Spring Break!

Posted March 6, 2019 by Sarah Callanan

It is Spring Break everyone!  Does it feel like Spring Break to you?  It certainly does not feel like Spring Break to me.  We are not having Spring Break-esque weather with the snow and the freezing cold and everything. 

Last year for Spring Break I participated in the SLIS Alternative Spring Break program at Papercut Zine Library, but this year I have to work so sadly I am unable to participate this time around.  This year they are working with The History Project, The Prison Book Program, 826 Boston, and Papercut Zine Library. I had a great time last year and I learned a lot, and volunteering is a great way to give back to the community while also gaining valuable experience!  Also, last year I had recently moved to the area and it was a great way for me to meet new people.  The Alternative Spring Break program is an excellent way to get involved at Simmons, to give back to the community, and to gain experience. 

This year for Spring Break, as I mentioned I have work, and I also have schoolwork.  Even though I technically have this week off, there is still lots off schoolwork to be done- projects to be worked on, readings to be completed, group meetings to be had, etc.   Even though my class (LIS 451: Academic Libraries) is a lot of work, every assignment is so, so useful and everything we learn has a purpose.  We aren’t even halfway through the semester and one of our biggest individual projects was due last week.  We had a Mini Grant Proposal project, where we had to go through the process of applying for and creating a proposal for a grant.  Grant writing is such a useful skill, and not just for academic libraries.  Next week our Three Minute Teaching Assignment is due, and again, that is a skill that transcends academic libraries.  I know I’ve said it before, and other bloggers have said it as well, but there really is no busy work at SLIS.  Every assignment is important.  All of your assignments, all of your readings, and all of your projects are like professional development.  I think in this class I just might see it even more clearly because I am currently working in an academic library, and the class is about academic libraries, but it has rung true for each and every class I’ve taken here. 

I hope that everyone is having a fabulous Spring Break no matter what weather you are experiencing, and whether you are relaxing, volunteering, or working!  Happy Spring Break!