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Entering my second semester as an MLIS student at UWM

8/28/2015

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In less than a week I will officially be starting the second semester of my Masters of Library and Information Science (MLIS) at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee's School of Information Studies. I can't believe how quickly the summer flew by, but I am excited to start my next bout of classes.

This semester I am taking all of my classes online which will be somewhat of a new experience for me (last semester I had a whopping one class on-campus). However, now that I will be working two part-time jobs on top of maintaining this website, online classes will give me the availability to juggle my workload a lot more easily — it won't be easy, but at least it will be easier.

Here's a look at the classes I will be taking this semester at the 15th top-rank Library and Information Science school in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report. The majority of them are the rest of the required courses I need to graduate, but I am particularly looking forward to the only non-required course I am taking this semester!

Organization of Information (INFOST 511 – online): This required course introduces basic concepts, historical background, and theoretical, practical, and technological aspects of information organization. According to the syllabus, upon completing this course I will "be able to explain the fundamental concepts behind rules and systems that provide bibliographic and intellectual access to documents; have an elementary understanding of the major traditions in information organization, including cataloging, classification, indexing and abstracting, and bibliography; be able to critically analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each type of bibliographic system; be able to design a simple tool for organizing a small collection; and be aware of current issues in information organization.

Information Access and Retrieval  (INFOST 571 – online): According to the syllabus, this required course examines three major categories of issues related to information access and retrieval. One is concerned with the range of current information retrieval systems and techniques or processes involved in their construction and application, including database structures, indexing principles, vocabulary control and interfaces. Secondly, the course establishes how to describe and analyze the dynamics of user’s information needs and their searching behaviors. Lastly, students are equipped with critical and analytical skills related to selecting appropriate information retrieval systems, databases, resources for assistance, query formulation and other information retrieval techniques. Special attention is also given to the evaluation of information retrieval systems. 

Introduction to Research Methods in Library and Information Science (INFOST 591 – online): This required course introduces students to basic research concepts, methods, and evaluation in library and information science, and applications of research in the information professions. Upon completion of the course I will be able to identify the range of quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods used in library and information science; evaluate the merits of published research in library and information science; identify a research problem and associated research questions, and design a research project to address the identified research problem and more. I took a communications research methods class during my time as an undergrad at Marquette University, and I'm predicting this will be my hardest course this semester.

Multicultural Children's Literature (INFOST 741 – online): This course is an exploration of the literary and cultural heritage of parallel culture in the United States including African Americans, Arab Americans, Asian Americans, Latino/as and Native Americans. The course focuses on major issues in multicultural children’s literature such as representation, cultural authenticity, and evaluative criteria using critical race theory as our guiding premise. After finishing this course I will be well acquainted with major discourses in multicultural children's literary criticism, familiar with literature from each ethnic group under discussion, recognize ways in which a piece of literature reflects the ethnic group and more. As no surprise to anyone who regularly reads my blog, I am obviously most excited about this course! 

There is some ongoing conversation about whether or not the MLIS program will continue requiring a capstone project to graduate. If they do away with the capstone requirement, it's looking like I'll graduate in the spring. However, if I am required to do the capstone, I will probably wait until the summer term to complete it, making my graduation date sometime this summer. Either way, I can't believe how quickly my time as a graduate student is flying by! 

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Information.

International.

Interdisciplinary. 


UWM's School of Information Studies

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Landing my first youth services position at a public library

8/24/2015

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Hello dear reader, and happy Monday! I have some pretty exciting news: You're reading the words of the South Milwaukee Public Library's new youth services intern! After three different interviews for entry-level youth services positions at public libraries across southeastern Wisconsin, I've finally managed to land a position that will serve as a giant stepping stone toward working as a youth services librarian full-time after finishing graduate school.
The South Milwaukee Public Library recently hired a new youth services librarian and a new library director, so I'm extremely excited to be joining the team as they make some big changes to the institution, including an intensive update to the children's collection, redesigning the children's room and implementing new youth programming. 

