Settling in

One of the fascinating things about being a new librarian is that everything you do is new (this is probably true of every profession, but I think it needs to be said anyways). Learning a subject area, teaching students, liaising with faculty, purchasing materials – all of it is unfamiliar territory at the beginning. Combined with all the other aspects of starting a job, the first one or two years is often a very exciting period (and, let’s be honest, somewhat nerve-racking at times).

It’s been a year and half since getting my first academic job, and that time has gone by in a blur. I’ve changed positions a couple of times, which has contributed to the blur and meant that I’ve had a lot of variation in duties. However, now that I’ve moved into a tenure-track position, I’ve come to the equally exciting realization that some things will become more of a routine over the next few years. The classes I am teaching for the first time will come around again next year; the relationships with faculty members who I am meeting now will continue on over the years.

It’s a nice thought - rather than concentrating solely on doing things with at least a basic level of competency, I can now work a little more on refining what I’ve already done, experimenting with new ideas, and building on my experience. Of course, even if I am over the initial learning curve, I don’t expect to do any less learning! There are always new challenges on the horizon.