Questions and Answers From Students and Teachers

Various Library Students and Instructors

Paige Bredenkamp

Why did you decide to pursue these credentials?

I did not decide to become a librarian until six years after I received my B.A. in English literature. It was only after working various jobs that I finally took stock of what was important in my life, with the goal of pursuing a career that was meaningful. Reading was at the top of the list, and a rewarding career that involved books and helping others read would be perfect. Looking into library science programs I discovered that with a teaching certificate I could become a school librarian, which sounded ideal to me. I wanted to work with kids and inspire as many as I could with a lifelong love of reading. With the degree I already had it would not take very long and many more doors would be opened. It seemed like a very positive change in my life and I was excited about the possibilities. I was also very nervous about returning to school as an older student, but the faculty was helpful and encouraging. In the summer of 2004 I enrolled in a library media program. I will graduate in December of 2006 and I could not be happier with my decision. I am ready to embark on my new career, one that I feel will be satisfying and rewarding and that fits my personal values. I am definitely excited!

What has been the best part of this educational experience?

One of the best things that has happened since coming back to school is meeting so many wonderful people. The students and staff are so diverse and have offered so much by way of experience and knowledge. With them I have discovered that being a library media specialist means using technology, teaching kids, working with teachers, and being a primary source for information literacy in the community. My traditional view of the librarian has turned into a vision of a professional who teaches teachers as well as students and who has a hand in making a school function at its best. This experience has opened me up to a world that, as an adult, I had forgotten: the world of wonder that children naturally have and that we tend to forget as we get older. I have enjoyed learning about technology and the role of libraries in education. I look forward to working in an environment where learning is a priority and that is filled with such variety. No two days will be the same. Plus, this is something in which I believe and I will play an important part in it. I also have a potential network of colleagues whom I can refer to in the future.

Why should someone else pursue these credentials?

Knowing what I know now about the field of library media, I would recommend it to anyone interested in a creative, rewarding career. As library professionals we uphold information standards, point the way to quality reading and research material, contribute to the education of our children, and manage learning resources. In this age of information overload we help students find their way to choosing and using quality resources. Librarians have shown that there is more to being a librarian than simply checking books in and out and keeping order in the library. It is a very dynamic and evolving field. Individuals who pursue a career in this field will find the challenge to be every bit what they were hoping for.

Paige Bredenkamp
Undergraduate Library Science student -Chadron, NE

Stacy Cook

Why did you decide to pursue these credentials?

I chose a degree in Library Science for many reasons. The first, and probably the most common among librarians, I would guess, is my love of reading and books themselves. The second reason I chose librarianship is because I have always worked in customer service. I couldn't imagine myself being in a field that didn't involve helping others. Lastly, the Nebraska Community Colleges recently began offering the Library Technical Assistant program and after 14 years away from school it was like a sign that this was the field I belonged in.

What has been the best part of this educational experience?

The entire educational experience has been terrific. It is impossible to pick the best part. The avid reader and library user I was prior to my enrolling in the LTA program in no way prepared me for what a librarian really does, the vast amount of knowledge and incredible array of skills they must possess as well. I must admit, with my head hung low, that to some extent I really thought a librarian just directed people through the stacks, located and checked out books while other people handled the more technical side of things such as the computers and databases. I truly had no grasp of all a librarian's responsibilities. The most interesting part is every lesson of every class. The subjects are so exciting, the discussions go in so many directions as we have academic librarians from elementary to college level, public librarians from rural towns, to big cities, and students who have no library work experience at all. I tend to be a visual learner and really like to have a teacher in front of me that I can pose questions to, so I was a bit concerned at first when I heard all of the LTA classes were online. I am almost finished with my second class and I have to say the online courses have added to my visual learning preference. Not only can I do the class work and read the discussion board postings at my convenience, in the comfort of my own home, but I benefit from the feedback of my instructor as well as all my classmates. I learn something every time I log onto my computer.

Why should someone else pursue these credentials?

I believe someone else should consider pursuing these credentials even if they are unsure of their interest in library science, it may open up a whole new realm of possibilities and interest for them, as it has for me. I had no idea how involved a librarian is in their patrons' wants and needs, many times before a patron knows what their wants and needs are. In the class I am currently taking, we've studied resources and legal issues. We've also studied how aware we are of our physical environment when we are being helped in order to get a better perspective into how our patrons may see our customer service. Our last assignment involved researching a place that may be in need of the kind of outreach services a library could provide and then creating a plan in which our ideas could be executed.

