AConversationStyleCollaborativeJournal

SLIMScotland2015
ByEmilyFlynn|KristaSuter|RikkiCarter

Krista:
Regardlessofwhereyouareinyourcareerasalibrarianthisisanamazingopportunitytolearn
abouttheprofession!Ithinksteppingoutsideofwhatyouknowordivingintowhatyoudonotisimportantto
betterunderstandthefieldandtolearnaboutthevariousaspectsoflibrarianship.Idonotcurrentlyworkin
alibraryandlearnedsomuchfromvisitingvariouslibrariesinScotland.Iwasenlightenedtoacademicand
speciallibrarianship,whichwillbebeneficialasIbegintolookforjobs.Ibelievethatotherstudentswillalso
benefitfromunderstandingdifferentlibrarystructuresandcurrentissuesrelatingtoinformation
management.

Rikki:
IthinkyourerightKrista,havingtheopportunitytovisittheseuniquelocationsasagroupofaspiring
professionals,armedwithabaserknowledgeandeducationinthefield,helpedenhancemyunderstanding
oflibrarianshipbothabroadandintheUS.Idontworkinalibraryeither,andgettingtoseeandhearfirst
handhowdynamictheenvironmentcanbe,somultifacetedandrapidlychangingastechnologyaltersthe
waypeopleaccessinformation,andtheywaysthesepassionateindividualsworktoprovideforandreach
theireverdiversepatronbasewassomethingIfeelappliestotheinformationprofessionacrosstheglobe.I
discoveredsomeareasoflibrarianshipIthinkIdenjoyandthrivewithin,likeoutreachordigitalservices,
thatIhonestlydidntknowwhereoptionstoconsider.Myunderstandingofcurrentissuesandlibrary
serviceswasdeepenedbyourvisits,andIllhappilytakethatintotheprofessionwithme.

Emily:
Ithoughtthesamethingladies!Ihaveneverworkedinalibraryeither,andsoIenjoyedbeingable
toreallygobehindthescenestoseedifferenttypesoflibraries.Eachvisitgavemeawholenew
appreciationandunderstandingofthefieldandshowcasedmanyaspectsoflibrarianshipthatIwas
unfamiliarwithbefore.Iwillbestartingmynewcareerasaschoollibrarianthisfall,butIwilladmitthatmy
interestwasdefinitelypiquedwhenwewereviewingthemanyextensivespecialcollectionsandarchives
throughoutScotland!IthinkthatisatypeoflibrarianshipthatIwouldliketopursuelaterinmycareer,which
Iwouldnthaveotherwiseexperiencedoutsidethistrip.

Krista:
TheamountthatIlearnedonthistripwasextraordinary.Ibelieveeverystudentshouldtake
advantageofthisopportunitytounderstandlibrarianship.AsastudentinterestedinpubliclibrarianshipI
thoughtthattheEdinburghCentralLibrarywasawonderfulwaytowitnessthesimilaritiesanddifferences
betweenourpubliclibrariesandtheirs.Thebuildingwasbeautifulandshowcasedthechangesfrom
modernroomstoolderroomsthathousedavarietyofcollections.Thelibraryhadanamazingstudyand
referenceroomthathousednumerousoldvolumesofbooksandanantiquecardcatalog.Thecatalogand
otherfeaturesareapermanentpartofthebuilding.Therewassomuchhistorybeingpreserved!The
modernadditionstothelibraryshowedtheabilityoftheinstitutiontoremaincurrent.Thechildrensroom
wascontemporaryandhadawonderfulplayroomthatwasvibrantandcolorful,reflectingthepatronsofthe
space.Asmallerroomwasavailableforclassesandofferedsimple,cleansurfacesthatallowefficientclean
upforthelibrarystaff.Thesewereafewoftheelementsthatreallystruckmeasastudent.

Krista:
AnotherimportantlessonlearnedfromtheEdinburghCentralLibrarywasthecollaborationamongst
thestaff.Everyoneworkedtogethertokeepthelibrarycurrentandrelevanttomeettheneedsofthe
community.Thedirectorsharedhertrustinstaffsuggestionsandmentionedthattheywatchfortrending
programmingtoimplementinthelibrary.Ithinkthisshowshowimportantteamworkistoanylibraryposition
andhowimportantitisforlibrariestobeawareofwhatotherinstitutionsaredoingsuccessfully.Itis

importantforlibrariestoadvocateandawonderfulwaytodosoisinprovidingstrongprogramsand
collectionstothecommunity.

