Upon returning from vacation two weeks ago, I accepted my very first faculty (term, not tenure track, unfortunately) position at the Consortium Library on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus (to begin February 10). It is also my very first position as an instructional designer! When I applied, the job title was Instructional Design Librarian but it has since changed to Library Instructional Designer. Now matter what you call it, I am so very excited to get started! I am looking forward to working more with technology and becoming more involved in student learning and success. This job is the perfect match for my two master’s degrees: library and information studies (MLIS) and education with an emphasis in instructional design (M.Ed. ONID). Though I am continuing my career in libraries, this position is entirely new for me. It truly feels like a career change as I leave behind managing crews of people and library collections I manage independently for teaching, supporting others in their teaching, and working with technology to create digital learning objects.
In most ways, I feel as ready to move on from my old job as I feel ready to get started with this new one. One thing I will miss dearly is my staff and colleagues at the Learning Resources Center. I’ve gained a few mentors while there and their outside-the-library-world perspective is an excellent complement to the guidance I receive from my librarian mentors. Beyond mentoring, I’ve developed some great friendships as we have ridden the seas of great change together in the 4 years I was there (and especially in the last 2 years). I appreciate my student workers and staff employees (past and present) for all the hard work they’ve put in and the support they’ve given me. They are the foundation of the LRC and without them, it would crumble.
I am thankful for all of the lessons I have learned at the LRC and will carry them forward with me. I am thankful to all of those who have supported me in the past and pushed me toward this next move. I am thankful that I have been given this opportunity to begin this next stage in my career.
I’ll be sure to post more later about the job itself, how I am settling in, and what I am doing. Stay tuned!
Excellent news! UAA is fortunate to have you.