Stacy M. Cook
Library Assistance - Metro Community College, Elkhorn, NE

Debbie Covey

Why did you decide to pursue these credentials?

At the time I enrolled in the LTA program, I had worked in the school library for fourteen years. I did not want to feel that I had spent all that time in a job that I dearly loved and believed in to have it be over if I was ever laid off or decided to try to find employment in some other library. I was desperate in my quest to get the training. How would I learn about the library and still work my forty hours a week at the school library? I knew that there was so much more to library work that what I had learned in my four years in high school being in a club called Library Science, where I had hands-on experience in the school library, and working with the wonderful librarian that I was lucky enough to work with until she retired.

What has been the best part of this educational experience?

There are several things that are just outstanding with this program. Everyone that I have had contact with has been extremely helpful. All the people in this field are so kind, caring, understanding, professional, and they want you to succeed. They want to share all the knowledge about the library field with you, which is totally endless and so interesting that I feel like a sponge sometimes and just cannot absorb it all fast enough. The class material is so interesting and the discussions make you connect with your classmates and share so much. I have not really missed being in a classroom other than putting a face to the instructor and my fellow classmates. The instructors are so organized that they walk you though everything and are right there if there are any questions. If you put forth the effort to read the material and follow the instructions, there is no way that you will not be learning something about this wonderful profession. I have taken a lot of good information I have learned from each class back to the library that I work in.

Each class builds on the next. These classes are so informative about the whole library that you cannot wait to take the next one. There is so much information out there and the people that are involved with presenting these classes make it so interesting. I just do not think it could get much better. It works into my schedule wonderfully. I just wish I had more time to spend on them. You want to do the work and the research the class requires but it goes beyond that and for me it is as if I cannot learn enough. I do want library work to be my life's career.

Why should someone else pursue these credentials?

I am fifty-two years old. To continue to have a position in a library I feel I need to complete these courses. I would encourage anyone who wants to be in the mainstream of life to pursue a career in Library Science. I wish I would have done it a long time ago. These classes and instructors are making a dream come true for me.

Debbie Covey
Library Aide - Maywood Public Schools

Julie Humphrey

Why did you decide to pursue these credentials?
I have always had a love for books and a fascination with libraries. I began as a library volunteer when I was fourteen and have never looked back. When I was 16, I realized that I would never make a good teacher and began considering other career options. Being a librarian is, in a way, a similar occupation to teaching. For me, being a librarian is the best of both worlds. You get to share your knowledge and at the same time educate others in how to use the library, use a computer, or research topics. You get to solve problems through reader’s advisory. You get to plan events and try to encourage children to read.

What has been the best part of this educational experience?
I have made a great deal of friends while pursuing this degree. I now have a network of connections that I can draw from while I work. Thanks in part to beginning these classes, I have gone through three promotions in 23 months, from a library aide (shelver) all the way up to a Library Assistant III – responsible for planning special events for children and leading three Toddler Time sessions each week at the second-busiest branch in Lincoln. Being a grad student has given me additional knowledge that I wouldn’t have time to learn on the job. By working on my degree, I have gained so much knowledge that I did not have before, and that has made me much more confident in my abilities.

Why should someone else pursue these credentials?
I feel that anyone who wishes to grow in their field should continue their education. Learning should not stop when you are hired. By working on this degree, you learn of advances being made in the field that you either wouldn’t hear about until they were implemented in your library, or would never know existed. You also never know when the valuable connections you make will come in handy.

You also shouldn’t feel that your life is too busy to pursue this degree. I am not the only grad student I know that is working two jobs and has a family, and still has chosen to complete the degree. If this is the career you know is made for you, don’t let anything stop you. When you complete the courses, you will walk away with a sense of accomplishment, and you take with you many valuable lessons that can be applied daily.

Julie Humphrey
Youth Services Library Assistant III - Walt Branch Library, Lincoln City Libraries

Stacy Johnson

Why did you decide to pursue these credentials/endorsement?

