Embracing My Inner-Bun
I'm learning that I may be more of a fan of anniversaries than the general population, and this year is a rather big one for anniversaries. On one hand, I think I just appreciate any excuse to celebrate, and being more conscious about the passing of time makes me feel slightly more in control. So gentle readers, be advised that this may be the first of many (more) posts about anniversaries and milestone in the life of Amy.
One of this year's big anniversaries is the 15th anniversary of my employment as a public librarian with "my" current library system. (According to Hallmark, traditional presents for this anniversary are crystal or watches).
Oh my thoughts about being a librarian are myriad and complicated, and (I have realized through hard life lessons) any blog post about such needs to be scrupulously screened by my inner voice of reason (and most importantly, Chad). Let me start with all the stereotypes about librarians...I know every practitioner of every career has to suffer misunderstanding and assumptions about their work, and while I'm sure I have been guilty of my fair share of unintentional accountant or real estate agent maligning, I am going to indulge in a little career self-righteousness.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the "naughty-librarian" stereotype. Actually, I wish I was better at bun creation and maintenance (sadly, they don't teach that in library school) and seductive hair letting-down. What I do mind is the stereotype (often perpetuated by librarians) that librarians are a mystic source of knowledge. Our job is not to know things, but to lead you to the authoritative source (and if that's through the Google, I will happily go there) that has the answer.
And I'm not quite annoyed, but a little mystified, by the stereotype that librarians are mild-mannered. Oh, how I often wish that was the case. In my experience, we are overly passionate (yes, passionate) and overwrought about all manner of things. Maybe it's just because we inflict this drama on each other that the rest of the world is happily oblivious to it. I also think it's ironic that we have the reputation of being mild-mannered yet mean at the same time ("Yo, don't make me shush your ass" said no librarian I know, ever).
And now seems as good as a time as any to go on the record and say I have NEVER seen "The Music Man," even though I'm not only a librarian, but also lived in Ioway for almost five years. This will be remedied next year, though, as the Guthrie is staging the MM. (I think former Iowan librarians who attend should get free drinks).
I'm sure anyone who has done anything for fifteen years looks back and sees high and low points along the journey. "Regrets, I've had a few; But then again, too few to mention." Actually, it's not too few, but too many, and too embarrassing to mention. But I am so thankful that I get to keep trying and learning. Yes, I think it's sexy that I now know even the smallest amount of html code.
I wish I had an interesting or noble librarian-origin story, but my career path has been mainly dictated by necessity and convenience. I accepted that my undergraduate degree (a B.A. in comparative religion) was cool but economically worthless, so grabbed on to the first Master's degree I came across that didn't require a foreign language proficiency. I also have to give big props to my sister for encouraging me to try being a children's librarian at the start of my career. Turns out presenting storytime was a natural fit with my desire to be the center of attention. And I know that many of fellow librarians sincerely want to help people and make the world a better place (probably where lots of the drama comes from). Honestly, while I agree with these ideals on paper, I am mostly content to just not actively harm anyone and not get yelled at (unless said yelling has future entertainment value).
One of this year's big anniversaries is the 15th anniversary of my employment as a public librarian with "my" current library system. (According to Hallmark, traditional presents for this anniversary are crystal or watches).
Oh my thoughts about being a librarian are myriad and complicated, and (I have realized through hard life lessons) any blog post about such needs to be scrupulously screened by my inner voice of reason (and most importantly, Chad). Let me start with all the stereotypes about librarians...I know every practitioner of every career has to suffer misunderstanding and assumptions about their work, and while I'm sure I have been guilty of my fair share of unintentional accountant or real estate agent maligning, I am going to indulge in a little career self-righteousness.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the "naughty-librarian" stereotype. Actually, I wish I was better at bun creation and maintenance (sadly, they don't teach that in library school) and seductive hair letting-down. What I do mind is the stereotype (often perpetuated by librarians) that librarians are a mystic source of knowledge. Our job is not to know things, but to lead you to the authoritative source (and if that's through the Google, I will happily go there) that has the answer.
And I'm not quite annoyed, but a little mystified, by the stereotype that librarians are mild-mannered. Oh, how I often wish that was the case. In my experience, we are overly passionate (yes, passionate) and overwrought about all manner of things. Maybe it's just because we inflict this drama on each other that the rest of the world is happily oblivious to it. I also think it's ironic that we have the reputation of being mild-mannered yet mean at the same time ("Yo, don't make me shush your ass" said no librarian I know, ever).
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| Storytime Lady! (These kids probably all have kids by now) |
I'm sure anyone who has done anything for fifteen years looks back and sees high and low points along the journey. "Regrets, I've had a few; But then again, too few to mention." Actually, it's not too few, but too many, and too embarrassing to mention. But I am so thankful that I get to keep trying and learning. Yes, I think it's sexy that I now know even the smallest amount of html code.
I wish I had an interesting or noble librarian-origin story, but my career path has been mainly dictated by necessity and convenience. I accepted that my undergraduate degree (a B.A. in comparative religion) was cool but economically worthless, so grabbed on to the first Master's degree I came across that didn't require a foreign language proficiency. I also have to give big props to my sister for encouraging me to try being a children's librarian at the start of my career. Turns out presenting storytime was a natural fit with my desire to be the center of attention. And I know that many of fellow librarians sincerely want to help people and make the world a better place (probably where lots of the drama comes from). Honestly, while I agree with these ideals on paper, I am mostly content to just not actively harm anyone and not get yelled at (unless said yelling has future entertainment value).
The best thing, without question, of the last fifteen years has been all the amazing people I have met and the truly awesome friends I have made. I am truly humbled to know so many talented, sexy, funny, and yes, smart, people (okay, mostly women) and get to call them my colleagues and friends. It's enough to make even my cynical inner-bun all mussed. Just shelve me under "177.62."
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