Day 37 - LAST DAY - May 2, 2007

WEDNESDAY -- My last day...oh, NO! I have to say that my last night at the Children's Room was a blur. I arrived at 5pm bringing a box of Mrs. Field's cookies to show everyone my gratitude. I was able to say goodbye to Inez, the assistant in the backroom. She and I never really had a chance to talk at length because she leaves around the time I get there but she had really nice things to say to me when I said goodbye.

After a short absence from the library because she was sick, Theresa was there today. I spoke with her at length about my internship and thanked her for everything...for the opportunity, for the things I learned and the great time I had. I told her that I was ever so sad to leave because I feel that I am just getting used to being a children's librarian and getting used to the system and I feel a great disconnect as the night was ending. I composed my email to her, sending her my California Indian Tribes Pathfinder and the book review. I don't know if they can use what I created but I worked hard on these things.

As the hands on the clock were ticking by, I sat there thinking of the last two months I spent at the Children's Room with the librarian, the library assistants, the library pages and the children and the parents that used the library. I realized that I gained so much from the internship.

Important Things I Learned:

• I learned to use Horizon, searching for titles, deleting titles, etc.
• I learned to fine-tune the reference interview
• I learned to make arts and crafts
• I learned to process children's books
• I learned to make pathfinders
• I learned to recommend titles for appropriate age groups and reading levels

Other less important things, but changed my outlook about librarianship:

• I learned to love working with the public, especially children
• I learned that I have to be stern but not too strict in order to gain the children's respect
• I learned that I cannot be "icky" when working with the public
• I learned that I cannot be "icky" about cleaning dirty books with unidentified blobs and petrified goo.
• I learned that 2 months is not enough to learn everything
• I learned to love children's books more than I already do

What I gained:

• I gained invaluable experience in children's librarianship
• I gained new friends
• I gained a healthy respect for books

What I wish I could have further learned:

• I wish I could further learn using Horizon
• I wish I could further familiarize myself with the titles available in the collection
• I wish I was able to do at least one storytelling session and got over my shyness about singing and dancing in front of the children.

Overall, I want to think that I learned enough to make me effective if ever I gained part-time employment as a children's librarian. I was shy in the beginning because I was not sure about the field especially since I have always worked for law libraries. In the end, I learned to love working with children and with the librarians. I may not leave the law library field because of finacial reasons but I know in my heart of hearts that I would love to be a children's librarian even if it means doing it part time. When I applied to library school, I always felt that it was just something that I fell into because I had so much experience working in libraries. It was not until I did this internship that I began to love the idea of being a librarian. I'm not sure if I could totally flip sides and leave the special library field, but I hope to be back someday in the future as a part-time children's librarian...that much I know.