Library School Advice from an Almost Librarian

I'm three days away from completing my degree, so here, in earnest, is my

Advice to New Library Students

1. Get involved, join a group, go out to events, volunteer for things; you meet more people, gain insight into the program and the profession, and it is both great experience for the workplace (where you will be working with…people) and provides a start for networking.

2. Join the associations and go to conferences; when you are a student you can join associations like the CLA and OLA for a heavily subsidized fee, you will meet people in the profession which is key, it may help you find a job and figure out what specifics you like about the profession.

Conferences are FUN! They are also great places to meet people, find out job prospects, have your eyes opened to new ideas and research & you get free stuff, seriously.

3. Go to BookExpo, this takes place in the summer, in Toronto and is a show where publishers come and preview new books, titles, authors.

The fee is very reasonable (if you join one of those associations I mentioned), covers you for 2 days and you can take home with you, all the books you can carry. There are author signings and you get to experience what is new and hot in the book world (more networking too).

4. Choose your elective courses according to what you love; what interests you and my own personal rule of thumb, what scares you a little. I’ve taken many courses in the academic realm, which is where my interests lie; I’ve also taken courses concerning internet communications, etc.

I took two courses that were based around presentations because this was an area I needed to improve (and I did) and it scared me a little (but was well worth it).

5. Take LIS 570 Instructional Strategies for Information Professionals, I cannot emphasize how valuable this course is, for any information professional, going into any area of librarianship.

It improves your presentation skills 200% and makes you look at the way you convey your message to people in very specific ways. The heart of this class is information literacy skills, which are transferable to any library and librarian.

6. Work if you can (10 hours or under for full-time grad students) or do the co-op option, anything you can do to gain real-world library experience will help you decide where you want to go and make the path there much easier to navigate.

7. Sleep is very important, you will get less than usual here; learn how to nap, find a place to live that will provide the ultimate conditions for sleep when you have the time, budget time to cash in your sleep debt.

8. Get organized, literally. Get a planner, 4 month calendar, daily calendar, blackberry with reminder notes; whatever helps keep you on track, there are lots and lots and lots of assignments to keep track of and you need to know what is coming down the line.

9. Join Facebook, there is a large community of librarians and there is already a large contingent of FIMS students with specific groups, etc. This will help keep you connected and again, is good for networking.

10. Figure out campus as soon as you can, find the libraries, you will need them; find the computer labs you’re allowed to utilize beyond NCB, as they get busy, quickly.

Go to the UCC, there you will find SOGS (bus pass), Student Health Services, travel cuts, bank machines, the gym and pool (you’re a student, it’s free), Western film (affordable first-run movies), and more.

11. Check your mailbox in the student lounge, check your email; these are the ways the university and your professors will send all the essential information and hand back your assignments.

12. Go to student events; library students are fun, everyone can find something in common and it is important to take your breaks whenever you can.

13. Lucky Thirteen! This is my final piece of advice and what I consider to be the most pivotal: Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously. This is key, you will burn out quickly if can’t take things in stride. Learn to manage your time (you will whether you like it or not) and prioritize. Trust me.

M.

PS Ask the staff in the GRC how to troubleshoot the printer and photocopier, they know the secrets, and you don't want to end up like this.

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