If I say librarian, what pops into your mind?
An old lady, high, tight bun, and glasses perched precariously on the edge of her upturned nose?
A sharp "shhhh" aimed at you for the squeak your chair made?
Maybe it's the ear-worm song from The Music Man; sing with me now: "Marrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrian. Madame Librarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrian."
Well, I think I can happily say that I don't fit that stereotype. Well, maybe the singing part.
In fact, I'm technically not allowed to call myself a librarian.
I am a book-loving display diva who has been happily ensconced in my cubicle of a south Georgia library for almost two years.
But I'm not a librarian.
I can find almost any material you could want in our library, honestly, in most libraries.
But I'm not a librarian.
Why?
Because the American Library Association says I'm not. I lack on teensy weensy detail: a Masters of Library and Informational Science(an MLIS).
I guess I understand the logic: a doctor isn't a doctor just because he or she has a passion for the field. A doctor is a doctor because they studied for years and hold a Ph. D.
But a teacher can be a teacher without a Masters degree. An accountant can account without a Masters degree.
I don't want to save someone's life. I just want to inspire minds, to bring people into worlds they may not have ever considered before.
Why don't I just get a Masters? Well, I'm a proud member of the student loan debt generation and while I did start an MLIS grad program where I was paying each semester at a time, I was forced to stop when other financial responsibilities got in the way. Libraries don't pay much y'all.
I don't have anything against the degree, I have colleagues who hold them, honestly, if I ever get to a place where I can afford tuition and my bills, I will probably go back.
My problem is being told that I'm not a "real" librarian because I lack a piece of paper.
I've met MLIS librarians who didn't care two figs for what a patron needed or wanted. I've met MLIS librarians who couldn't do the technical services processes that I do on a daily basis.
Am I just imaginary?
Maybe I am. Maybe I'm a unicorn in library world. I guess that's okay-I've always enjoyed being different.
Truthfully, I'm a rebel.
I love food, baseball, Minecraft, genealogy projects, and my fiance.
I spend my days cataloging books, creating displays and library marketing projects.
I am a librarian. And these are my adventures.
An old lady, high, tight bun, and glasses perched precariously on the edge of her upturned nose?
A sharp "shhhh" aimed at you for the squeak your chair made?
Maybe it's the ear-worm song from The Music Man; sing with me now: "Marrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrian. Madame Librarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrian."
Well, I think I can happily say that I don't fit that stereotype. Well, maybe the singing part.
In fact, I'm technically not allowed to call myself a librarian.
I am a book-loving display diva who has been happily ensconced in my cubicle of a south Georgia library for almost two years.
But I'm not a librarian.
I can find almost any material you could want in our library, honestly, in most libraries.
But I'm not a librarian.
Why?
Because the American Library Association says I'm not. I lack on teensy weensy detail: a Masters of Library and Informational Science(an MLIS).
I guess I understand the logic: a doctor isn't a doctor just because he or she has a passion for the field. A doctor is a doctor because they studied for years and hold a Ph. D.
But a teacher can be a teacher without a Masters degree. An accountant can account without a Masters degree.
I don't want to save someone's life. I just want to inspire minds, to bring people into worlds they may not have ever considered before.
Why don't I just get a Masters? Well, I'm a proud member of the student loan debt generation and while I did start an MLIS grad program where I was paying each semester at a time, I was forced to stop when other financial responsibilities got in the way. Libraries don't pay much y'all.
I don't have anything against the degree, I have colleagues who hold them, honestly, if I ever get to a place where I can afford tuition and my bills, I will probably go back.
My problem is being told that I'm not a "real" librarian because I lack a piece of paper.
I've met MLIS librarians who didn't care two figs for what a patron needed or wanted. I've met MLIS librarians who couldn't do the technical services processes that I do on a daily basis.
Am I just imaginary?
Maybe I am. Maybe I'm a unicorn in library world. I guess that's okay-I've always enjoyed being different.
Truthfully, I'm a rebel.
I love food, baseball, Minecraft, genealogy projects, and my fiance.
I spend my days cataloging books, creating displays and library marketing projects.
I am a librarian. And these are my adventures.