Today was my first day on the job and I got a pretty good look at what I'll be doing during the 12 hours a week I will be working in South Milwaukee. In my new position I will be answering reference questions, providing reader’s advisory, assisting patrons in the use of library resources and helping with the planning, advertising and implementation of children's programming. This internship will also allow me to gain valuable experience with collection development projects like selecting, weeding and cataloging library materials.
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I will still be working as a library assistant at the Community Library locations in Salem, Twin Lakes and Silver Lake; however, I am extremely excited to be able to start working more directly with children and their parents at the South Milwaukee Public Library. I am especially looking forward to leading storytime programs for kids of all ages. Now all I have to do is find a way to juggle these two library positions on top of going to grad school full-time and attempting to keep up with this blog on a regular basis . . . Good thing I'm going on vacation next week – I have a feeling it's going to be the last of my relaxation time for quite a while! 

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Book review: 'The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry' by Gabrielle Zevin

8/19/2015

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“You know everything you need to know about a person from the answer to the question, 'What is your favorite book?'"  ― The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

It's quotes like that one that make The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry so beloved and memorable. Like any good bibliophile, I can't pass up a book about books, but this one is unlike any other I have ever read. 
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I give this book:
★★★★★

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry introduces you to a grieving (in the form of grumpy) independent bookstore owner named – you got it – A.J. Fikry. After the death of his wife, A.J. has no real interest in doing anything besides working in his store, getting drunk off cheap wine and surviving on microwaveable meals. When one of his most valuable books goes missing, A.J. pretty much gives up hope for a happy ending ... that is, until a small and very surprising gift is left for him in the bookstore and changes his life forever.

With foreshadowing that is so subtle you almost can't notice it, the pages of the book follow A.J.'s life along with a few other key people on Alice Island, including a determined sales rep, a friendly police chief, an adulterous author and more. Like most books that I find myself connected to, this story unfolds much like that of life – one event at a time and somehow also all at once.

Complete with a booklist of it's own, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry covers a lot of literary ground. Just when you think you know where the story is going – just when your attention is focused on one aspect of the story – author Gabrielle Zevin mixes things up. It is this lifelike unpredictability that  makes the work such a wonder.
While it may seem a bit redundant or obvious, I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read. After all, it's really A.J.'s connection to the written word that draws you into the story and keeps you there –at least it sure did for me.

“The words you can’t find, you borrow. We read to know we’re not alone. We read because we are alone. We read and we are not alone. We are not alone. My life is in these books, he wants to tell her. Read these and know my heart. We are not quite novels. The analogy he is looking for is almost there. We are not quite short stories. At this point, his life is seeming closest to that. In the end, we are collected works.” ― The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
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Libraries and social justice: Ferguson one year later

8/12/2015

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Just over a year ago, the small town of Ferguson, Mo. was rocked by the shooting of Michael Brown. More than 365 days later, the community is still attempting to heal. At the center of that peace-seeking effort is the Ferguson Municipal Public Library and its director, Scott Bonner.
Since Brown's death in 2014, the library has transformed to fulfill many of the town's essential needs. It became an educational safe haven when local schools were closed due to the riots after the grand jury's ruling. The library also became an office for local businesses and a meeting space for anyone who needed it. Bonner and his team stepped up to serve the needs of their community the best way they could: by being librarians.

According to an article in American Libraries Magazine, "Bonner discussed modifying library policies to account for the changing needs of the area. The library even acted as an art gallery, being one of 14 venues that participated in the Alliance of Black Art Galleries’ 'Hands Up, Don’t Shoot: Artists Respond,' an art exhibition that featured more than 100 artists and ran from October 17 – December 20, 2014."
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"Hands Up, Don’t Shoot" Quilt by Heidi Lung on the wall of the Ferguson Municipal Public Library. Photo credit: Willie Miller/American Libraries Magazine.
When the shooting happened just over a year ago, Bonner had only been in his position as director for five short weeks. In a recent interview with American Libraries Magazine, he discussed how the library has changed since Brown's death:

