Showing posts with label adventure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventure. Show all posts
Thursday, January 8, 2015
"The Almost Epic Adventures of an (International) Librarian in Training" Origin Story
Good morning my readers!
I was recently asked as to the purpose of this blog and the explanation behind it's purpose, and I felt compelled to explain it once again in blog format.
"The Almost Epic Adventures of an (International) Librarian in Training"--The Origin!
I started the blog way back when because my good friend (and motivator to become a librarian) Erin Cataldi had one and I was jealous. I wanted a blog that would get the attention of readers, authors, professors, and others so that I could become popular (like John Green status following--hey! a girl can dream!). Soooooo, I began a blog and wanted to document the reviews of books that I had read, as well as other adventures that I participated in.... that was the original vision.
There were moments where I documented my running training (see "Road to Disney" adventures on my Facebook), and where I even wanted to share with the world about a sale on Paul Mitchell shampoo, and I had lost the original purpose of the blog and what I wanted: an area in which I could share my ideas related to reading, researching and response, the latter being a term that I feel applies to motivation to do things yourself.
"Librarian in Training"
I will be done with the Masters of Library Science program in May, 2015 and wanted to share things that I had encountered within my graduate studies and research on this blog. There is a HUGE research trip coming up that I will be documenting on this blog, so please please please please please please follow along. #Iceland all the way baby.
"(International)"
See "#Iceland" above...I'm going to travel the world and see how different libraries work and how different groups of individuals learn and share information. This is the basis for educational systems, so in a sense, I'm making the world a better place by finding out how it operates...After all, the first step to success is to stay informed right?
"Epic Adventures"
There are things that I would have never thought about doing 5 years ago that I am currently doing. I never thought I'd be a librarian. I'd never thought that I'd be in charge of 11,000+ books and materials. I'd never thought I'd be in a brand new shiny space of a Media Center. I'd never thought I'd stay in Indianapolis AND love it! I'd never thought that I'd have the opportunity to travel the world to talk about books and learning and education! I hate that "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" question because the answer will always be wrong!! You can't envision yourself in the future, because amazing things take time to grow and minds change. And don't take anything for granted that you haven't worked your butt off for.... I've learned that many a times and sometimes the hard way.
Note: "epic" is a term that is defined as, well, epic. I never thought I was doing amazing things until others started telling me. People would call me "awesome" or that I "rocked"...and I never let it go to my head until I was completely stressed out in the dumps and thought about it.... I've worked hard, always tried to have a smile, and thought positively. I've tried to pray, ask for help, and apologize, and every time that I have, things have gotten a little better and I've become a better person because of it.
Now onto...
"Almost"
Things are only truly "epic" when others take part. I enjoy sharing my adventures, but they would be much more impactful for others to know what I am doing.... Hence, this blog. If you have a Google account, you can subscribe <--see what I did there?? ;)
"The" and "an" and "of"
Those are grammatically required words needed in the phrase so I don't look like an idiot.
That is all :)
Saturday, December 27, 2014
The Idea
"An idea. Resilient, highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it's almost impossible to eradicate. An idea that is fully formed, fully understood. That sticks, right in there somewhere." -Inception
From a young age, I've always loved to read, but a more guilty pleasure of mine was to play pretend and act out scenes from the latest bedtime stories. For those of you who know me well (or will be soon by keeping up with blog posts), Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie is my favorite book. Growing up, I remember hiding in my tree house as if that was the Lost Boys lair, laying facedown on my swing set pretending to fly, or running from the "crocodile"--a part so lovingly dictated to the family's dog. This story, spoilers aside, is all about achieving your dreams, seizing reality, and ultimately living the biggest adventure.
For me, I have many adventures that I want to cross off my list: educate others, travel, conquer impossible tasks, and be silly. After all, being smart, active, confident and always having a smile were all traits that my mother taught me when it came to being a lady ;) But how could I achieve all of those things in the little lifetime that we are given here in this world...especially when the logistics of actually making a living in this society?
