junior high career day - librarian

Librarians: We’re not what you think

Rebekah Cummings, Assistant DirectorSeptember 20, 2013

What comes to mind?

Surprise #1

1. Not all librarians are women

Surprise #2

2. You need a masters degree

Surprise #3

3. Not all of us deal with books (but most of us love them anyway)

Surprise #4

4. We’re rebels. (No, seriously)

What is a librarian?

Worst.Definition.Ever.

What is a librarian?

Someone who organizes,

describes, and makes

available large amounts of

information

How to become a librarian

• Graduate from high school

• Get a 4 year bachelors degree

• Go to an ALA-accredited graduate school

• Enjoy an awesome career!

Kinds of libraries

• Public Library

• School Library

• Academic Library

• “Special Library”

What do I do?

• Photographs• Maps• Artwork• Music• Diaries• Journals• Birth and

death records

The Mountain West Digital Library

Special Collection Silos

BYU University of Utah

UNLV Utah State University

Who uses our site?

• Other librarians• Researchers• Students • Teachers• Genealogists• Historians• People interested in their own family

history

Another cool thing about MWDL

The Digital Public Library of America

will make the cultural and scientific heritage of humanity available, free of charge, to all.

Can’t I just Google it?

This can’t be automated…

This stuff… it’s called metadata. And it’s what we do.

QUESTIONS?

(You can ask how much I make. It’s public record.)

Thanks for listening!

Rebekah CummingsAssistant DirectorMountain West Digital Libraryrebekah.cummings@utah.edu801.587.8893