Confessions Of An Almost Librarian

 Hello Readers, 

We’re back at it again—can you believe we’ve made it this far? Hope y’all enjoyed the little break and are feeling semi-refreshed and fully prepared to fake it till we make it to the end of this course. Or is that just me? 

Now, this week we’re diving into online communities. But before we go virtual, I need to take y’all on a little detour through a very real, very physical place that shaped my entire idea of what community means: the library. 

Plot twist—I actually meant to be in a Library Sciences program. Yep. Somewhere between a manic episode and too many glasses of wine, I enrolled in this program instead. Fast forward through a couple of emotional spirals, several glasses of wine, and some deep soul searching—and here I am. Still standing. Still learning. And still dreaming of card catalogs and Dewey decimals. 

Let me paint a picture: I grew up in a town with less than 3,000 people. Our hotspots? Walmart, the gas station, and—you guessed it—the library. And where was ya girl? At the library, obviously. I’d hop on my bike, pink basket and all, and ride down to our little book haven. Hours would pass, and I’d roll back home with three new stories tucked safely in my basket and my imagination running wild. 

The library was our escape. It was where we cooled off, caught up, and connected. They hosted bake-offs, kids' programs, and block parties. It was the heart of our community. So when I hear the word “community,” my brain doesn’t go to a Discord server or a Facebook group—it goes straight to the smell of old books and air conditioning. 

All that said, I am excited to see how we can create that same cozy, supportive magic in an online space. If I’ve learned anything from my chaotic grad school journey, it’s that community can exist anywhere—even when you accidentally enroll in the wrong program. 

—xx 
Your accidental instructional designer with librarian dreams ✨ 

( 5 comments and I will go into more detail of finding out I was enrolled in the wrong program) 

 

 

Eminem. (2009). Eminem - Without Me (Official Video) [YouTube Video]. In YouTube.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVkUvmDQ3HY