I decided to pursue an endorsement in library media because I wanted to make a change in my career. I have an endorsement in K-12 music education and teaching music to young people has been a great joy in my life. Soon after I began teaching I realized that although I enjoyed teaching music I really could not see myself doing that for very long. I also knew that I loved teaching and enjoyed working in education. In my mind that left me with quite a dilemma! I began to look at all of the different things I could do and when the idea of being a library media specialist came up everything seemed to fall into place. I love books and reading, I enjoy learning about and working with technology, and I really like the fact that as a library media specialist I could be a part of a student's education on multiple levels.

What has been the best part of this educational experience?

Trying to pick out one part or moment of my educational experience and calling it the best is extremely difficult. The whole experience has been wonderful and meaningful. Each class and instructor has been top notch. I can honestly say I have grown as a professional in each of my classes. A lot of that can be attributed to the wonderful instructors who keep the course content relevant to current trends and issues in education and library media programs. Not to mention the other great people who have been in my classes! I have met and worked with many great people and fellow educators from such diverse backgrounds. All of these factors add up to form the wonderful educational experience I have had.

Why should someone else pursue these credentials/endorsements?

Someone should pursue this endorsement if they want to have a positive impact on their educational community. This was certainly one of my biggest reasons, but it was not the only one and I feel anyone considering pursuing this endorsement might feel the same way. Certainly if you have a love of reading, books, or the Dewey decimal system this is the endorsement for you. If, however, you want to grow as a professional, be on the front lines of your school's curriculum planning, help your fellow teachers design ways to use technology to enhance a lesson, or recommend a great book to a reluctant reader than you should absolutely pursue this endorsement. These are some of the best things we are able to do as library media specialists and I think anyone who finds this appealing should definitely look into pursuing an education in library science.

Stacy Johnson

Matt Rhode

Why did you decide to pursue these credentials?

I knew that I wanted to go back to school, but was unsure what I would pursue. I started working in the library, and thought then that a library science degree might help me understand my job even more. It definitely has! I have put to use the things I learned in class in ways that I could not even fathom when I was learning them. When I was in grade school, I wanted to be a librarian. Life sidetracked me into believing that I wanted to be an accountant for a while, but my love for books has brought me back to them over and over again. Having been a manager of a bookstore, and loving the experience of putting the right book in the right hands at the right time, made this choice an easy one for me.

What has been the best part of this educational experience?

This best part of this experience has been getting to meet, work with, and learn from people who are passionate about what they do. The people I have met all share a singular passion for books, learning, and libraries. Getting an opportunity to work with these new-found colleagues has been exciting, exhilarating, and profound.

Why should someone else pursue these credentials?

Only people who have a love for learning, books, and people should pursue this dream. This experience truly is a dream; a dream where people congregate in libraries to learn and share. If you are a person who wants to build relationships between business and people, or who wants to share, collaborate, and work in an environment that promotes lifelong learning, then librarianship is the profession for you. If you want to meet exciting, energetic professionals who have a passion for excellence, here is where you want to be.

Matthew Rhode
Day Circulation Supervisor, University Library, University of Nebraska - Omaha

Erica Rose

Why did you decide to pursue these credentials?

I chose to pursue an MLS (MIS, MLIS, MALIS –whichever you prefer) because it was important to me to have more than just a job. I couldn't bear the thought of dragging myself to a job that I didn't love or feel passionately about so I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do with my life. My criteria was simple: I needed to find a career that embodied something I enjoy tremendously and I wanted to do something that I knew would utilize my strengths and allow me to excel. I knew I wanted to be in a field in which my success would not be measured by numbers, but through the effect that my work has on other people. The library is a place that commands great respect and I've always been slightly in awe of these institutions. As a child, books were such a friend to me and reading is one of my great loves. One of my strong motivations for acquiring my MLS is that it will allow me to be in a position to pass on my love for libraries and information. I feel strongly about the importance of providing today's youth with a good mentor that will encourage them to learn about themselves and their world. This is why I hope to work in the field of Youth Services after the completion of my degree. Youth Services aside, I love the field of librarianship because it encompasses such a vast array possibilities –opening the door for a change of pace in later years should I ever crave new adventures.

What has been the best part of this educational experience?

