School's On for Summer!

Well, I've registered for the summer semester. IS 590: Picture Books Across the Curriculum with Amelia Bell. I would tell you more about the class, but unfortunately it's a special summer course, and has no write-up in my catalog. But as far as some of my other choices: IS 553: Specialized Information Agencies and Services or IS 534: Government Information Sources, Picture books seemed a good way to go. Of course, I may very well find myself in 534 come Fall anyway. I know it sounds kind of boring, but being as I've exhausted UT's young adult courses, I need to think further about a possible career path.

In my ideal world, I'd become the next Betsy Bird or head up Young Adult Services at the New York Public Library. Of course, in order to do that, I'd have to move to a studio apartment in another borough to afford to eat. So, before I pack my boxes and hop a train to BedStuy, I thought I would contemplate another subject on which to concentrate while I am in school. Since I recently learned that an academic library might require too much schooling, (I would need a second master's! One is enough for now!) I've been entertaining the idea of a corporate library. It's not the most karma-full job I could get, but I would still be doing what I love, and have enough money to eat.

Of course, I could remain in the publishing world and use my librarian knowledge to help me move ahead in this field. For right now, this is exactly what I am doing. Eventhough I won't be taking that course in E-Publishing this year, I hope to do that soon. Publishing is a huge part of the librarian world, but none of them seem to know much about it. Publishers and librarians are on the opposite side of the book universe. I believe it is a huge advantage to be learning both in great detail.

Just the other day, when my professor asked the class to discuss manuscripts versus books, my virtual "hand" shot up in the air. I was so glad to have something to share. Most of my classmates have at least one master's degree and already work in libraries. I often feel that I am at a disadvantage because of this. However, this last class gave me hope that I too can contribute knowledge from my own experience and enrich the lives of others as they have done for me. Perhaps what I am doing (besides dropping $10,000 a year on school) is special. Perhaps not. I really don't know yet. But I do know that starting June 3rd, 2010, I will be moving one step closer to finding out.