I can understand some of the problems Keith is experiencing in library
school...and his concerns for the future.
I wish I had faculty like Dean Debolt, whose "Disney" archives example
actually put a smile on my face. Now that kind of experience would have
helped! Unfortunately, at this stage of the game, I believe I lost my
enthusiasm (if I even had it in the first place) for this field.
In my opinion, the prospects for new library school graduates is not so
wonderful, especially if a student entertains the thought, which is
highly promoted by certain library schools, that a MLIS degree is the
key to all kinds of job opportunities.
To succeed in this field one must be creative and daring, plain and
simple.
DHK
-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Dean DeBolt
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 4:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Seeking Advice
I have not been a strong proponent of long distance courses, especially
in the sciences, because there is so much that is missed from normal
interaction of students, faculty, conversations in the classroom, fast
discussions, and the like. Although I taught on campus this last
Spring,
many of my students communicated with me via e-mail, and I found myself
answering literally dozens of e-mails a week. Some of the answers
could
have helped other students who didn't e-mail me. I realize you can
solve
some of that through a listserv for the class or a blog for the class,
but nevertheless there is a distinct missing atmosphere of a real live
class.
I would recommend that the student contact the college and talk to a
counselor, because if one "loathes" the class and instruction, you're
going to lose the
enthusiasm to see it through. It is for this reason that I don't
assign
paper
topics without talking to a person to find their interests. If I can
match
their
interests (I had a student, a mother of five, whose family is "Disney"
oriented,
so we agreed on a research paper on the Disney Archives. Her
enthusiasm
soared as did her interest in archival management in an entertainment
company), then the student works harder (cause it's fun), learns more,
and is inspired.
Dean
Dean DeBolt
University Librarian
Special Collections/West Florida Archives
John C. Pace Library
University of West Florida
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL 32514-5750
850-474-2213
850-474-3338 (fax)
List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
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