Emily:
Wow!IstillcantgetoverhowbeautifultheEdinburghCentralLibrarywas.Thereweredefinitelya
fewsurprisesthoug
h.
Forbeinga125yearoldinstitution,theEdinburghCentralLibrarytakesarather
modernapproachtomeetingpatronneeds.Iwasintriguedbythemanyinitiativescurrentlyongoingatthe
library,especiallythegamingtechniquestopromoteadolescentandteenreadingandtheadultcoloring
bookgroupstorelievestressinasocialsetting.Iwasmostimpressedbyhowwelltheyhaverisentorecent
challengesduetodemographicshifts,asevidencedbytheamountoforganizationstheypartnerwith.In
particular,thelibraryfindsitessentialtoprovidelanguageresourcesandclassesfordifferentpocketsof
nonEnglishspeakingcommunities.Thisvisithasshownmetheimportanceofmeetingyourpatronneeds,
andIwillkeepthatinmindnextyearwhenIaminchargeoforderingandmaintainingthecollectionatmy
school.

Rikki:
AttheGlasgowWomensLibrary,theytakecollaborationinarelativelydifferentdirection,thoughnot
altogetherremotefromthegoalsoflibrarianshipbothintheUSandtheUK.Whilethestaffworkhardto
providetheirpatronswithlibraryandliteracyservices,theyenrichlivesfurtherwiththeirholisticapproachto
collaborationandcommunityservicethroughlibrarianshipwithanactivistrole.Byinvitingthecommunityto
participateinuniqueprograms,suchaswomenswalks,educationinLGBTissues,Scottishwomens
history,artandwritingprograms,theyfindmorereasonsthanjustbookstodrawacrowdofengagedand
activeparticipants.Theyareacutelyintouchandawareoftheirpatronsneedsandworktofulfillthose
niches,oneexampletheymentionedwasthattheyhaveanofeepolicyinplaceforlatereturns,asthey
understandthatmanyoftheirpatronsmaynoteasilybeabletoreturnbooksonacertaintimeline,andthey
feltimplementingfeeswoulddiscouragethesepatronsfromreturningtothelibrary,andviewingitasasafe,
invitingspace.Theircollectionwasalsosospecializedandpointedtowardstheirpatrondemographic.
Visitingthisfascinatinggrassrootslibraryandvisitingwithsomeofthoseworkingtocollaboratewiththe
communitytostrengthenitshowedtheyhavesuchapulseandpassionforwhattheydo.Itmademe
appreciatetheprofessionwereallstudyingtoenterandgrowwithininanewway,andopenedmyeyestoa
wayofservicethroughlibrarianshipthatIdneverconsidered,orhavecertainlynotencounteredotherwise.

Emily:
Rikki,IreallyenjoyedvisitingtheGlasgowWomensLibraryaswell.AfterhearingAdele,oneofthe
originalfounders,andWendy,thelibrarian,speakwithsuchpassionandexcitement,itbecameobvioushow
asmallgrassrootsprojectstarted25yearsagocouldevolveintotheflourishinginstitutionitistoday.Both
ladiesmentionedthatoneofthemaingoalsofthelibrarywastohavewomenrubshouldersthatwouldnt
normallymeet.Hearingthatsentimentreallyshedawholenewlightontheroleoflibrarianshipinmymind.
Whileanimportantaspectoflibrarianshipistopromoteliteracyandthespreadofinformation,itisalsoto
encouragerelationshipsamongstthepeopleinyourcommunity,whichisexactlywhattheGlasgow

WomensLibrarydoeseveryday.Manyoftheoutreachprogramstheysharedwithuswereorganizedand
ledbypatrons,forotherpatrons.IthinkifIweretofollowthisexampleinmylibrarynextyearbyproviding
opportunitiesforstudentledclubsandactivities,itwouldhelptoformatightknitlearningcommunityof
studentsofallages.

Krista:
TheGlasgowWomensLibrarywasmyfavoritevisit.Asyouladieshavementionedtheyarehighly
motivatedtoservingthecommunityandmakingconnections.ThelibrarypromotedservicethatIhave
alwaysenvisionedforlibrarianshipandthatIhopetoprovideinmyowncareer.Thepassionofthose
involvedwascontagiousandIhavebeencarryingthosefeelingswithmeeversincethevisit!Ilovedthe
manydifferentexperiencesandopportunitiesthatthelibraryofferedwomeninthecommunity.Theyare
heavilyinvolvedinoutreachandcreatetherightrelationshipstobetterservethecommunity.Thosewasso
muchthatIlearnedandlovedaboutthislittlegrassrootslibrary.Ihopetovisitagainasavolunteertolearn
fromthesewomenandtomaintaintheirexcitementforlibraries!

