Welcome to my Blog!
My name is Lorelle (pronounced lore-el) and I’m so glad you’re here.
Here’s why I’m here:
After years of career uncertainty, I had the epiphany to pursue library science while on a beach. At night. Atop a lifeguard stand. Looking out at the moon over the ocean.
I always knew I wanted a career I could ethically stand behind, and this led me across the tri-state area, accepting professional opportunities that were rich in experience but often temporary or low in pay. Tired of running to the next nonprofit, I needed something more sustainable. Although I’d never seriously considered working in a library before, my epiphany led me to do some research. Here’s what I found:
Full time librarians are by and large respectfully paid
Librarians can find work most anywhere (unlike nonprofits, where professional opportunities tend to be centralized in big city centers)
Work is varied and interesting (I thrive on variety!)
Opportunity to combine my reflex for serving and helping others with my natural rampant curiosity and passion for lifelong learning
It was a match!
My next step was to go straight to the source and find out more. I walked into my local public library branch to ask about working in a library at the main reference desk. As luck and fate would have it, my questions were met with enthusiasm by an adult/teen librarian who was roughly my own age. They gushed about the job, and seemed genuinely excited that I was interested in pursuing the path to public librarianship. I left with energy and insights, including the name of an ALA-accredited school to earn my Master’s. This school clearly seemed to be the top choice among local librarians who had pursued various programs, and was known for its quality and affordability.
I took the leap!
By the end of the month of August, I was enrolled in Clarion University’s 100% online Master of Science in Information and Library Science graduate program. In hindsight, I could not have asked for a better academic program and overall experience. For one year straight with no “vacation” breaks, I took courses that would shape my future:
Information technology
Reference services
Adult programming
Teen programming
Genre fiction and Reader's advisory
Collection development
Children’s literature
Cataloging and metadata
Library administration and management, and
Instructional strategies for librarians
Suffice to say, it’s been a whirlwind of a year. When faced with the next challenge, what did I do but pick up a book? I took advantage of curbside pickup at my local library, and checked out Jeanette Woodward’s A Librarian’s Guide to an Uncertain Job Market. Though I never anticipated graduating in the midst of a pandemic (one would think earning their Bachelor’s at the beginning of an economic recession would be enough), I plan to continue to work hard, using what I’ve learned to build a bright future as a public librarian, one step at a time.
I started this blog to:
Stay productive as I pursue full-time work as a librarian
Showcase some of the work I’ve done already, and add commentary
Stay relevant in a changing career field, and highlight the areas where I am constantly growing professionally
Hone my web management and digital content creation skills
In the past, I’ve struggled to find a way to communicate my true value to employers. This blog seeks to remedy that, and to offer a template for librarians and libraries seeking to share their own stories to obtain vital resources and funding. I aspire to share openly and honestly about the work behind the work that makes librarians (and libraries) more valuable than ever.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
Main photo by Bianca L.