As a high school librarian (Media Specialist is the official title, if you want to get technical),I encounter students on a daily basis that have the same appetite for adventure that I do, but often these students feel isolated with their cravings, because they believe that no one else is like them in their search for further knowledge, adventure and exploration. How could I help this group of people (albeit young adults, teens are still considered people), especially when they are in the final stages of education before they venture into the adventure of adulthood?
While working on my Masters of Library Science at IUPUI, I found that many groups of students in the United States are encouraged to read in the public school systems because it leads to increased test scores and overall achievement. In the American culture, and as a former student, now current educator, reading seems to have become a requirement for today's students. In contrast, the United States is often compared to other countries in achievement, and reading is a skill that is more often than not, included in the comparison. In classwork, graduate students discuss how users access their library, and how materials could be or are of value to their patrons... and every colleague I've ever encountered has always been examining this situation from the American Library Science perspective. With this being said, what are other countries doing in regards to reading, and how is school achievement correlating to the use of the library?
Now to conquer the impossible task.... How can American school libraries learn from other libraries in different countries? <--- That question right there makes me feel nervous and ballsy at the same time...But, I've been told that I often "Tara-ize" things by doing them my own way, so let's manipulate this situation as well.
I have plenty of access to American libraries. In fact, I possess 4 different library cards, as well as know double digits of librarians that would help me out at a moment's notice (Facebook--duh). But what would make this experiment into a true adventure would be to throw in a contrast element... let's say.... a different country, in which I could tour library facilities, observe librarians, and document interactions that occur within the libraries. From there, I could use the information I have gathered and researched into developing a larger picture into how libraries work.
It's getting real people...
I will be visiting Reykjavik, Iceland the week of March 21-27, 2015 to investigate how international libraries work. WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO
From a young age, I've always loved to read, but a more guilty pleasure of mine was to play pretend and act out scenes from the latest bedtime stories. For those of you who know me well (or will be soon by keeping up with blog posts), Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie is my favorite book. Growing up, I remember hiding in my tree house as if that was the Lost Boys lair, laying facedown on my swing set pretending to fly, or running from the "crocodile"--a part so lovingly dictated to the family's dog. This story, spoilers aside, is all about achieving your dreams, seizing reality, and ultimately living the biggest adventure.
For me, I have many adventures that I want to cross off my list: educate others, travel, conquer impossible tasks, and be silly. After all, being smart, active, confident and always having a smile were all traits that my mother taught me when it came to being a lady ;) But how could I achieve all of those things in the little lifetime that we are given here in this world...especially when the logistics of actually making a living in this society?
As a high school librarian (Media Specialist is the official title, if you want to get technical),I encounter students on a daily basis that have the same appetite for adventure that I do, but often these students feel isolated with their cravings, because they believe that no one else is like them in their search for further knowledge, adventure and exploration. How could I help this group of people (albeit young adults, teens are still considered people), especially when they are in the final stages of education before they venture into the adventure of adulthood?
While working on my Masters of Library Science at IUPUI, I found that many groups of students in the United States are encouraged to read in the public school systems because it leads to increased test scores and overall achievement. In the American culture, and as a former student, now current educator, reading seems to have become a requirement for today's students. In contrast, the United States is often compared to other countries in achievement, and reading is a skill that is more often than not, included in the comparison. In classwork, graduate students discuss how users access their library, and how materials could be or are of value to their patrons... and every colleague I've ever encountered has always been examining this situation from the American Library Science perspective. With this being said, what are other countries doing in regards to reading, and how is school achievement correlating to the use of the library?
Now to conquer the impossible task.... How can American school libraries learn from other libraries in different countries? <--- That question right there makes me feel nervous and ballsy at the same time...But, I've been told that I often "Tara-ize" things by doing them my own way, so let's manipulate this situation as well.
I have plenty of access to American libraries. In fact, I possess 4 different library cards, as well as know double digits of librarians that would help me out at a moment's notice (Facebook--duh). But what would make this experiment into a true adventure would be to throw in a contrast element... let's say.... a different country, in which I could tour library facilities, observe librarians, and document interactions that occur within the libraries. From there, I could use the information I have gathered and researched into developing a larger picture into how libraries work.
I will be visiting Reykjavik, Iceland the week of March 21-27, 2015 to investigate how international libraries work. WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO
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