I have been a Librarian for 11 years now. Its hard to believe how quickly that time has passed. It seems like a lifetime ago that I realized I would need to enroll in graduate school right now or take the GREs again. I studied an hour a day everyday without fail for 16 weeks for those scores. Since my scores reflected the study time and I was unlikely to replicate the effort or the scores, that decision was easy. I enrolled post-haste and the rest is history as well as historical.
Becoming a Librarian was one of those decisions that felt right from the start and then circumstances lined up fortuitously to launch me on the path that brings me to right now, today as the library manager of a busy well-appreciated library. Just over 11 years ago, I announced to the owner of the Institute of Intensive English, that I would be moving to California. I had a succession plan in place and introduced the candidate, Ed Lee, to the owner. I am proud to say my instincts were right and the school that my team brought back from the brink of insolvency continues to thrive under his direction.
In 2006, I found myself in California as a newly minted Librarian that really didn't know how to be one. I was working more than full-time throughout my coursework and was not able to take an internship. I had a degree, no real library experience and I knew I wanted
to be a library manager. There were some major gaps to fill. One of my strengths is being able to quickly assess a situation, and develop a plan. I received considerable training from the County and I quickly became comfortable as a new Children's Librarian. I had previous experience teaching children and developing children and teen language programs at IIE, which were transferable skills. I read children's literature, child development, and early literacy books extensively. At the end of six months, I felt, I was not just a good Children's Librarian but a very good one. I remained a Children's Librarian of 6 months and one day.
The day after I passed probation, my supervisor the Regional Administrator met with me and offered me a promotion to Community Library Manager at a small library in the high desert. I had management experience but not library management experience. OK, I had the children's piece down, next came learning how to actually run a library and provide rounded reference services. I relied heavily on my Library Assistant to guide me through that first year of day to day life at the library. The Assistant Regional Administrators and the Regional Administrator were essential mentors that helped hone my skills to match the needs of the library system. I also drove down below most Sundays to learn reference OJT at the busiest library in the system.
During the first year as CLM, I took on the role of providing teen programming for the community. By the time my first anniversary came around, I was a rounded Librarian that could help most everyone that walked through my doors.
I now consider myself a generalist. When I read, I try to alternate between children, teens and adults--digital, analog. I want to be able to give quality recommendations and service to anyone that asks. So on any given day, I may discuss early reading with a concerned parent, offer non-fiction audiobook recommendations to a regular customer, recommend business and leadership books to recent college graduate, talk up books to teens or kids that are beyond the latest must reads, and help a customer find a new mystery author. In addition to reader advisory, I may also help customers set up their Kindles, upload resumes, or solve a problem they have with their library account.
I take great pride in the ability to step up to the plate any time and bat a homer
for most any library service need. Need to do a Storytime or a school visit--covered. Need a program that teens will find cool--check. Need to represent the library at community events--proudly. Need Adult, Teen and Summer Reading Programs--done. Need to handle a building or customer emergency--been there. Being a Librarian is more than about books, and ultimately it boils down to being about people. I believe that rounding myself professionally is the best way to serve the people that walk through my doors. I am grateful, that I have had the opportunity to round my experiences out and that I have embraced the role of being a Librarian for everyone. It is a good feeling to know at the end of the day, I have added value to other people's lives.
Please visit me at martawiggins.com for more adventures in Librarianship.