February 22, 2007
I had an AWESOME FYC class Tuesday afternoon before going over to "Co-Mo". The students were engaged, they shared with me the topics they are considering for their paper. There assignment is to find scholarly articles relating to their volunteer experiences they have had in South Bend. This was an excellent topic; we strategized on search terms, and some of the students found articles relating to what they will write about. It occurred to me that the Instruction classes could be used as a tool to market my "Mobile Librarian" and Felicia's "drop-in" classes in the IL courses we have. Felicia is going to get some bookmarks made, I am going to get some digital images of my work so that Laurie M. will design me a bookmark as well. Aaah, the love of a team; it reminds me of my former affiliation with a dynamic group of Black Catholic Women in the organization, The Knights of Peter Claver-Ladies Auxiliary: "For the good of the order, we will accomplish our task".

My "Mobile Librarian" work is beginning to pick up some speed. I have walked around Coleman-Morse and O'Shaughnessy passing out pens, bookmarks, and asking different departments to post my flyer around campus. Its starting to work. Dr. Sandy fed me dinner along with her class Tuesday night; she also provided a decadent chocolate/cherry cake for dessert. After all, it was "Fat Tuesday" and I enjoyed every morsel of that cake. I answered some general reference questions re: the library catalog and talked about the librarian profession with some of the students; it was a good experience. 11pm on Sunday night and 7pm on Tuesday night came so fast!

My "Mobile Librarian" project is a wonderful opportunity for me to build community with others (staff, faculty, & students) at Notre Dame outside of the library. There is a strong sense of community with the First Year staff & faculty in "Co-Mo" as well as in "O'Shay". Yesterday, I chatted with Dr. Pierce and Dr. Tillery about the recent C-Span documentary celebrating Abraham Lincoln's decision re: the Emancipation Proclamation. That was an eye-opening discussion, to which Dr. Tillery answered some questions for me, that I had about the C-Span presentation. Dr. Alvin Tillery, Professor of Political Science is leaving Notre Dame for Rutgers University. He's from the east, and he is returning "home". He is such a dynamic and influential scholar in political science and he will be missed. Some students also joined in, and it was a good mesh of thought provoking opinions and comments going all around. This experience taught me once again that I have chosen the right profession. I can take my big ball of experience, education, and wisdom and share it will a community of learners who are generally interested in what I have to say. This energizes me to no end!

Today's reflection from Black Pearls-Daily Affirmations and Inspirations for African Americans (Eric Copage) focuses on the theme of Role Models:

"As we achieve, we become role models for others; people look to us for inspiration, asking how we did it, hungry for advice on how they, too can reach their goals. While we are first responsible to ourselves to lead sober, sane, and healthy lives, it is obvious how important our doing so is to our people. By being industrious, committed, concerned and creative, we define ourselves in positive terms." "I could see that my significance as an individual was small....I had become, whether I liked it or not, a symbol, representing my people....I could not run from that situation."--Marian Anderson

My weekly "Shout-Outs" go to: Dr. Sandy (First Year Studies), the students of "Co-Mo" and "OShay", Diane Kennedy, Angie Chamblee, Beverly Love-Holt, Felicia Smith, Lothar Spang, Debbie Tucker, Dee Calloway, Sherri Jones, and Laurie McGowan. You guys are the best!