Rikki:
IwasveryexcitedattheopportunitytovisittheScottishScreenArchive.Itwasclearfromlistening
andtalkingwiththemthattheyhavearealpassionforwhattheydoandaclearvisionoftheimportanceof
theirworkinpreservingtheculturalheritageofScotlandonfilm.Theamountofequipmentneededfor
playbackoffilmsoverthedecades,whichthearchiveneededtohaveonhandandmanyofwhichareno
longerinusetoday,wasastounding,Itseemstheyvedoneacommendablejobkeepingupastechnology
changes.Theyalmostneedawholearchivejustforthat!Itwassurprisingtovisuallyseeandrealizethat
muchoftheprocessingandknowledgeofvariousfilmformatsisdyingoutasthetechnologyproceedsinto
obsolescence.Thisisastrugglethatappliestoallsortsofinformationinstitutions,fromlibrariestoarchives
todatamanagement,andspecialcollectionsanditwasenlighteningtoseeitallinactionandconfinedto
oneplace,likeatimecapsuleforforgonetechnology,yetonestillsovibrantanddynamic.

Emily:
TheScottishScreenArchivewasreallyneat,andsomethingIhadneverbeenexposedtobefore.My
twofavoritevisitsthoughweretheLibraryofInnerpeffrayandtheUniversityofGlasgowsHunterian
Museum.Icouldhaveneverimagedwhatagemwasawaitingusnestledwithinthetinytownof
Innerpeffray!Itwasamazingbeingabletofeelandtouchthehistoricbooks.Ourguidewasatreasuretrove
ofinformationandisobviouslyverypassionateabouthistory.Iwasalsomesmerizedbytheincunabula
exhibitattheHunterianMuseum.SeeingthemodeloftheGutenbergPress,viewingthebeautifulhistoric
books,andhearingthehistoryofthecraftgavemeanewfoundappreciationandadmirationfortheearlyart
ofbookmaking.

Rikki:
Ithinkonethingthatreallystruckmeabouteachoftheplaceswevisitedwasthepassionthatthe
staffmembershadfortheworktheydo.Anartschoollibrarianhasaverydifferentjobdescriptionthanafilm
archivistorevenapubliclibrarian,butthededicationtoprovidingthebestservicetotheirpatronswas
presentineach.Oneofmytakeawaysfromtheexperiencewastoentertheprofessionandserveinthis
samevein,andnomatterwhattypeofinstitutionIendupin,torememberthatthisisafirstandforemosta
serviceprofession,andthatpatronsarethereasonweexistandtostrivetoalwaysdomybestandforby
them.Resourcesandfundingmaychange,technologycontinuestoshapethewaypeopleinteractwith
information,andtheroleoflibrariansandlibrariesthemselveshasbeenmadefluidthroughchange,butthat
passioncanremainaconstant.IthinkofofmyfavoritepresentationofallweheardwasattheUniversityof
St.Andrews.TheyhaveadedicatedOutreachLibrarianwhosharedsomeoftheworkshedoesinensuring
thatstudentsandthecommunityareawareoftheservicesprovidedinthelibrary.Sheapproachedthetopic
withhumorandgrace,allthewhilegainingvaluablefeedbackthroughbothwebbasedandphysicaltools,to
provideforthepatronsneeds.IknowIwillapplysomeoftheprinciplesandideasshesharedinmyown
futureworkinalibrary,inattempttointeractmeaningfullywithmylibrarycommunity.

Emily:
Rikki,Iagreethataswehavebeendiscussingourtripweallcontinuetoreferbacktothegreat
passionandenthusiasmourhostsdisplayedforthefield.Iwasalsoimpressedbythenumerouswayseach

institutionsoughttoputtheirpatronsneedsfirst.Nextyear,Iwillusethesewonderfulexamplesasaguide
inmyschoollibrary.IfIapproacheachdaywithexcitementforreading,learning,andsharinginformation,
mystudentswillbegintoshareinmyenthusiasmaswell.Likewise,ifIinvitestudentstoparticipateinthe
planningofinteractivedisplays,activities,andeventsinthelibrarythatareinterestingandpertinenttothem,
Icanhelptocreateawelcomingandengaginglibrarycommunitythatistrulystudentcentered.

