What a difference a year makes
It was just about a year ago when I visited the Syracuse campus for the first time. I had been a SU MLIS student for a couple of months, but it wasn’t until my week at “Boot Camp” that I felt like a real SU student. All distance students have to spend a week on campus at the beginning of our program, during which we meet some of our professors and many of our fellow students and participate in residencies for two different classes. Before starting, I was very apprehensive about that week, but although it was difficult (they don’t call it Boot Camp for nothing!), I ended up being so glad that I had the opportunity to be there. Not only did I forge friendships and contacts that have helped me through many a group paper, I also began to feel connected to my program. I learned a lot about libraries in my week at Boot Camp, but that is nothing compared to what I’ve learned since that week. Just today this fact was brought home to me during a casual conversation at a Fourth of July barbecue. A friend was lamenting the lack of funding at her local public library, and wondering about fundraising ideas. We chatted for a while about publicity, fundraising events, and computer access. Then we discussed Internet filtering, eBooks, and gaming programs. I offered to forward her some links. All of a sudden it hit me: not only is this person seeking my opinion as a knowledgeable source of library information, I’m actually able to answer the questions relatively intelligently and provide useful information resources! I’ve really learned a ton over the past year! It happened so gradually (and in such a sleep-deprived blur), that I didn’t notice, but I’m slowly coming to think of myself as a librarian.
So to all of you new SU students who are preparing for your week of Boot Camp, here are a few words to the wise.
- DO NOT leave all (or any) work for IST511 to do during your week at school. Do all of it before you go – you will be very very busy with group work and other assignments during Boot Camp and won’t have time to get it done.
- Consider bringing the following if you are staying in the dorms: a small fan, microwaveable food (the dining hall isn’t open on weekends, plus sometimes you prefer to eat in your room to save time), a coffeepot, a memory stick/flash drive, an umbrella (you will have to walk a lot since you can’t park near the dorm), a travel alarm clock, and a book for fun reading (to help you fall asleep after all the information overload).
- Get contact information for your fellow students when you leave Boot Camp so you can keep in touch.
- Not all of the LIS professors are on campus during the summer, but if you get the chance, try to meet some of them. It’s always nice to put a face to a name.
- Blythe Bennett is your go-to person during Boot Camp if you have any problems. Last year my car broke down just as I arrived in Syracuse. Not only did she give me the name of a good garage, she personally drove me there! She is a wonderful person and so helpful.
- Take lots of notes and enjoy yourself!
Don’t worry if you feel somewhat overwhelmed during Boot Camp, especially if you don’t have any library experience (that was me). In the intro class, a lot of information is thrown at you but it doesn’t take long before you realize what a great foundation the class provides for the rest of your studies at SU. Enjoy it – it goes by fast!
Feel free to comment here or on the Syracuse iSchool LIS facebook page.Posted by Rebecca Buerkett, Syracuse MLIS distance student, rlbuerke@syr.edu.