At the risk of sounding unimaginative, I have to confess that the best part of this educational journey has been the exposure to all of this wonderful knowledge. I found my time as an undergraduate very frustrating because I hated going through all of those classes that I simply wasn't interested in, yet was required to take. It is truly a wonderful breath of fresh air to see a direct application for my work in all of my classes. The icing on the cake is all of the time that I am privileged to spend collaborating with other students and teachers who are just as excited as I am about libraries. The learning environment is incredible because we are able to encourage each other to be innovative while sharing ideas, successes, frustrations, and concerns with a community of people who are committed to libraries and their fellow professionals (or soon-to-be professionals).

Why should someone else pursue these credentials?

The field of Library and Information Science is one of excitement and innovation (despite the stereotype of librarians with glasses and hair buns, who spend their days reading magazines behind the circ desk.) I think many people are unaware that Information Science is so far-reaching. Although it often works unobtrusively behind the scenes, Information Science is an integral part of many other fields: business, law, education, marketing, medicine, music, history etc. Becoming a skilled librarian opens doors to opportunity in a wide variety of places. There is one librarian stereotype that I agree with - it's the one in which librarians are seen as having an overwhelming reserve of knowledge –they seem to know something about everything. By its very nature, Information Science is conducive to acquiring information about a plethora of different things as its professionals are constantly immersed in information of all sorts, forms, shapes and sizes. Why library science? Because it is an extremely progressive and dynamic field which means the possibilities are infinite.

Erica Rose
Law Library Clerk, Omaha

Jerry Wendelin

Why did you decide to pursue these credentials?

The reason I started my media endorsement is three fold. First, I had been in the classroom as a 7 th & 8 th grade Social Studies teacher for 18 years and I was somewhat frustrated and ready for a change. I had students do research and I had them working with technology but I felt limited in what I could do with students in terms of using research and technology at the same time. The second reason for getting my media endorsement is I had a strong technology background and I saw the media center as a way I could reach more students. The third reason I started my endorsement is our school media specialist retired and I saw an opportunity to make a move in a direction I thought would be challenging and rewarding for me personally and good for me professionally.

What has been the best part of this educational experience?

From the first class I took in fulfilling my media endorsement, cataloging, to the practicum class I am taking now in finishing my media endorsement, I have been able to take something from each class and apply it to my role as a teacher/librarian. Some things I have used right away while others I have used at a later date. One of the most important things I have learned is to be an advocate for the media center and what it offers to students and teachers. I have been able to use PowerPoints I created in class to help start my @ your library campaign which promotes the resources of our school library. I have shared articles on the importance of collaboration between media specialists and teachers and having flexible library times with my principal and we have developed a plan which will allow for some flexible library time with 5 th and 6 th graders next year. The information in my coursework gave me insight into how a successful media center operates. I now have the responsibility to use that information and strive to make some positive changes in the media program of my district. All the things I have gained are influenced by an expression that I have heard throughout my classes. “It is a race, but it is not a sprint, it is a marathon.”

Why should someone else pursue these credentials?

I don't claim to know all the reasons why someone would want to pursue a media endorsement but I can say that if you enjoy working with and helping people, then go for it. The satisfaction you get from being a media specialist is fantastic. Working with students and seeing them grow academically, helping them achieve in areas that you know will help them in all areas of their academic and daily life are very rewarding. Working with your peers and giving teachers help in their respective fields builds trust, respect and strong relationships with lots of good people. Also, you may begin to see your administrators as partners who will want to make the media center a focal point in your schools curriculum. It will not be easy. It will be demanding, challenging, frustrating, maddening and at times you may feel like throwing up your arms and say “what's the use”. But don't quit. It will be satisfying, it will be gratifying and it will be rewarding. It will be a race but remember, it's not a sprint, it is a marathon.

Jerry Wendelin
Library Media Specialist - Ashland High School

Jodene Glaesemann

Why did you want to teach in this program?

Not all people interested in attending library school are sure about the time involved, have the money required, or are confident they have the skills to be successful. Teaching in this program allowed me to be part of forming a statewide program reaching library science students not currently being served by available programs.

