1. Transitioning from Library Technician to Librarian OCULA One-Day Mini-Conference The Holistic Librarian: Thriving in Your Work and Life November 9, 2006 Presented by: Jennifer Peters-Lise Metadata & Digital Services Librarian Seneca College jennifer.peters-lise@senecac.on.ca

2. Audience poll How many Librarians? How many Technicians? How many Technicians who are thinking of becoming Librarians?

3. Today… 1.My background 2.My degree experience 3.Reactions to my decision to become a librarian 4.How my job has changed

4. Education background Journalism – Durham College English Literature – Trent University Library Technician – Seneca College Masters of Information Studies – U of Toronto

5. Completing the degree Part-time @ night, worked during the day Completed the degree in 3 years

6. My degree experience and Kubler-Ross’ 5 stages of grief

7. The degree Before I started school –Denial First year –Anger & depression –Bargaining Second and 3 rd year –Acceptance After graduation –Denial & Depression Now –Acceptance

8. Suggestions for Techs considering pursuing their MISt part-time… Do it…it’s more than worth it. If you are able, take courses during the day. Take the full amount of courses in the summer.

9. Suggestions for Techs considering pursuing their MISt part-time… Wait for the courses you really want to take. Try to connect with other part-time students. Ask your employer if they reimburse tuition, offer incentives and/or time off for courses.

10. Reactions to a technician who becomes a librarian

11. Mixed reactions Librarians Technicians One colleague - Toxic reaction

12. The great or (not-so-great) divide Techs learn about librarians, but librarians don’t learn about techs Diploma and degree cover some of the same information

13. What to learn from this… Librarians - don’t underestimate Technicians Technicians - don’t vilify librarians Our skills are complementary.

14. How my job has changed…

15. As a librarian I experience: –More research –More report writing –More meetings –More strategic planning –More conferences –More politics –Less repetitive work –Less public service –Less time to do work Direct correlation

16. In conclusion… What would I change about my experience?

17. Questions?