So. FAST!

Everything's going so quickly here!  I barely have time to stop and breathe!  Now I really know why librarians never eat lunch: NO TIME!!!

But.  As hectic as they've been, these have been the four best weeks of my professional life ever.  I go home happy every night: I get to talk with students about books, help them find research tools, help teachers learn how to use Google Classroom and Chrome Books, and work with administrators that support me.  I know it might not always be this good, but man oh man, I'm takin' it while I can get it now! 

Here's a super quick rundown of the haps in the MSJH Library the first few weeks of school:

WEEK 1 started with LOTS of non-fiction shifting.  LOTS OF IT.  That's ok, cause I found out that the collection has the very first non-fiction book I ever owned:

And, I found out there's gonna be lots and lots and TONS of weeding going on this year.

 Um..."up to date" books on America's hottest, most popular teen idols???

I also found out that some people don't know how to take care of their books. 

 Just COPY THE PAGES, people!  Don't let the sticky notes get caught in there!

WEEK 2 began with some staff training and meet and greets.  I'm super nervous about being evaluated, since that hasn't happened in over three years, and they're using a evaluation tool.  How does a librarian show student growth for 600+ students?  I don't know, either.  We'll find out TOGETHER!

During WEEK 3 I found out that students really, truly check out books here!  Our (already weeded down) fiction collection is now looking a lot less than healthy, and since I forgot to take a picture of my first display.  I thought I'd have lots of time (since books were hardly every checked out last year) to take a photo, but I only got this one, which has lots of holes in it.  Oh, well!

 It was COMPLETELY FULL...I swear!  I should've written all the titles down, like I did last year at Uni, but as a lonely librarian with no aid, there's not time for stuff like that.

This WEEK 4 has started off well, too.  I've already completed another display (more on that later), and I found out I get to have the privilege of getting a Chrome Cart up and running by testing on Wednesday.  That means...I BETTER JET!  (Like I said, things are moving so quickly!)

One side note...Remember how I said I've gone home happy every night?  I felt a lot of guilt about that last week.  I don't feel like I should be so happy when I go home.  Almost like, if I'm not struggling then how can I be making a difference?  Well, I got so guilt-ridden last week that I started to cry on my husband's shoulder.  (OK, OK, you got me: it was UGLY crying.)  He said if I'm happy every night when I come home I can be a better mother AND better educator.  He's right (AGAIN), but I do feel like I should have to suffer for my art. 

School's Out Forever! (?)

Wednesday, August 5, 2015,marked my last time in a GSLIS class.  I was so full of emotion and gratitude that I cried.  That's not hyperbole.  I actually cried.  It's been a dream come true to be a part of the GSLIS family, and it's something I am going to miss immensely.  I've been in the presence of greatness many times, whether it be with world-renowned faculty teaching me (Christine Jenkins and Carol Tilley to name ONLY two) or spending time with classmates who challenged me and pushed me to worker harder than I ever have before and inspired me to approach problems and topics from new angles.  I will think of them fondly and often as I make my way into my own library.  (Well, sort of my library...it really belongs to the kids, let's not forget!)

I had to take a few photos on that last day, so if you'll indulge me...

 

 One of my instructors, Betty Bush, would always do a trivia question at the beginning of class.  You could write down what you thought was the correct answer on a piece of paper, put it into a drawing, and whomever she would draw WITH THE CORRECT ANSWER would get a rubber duckie.  I was in her class for two consecutive semesters.  I NEVER won a duck.  She brought me this graduation duckie on my LAST CLASS.  And, THAT'S why I cried...in front of EVERYONE.

 With my two instructors for my last class.  Georgeann Burch, on the left, was also one of my advisors, and I had her in the Spring of 2015 for Youth Media Center.  The infamous Betty Bush is on the right.  I was told how awesome she is before I even got into the program, and I had her for Youth Fiction and Youth Informational Texts.  She's the one who brought me my duckie!

 On my way out.  :(

 Where I've spent the last two and a half years.

Four full semesters and two summer sessions later...here I am.  All done.  Smiling and sad at the same time.  As always, I am looking forward to the next stage of my life with GREAT excitement and anticipation.  

I hope GSLIS will welcome me back at some point.  I'd love to share my knowledge of the field with others.  Who knows?  Maybe after getting a few years under my belt as a school librarian I can be a guest lecturer.  (That would be aces!) 

After earning a Bachelor's Degree from (English/Education, 2002), a Masters of Education (C&I/Literacy, 2003), and Masters of Science (Library & Information Sciences, 2015)--all from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign--you might say school's out forever.  But, with me...well, you never know.  I don't think I have any desire to earn a PhD: research is not for me, and with my attention span, neither are countless dissertation revisions.  I might go for my Certificate of Advanced Studies in LIS, though.  In fact, I might have already made early plans with another school librarian buddy to do just that.  UIUC, you might not be done with me yet.  As for now, though, you've given me nothing but pleasure: challenging and rewarding coursework, inspiring mentors, and the ability to pursue my dreams (once again).  I thank you, dear Alma Mater.