Maryam Fakouri received her Master of Library Science degree from SLIS in 2003. Recently she answered questions for this email interview.
1. You were a MLS'03 graduate, and are now working as a reference librarian and as an ALA Copyright Scholar. Where is your job located, what are some of the day-to-day work elements?
I am a reference and instruction librarian at Columbia College Chicago. Columbia College is a diverse, urban college focused on arts and media. The three major components of my job are reference service, instruction, and collection development. In addition, I serve on committees for the library website, electronic resources, and the College copyright policy.
My work as an "ALA Copyright Scholar" is just beginning. I'm a part of the Copyright Advisory Network, a new group affiliated with the ALA Office of Information Technology Policy (OITP). The Network is meant to be a learning community. Librarians, teachers, and others who use copyright protected materials in a nonprofit setting can voice their copyright concerns and receive feedback (but not legal advice) from well-informed peers. There is a large focus on fair use. For more information, see http://www.librarycopyright.net. I contribute to the network a few hours per week in conjunction with my full-time job.
2. Advice to SLIS students
The SLIS core curriculum gives students a solid foundation in the tasks of librarianship. Because of the number of requirements, much of one's coursework is predetermined. My advice begins where the requirements end.
If you did not come to SLIS with a specific career goal in mind, explore. Ask questions and try new things. Take advantage of being at a large research university. If you try something and don't like it, that's fine. It's better to know your dislikes before you apply for jobs. If neither IU nor Bloomington has the type of work environment you are seeking, arrange an internship someplace that does.
If you're interested in becoming a reference and instruction librarian, I have some additional advice. First, look for any opportunities to instruct while you're a student. It will help you when you interview. Second, be sure you enjoy working with people. Patience and a sense of humor will make your job easier.
In addition, get work experience on campus. You'll learn from the experienced librarians around you. While I was in graduate school, I was fortunate to work with Lou Malcomb and Andrea Singer in the government documents department. They are just two of several knowledgeable and committed librarians at Indiana. Get to know some of them.
Finally, there are library associations, your ticket to networking. Go to conferences of interest to you. Look around. Strike up a conversation with your neighbor. Librarians are a friendly group.
3. Favorite courses - or ones that are helpful on the job...
Students like to ask which courses are most helpful on the job or look attractive on a resume. I didn't worry about that. The core courses (especially cataloging and collection development) will prepare you well for library work.
My favorite courses were mostly electives. I enjoyed Research Methods and Statistics, Information Policy and the Law, and Introduction to Information Architecture. Alice Robbin was my professor for the first two; Elin Jacob was my professor for the third. I'm still forming connections between these three courses.
4. Books on your bookshelf -- things you like to read
Too many books, too little time. Since graduate school, I've deliberately been reading more nonfiction, mainly articles in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and the occasional list-serve or blog entry.
A notable exception to my nonfiction phase is The Full Cupboard of Life, one of the Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series. A wise friend lent it to me and it made me want to board the next plane to Botswana.
5. Internship while at SLIS
After my first year of SLIS, I wanted to be in a busy arts library. The New York Public Library Art and Architecture Division seemed like just the place. I spoke with B.J. Irvine, the Head of the IU Fine Arts Library, about the possibilities and she gave me insider advice. A few months later, I was working in midtown Manhattan.
My supervisor at the NYPL spent a lot of time with me and gave me real projects to do. In two months, I assessed the Library's collection of materials related to Fluxus (a 1960s art movement), created a pathfinder, identified materials for acquisition, provided reference service, attended meetings, and more. In short, I did real library work (and had fun, too).
Posted December 14, 2005