- A glimpse through the glasses of a second-generation librarian.
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Day in the life
Yay for the weekend! It’s been a busy, challenging week, but a productive one in the end. So just for something a little different, I thought I’d share a glimpse into a typical, varied day of an academic librarian.
7:15 am: Carpool to work with librarian colleague; on the drive, discuss Faculty Senate notes from previous afternoon.
7:55 am: Arrive at work, gather up mail. Update day’s schedule on my office doors so colleagues/students/faculty know where I am generally throughout the day. Put catalogs in collection development review pile; put professional journals, etc., in “to read” pile.
8:05 am: Catch-up time!
- Finish lesson plan prep, materials, and handouts for two upcoming classes; upload handouts to our online library handouts page
- Check email accounts for personal work email and library instruction for additional library instruction requests/questions/follow-up. Schedule a class. Make notes to follow up with another instructor about a special class request.
- Jot down notes from library instruction calendar and stats for upcoming department meeting
- Add things to personal to-do list
- Set up working lunch appointment with fellow librarian to discuss upcoming library instruction classes with in-depth assignments
10:30 am: Attend meeting with colleagues to provide updates from various library departments. Share stats and info on library instruction projects (I’m the point person and coordinator for library instruction); get feedback on project to update library tutorials.
12:10 pm: Eat packed lunch during working lunch meeting mentioned above; write lots of notes on revising assignments, handouts, etc. and follow-up questions for instructors.
1:00 pm: Check work email accounts again.
1:10 pm: Gather materials for class, walk to the other end of campus.
1:30 pm: Teach class on citing and ethical use of resources in the health sciences (really active class, lots of participation and student questions, yay!).
2:40 pm: Get back to office in library, follow up with a colleague about library tutorial project. Check work email accounts again.
3:00 pm: Head out to the Reference Desk for regular afternoon shift, touch base with librarian on prior shift about recurring assignments/projects/issues that have come up on the desk today.
3:05 pm: Reference Desk shift. While answering questions from users in person at the desk, check reference email and answer chat reference and telephone calls. Help out major groups of students coming in for library scavenger hunt assignment. Record stats on reference stats sheet. Check personal work email and draft emails about library tutorial project. Update to-do list for tomorrow. Rejoice that there are no meetings on my personal calendar tomorrow.
5:00 pm: Touch base with librarian coming on for the Reference Desk night shift about a couple of recurring assignments/projects.
5:05 pm: Gather personal items, head back home with colleague I car-pooled with. Heavy traffic on the freeway.
5:45 pm: Home!
5:50 pm: Check in with distance learning classes for which I am an embedded librarian; follow up with questions from students online, discussion postings, etc. Check work email one final time.
6:30 pm: Start thinking about dinner. 
Related articles
- Reflecting on Reference (lessonsinlibrarianship.wordpress.com)
- What are some challenges to doing DH in the library? (miriamposner.com)
- The library as a dangerous place (philbradley.typepad.com)
- Oh, she may be weary (reel-librarians.com)
- School libraries are still about teaching students ‘to use information efficiently and ethically’ (pennlive.com)
This entry was posted in Personal, Weekend special and tagged personal, weekend special. Bookmark the permalink.
Nice you are getting to car pool. Also interesting to see how your day goes. You are one busy lady! Keep up the good work. Proud of you!