Goal: Washington D.C.

I visited Washington D.C. yesterday for my first time in many years. I was able to make appointments for informational interviews with two professionals working in the Library of Congress (specifically the Congressional Research Service) and a manuscript curator working with the Folger Shakespeare Library. Sadly, neither library was able to toss any job openings in my directions, but I was given good advice on how and where to search for positions and how to work my way through the LoC application process for the best possible chance of getting selected. I hadn’t realized there were guides (both print and online) for how to properly fill out a KSA (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities) Assessment. One such site is KSA Writers, which looks to be endorsed by the government (or at least “professionals” who will help us lowly job-seekers learn how to write our essays).

I was on my own for lunch yesterday, and I now have a new favorite burger place. My previous favorite, now sadly bumped down to a respectable #2, is Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. Mr. Bartley’s is a long-standing favorite with a variety of Best-Of award-winning good eats. The names of the burgers change with the times – when I first went there 9-10 years ago I saw the Bill Clinton, the Ralph Nader and the Dixie Chicks. 5 years ago they had the George Dubya, the Cheney (just a heartbeat away), and the Condaleeza Rice. Now they have the Barack Obama and the Michelle Obama. Definitely good burgers, and the chocolate malts, sweet ‘tater fries and classic decor are awesome. That having been said, I must state that after having The Prez Obama Burger with Spike’s Village Fries at the Good Stuff Eatery, I have to say that Good Stuff makes a tastier burger than Mr. Bartley. I’ll have to try to go back there and try other burgers next time I’m in D.C.

OK, yes, I’m sounding like a food critic/commercial here, but I had a pretty good day yesterday. I was looking up directions to Folger and LoC before I hopped the train to Baltimore on Tuesday, but I didn’t realize until Tuesday night that the two libraries are within a couple blocks of each other, a Metro (DC subway) station, and the Capitol. The Metro website offers maps of stations that allow users to zoom in and out and mouse around, like those you can get from other sites like Mapquest. I found out about Good Stuff Eatery when I was researching the stop I needed to use to get to LoC. The map not only shows streets, landmarks and Places of Note, it points out restaurants. Thank you, Metro, for providing user-friendly maps!

Still searching.

My apologies for another late post – I was traveling yesterday and trying to get my act back together today.

I believe I mentioned in a previous post that I’d been hoping to hear from the Newton Free Library about a position that I had applied for with them. They never called me in for an interview, so I’ll continue my search and offer my congratulations to the unknown successful candidate. I did get a nibble from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL. I had applied to them for a full-time Librarian position, and they e-mailed me back asking if I’d be interested in a temporary position lasting a few months. I said yes, of course, but I’m not going to hold my breath. There’s no point in maybe turning blue and falling over when I could maybe find a library that definitely wants me, even though it would be nice to be an hour away from the Kennedy Space Center.

I’ve been watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies from Vancouver, Canada. RIP Nodar Kumaritashvili. I’ve been enjoying all the tricks they’ve been doing with the graphics and projectors, and seeing everybody waving their flashlights and candles is more awesome than any rock concert I’ve ever seen, but my favorite segment has to have been the fiddle-and-tap segment. I missed the name of the man singing “Hallelujah,” but he’s pretty good. I will try to post on time next week. Until then, I’ll keep on plugging and dreaming about working at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

That being said, I’ll admit I’m still having some time management issues on the job hunt: I haven’t managed to give myself as much time for it as I should be. I did get some applications out during the past week, though, and I’ve got an interview lined up! The Field Library (public) in Peekskill, NY, wants to interview me for an entry-level Adult/YA Services position. I like what I’ve seen of their website so far and my grandpa grew up in Peekskill, so I’m looking forward to going up there for the interview. I still need to search for more jobs tonight, if I can rouse myself from the expected turkey-induced stupor, because I’m not the only person being interviewed for that job and I shouldn’t hold my breath for it because I’d turn blue and fall over. That’s beside the point, which is that an interview does not guarantee acceptance for a position, as I’ve found out.

I did, however, send an application to my dream employer: the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC. I’m a huge Shakespeare nerd, and I have been since 8th grade when I realized that the bad guy in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was quoting The Bard and jumped straight from my VHS copy of that movie to Kenneth Branagh’s glorious 4-hour movie of Hamlet which was in theaters at the time. I made my mom take me to see it 3 more times IN THEATERS after she and Dad took me the first time, and I now own the DVD. Since deciding to become a librarian, it’s been my dream to work for the Folger because it’s one of, if not the, biggest Shakespeare collections around, and it would honestly be a big rush for me to even work in the same building as some of the Holy Relics (copies of the First Folio), much less all of the other Shakespeare-related materials. One of my friends from grad school, who knows about my love for Shakespeare, found a posting for a Circulation Assistant at the Folger and e-mailed it to me. I’m probably over-qualified for the position, but I applied for it anyway because it would rock my geeky little world to be able to start my career there. BA in Tech Theatre + MS in Library Science = ?

Anyway, have a great Turkey Day y’all, and enjoy the rest of the season no matter what other holiday(s) you celebrate. Here’s to enjoying good company and good eats.