Training Day #1

So starting this morning, I officially began my job training in the Fennell Music Library for a Music Reference Intern.  This meant, of course, going over things like the conduct handbook (basically: don't do anything stupid), learning about the ins and outs of the library (like opening and closing, software/hardware, etc.), and getting to interact with a few of the sparse patrons we have at this time.

Reference work is very different at this institution than my experience at the Archives of Traditional Music and Music Library, if only because they NEED us to access materials, since everything we have is in closed stacks.  This means that every piece of music, every sound recording, will have to go through my hands during my internship.  In a way, this is kind of awesome.  In another way, this is incredibly overwhelming.  It's one thing to just check something out for someone.  It's a complete other beast to look up, locate, and then check the item out.

Thankfully, I really love talking to people, and getting to interact with them helps greatly to pass the time.  My partner in crime, Hope, and I make a good team (we both really love music and organization) and we seem to get on really well.  This is especially good since we'll be working the Saturday shifts (8am-4:30pm) on our own after this week.

My Roommate "Traversing" the Cables

Today, we, as a library staff, also did both low and high ropes courses.  My camp experience has given me ample training on ropes courses, and Interlochen's version of Nitro Crossing (a rope swing + cup of water), so I had to do it blindfolded and mute.  Good times.  There was also a pretty sweet high ropes course which mimicked Lutherlyn's Tension Traverse only MUCH higher.  This is basically walking a tightrope whilst holding onto a rope anchored to the tree at one end of the course.  All of this was great team building, and I felt like I got to know everyone a little better.

After this, we all went to the Library Director's house for a cookout, which resulted in hours of amusing conversation and ridiculousness (and s'mores).  It's starting to feel like home.