Tag Archives: publish

Interview with Danielle’ McGhee, MLS ’12

1) Tell us your current position and job duties.

I am the Secondary Librarian (6th-12th) at Brentwood Christian School in Austin, TX. My job duties vary each day. My daily

Danielle' McGhee

Danielle’ McGhee

duties consist of managing the circulation desk, answering reference questions, shelving, updating the library reservation calendar, and teaching Book Club. Throughout the school year I host book fairs, and every quarter I teach faculty and staff new programs in our technology development training classes.

Outside of those traditional duties, I am very active on our campus. This year I coached 5th & 6th grade girls volleyball and I mentor 11th grade girls. Most recently, I travelled with our 8th grade students to Washington, DC. This year I am also coaching middle and high school girls in bible reading for our interscholastic academic meet. We are extremely active and busy at BCS!

2) How did studying at NCCU SLIS help you prepare for your current work?

NCCU SLIS prepared me to seek out the experiences that I wanted to get involved in that later lead to even better opportunities. It was a great place to actively get started in leadership roles, and taking initiative to do great things. Having that attitude prepared me to take on roles that were presented to me here at BCS that have lead to better opportunities.

3) What was your favorite thing about your time at NCCU SLIS?

I have several! My favorite things about my time at NCCU SLIS:

· Traveling abroad for the first time.

· Working as a Graduate Assistant for Dr. Abdullahi.

· Processing NCCU’s administrative papers and photographs for the Content, Context, and Capacity: A Collaborative Large-Scale Digitization Project with my cohort Shanee Murrain in the NCCU archives.

· Being a part of the new faculty selection committee and curriculum development team.

4) What are your career goals?

My career goals are to continue to learn and process the current and future changes in the information field, and ultimately push to be in environments that are wholesome, fun, educational, and productive. Overall, they consist of me being places where I can grow and where I can make a difference in someone’s life.

5) What advice would you give to students going through library school right now?

Stay focused, work hard, play hard, commit to the program, and get involved. Network within the department, and other departments of interest on campus. Also join local, state, and national library associations. Network as much as possible. Brand yourself. Stick out in a good way. Intern. Intern. Intern. Go out and create volunteer or internship positions at places of interest if none are provided. Try to publish and speak at conferences. Do as much as possible while in the program. Take advantage of opportunities presented to you, but also research and go out find opportunities.

6) What advice would you give library students about job hunting?

Stay positive. Reach out to people that you met while in the program. Also apply for the jobs that are of interest and seek out positions that aren’t as traditional. Another thing, find a job job that is fitting to your personality!

7) What advice would you give to people considering applying to library school?

Go for it! It’s an interesting field with endless possibilities. Have an open mind as to what you want to learn about. Go in wanting to know about every type library and its programming.

8) What are you reading right now?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Superman versus the Ku Klux Klan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate by Richard Bowers

Interview with Terrence Martin, MLS ’10

Terrence Martin

Terrence Martin

1) What is your current position, and what are your duties?

I am currently the O’K Scholars Coordinator/Social Science Librarian at Winston-Salem State University. I am responsible for coordinating the information literacy institute twice a year, supervise media and marketing services in the library, and provide all library instruction and reference assistance for the Social Science department. I partner and serve on the General Education Committee for Information Literacy (IL) to ensure the library is doing its part to embed IL into General Ed. Courses.

2) How did studying at NCCU SLIS help you prepare for your current work?

Let me preface my next couple of statements by saying I completed my degree completely online. This program was a great fit for me because as a social worker I was always organizing information to be given to someone else. The NCCU SLIS program helped me to refocus those skills into librarianship.

3) What are your career goals?

I want to be an Associate or Library Director in the next 5 years, if not sooner.

4) What advice would you give to students going through library school right now?

Start networking now! If you currently do not work in the library field, it is going to be imperative that you connect with individuals that are currently in the area (i.e. academic, public or special libraries) where you want to work.

Present and publish – If you are going to be in the academy it is important that you are able to see trends, evaluate information and articulate deficiencies when needed. Don’t wait!

5) What advice would you give library students about job hunting in the library field?

Stay focused! If you are in North Carolina keep your options open. Get the experience you need to be a good candidate.

6) What advice would you give to people considering applying to library school?

Talk with as many people as possible that are currently in the field. I’ve learned that it is important to speak with the Dean of the library school and faculty before applying. Don’t go in this field misinformed.

7) What are you currently reading?

Several blogs and library journals to stay abreast of current and researched perspectives in the field.