Debunking the Conspiracy
Posted April 30, 2012 by Sarah Barton
This morning I saw a bumper sticker with these lovely words of wisdom: It IS as bad as you think, and they ARE out to get you. While I cannot attest to exactly what that Volkswagen-driving amateur conspiracy theorist has in mind, I can assure you that that phrase does not apply to Simmons GSLIS.
I have nearly completed my first GSLIS semester (yay!), and not once have I felt that it is really that bad or that someone is out to get me. My undergrad experience left me with haunting memories of walking into class the week after taking a test or handing in a paper and having the professor say that half the class failed and the average grade was a 74. I didnt necessarily feel like my professors were out to get me, but sometimes it did seem that they were going out of their way to put us measly college students in our place.
Thankfully, GSLIS has not rekindled that foreboding feeling of failure.
The professors Ive had and those Ive heard about are here to teach, not humiliate. For example, next week I have an open book, open note, and open Internet final in-class exam. And to be honest, I dont think its going to be a walk in the park. As far as Im concerned, this exam format neatly encompasses the essence of a career in libraries. It seems that more often than not, library work is open book, open note, and open Internet its just a matter of knowing when to open which one and why.
The world of information IS more complicated than you think, and librarians ARE here to help you.