Academic librarianship

Book review on Academic librarianship    by Camila Alire and Edward Evans.


Thoughts  
Having started reading this dense and rather heavy book, a couple of weeks ago. I have found that the majority of evidence though interesting, is all from America. Making some aspects of the book have limited relevance, which at times just leads to frustration.  The author also point out the reason why there needs to be a section on the history of the academic library, I feel it has limited impact or relevance, in particular to a English academic librarian. Especially when this takes up nearly 40 pages of the book. At times the book is too in depth, covering too many subheading, resulting in the initial point is at times lost and the reader needs to refer back several pages to ensure they remember what point is being made. On a more positive note, the chapter on services, under the heading of "the academic library today", which starts 215 pages out of 355, does provide very useful information, which is worth reading and developing certain ideas within any library. It is in this section that the authors show there worth and the relevance of the text.

Overall the coversge of topics is very good, possibly this book would have been more useful when I was  studying for my post grad, to provide a wider insight in to academic libraries. However this book is clearly written for people in academic libraries, more so than people wishing to join 


Cost 
Nearly £60.00
Understandably due to it's specific nature and detailed highly researched text. This book was 
never aiming for the mass market. 

Maternity leave

As I am currently on maternity leave, started a week ago. I've been trying to keep busy, whether it's working on my chartership, getting the house ready for the arrival, reading academic librarianship by Camila A. Alire and C.Edwards Evans and sleeping. However I see to be in this middle ground of, what I am. Yes I know I'm a librarian, qualified and educated. But where does that stop.

The handover- a useful practice to a) make sure I have passed on enough information for someone else to fill my role for 6 months. B) also useful to put my mind to a task which will last during my absence.

I am guessing that most people wouldlovetotake 6 months of work, but I certainly don't feel like that. Yes, I am excited about the baby, but not having the routine and seeing work mates every day is a little odd.

I suppose I will need to look at becoming a parent as my new full time job. Not sure how that would read in a job advert.

Parent-  on call 24 hours a day, no actual pay, but feeling of doing something worthwhile, no holiday entitlement. Duration - 18 years plus.

Duties- cook, cleaner, maid, driver, nurse, storyteller, photographer, bank account.

At least I can laugh about all of this.