updated at least weekly, is located here and called, cleverly, The Sharp (#) Intern.  I have yet to add anything to it, but I will soon update it with my internship goals/timeline/information as soon as I have it available.  I'll probably do a short introduction post there as well, because it will be read by a different audience.

So now I have TWO blogs to maintain.  Hopefully this fickle mistress will be able to keep up with both.  Next semester holds challenges, as I am taking 12 credits, am the new Vice President and Social Chair for the Music Librarianship Student Group, and am the new Webmaster for the American Library Association Student Chapter.  It's going to be busy, and bumpy, but I love both of those wonderful alliterative words.

Oh.. did I mention I'm applying to PhD school?  Thankfully that will be done in a few days, and then I can really focus on my Winter Break activities, like a CD recording for "my camp" and getting to see my best friend, her new husband, and hopefully a potential love interest for New Years.  I don't promise many updates over this break, but I wanted to say Happy Holidays to everyone who takes the time to read.  You are awesome. :)