Krista:
Obviouslyvisitinglibrarieswasthemostimportantpartofthisexperienceandagreatinfluenceon
myeducation,however,exposuretoanotherculturewasagreatopportunityforpersonaldevelopment.Itis
notoftenthatwearegiventhechancetotakeourselvesacrosstheoceantoexperienceanothercultureand
anothercountry.TherewassomuchtimeofferedtocontinuelearningaboutScottishculture.Iwasableto
seecastles,museums,andparkstoexperiencetheirhistoricalculture.Iwasabletovisitrestaurants,
breweries,andbarstoexperiencetheirsocialculture.IhadawonderfultimeonabustouroftheHighlands
andLochNess.Itwasunbelievablybeautiful!Therewassomuchthatourdriversharedwithusabouthow
importantthemagicalsceneryofScotlandistothecountry.Anotheruniqueexperiencewasanightspentat
theacousticopenmicnightatalittlebar.OpenmicnightsinAmericaareoftensomethingtobeskipped
andwewanderedinfullofdoubtonlytobeblownaway!Alloftheparticipantswereunbelievablytalented
musiciansandsingers.Icouldnttakemyeyesandearsoffofthem!Ithinkitwasinterestingtoseehow
influentialAmericanmusicistotherestoftheworld,sincemanyofthemsangAmericancovers.Itwasa
wonderfulinsightintothelivesofScottishyouthsounderstandthesimilaritiesanddifferencesinourpartsof
theworld.

Rikki:
Krista,Icompletelyagreewithyou.Whilevisitingthelibrarieswascertainlyahighlightofthetrip,
gettingtoexperiencetheculturetheinstitutionswereworkingsohardtopreserveandrepresenttruly
broughttheexperiencefullcircle.Ienjoyedvisitingthemuseumsintheareaandthinkingabouthowwhat
theydoissimilartowhatsomespecialcollectionsorarchivesjobsmightbelike.Itoogotalotoutofdining
onthelocalfareinpubsandrestaurants,goingtoalocalusedbookstore,seeingthecastlesandlearning
aboutthehistoryofGlasgow,Edinburgh,andScotlandingeneral.Ithinkoneofmyfavoriteoutingwas
takingthetrainforadayinEdinburgh,hikingArthursSeatandvisitingEdinburghCastle.Theenergyof
suchanold,historyrich,vibrantcitywassomethingIletwashoverme,itwasanincrediblefeeling.Beingin
ScotlandwithpeopleIdnevermet,visitingplacesasanaspiringprofessional,andhavingexperiences
outsidemycomfortzoneforcedmetoengageinanewway,andtakeinboththelearninganddiscovery
aspectsinaspongelikeway.Ithascertainlyshapedmyunderstandingoflibrariesandarchivesboth
abroadandintheUSandgivenmemuchtoconsiderasIentertheprofessionandlearntoapplytheskills
andtoolsIvelearnedinlibraryschooltotherealworld.Idrecommendthisuniquetriptoanyoneinthefield!

Emily:
Wellsaid,ladies.Thiswassuchafuntrip!Ithinkbeingabletoexperiencethelibrarieswithinthe
contextoftheculturemadeitreallyspecialandmoreinsightful.Ireallyappreciatedthefreetimewehad
throughouttheweektoexploretheinnumerablesitesofGlasgowandtheothercitieswevisited.WhileI
foundGlasgowmemorableforitsseamlessblendofhistoricbuildingswithmodernarchitecture,Iparticularly
enjoyedseeingSt.AndrewsandEdinburgh.Bothofthesecitieswereabsolutelyadorable!Igrewupina
golfingfamily,soitwasprettyincrediblebeingabletowalkuptothebirthplaceofgolfatSt.Andrewsjusta
hop,skip,andjumpawayfromtheocean.MyDadandhusbandweredefinitelyveryjealous!AndasRikki
justmentioned,itfeltlikeadreamvisitingthecenturiesoldEdinburghCastleandArthursSeatagainstthe
backdropofafairytalelikesetting.IamsogratefultoEmporiaStateforthisonceinalifetimeopportunity.
ThiswasmyfirsttimetovisitScotland,butitwilldefinitelynotbemylast!