Transition is hell, but damn interesting

The last few months have been challenging and causing great frustration followed by great elation.  I know sounds like more of a mental disorder than a library career, but there you have it. (I am certain there is a joke in there as well)

I left my other library a while back to "try new things".  This included freelancing and subbing while I figured out where I want to go in my career.   I was sure that my calling was public library service, but there were many things I enjoyed about academic service.  Also I was concerned that my previous library got "too big" for me to feel effective or participate in the library's direction. Should I be thinking big library or small?
Essentially, I was on a quest to figure out where I fit in this crazy library world.   So the decision was made to stop and take a breath before I frustrated myself into apathy or worse, hating library work. In a matter of a few short days, I found out that I can't live without library work in some way shape or form.
 
I found myself consulting for a tiny library near my hometown.  I got to clean the catalog do some serious weeding and think about how best to maximize shelf space and organization for the public.  I loved this work. Fast forward to some personnel changes and they offered me a position as a youth librarian.  Initially I wasn't sure.  I like kids, but after years in a library I am usually less enchanted with the parents.  (Remind me to post about THAT problem) After a bit of pondering, I am beginning to think this is just what the doctor ordered.  I really thought it was time to walk on the wild side and try youth services.  After all no one is going to be working in libraries if we don't recruit the kids. Yes, it will be different for me, but I have amazing role models for youth and teen services just an email and phone call away.  Not only that, youth/teen librarians are amazing at sharing anything from a cheap program idea to a good plan for a storytime.  Already I have got my calendar ready to go and bring on the madness. Watch this space as I march down a completely different path from where I thought I was headed.

Mary