Monthly Archives: November 2012

Student Interview: Carla Sarratt

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From:  Cleveland, Ohio

Undergrad degree:   Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology from Wittenberg University

Year in program:  I am in my last 30 days of the MLS program at NCCU and will graduate on December 8th.

Specialization: Special Library

Internships and extracurricular activities:  Since last December, I have been an intern at the Government and Heritage Library which is part of the State Library of North Carolina.  I also am a member of ALA, SLA and the North Carolina chapters for both organizations.  In my spare time, I enjoy reading, pinning, watching movies, baking, traveling, and listening to music.

What do you do?:  I recently became the librarian at the African American Cultural Center at North Carolina State University.

How did you get that job?:  I applied for the position when I found it one evening doing my duties for I Need a Library Job, prayed, interviewed, prayed again, and sent thank you notes as soon as I got home from my interviews.

 What’s the hardest thing about your job?:  I love what I do and am still excited to come to work every day.  I have ideas brewing all of the time, but the biggest challenge right now is being the new librarian at the circulation desk when the previous librarian served for many years.   I am confident that I will resolve that because I am taking steps now to overcome that challenge.

 Any advice for other students?:  Volunteer, intern, network, and fervently seek the experience that you need to get the job you want.  Don’t rely on what you learn in the classroom to be your only library science experience.

Global education day

Come out for a taste of the exotic on Wednesday from 3:30-5:45. Ms. Olivia Jones, the assistant director of the Office of International Affiars will be our keynote speaker, we will hear from students who participated in the study abroad trip to Denmark, and there will be a pot luck reception. Sign up  online to bring a dish to share!

Interview with Jennifer Meyer: Librarian extraordinaire!

This is the second installment of our interviews with professional librarians series. A big thank you to Jennifer Meyer, Library Director at Miller-Motte in Raleigh, for taking part in our series. Be sure to check out her blog @ considerjennifer.com!

Tell us about yourself!

I graduated with an undergraduate degree in Biology (December 2004) and finished my MLS from NCCU in December of 2009.  I currently work as the library director for a small career college in Raleigh, Miller-Motte.  I have been the director there for four years and before that worked at their Cary campus location as the assistant librarian.  I love technology and wish our currently library school curriculum offered more in the way of technical training in IT.  I believe in the changes of our profession and am very excited to see how that change progresses over the next generation.

How did you become a librarian?

I read a book about careers for book lovers and it was listed there.  I remember thinking; “Oh yeah, libraries hire people too!”.  From there I quickly started at NCCU and finished their online program.

What do you like best about your work as a librarian?

The new happenings in the field.  I love thinking of creative new ways to put information in the hand of the user.  I love the collaboration that is happening in our profession with so many others. 

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Reading :), I also love to travel, cook, crochet and spend time with family and friends.

What advice would you give to current library students?

Start building your professional network right now.  Get to know people in the field that work in different types of libraries.  Get online, start a blog, follow people on Twitter and forge your own path.  Our profession is changing right now so be sure to be on the edge of that change.

Currently reading:

“What the plus! Google+ for the rest of us” by Guy Kawasaki and “The Red Pyramid” by Rick Riordran