Mentoring

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is to give back to the profession that has been so good to me. Over the years, I've talked to several people, hired a few, who were thinking about going back to school for an MLIS. I've helped train both adult and children's librarians.

My primary advice to anyone thinking about entering this profession is to get experience in the library, any experience. The degree is very important, but library experience is just as important. Although any public service experience is valuable, library experience, especially while attending library school, is critical. It provides a means to implement and reinforce what is learned in library school. And in my opinion, the lack of library experience is the main obstacle new graduates face when entering the job market.

It is the responsibility of all librarians to help promote and develop the profession, to pass on the tools of the trade, and to share the wisdom that comes with experience. This does not mean that we need to adhere to the old ways of doing things. Just the contrary, we need to continue to develop and adapt to new ideas and perspectives. This is what keeps libraries alive. Out of these new ideas, come great revelation and change.

If you stop to think about it, the very idea of a free library was a dangerous idea. Many thought the masses would not be able to grasp the value of knowledge and books. Some thought that educating the masses would be the downfall of society. We are still here. The masses did learn the value of knowledge and books and society hasn't fallen, yet. Libraries have been instrumental in education, and are still so today. We are seeing a rise in library use as economic difficulties rise.

As a member of this profession for 32 years, I've seen the end of the card catalog, the implementation of computer into every aspect of libraries, and will probably be here for the end of the Dewey Decimal System. All these changes were or will be faced with great anxiety, but each one brought libraries to newer heights. Each has been more beneficial that we ever imagined. Libraries have always been on the cutting edge, each year brings change and growth. As a mentor it is extremely important to listen to the new ideas of the newest generation of librarians. Society and technology change, so do libraries. We as librarians need to continue to grow and change, too. Mentoring is a two way street. Both the mentor and the mentoree learn and grow from each other.

Going Green

The new buzz word in libraries is "Green." With the current economic crises in the world economy, Going Green makes even more sense. It's one of the cost effective things we can do in the library, as well as, at home. I just heard on the news today that the price per pound of recycled items has dropped drastically from last year. This may be due to the greater interest in recycling and I expect will continue to drop as the amount of recyling increases.

At the El Toro Library we have recently partnered with with city of Lake Forest to recycle used batteries. The staff is collecting bottles and cans for recycling. We are looking into recycling paper. There are several options on this. I haven't explored all of them or worked out the feasiblity. Do we want to recycle office paper, cardboard, magazines and phonebooks, hardcover books or all of them or part of them? Do we go with the county waste management services, look into private services or check into local services at the college or other institutions? Can we do this for free or how much are we willing to send? There are many options when it comes to paper and I feel that the amount of waste paper generated will steadily decrease during the coming decade.

I would like to have a Green Officer at the branch. This is a voluntary position, like a safety officer, responsible for monitoring our recycling efforts and education or assisting the public in their Green efforts. This officer would be responsible for displays in the library on Going Green, recycling, and conservation. Fliers, handouts, and bookmarks on Going Green tips can be created to give away in the library that would benefit people interested in doing more at home. The scope could be enlarged to include bibliographies and webographies, and even programming and speakers.

Much can be done with Going Green and there is much yet to do. It's time that we think a little more about what we are doing and how we can be more Green doing it. All of us can start with one small thing. It the small things that add up, just like a drop in the bucket will added up to a full bucket one drop at a time.