One Chapter Closes: Another One Begins

In two weeks, I will be transitioning into a new position as an Instruction & Emerging Technologies Librarian with Manchester University. While I'm excited about this new venture, I have been busy busy tying up lose ends with my current job at Harrison College. As such, I thought I'd reminisce a bit in order to chronicle some of what I've learned and accomplished over the past 2 years.

When I came to Harrison, I had never been in an academic setting as a librarian - but I knew that's where I wanted to be long term. I had worked in just about every department in the public library system which helped me to gain lots of experience, but I knew I ultimately wanted to be working with students and research and technology. In some ways, I was lucky to have a friend and previous coworker who was already working here. While that helped me get my foot in the door - I am indebted to Harrison for giving me the opportunity to grow as a librarian, as a teacher, as a mentor, and as a person!

Over the last two years I have been able to:
-Develop a classroom instruction strategy that leans on the participatory side of learning.
-Come alongside faculty by developing a faculty development program that focuses on incorporating emerging and web 2.0 technologies in their classrooms (based on the 23 Things program).
-Pilot one of the first flipped classrooms with my Information Literacy course.
-Present for multiple conferences (a first for me!).
-Collaborate on projects and committees with the other amazing librarians on our Harrison team.
-Write a guest post for the Free Tech 4 Teachers blog that literally thousands of educators read!

There's been more - but these are the major highlights. And with these accomplishments, I'm looking forward to trying some of them within my new role. Change is always difficult at first, but after the transition, I know I'll be right at home! I'll miss all of my librarian friends here too - but thankfully technology is a powerful thing that helps us to stay in touch better than ever before!

So as a chapter closes - an exciting new chapter begins!