Hello library friends! Here I am in my 13th semester of my Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program, the degree that one gets in the United States if one wishes to become a librarian.
How long do I have left before I graudate?
- I have Fall 2026, Spring 2027, then I’m done!
Why did I choose this class?
- This is my first class enrolled with Dr. Stephens, but not my first time hearing him teach. In Fall 2022, my 1st semester of my MLIS (in the core class INFO 200), I listened to his lectures on how libraries are for people and not just for storing books. I carried this awesome notion with me ever since, integrating it into how I serve library patrons and how I think about libraries. In Fall 2026, the current semester, I could have taken merely a 1 unit course and still graduated with sufficient credits, but I instead chose to take Hyperlinked Libraries, a 3 unit course. Dr. Stephen’s positive reputation precedes him. My MLIS colleagues highly recommended this class to me as one of their favorite classes. Others expressed regret in not having taken it before they graduated. Even after reading the syllabus, and asking classmates to please explain, I could not fully wrap my head around what this class is about. Curiosity drove me to find out for myself what I might get out of this class. Reflecting on Dr. Stephens’ teachings at the beginning and now at the end of my MLIS journey feels like a wonderful full circle moment.
What am I excited for this semester?
- I wonder, “What does wholehearted librarianship feels like to me?” The term wholehearted reminds me of Brené Brown’s notion of Wholehearted Living. This class could be a lovely sandbox to further explore my strengths, interests, and unknowns. I feel excited to hone my spirit of librarianship by testing things out. I like that this class emphasizes creativity and exploration. It helps me to put on a beginner’s mindset and renew my mind:
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- take a deep breath
- be curious
- play
What am I interested in the library world?
- Public librarianship, youth librarianship, neurodivergent community, disability community, co-creation of library services with communities, and outreach to underserved communities.
- I enjoy making zines with magazine collaging technique. Does anyone know how to identify frogs from toads? If so, please let me know, it would help me with making a zine with a library joke. I am part of the ALA Spectrum Scholar community, and to keep in touch within our cohort, a few of us started a mailswap club for paper crafts such as stickers and postcards. I am excited to slowly work on this zine as a creative outlet and mail copies of the zine to my library penpals.
Say hi on socials
- My library instagram: @innerchildlibrarian
- My dog’s instagram: @littleprince.pug
- For LinkedIn: message me!
I Spy books are so fun!
Two oversized hardcover I Spy books sit on my bookshelf, and many more await at the public library! Digital viewing is lovely, but holding the physical book to the light and striving to seek is quintessential to the I Spy experience. Reading picture books and children’s books nourishes the heart and spirit. When I attended the 2026 American Library Association Annual conference, I picked up an Advance Reader’s Copy of “Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise” by Katherine Rundell. Under 80 pages and less than an hour audiobook.
I put City Blocks by Walter Rick from I SPY Fantasy (1994) on the homepage to greet visitors for a number of reasons. Please enjoy the accompanying riddles.
I spy a limo, a mouse, and a rock,
Two bows, a boat, a bee on a block;
A pencil, a golf tee, a church with a cross,
A jingle bell, and chocolate sauce. (Riddle source).I spy a clock, a birdhouse, a duck,
Five thimbles, a plane, two fish in a truck;
A big red apple, a zebra jeep,
STOP, GO, and BEEP BEEP BEEP. (Riddle source).
Cheers to the start of our Fall 2026 semester!