Ruby Galvez, RL

  What are the types of librarians? Are there more than one type? It may seem like a one-size-fits-all profession, but many kinds exist. Each kind has responsibilities unique to it. Academic librarians These types of librarians are those who are in charge of college and university libraries. It is rare for academic librarians to work alone because the workload is just too much. Library aides, internet staff, catalogers, book binders, and even abstractors and indexers are often found in tertiary education libraries. Usually, there is a hierarchy in an academic library; there is a head librarian and one or several other librarians. Academic librarians may also enjoy benefit of having student assistants. Public librarians These types of librarians are those who are in charge of public libraries (city, municipal, provincial, and congressional libraries). They’re considered elite in the profession because snagging a job in a public library means enjoying the benefits of working for the ...

  My current projects in the library have changed. As I am now a restaurateur and can only actively participate in library projects every now and then, I still find time and ways to contribute by doing the following. Supporting Library Makerspace Activities Libraries are evolving to meet the changing needs of their communities. Old libraries with dusty books are now being used for more activities.  Fortunately, the community is now learning that libraries can be much more than places to read quietly, Training Non-librarian Staff I am working to mentor and support non-librarian staff in a special library setting. The special library in question is a quaint, small one in La Union, Philippines. I charge a minimal fee for my services, because it is still my time I am dispensing (time I could use to make money selling food in my restaurant). But I still consider these current projects my outreach, Why I do this: by recognizing the valuable contributions that staff from diverse back...

When I studied library science as my second course, I didn't know that part of the job  would be to defend the profession and my own professional status from derogatory remarks. Common statements, even from acquaintances and family, include: "Why would we require licensed librarians when there's an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) in the library?" "Libraries are embracing digital formats. Librarians will become redundant as physical books fade into history." "No one frequents libraries anymore." "You possess a Master's degree/PhD, yet you work in a library?" and my favorite, "You need a master's degree in library science/license/degree to shush people?" If anyone says these things, the short and quick answer would be: librarians and libraries are still relevant and necessary in this day and age.  Some colleagues might choose to sidestep these remarks or individuals who voice them. Occasionally, such dialogues escalate...

All my life, I've always thought that inspiration is needed to become successful in something, even a small project like acing the board exam. But now in my mid-40s, I know that inspiration is overrated. Reaching success requires a series of steps organized in a way that is systematic and doable.  But, inspiration is needed to become motivated, right? Yes, motivation matters. However, it's easy to get demotivated and hence lose inspiration because of the mediocre things that need attention. We easily lose sense of the big picture. Before we know it, years have passed and we still have not reached our goal of becoming successful, especially in our studies.  I've seen people proclaim their new year's resolutions to the world on social media. I know they'd probably make the same resolution next year because a year can feel like a very long time in terms of inspiration.  We often only have strong inspiration for a couple of days at most. Then, life happens, and we lose ...

 The world as we know it would not exist without people who devote most of their energies single-mindedly into a particular endeavor. Songwriters and musicians are consumed by their burning desire to create music. Political and social scientists find bliss in studying structures and norms to come up with solutions. The world doesn't work without passion. For most of my life, I've thought of myself as a jack of all trades. I dabbled in everything. Genres and interests are rooms that I open and stay in for a while, until my curiosity is sated, and I know enough to talk at length about them. I was frustrated by my lack of passion for something in particular. I was bound in a ball and chain of envy, watching as my contemporaries pranced around, wrapped in the arms of the ideas and ideologies that make them burn, make them contribute the essence of their souls to the world. I was an adult who didn't know what she wanted to be when she grew up, only that she wants to explore all ...