Narratives of Academic Librarians: Chapter 3: Claiming My Space, Permanent Status

Chapter 3: Claiming My Space, Permanent Status

I mentioned I was temporary for [several] years.

The other [instructional technology/design librarian] left.

He got a job at another institution, which was his goal.

That's where he wanted to be.

I was the only [instructional technology/design librarian].

I already had some experience at that point.

So, I just fit right in.

They made me permanent.

At this point being permanent, I now have this [workspace].

I should explain, I think I forgot to mention this.

I was initially [in a different area of the library] because they didn't have another [workspace] available.

I wasn't really bonding with my department.

Because we were separated.

I felt a bit more isolated because I was physically separated from my department.

Now that I was able to get an office here, it's like more camaraderie.

My department's right here, I see them anytime I step out of my office to work.

Claiming my space refers to the physical space.

This is my [workspace] now, I'm able to decorate it.

Before I didn't have much of anything in [my previous workspace], because I didn't know how long I was going to be there.

Now it's like, okay, claiming my physical space.

It's also claiming the position because I'm the only [instructional technology/design librarian], there's nobody else there.

I'm the go to person.

I have to make sure I understand all the job duties.

Luckily, the last [instructional technology/design librarian] was able to train me a little bit on things when he was here.

[I was] becoming the expert in this position.

[I was also] becoming a leader and more of a contributed contributor to the department itself. The last [instructional technology/design] librarian was so great and was definitely a leader.

They let their opinions be known.

They stepped in when it needed to be and was a great role model for me.

I felt like I had to take on that role too.

If the department is not sure about something, or if they need somebody to do something that's trickier, I'll step in.

I'm like, “let me take care of this as an [instructional technology/design librarian.”

It also very much overlaps with educational technology, so claiming my space in multiple ways.

This is my position now. I'm the go-to person for this, and I am also just in this physical [workspace].