New Year, New Librarian

I had an awesome New Year's Eve.  My closest friends and I wanted to go out, have a few drinks, celebrate quietly and go home so we could wake up refreshed and enjoy a leisurely breakfast.  Of course, since we wanted to keep it casual, it got a little crazy.  I mean, not super crazy, but still crazy enough that we all laid around on the couch/floor/bed until late into the afternoon.  Even a few tumblers of champagne will leave me tired and grouchy for a few days- seriously a sign of getting older.

After a few days on the couch, reading and eating leftover holiday cookies (which I pretended made me a lady of leisure but really made me more of a lazy slob) I am ready to get back into the swing of things- finishing some reading for one of my classes this term, applying for more jobs, and cleaning.

I never make resolutions because I don't really like feeling stuck.  I read somewhere that, instead of resolutions, we should vow to do more of the things we like and I think that's always been my philosophy.  I don't necessary want to change because I'm always changing.

Anyways, here are my grad student/librarian "resolutions" (aka things I want to do more of) for 2012

-BE EARLY FOR WORK!! (I am always on time or one minute late if campus is busy and I kind of hate feeling that stressed on my way to work.  So, I am just going to vow to get places early and check my email and chill.)
-Make a new recipe every week (doesn't have to be super extravagant or exotic, just something I have never tried.  Some things in the back of my mind- homemade fish sticks, legit carrot cake, meatball subs, yum!!!)
-In that vein, continue to support local businesses and, likewise, spend time making more homemade food instead of buying prepackaged stuff (when my grad school schedule allows).
-Finish working my way through all of the James Bond films (I love them but am not as excited now that I've hit the Roger Moore ones. I mean, Moonraker is ridiculous- weird villian falling in love scene, awkward astronaughts fighting in space, etc.)
-Apply for awesome jobs and entry level jobs alike.
-Be more confident about my skills and abilities.
-Be brave and fearless about the future.
-Streamline my wardrobe to be more professional. Get rid of sentimental pieces I have not worn in a year or more.
-Read more nonfiction (being an English major has trained me to only browse the fiction section but, dang, narrative nonfiction is pretty amazing!).
-Carve out time to stay in touch with close friends

I think I can manage most of these things!  Happy 2012!

Librarian Birthday!!

Birthday Suit, originally uploaded by You dress like a librarian.

Via Flickr:
Coral Cardigan: Old Navy
White ruffle top: Old Navy
Gray skirt: Merona
Turquoise stone necklace: Target
Turquoise flip flops: Gap


Today is my birthday and so far I have had a wonderful day. It started out with Starbucks and fun reading. Then I finally got my hair cut (the hair cut I wanted a year ago, but instead got a really short cut that I have been growing out for a year. Yuck!). Then I did a little shopping and had lunch. Now I am relaxing with season 5 of Buffy (my favorite season- Spike!) before BBQ with friends. Oh, and a late night reference shift.

All my favorite things, including the coral and turquoise combination. It's my staple summer color combo and it felt essential as it is currently 85 degree here!!

Shhhh! This is a library!

The creation of this blog has been a long time coming.  It happened for two reasons:

1. Last year I applied to and successfully got accepted to my MLS program of choice.  When the inevitable question of what I was doing with my life came up at weddings, family functions, and parties, the most common response to my answer of "librarian" was this: "How wonderful!!  And you dress like a librarian already!"

I always laughed this off but in the past few months of starting school (I finished my first semester of the MLS program this past December, FYI) I've been pondering this statement more and more.  What does it mean to be a librarian?  More importantly, how does society peg librarians?  Is this stereotype truthful? Harmful?

That's why this will be a case study of my actions, fashion choices, and language as a librarian.  I hope to find out if I really dress like a librarian and what that entails.

2.  This blog is also personal.  It is a way for me to catalog the ideas and events that occur during my journey from library patron to full scale librarian.


So what will this blog include? A bit of everything: fashion, food, books, current events, and library theory.  It's not quite professional but more than a personal diary.


Who am I?  For the purposes of this blog I am a semi-anonymous stereotypical (up for debate) librarian.  I will tell you that I currently reside as a student at an MLS program in the Midwest.  I also am lucky enough to have a graduate assistantship where I work behind the reference desk at the University library and teach library instruction classes.  Eventually, I would like to be an Academic Reference librarian but also have a passing interest in cataloging.

Let the research begin!