"We are far, far more programming-oriented. I knew when I took this job that I was going to try to make the library more responsive to the community. I didn’t know we would have to do it at lightning speed. It was a big shift from what the library did previously. When I started, there was no programming on the schedule. The previous director had watched her budget drop from $600,000 in 2008 to $400,000 in 2012, so she pulled back a lot on library hours and programming, like so many libraries have had to,"  – Scott Bonner

Thanks in large part to a flood of donations, increased funding allowed the library to start to address important issues through its programming, including the creation a teen newspaper, STEM/STEAM learning, and discussions about social justice and equality. Bonner told American Libraries Magazine:

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Director Scott Bonner. Image via Library Journal.
"We still have healing kits [backpacks stuffed with a stuffed animal, children’s books about healing, and information about mental health resources; patrons check out the kits, return the books and the backpack, and keep the rest]. We just had a big box of stuffed animals donated for those. And our Readings on Race book club is doing really well. It was started by community member Carla Fletcher. She wanted to find ways for people to stop talking past one another on race issues, and help people find a common vocabulary. They meet once a month, and we usually have a diverse group of about 20 people show up. In my experience, that’s a really good turnout for a small library book club,"

                                             –
Scott Bonner

When asked how the past year changed his perception of the Ferguson community and the library’s role in it, Bonner told American Libraries Magazine, "It has magnified my existing perception of what libraries are for and what they can do in a community. It’s given me a chance to take the community library idea and try it in hyperdrive."

Bonner and the rest of the staff at the Ferguson Municipal Public Library have proven just how important local libraries are to their communities. Public libraries are far more than book-lending institutions filled with old ladies saying "Shh." Instead, libraries are at the center of their communities and their staff members work effortlessly to unify, unite and better the people they serve.

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Libraries aren't the only ones with summer reading programs

8/5/2015

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It's somehow already August (!?!) and that means the summer is going to be over before we know it! But don't break out the back to school supplies just yet – there's still plenty of time for trips to the beach, weekend getaways and, of course, summer visits to your local library!

It's no secret that summertime is when public libraries shine most. Ask any youth services librarian and they will tell you it's hands down their busiest time of year. Not only do summer reading programs like those offered by libraries decrease the effects of summer slide, they also are a great opportunity for kids (and adults) to foster their love of literacy and win some cool prizes in the process!

Of course, libraries aren't the only ones with some awesome summer reading programs – and there is still time to take advantage of many of them before those trees change from green to brown. Here are a few other neat summer reading programs going on across the nation.

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program 2015

This year Barnes & Nobel's Summer Reading Program, "Imagination's Destination," rewards children in grades 1-6 for reading eight books over the summer by giving them another book for free! There is a wide variety of free books to choose from, but hurry up and get reading! This chance to win a free book ends September 7th.
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Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge 2015

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The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge asks kids to "Power Up and Read" to set a new world reading record! Kids go online to log their reading minutes where they'll also be able to take weekly challenges and earn rewards. The elementary and middle schools who log the most minutes win visits from authors Michael Northrop (Trapped, the TombQuest series) and Varian Johnson (The Great Greene Heist, Saving Maddie), respectively. But don't delay –
this reading challenge ends September 4th.

Sylvan's Book Adventure Reading Program

OK, so this one isn't technically a summer reading program because it goes on all year long – but how great is that?! Book Adventure tests children's reading comprehension by asking them to take quizzes about the books they read. After they've gotten all the questions right on the quiz (one retake is allowed), they'll be awarded points which can be traded in for prizes such as temporary tattoos, a chocolate bar, a free three-month subscription to Highlights and more!
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So what are you waiting for? Pick up a book and get reading today!

Click here to discover more summer reading programs!

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    Author

    Tessa Fox is the Early Literacy Librarian at the Kenosha Public Library. After working in the journalism and publishing fields, Tessa decided to dedicate her life to books and public librarianship, and went back to school to get her Master's in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she graduated in December 2016. Tessa has been working in public libraries since 2014. Disclaimer: The views expressed here are mine alone and do not reflect those of my employer.


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