This post is written for Round 6 of the Library Day in the Life, a project started by Bobbi Newman, where librarians across the world share details of their daily activities.
I am the Research and Development Librarian at Kansas State University Libraries. It is a recently created position in a recently created Office of Library Planning and Assessment. I am beginning my 3rd year as a professional librarian.
So, what does a R&D Librarian do? I’ll chronicle my activities this week to hopefully give you an idea of this new position in librarianship.
7:15am P90x – tough legs and back workout. My lower back was so sored all day, I groaned every time I moved more than an inch.
9:15am Arrived at office a bit later than usual as I could only move at half speed. Checked and replied some email.
Sausage, Potato, Pepper Jack Quiche @Bluestem Bistro
11:00am – 1:00pm Lunch meeting with my colleague Lis at Bluestem Bistro, our regular lunch place, to discuss the Library Diversity Fellowship project. I’m very excited to be initiating this program with the support of my library. It is for our undergraduate students and the goals are to:
1. Help recruit and retain underrepresented students for K-State;
2. Increase the diversity of the workforce in our library;
3. Help recruit underrepresented students to the profession by introducing librarianship to them early.
1:30pm Emailed with ALA NMRT (New Members Roundtable) sub-committee to discuss how to help recruit more diverse members for NMRT. I’m Mr. Diversity today.
2:oopm – 4:00pm IM (Virtual Reference) Back Up. During some of the busier hours, we have one or two backup people on IM. But it was not too busy today, so I had some time to do some reading on some of the projects I was working on.
4:00pm Recruited members for my diversity fellowship team. Since our library’s re-organization, I’ve noticed that new task-forces and teams are formed very easily to initiate new projects. I think because we all have new roles in the library, we have a new sense of enthusiasm and are fearless in trying new things, which is fantastic.
5:00pm Ready to go home and lie down to rest my back.
