First Week at GSLIS!

Posted January 18, 2013 by Emily Boyd

Hi! My name is Emily and I am a new addition to the blogging team for the January 2013 semester. This is my first semester as a GSLIS student and I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with all our readers.
Many admissions departments hope to attract a diverse group of students by the use of cliches such as ‘every student’s experience is unique’ and ‘there is no such thing as a typical student.’ Simmons GSLIS is no exception, however, if my experience thus far is anything like the average student, these statements are not simple cliches, they are  the reality.  Right from the get go, I have been encouraged to make the most of my experience regardless of any ‘normal’ progression.
True to form, I decided to take a nontraditional route when starting classes. My first experience with a GSLIS class was a weeklong intensive course in Corporate Librarianship (LIS 414) with Professor Jim Matarazzo.  It has been incredibly fascinating to jump right into things with a class consisting primarily of students nearing graduation.  Perhaps it is a reflection of the class being mainly geared towards students finishing their degrees and preparing to enter the workforce, but I was impressed by how hands-on and career-oriented the course was.  Two days were devoted to field trips to tour corporate libraries and meet with the professionals who staff them, while days in the classroom included conference calls and visits with some of Professor Matarazzo’s former students who now work in the field.
As a brand new library student who is unsure which path to take, I’ve loved the emphasis on practical application.  The only way to truly know what work environment I am looking for is to try out many different kinds and this course gave me a great first look into the world of corporate libraries. I’m hoping to have similar hands-on experiences in the rest of my classes this semester and I will be sure to keep you posted!