Catching up on library school

I’ve been on Spring Break the week before last, then last week marked our mid-point in my Library Management course. (Yes, it does seem like longer).  I’m the discussion board moderator for these two weeks about Managing People.  Reading from Herbert A. Simon’s book Administrative Behavior I inserted this quote:

"The major problems of organization today are not problems of departmentalization and coordination of operating units.  Instead, they are problems of organizing information storage and information processing -- not division of labor, but factorization of decision-making.These organizational problems are best attacks, at least to a first approximation, by examining the information system and the system of decision it supports in abstraction from agency and department structure" (p. 248-9).

My questions posed are:  What issues have you witnessed or heard of regarding problems in communication?  What could have been done to solve the problem better?  As a manager, how would you have dealt with the communication in the (library or other) organization?

I’ve found some pretty interesting comments.  I figured that was going to be a hot topic for many people.  There are public and school librarians who say that there are issues within the departments that aren’t expressed to other departments or that instructions aren’t clear and concise. 

Aside from my discussion board moderation, we have a Stakeholders Analysis project for the Dallas Public Library.  I’ll be taking on the local colleges and the City of Dallas itself for my part of the project.  We’ll get the first draft done by April 11th, then the final draft done by the 27th.  Aside from that I’ll have to do my final Reflective Diary for weeks 5-10, plus outline and complete my Personal Theory of Management paper.  That’s a lot of work to turn in by May 4th but I’ll be glad to have it under my belt.

Right now I’m still leaning toward the idea that I won’t be joining up for another online program anytime soon.  Granted I’m not working (still) and I have time to do it, I’m just burned out.  I’d like to do something in Education, but then again I’m not sure.  I think it’s best to just enjoy the Spring, look for work, get back to writing (and blogging) and try to get into a program later on when I can be in a face-to-face setting for a higher degree.  Or, better yet, if my workplace would pay for it!  I was looking through tons of online programs and then after moving and getting settled, I decided that more time in my real life was more important.  Granted I feel more enlightened and accomplished when I’m learning in a class but I can always do some online Webinars or courses through the ALA or YALSA. 

Married life is just way too good to worry about homework! (And you can quote me on that.)  With that said, I’ve got to get back to my cooking…

The Portfolio!

Now that I've dropped my Librarians as Instructional Partners class, I've been able to concentrate on my Portfolio. This is my Final Exam that includes my resume, five-year plan on how I'll benefit the community in a new job, a list of how I'll accomplish those goals, and academic papers proving I have the necessary skills needed to accomplish those goals. There was a lot of tweaking involved and working with my academic advisor whom I just happened to ask how I submit an online portfolio. She gave a lot more pointers than the basic outline gave so now I should have a pretty decent Portfolio all together. Before I submit it I'll have to add a paragraph indicating why I chose the academic papers I chose.

In other library news, I'm the proud owner of cards for both my local library and the big City Library. I'm still super impressed with their self-service machines. Having a cafe around is awesome too. Yesterday I was able to walk to the library with Steve, then go on to the park with my books and read Wuthering Heights over coffee. Not a bad way to start the week.

I also applied for a library job in a town near here. I'm not sure how many positions are available or how many people will be applying for them but I really hope I get that job. It would be part-time, a bus ride away, and something within my perspective career. I have my fingers crossed big time for this.

Letter of resignation

This morning I made the decision to finally drop my Librarians as Instructional Partners class.  I’ve been getting daily emails from my group partner, going on about how we didn’t do all these things in the rubric –all those nit picky things.  Since I’m approaching my first submission on my Portfolio for my Final Exam and only half way through this course with only one assignment that with full credit given, I decided to lift this burden off of me. 

Dr.:

Hello.

I’ve attached the necessary add/drop form to this email.  The Registrar’s Office said it needs to be signed by you and indicated a grade of “W”.

I appreciate all of your help and hard work you have done in this class but I really am not in a good position to continue with this course.  I only have full credit for one assignment so far and we’re at the mid-way point of the term.  I have never had such difficulty in a course and I fear for my grade by the end of the term. 

I will be graduating in May and I need to work on my last class that counts toward my graduation and my portfolio.  This means, I cannot give a lot of time and effort to any group members or such large projects.  I feel bad for being responsible for their grade, or have only a C for myself as I did with our first project.  The rubrics are very detailed and I just can’t put the effort into the work as you’d like us to. 

I also have never had to be so involved with partners or group members in any class before.  I’ve been able to correspond in email only and work on a project here and there in groups.  I chose the online program so that I could work at my own pace and I really struggle with having to meet other students’ schedules.  It’s just a lot of pressure for me so I regretfully am asking if I can drop the course with a grade of “W”. 

If this were earlier in my program and I were able to give the course and the other students more of my attention, I know I would enjoy these lessons immensely.  You have done an excellent job in setting these lessons up and I am grateful that you have taken so much time and effort in giving us feedback and being involved in our education.  That’s a wonderful trait that doesn’t always show through in other courses with other professors.

Thank you again for all of your help.  I appreciate your signing this form and giving me a grade of “W”.  Take care and have a wonderful rest of the Spring term.

Sincerely,

~ Suzanne

I’m already getting upset each time I check my email and see something from my professor or classmate.  There is a ton of information for each tiny little assignment and I just don’t have the patience for all this right now.  I will feel so much relief to have this course off of my schedule so I can do well in my Library Management class and my Portfolio.  I’ve already been working with my advisor on it and there are things that need tweaking before I submit it for the first attempt on my 9th.  The importance of these things far out way having random students emailing me with things like “I need to hear from you by 9PM.”  I’ve never had to deal with a class like this before.