So, near future turned into, well, years. Sorry about the delayed update. I've learned a great deal more about "Library World," especially since the COVID-19 pandemic onset. What a world we exist in. If you are the type of person who just rolls with the punches, well, good luck with that now! Some of like to believe we roll with the punches, yet, have learned we really don't. These past few months should have taught us a great deal about the evolving world we live in, as well as about ourselves. Stay healthy and safe! I will be updating soon, as I have a bit to share for those crossing through and happen to discover this Blog.

This past summer I was asked a question regarding using a library card to get a lost/stolen driver's license replaced. I quickly responded, "Let me see if that is still an option." I quickly confirmed my suspicion that no, a library card cannot serve at that governmental level.

June, 2019 Illinois Secretary of State's Office posted an updated document, which demonstrates a library card cannot be used to obtain a State ID or Driver's License. 
Please follow this link to see what documents you need and can use BEFORE you visit the DMV or your local library: Illinois Acceptable and Unacceptable Identification Documents

Librarians and Library Staff members do our best to serve those visiting the library. However, there are some policies and procedures we cannot overlook or bend. Please be respectful and understanding when we try our best to help you, but cannot always give you what you want or demand. It's nothing personal.

Thank you for helping us help you!

Do you need to access Social Security Administration to replace a lost or stolen card, update address, or another reason? Did you know you can create your own secure login?

Just follow this link to get started:  https://www.ssa.gov/
 

I apologize for the gap in posts. Blogger was purchased by Google and I was unable to view, let alone access to post for an extended period of time. However, I am grateful for the attentiveness to my email plea to revive this Blog. Google rocks!

Sincerely,
Sharon

Switching library types...

If you  believe  you can transition  right in to a different  library type, good luck with that!  I knew I would have a learning  curve. Things have gone well,  however,  I still have a  few things to  master. I was an academic  librarian  for eight years, had a two month break and began employment  in a public  library  district.  The staff is awesome and is evolving. I have been  here for seven  months  already  and look forward to  staying  a very long time!  Stay tuned for a new post in the very near future!

Checking back in...

Well, it has indeed been a long time since my last post. Where have I been? Lost...lost in everyday successes and challenges. I am so thankful for the visits this blog has received during my absence. I have attempted to post during the silent gap, yet found nothing worthwhile or profound to share. I'm certain in the very near future, that will change. Why? Blogs are sought out, in addition to the other popular social media. Those blogs worthy of reading or visiting, that is. I will not waste your time!

Sincerely,
Sharon A. Sample

Do you feel lost?

If you feel lost and overwhelmed with the amount of information and/or flood of technologies? Go to your closest library and ask for a library staff member who can help you!

Academic librarians as teachers

I often read posts on list serves pertaining to teaching and nontenured librarians' common status as nonteaching faculty. However, we need to keep in mind that regardless of the current status we may be in, we ARE teachers. Whether we instruct information seekers one at a time or in a classroom setting, one-shot session or semester-long course, we ARE teaching. We need to make sure that we are reaching as many as possible and that we are "user friendly."

More than than ever before, librarians are vital. Not everyone lives in or close to a metropolitan area. Therefore, not everyone has exposure to school libraries, school media specialists and/or trained library staff. What happens when these students go to college? There is a growing pool of current research to support the book, How libraries and librarians help: A guide to identifying user-centered outcomes by Joan C. Durrance, http://tinyurl.com/28n6hrh .

We need to step up and prove our existence is a necessity rather than sit back and wait for someone else to do it for us or worse, wait until a Fahrenheit 451 scenario comes to fruition. Come on, let's conduct more observations and publish results to move forward.

-Sharon