Confessions of a Covert Library Student: Distance Education and the Working Paraprofessional
By Kathryn Skhal
Interlibrary Loan Assistant
Carlson Health Sciences Library
University of California, Davis
kjskhal@ucdavis.edu
530-752-6379
I didn't grow up wanting to be a librarian. I didn't spend my childhood running around with my hair in a bun shushing people. In fact, I was banned from my high school library. Then in college I happened into a job at the Carlson Health Sciences Library. At first, the work was financially motivated, but over time, I fell in love with the place: the patron and coworker interactions; the obsessive-compulsive appeal of cataloging; the strong emphasis on technology; and besides, I still get a kick out of using a self-inking stamp. The library became home.
Over the next several years, I learned a lot about libraries and their inner workings, but eventually I felt that I was running out of places to grow as a library assistant. In order to continue my career development, I needed a master's degree. It was time to go to library school.
For me, graduate school brings up images of old Chevy Impalas, well-worn shoes and countless ramen-based dinners. I had left my starving student phase behind and was unwilling to regress, so I knew I had to find a way to keep working. Distance education has taken great strides in the past decade. What used to be limited to mail order or satellite community college programs now includes degree opportunities from reputable four-year colleges and universities. Almost every library school I looked at offered some sort of remote learning option. Since I hate commuting, I focused on computer-based programs. It soon became clear that not all programs were created equal. Even if classes weren't physically meeting, I wanted as much interaction with my teachers and peers as possible. To that end, I wanted synchronous class sessions and on-campus visits. After my research was complete, the clear victor was LEEP, the distance education scheduling option for the library and information science program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).
All new LEEP students attend a ten-day on-campus "boot camp" in the summer. During this period, your cohort (mine was 40 students) completes an extremely intensive core course. I believe these sessions are the key to LEEP's success. Like real boot camp, the stress and fatigue lead attendees to form bonds far beyond that possible in a normal classroom atmosphere. These shared experiences form a core from which all LEEP relationships are built. After the initial session, normal classes are offered as live weekly sessions in an audio lecture, chat and slide show format. Group projects help maintain connections with your peers and the professors are very approachable. The administrative and information technology staff are also friendly and supportive. Overall, the LEEP alternative feels in no way inferior to the on-campus experience. In fact, UIUC campus students are encouraged to take classes in the LEEP format.
The curriculum is also interesting and very flexible: 8.5 of the 10 units are elective. So far, I've taken classes in cataloging, reference, networking and more. The lectures, readings and assignments combine to provide not only the "whys" behind the "hows" but also practical experience, even for my current position. Though I'm only halfway to my degree, I've learned so much already. I can't wait to take my knowledge and apply it to the rest of my career.
The experience of shuffling a full-time job with school has been an exercise in multitasking, but the benefits more than compensate. For anyone considering the same path, I offer the following hard-learned hints:
- Ask for support: Many institutions will offer tuition reimbursement, release time or other compensation for working staff, particularly if you demonstrate the benefits to your current position. Don't expect the moon, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
- Expand your circle of colleagues: Distance education is an excellent opportunity to meet people around the world away from your local environment. Don't waste the chance to network - your peers have a lot of great experience and information to share.
- Use your local resources: As a working student, use your local environment as a laboratory. You have a built-in model environment for projects and papers and a wealth of resources around you, both technologically and personally. Ask questions of your fellow librarians - consider them captive teaching assistants.
- Maintain your perspective: There's a lot going on in your life besides school. Don't lose focus of that. Keep a balanced existence to avoid stress overload.
- Learn! Have fun!
(Editor's Note: A special thank you to Kathryn for sharing her experience - she is truly an innovator from the word go! For more information on the LEEP program, visit http://leep.lis.uiuc.edu. We are interested in hearing about the experiences of others in our region who are taking library and information science classes virtually or from a distance - both about your experiences and perceptions as well as about the courses and curricula.)