Our profession is steeped in a murky racial and gendered history. When Roxane Gay came on stage, the first thing she said to us was “man, there’s a lot of white people in this room.” And, she’s right. Librarianship has been feminized and white ever since Melvil Dewey. You remember, the Dewey decimal system guy? […]
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LOEX 2016: Grumpy conference notes and other things
The end of the Spring semester is a nightmare for academics most of the time, and it was especially so this year as I was finishing out my 1st full year at Paul Smith’s College and planning to conference the last week of the semester. Between visiting students in the residence halls, staffing the main […]
Professional growth: On moving on
This past semester was a whirlwind of change and sadness and joy. In August, I accepted a new position as the Student Outreach Librarian at Paul Smith’s College nestled in the Adirondacks of upstate New York. I have to say that it has got to be the most beautiful campus on earth. I can see […]
Marketing to Parents of College Students
I was recently asked to create some marketing materials that could be handed out to parents at New Student Orientation, and I jumped on the opportunity because anytime I get to be creative and draw, I’m happy. But, what do parents want to know about the library? Why should they care? This summer, I’ve spoken to […]
Library Marketing and Outreach Keynote Speech
Last week, I had the opportunity to give the opening keynote speech at the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) workshop at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. And you guys, it was awesome. I think this was the most comfortable I’ve ever felt speaking in front of an audience because the entire workshop was designed to get […]
Monarch Butterfly Workshop
Since 1990, nearly 1 billion monarchs have perished accounting for about 90 percent population decline. Like bees, monarchs are essential for pollination and like the bees, have fallen victim to excessive herbicide use on their lifeblood, the milkweed plant. Once flying by the billions over the United States between Mexico and Canada, only about 30 million remain. This […]
Creek House Honey Farm
This post is originally published at Local Llano. It’s the science behind it that draws George and Paige Nester of Creek House Honey Farm in Canyon, Texas together to produce sweet, floral, and bright local honey. An intense love of the bees — an entire ecosystem in your hands — a world encompassed in a […]
Why librarians make great mentors
I was asked last May if I would be interested in being a mentor for an incoming freshman at my institution, and I quickly said yes yes yes. In fact, last academic year, I was supposed to, but things fell through. So, I jumped on the opportunity this time and got in contact with my protege […]
Fall semester is here again!
Holy crap – is it really the first day of the semester? This summer has flown by, and I’m still sitting here in the dust. Luckily, having 6 weeks off for maternity allowed me some time outside of the workplace, but now that I’m back full-force, it’s still taking my body (and brain) a bit […]
An open letter to my students
Dear students– Today’s class was really a lecture on helping you help yourselves. I can only do so much as an instructor, but you have to put the time and effort into your coursework. You are the only person that can control the direction of your education – you get out what you put into […]
Amy Pajewski 