backstory

I am recently returned from a fabulous conference in Chicago, IL
sponsored by Endeavor Information Systems called EndUser2006, focusing
on the ILS software Voyager and related applications. My knowledge of
the ILS system grew exponentially during this week and answered a lot
of lingering questions, especially of the how-to type, that had been
plaguing me on the job all these months. I'm afraid I don't do very
well when told to just "RTFM", as the I.T. people say. I need to be
SHOWN something--usually only once--then I get it.

Unforunately, as of 24 April 2006, I am no longer an employed Librarian at
Jack K. Williams Library of Texas A&M University at Galveston, and will not be able to put any of the aforementioned knowledge to use at that worksite. There were
definite communication/feedback problems between myself and my
director regarding expectations, reasonable outcomes, etc; There was
also a decided lack of local support for training on the ILS;
basically I had to teach myself, and consult with my
paraprofessionals, who helped as they could, but who possess no deep
understanding of the underlying structure and logic of the ILS.
Post-conference, I now have that deeper understanding. Unfortunately,
it no longer matters.

My immediate plans are to try to get a TEMP job back at my former
employer, AIG. Their turnover is so high that I don't feel this will
be much of a problem. It's stressful, thankless office work, but it
beats the alternatives near as I can tell. I also plan to go back to
volunteering at the local Houston art libraries that I volunteered
with before. I already contacted the Menil Collection, but unfortuately they've filled their last volunteer position with a current UNT library school student. They would be interested in having me drop by to chat about the Voyager ILS, however, since this is a library that still has not yet automated and still runs off a card catalog (yes, it still happens even in the 21st century, even in the US of A).

The good news for the rest of you is that a new position will be
opening up down at TAMUG very soon. Word to the wise: forget that mantra they told you in Library school about "copy-cataloging is not professional level work". That may be the rules for UNT SLIS practicums, but in the real world it is the kiss of death. Oh, and demand feedback from your superior, if you're not getting any. Don't assume everything is hunky dory--silence is NOT golden.

The position was pretty much sink or swim. I evidently sank. Better luck to
the next librarian, it's back to the drawing board for me.

I'm trying to look at this as a learning experience and a temporary
setback, though in my darker moments I wonder if I will ever work in
libraries again. Colleagues at other institutions tell me it can be
done. I'll try to stay hopeful. I met so many nice people in
Chicago; it's awful that the business cards I handed out are now just
meaningless information.

I'm moving out of Galveston permanently at the end of May at the latest--back to Sugar Land, I hope. My parents are supportive, but I know this is just as devastating to them as it is to me.

I even missed the Texas Library Association meeting this year on account of my dismissal.
That's like the 3rd time I've missed it in Houston. I wish I could be there, but my registration was of course cancelled upon my termination, and I couldn't afford to pony up for it myself at the last minute.

At least TAMUG is going to reimburse me for the Chicago business trip,
though for the life of me I can't figure out why they bothered sending
me in the first place if a dismissal letter was waiting for me upon
my return. It's all still so surreal and Kafka-esque. On 07 April 2006 I was given a letter of reprimand an a very specific job quota for cataloging to be completed no later than 24 May 2006. The week before EndUser I sat down with my copy-cataloging paraprofessional to review all copy-cataloging workflows. I knew a lot of my problems could get resolved at EndUser and I could come back refreshed and ready to tackle the quota, working nights and weekends outside normal work hours if I had to.

I had been hired 24 Oct 2006. My dismissal letter was dated 24 April 2006, which was 6 months to the day from the date of hire; I suspect that my director overstepped her bounds, thinking she could extend that probationary period 1 month into May, only to be told by university Human Resources that no, this wasn't possible, and if she wanted to fire me within the probationary time (which they can do for ANY reason) her last day to do so woudl've been 24 April 2006. My firing wasn't just, or moral, nor even in the best interest of the library. It was simply expedient. Nothing more, nothing less.


Well, life goes on, my friends. See you around.