I’m really excited about this opportunity, it means a few things: I can make some money, I can get some teaching experience, my life gains some purpose, no more spinning of wheels. In the library, you do bibliographic instruction, but I don’t really feel it’s the same as teaching a term-long class from start to finish. I think a few terms of doing this could really push my teaching skills to a new level and make my library teaching sessions that much more impactful.

There is a bit of hesitation on my part. While my first college experience was at a community college, I’ve become pretty far-removed from this population. Do I really have what it takes to teach disgruntled adults who could be my parents? I learned that there is some bitterness and resentment in being in school again, not to mention having to take some ‘prep’ classes before they can get to the ‘real stuff.’ I can relate to this, they have families to raise, mortgages to pay, and now they’re in school again with no guarantee that it’s going to improve their situation.

In the meantime, I’m going to have to break out my grammar textbooks and brush up on ye olde English language. It’s highly likely I’ll get at least one developmental writing class, which means teaching sentence structure, parts of speech, writing organization, formatting, all of those things that are at this point instinctive for me.

So, I’m delighted at the prospect of a job that will give me some amazing experience until a career position comes along. However, a bit anxious at diving in head first as a full-time instructor.

Yesterday I received a book I had requested from the Bookmooch website. In a few words, it’s a book sharing website where you give away your unwanted books and request wanted books. There’s a point system involved to keep the book economy afloat, no money is exchanged as you pay postage to send books, but not receive. Inside the book was a pink slip of paper that read:

“I hope you enjoy the book!”

This is not the first note I’ve received in a Bookmooch book. I can’t find them at the moment, but a few others went something like:

“page 64 was thrilling for me!”

“not a favorite of mine, but I hope you like it”

I consider these slips of paper to be very thoughtful gifts. Have you received any such notes? Perhaps in a book from a used bookstore? A national retailer? A used textbook at your university?

I am intrigued by the note I received in my book, it could as easily have been passed along electronically in one of the notification/acceptance e-mails, but instead went analog. And, as far as I know, this note could have been from a previous owner. Perhaps it’s been sent along for a number of reader generations. There is apparently a following for found items, even a found item magazine! What have you found? Any favorites?

Functionally, it’s also much like the iPod Touch and iPhone. By default, it can use wifi, or for some extra blood money, it’ll access AT&Ts 3G network (for a monthly fee, of course). It can use the same apps as those devices, with a few productivity extras like iWork. The touch screen is the same, a beautiful, bright display with the best touch response on the market. This opinion post is not going to cover the features since there is already so much coverage of those.

Aside from its name, there are a few disturbing things about the iPad:

There is no Flash support. Flash is that video-like format that a good portion of websites use to deliver content. It’s like saying pictures won’t be supported, or links will not be clickable. This device is supposed to be the media solution of our lives, yet lacks a very popular format. Flash is an established web standard, let’s support it, mmmk?

The device comes with a dock and keyboard, but this is something you’ll leave home. If you’re going to lug this stuff around, you might as well have a laptop where it’s at least all connected and not 3 separate loose pieces clanging around in a bag. Aside from a quick text message or e-mail or photo tag, who really wants to type on a touch screen? Nobody I know.

USB port? Nope. No wifi network? You didn’t buy the 3G model? No desktop or laptop nearby? Forgot your cord? Sorry, you cannot transfer a damned thing. It’s a simple thing, and quite useful. It’s something I’d expect to be included.

Multi-tasking. If this device is to be taken seriously as a productivity device and not just a video viewer, it needs the ability to easily swap between tasks. Just like the other iDevices, only one app can run at a time, so good luck using Safari for some quick research and simultaneously writing it up in iWork. I realize that this is intended to keep the device speedy, but perhaps allowing 3-4 simultaneous apps? On such a snazzy device I’d expect to watch a video in one corner and IM in the opposite. Nope!

So to wrap up, the iPad is just a giant iPod Touch with a dock and keyboard accessory. If my opinion were counted, what device would I have requested? Well, I’m glad you asked.

My dream device is a modification on the existing Macbook Pro. Instead of the regular screen, replace it with the same screen found on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Allow the screen to swivel so it may be used like a regular laptop, or turn 180 degrees, then close, and now you have a tablet! This configuration exists with other manufacturers, including Lenovo. I think it’s the obvious and ideal solution: combine the best features of two star products.

One day I was throwing my own pity party and my mind wandered to when I was last working and happy, both at the same time. It was in the library at my undergraduate institution. There was some kind of special cocktail of building, collection, and people that just resonated with me. While I worked in this library, a few of the librarians quite seriously told me that I should also join the librarian ranks and go to library school. It took a year working outside of libraries for me to realize just how much they were where I belonged.

bright-eyed, fresh pre-grad michael, circa 2006

In a manic burst of inspiration, I began e-mailing the librarians I knew, as well as my former supervisor who was a library school student at the time. Tons of advice poured in, many lunches happened, and before I knew it, I was scheduling the GRE and polishing application essays after the admission deadline. The kindly program director allowed me to apply late and once my paperwork was processed and I had been interviewed, she gave me a big thumbs up!

Since then I have worked in a para-professional position in an academic library, quit my job (not my wisest decision), traveled abroad, and finished my MLS. In the year since, I have been looking for that ideal librarian job that must be out there. There have been a number of opportunities, very close calls, and a handful of disappointments. I have also learned much more clearly what I am looking for in a position, employer, and geographic location.

hardened, post-MLS michael, circa 2009

Now where does this put me? I am a year into a job search and without anything solid on the horizon. I have lost touch with why I became a librarian and what draws me to libraries. In an effort to reconnect with my motivations, I will brainstorm a bit:

• The shelves with the magnificent books
• Patrons, I like to watch them (in a non-creepy way)
• Co-workers, other people who are also excited about these things
• Information-seeking tools
• Culture
• Comfortable places to escape
• Helping patrons
• Making patrons happy
• Collaborating with co-workers and patrons
• Planning events
• Telling people about libraries
• Sharing a vision
• Creating cool tools
• Having fun with technology
• Getting things done

Though this list was written on the fly and without much thought, it really does help me remember why I want to do this, why I want to be in libraries. What would you add to the list?

Some additions are:

• Connecting people to the information they need (Erica F)
• Seeing students getting excited about research or figuring out a learning tool (Candise B)
• The library is a structure that helps make unstructured things possible (Caleb TR)