Thing 10 tasks :
For this week’s 'Thing' I would like you to blog about your experiences as a librarian so far. Tell us about why you joined the career, where you are now and how you got there and what you are planning to do next. I apologise that this blog post has been rather UK focused and therefore I would love it if our international colleagues out there would blog about their experiences in their countries so we can learn more about routes in librarianship on a global level.
My Contribution:
Why I joined the career: I have been a librarian since 1994 when I started working as a reference librarian in a University in my country. Librarianship wasn't what I had in mind as my interest in books was only to read novels and you would always see me in the novels section to select a novel and sort of run out of the library straight after (I love reading my novels in bed).
My dad orginally wanted me to study law like him but when it didn't happen, he got an application form for me in Librarianship as soon as I finished my first degree and was serving in the NYSC(Every fresh graduate had to serve the government in this scheme before you can move on in your career) because he had a Librarian friend who was the Head of the Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) at the National Theatre and who became a sort of icon after the Festac '77 was held. I wasn't too happy then as I regarded Librarianship as a boring career (Nothing can be so untrue as I found out later) but my daddy is someone you can't say No to. ( I'm happy I couldn't say No to that anyway). Studying medicine and working in the hospital had been my dream job but being someone who wasn't too good in mathematical subjects, I knew this was not my calling. I had always wanted to be a journalist after outgrowing the normal dream most teenage girls have of becoming models ;D
Where I am now and how I got there: I am in a sort of middle position now. Relocating into another country has somehow changed the equilibrium of things for me in my career. I can't complain because I've had a rich experience that I'm sure a good percentage of seasoned librarians have not had. I have had the opportunity to set up 2 libraries from scratch with huge budgets etc. at different times in my career, I have had the opportunity of revamping an hitherto unused library and won over enthusiastic patrons so much so that some had to be turned away on a daily basis for lack of space. I've had opportunities of working in teams and managing teams, I've had opportunity of working as both Reference librarian and Cataloguer and I've had to use so many different library software and OPAC systems, I've worked in Academic libraries, a Private library (for a very notable person, I was the envy of so many at that time), School library etc.
I got to my present position now because I relocated and I'm now gaining new knowledge that is so different from where I've been and this has made me more versatile in this profession.
What I plan to do next: I am an impulsive person. A very adventurous person who thrives on challenges of life and is never afraid of taking plunges. I don't have any particular plan in mind at present other than to grow where I am now but who knows... I feel there's still a lot for me to be had in my present state now and I'm loving it. I feel this is a stage of growing and pruning new wings.
International Experience: Where I come from, you must have a Masters degree in Librarianship in addition to a first degree in any subject to become a Librarian even though a first degree in Librarianship is now been had in some Universities (But this must be accompanied by a Masters degree). Librarians are part of the Academia in Universities and you must publish to be promoted. PH.D is part of the growing process and many have gone down that path. I remember chartership was introduced in NLA (library Association) a few years ago and a first set was chartered. I applied in the second set but it's still on hold now as far as I know because all modalities need to be put in place.
So far, it's been a rewarding career for me and I wouldn't trade it for any other.
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