Welcome!

Hi, everyone! Welcome to my blog, which earned its name due to blogging being a new(ish) activity for me and also to serve as a request for any book recommendations you may have—I’m always pursuing new ones!

Disclaimer: I’m using a pen name. “Valancy” actually comes from my favorite book, The Blue Castle, by L.M. Montgomery. The protagonist spends most of her life being called by a different name (that she despises), so I’ll take this chance to increase the use of “Valancy”—her given and preferred name—on her behalf. If you’ve read the book, please message me; if you’ve never read it, would recommend!

ABOUT ME

“But books are curious objects. They have the power to trap, transport, and even transform you if you are lucky.” – Tracie Chee, The Reader

You’ve probably guessed by now that I’m bookish. (If you hadn’t guessed it, that’s okay, but there you have it: I love reading.) Growing up with 8 siblings meant I had to turn off my ears if I wanted properly focus on a book, which is a habit I’ve carried into adulthood. If you stumble upon me while reading, you’ll have to call my name really loudly and maybe also throw something at me before I notice.

When I’m not completely engrossed in a book, I also enjoy painting, drawing, hiking, and running. You might also find me taking sunset pics and sending them to friends, who are perhaps just too polite to tell me they’re sick of it. Until they do, I’ll continue to take advantage of the opening and spam away.

During undergrad, I majored in biology and concentrated in biopsychology. If that strikes you as the background of someone who hopes to embark upon a STEM career, you’d be correct! Or at least you would have been, right up until last year. I had taken the MCAT, was working alongside an ophthalmologist, and was gearing up to apply to schools. All along, I carried niggling doubts that would creep out like cockroaches when I sat awake at night: Was medicine really what I wanted to do? Was I truly happy with the thought of doing it for the rest of my life? Would I have time for the people I love??

Last fall I finally gave myself an honest answer: no. So I quickly slammed on the brakes and had to ask myself what I wanted instead. The ensuing soul-searching eventually landed me in the MLIS program in the spring, and now I’m here. Ultimately, my aim is to bridge my two worlds and become a medical librarian/academic librarian focused on the health sciences.

SO… WHY THIS COURSE?

“We don’t know where we’re going, but isn’t it fun to go?” – L.M. Montgomery, The Blue Castle

Part of the reason I’m taking this course is because I want to increase my understanding of the direction libraries are heading in. Prior to April, I hadn’t worked in a library in almost 3 years, and even then I was a student employee who wasn’t privy to a lot of the “behind the scenes” complexity of libraries. I think libraries will always be relevant but can serve users best by evolving to fit their technological preferences, and I’m excited to know more about them this semester! I also watched some of Dr. Stephens’ lectures in my INFO 200 class and decided I wanted to learn under an instructor as passionate as he is.

That’s all for now! Thank you for stopping by, and I look forward to working with you!

@valancy