These classes fill a variety of needs for the Nebraska library science community. For some, it is affordable entry to school. For others who already have degrees, it provides focused, high quality continuing education. This program will enlarge and enhance pools of candidates for positions in Nebraska libraries. Recently, an LTA student e-mailed me to say: “I wanted to let you know that I really am learning a lot in this class…These classes are so important to me. I hope by taking them and learning all I can it will assure me a position somewhere in a library for the rest of my life…At first I was scared to take these classes because I have not taken any college classes…Everyone has been so nice and there is so much information to learn. I really would not want to be left out of it.”

What is the best part of teaching in this program?

Teaching in the LTA program is a very enjoyable experience for me. It is wonderful to be teaching dedicated and hard-working student from all across the state. I look forward to logging in first thing each morning to see what my students have posted on the discussion board about current topics we are addressing in class. I then spend time each night responding to what they've written, asking questions, and responding to their statements and inquiries.

One of the best parts of teaching this class is how much I learn from my students. They make me aware of professional journal articles I've not yet read, share their personal and professional experiences in libraries with me and their classmates, and continue to reinforce my belief that there are many way to serve our library customers.

Why should people continue to pursue professional development?

I found a great article on just this topic in the January/February 2004 issue of Knowledge Quest. The article, No School Library Media Specialist Left Behind: Professional Development, is obviously about media specialists, but the author's comments are valid for any aspect of librarianship. In his article, Terrence E. Young Jr. states , “ Professional development enables individuals who work in the profession of librarianship to assume an attitude of inquiry and to engage in assessments and actions that will provide the opportunity for: (1) maintaining and updating knowledge and skills; (2) taking on new responsibility; (3) recapturing the mastery of concepts; and (4) creating, anticipating, and actively responding to change.”

In a profession which is always changing and adapting to ever-evolving technological advancements, how can we not continue with professional development?

Librarianship, in any capacity and at any level, is more than a job, it is a profession. I consider myself very lucky to be working with these wonderful students taking that next step up the professional ladder.

Jodene Glaesemann
Branch Supervisor - Walt Branch Library, Lincoln City Libraries

Karen Hein

Why did you decide to teach in a library science education program?
My own experiences in library school prompted me to teach.  For me, library school was life-changing.  I was provided with opportunities to learn more about myself and a profession I could only glimpse from an end user's perspective.  I considered those who taught me in library school to be mentors on many different levels.  It was they who instilled in me a commitment to service and a responsibility to my profession.  When I graduated, I felt I needed to be involved in creating the same experiences
for others considering careers in libraries.  It was the combination of
having the knowledge, skills, and abilities in areas related to information
technology and of making connections with those involved in developing
library science education programs that enabled me to become a teacher.

What has been the best part of this experience?
For me, the most rewarding part of teaching in a library science education
program is really related to a quote made famous by NASA Teacher in Space Christa McAuliffe.  McAuliffe stated, "I touch the future. I teach."  To be an active participant in the evolution of the profession through teaching
future librarians is awesome in so many ways.

Why should people continue to pursue professional development?
If there is anything I have learned as a librarian it is that information,
knowledge, and wisdom are not static.  Whether it is through formal
education or other avenues of professional development, we must challenge ourselves to learn more and to raise our own expectations of ourselves and others.  Ideas, experiences, and interactions with others in the profession and other areas of study lead to synergistic thinking. This is the only way libraries and librarians will be able to provide the best services and resources possible to our user communities.

Karen K. Hein
Director of Library Operations - University Library, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Robin Schrack

Why did you decide to teach in a library science education program?
I chose to be an instructor in the library science program to have the opportunity to encourage people to join the profession.  It is a great way for me to be able to share experiences that I have had as a practicing library media specialist with others. A library media specialist wears so many different hats, you are a teacher, an information specialist, an instructional
partner, and a program developer.  Teaching in the library science program helps me to combine those hats into one.

What has been the best part of this experience?
The best part of the experience is getting to work with other
professionals. The students in the course are not the only ones who are learning, it is also a great learning experience for me, too.  It is so nice getting to hear from new people in the profession.  They often have a different outlook on things and it is so refreshing to see how eager they are to start their career as a media specialist.

Why should people continue to pursue professional development?
Professional development is a great way for educators to refuel.  It helps
us to hear about new trends and strategies in education.  It increases our
motivation when we hear of new techniques and helps us to avoid getting
burned out doing the same thing from year to year. Professional development is an integral part of becoming a master teacher and information specialist.

Robin Schrack
Library Media Specialist - Gretna High School