High Tech High North County
Career Day
Name: Isabella C. Robledo
Advisor: Johnnie Lyman
Career Day Interview
Interview with:
Cynthia Smith (Assistant Library Director), Dan Wood (Senior Librarian), & Lali (Literacy Services)
1.) What in your educational background most prepared you for this job?
Cynthia: I have a Bachelor’s of Arts in Spanish Language and Literature from California State University, Northridge, and a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Systems from the University of Michigan. In order to be a librarian, I must hold an MLIS from an ALA (American Library Association) accredited school. My graduate degree in Library Science prepared to work as a professional in this specialized field.
Dan: I’ve worked at a library since I was 16 years old and I went to library school, got my Bachelor's Degree and to be a librarian you have to have a Masters Degree.
Lali: I’ve done a lot of writing, whether it’s for emails or memos it has to be very business-like. I communicate with people both in and out of the library. I also have a Bachelor’s degree in English and that helps a lot because in library school we had to learn a lot about very specific operative services, like databases and budget.
2.) What specific skill training helped you prepare for this job?
Cynthia: I worked for the Los Angeles Public Library as a Children’s Librarian and Branch Manager. I also spent many years working in the aerospace (defense) industry in a business environment. My experience as a business manager helped me prepare for this position.
Dan: Mostly working at a library for 18 years and going to school, and holding multiple jobs in the the library.
Lali: I’ve been involved in plenty of conferences and workshops which are usually very specific.
3.) How do you interact with other people during your work?
Cynthia: I’m not entirely sure how to answer this question but here is how I’ve interpreted it. I manage a staff of 46 Library employees who work full-time and part-time. I also interact with other City employees from various departments, ranging from Police, Fire, Public Works, Building Maintenance, Finance, Human Resources, Community Services, to the City Manager’s Office. These employees are at all levels. I interact with the public that I serve (children, teens, adults) and also volunteers, community members, stakeholders, and professional colleagues. I always try to be personable, professional, helpful, and offer direct help. I spend most of my day working with staff on the business of operating our Library.
Dan: I like to act very proffesional with other people and it helps to always have a good attitude and being knowledgeable but mostly having respect for your fellow employees, follow the Golden Rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated” & “What goes around, comes around.”
Lali: It is really important to be a good listener and it really is important to listen and find productive ways to communicate and be helpful, mostly just be careful to pick your own battles.
4.) To what extent do you find your work interesting and fulfilling and why?
Cynthia: My work is fulfilling, but it can also be very challenging. I have to deal with many situations, problems, and make decisions. I do love the challenges that each day brings and I’m happy that I (and my team) are very responsive. I am very passionate about the important role that our Library plays in our community. Library programs and services are meant to benefit every community member at any age by providing information, (books and resources in multiple formats), and cultural events that support a higher quality of life in our community.
Dan: Being in the field for 18 years, you have a lot of variety of facts and that’s fulfilling and sometimes we’ll even go out into the community for the farmers market and sometimes the YMCA. What’s even more awesome about this job is that you get to help with collection development and if you’re as Senior Librarian like me then you get to choose what books to order. I get to read book reviews and order them too.
Lali: What is fulfilling about this job, to me especially, is to help people achieve something specific like reading because their are some adults, most of them are already parents, that can’t read and because they can’t read it makes it hard to not just live as a citizen but for their children to understand too because we live in a world where people are reading more, sure we’re using more technology, but people are reading and what will those parents do when their kids want them to read them a book and can’t? I want to help with that.
5.) What are the most important rules or practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional?
Cynthia:
Here’s a list:
Dan: Being knowledgeable, professional, showing up on time, being kind, management, prioritizing and being efficient, having personal rules for yourself, being flexible, listening and communicating with your colleagues, have a good education, and most importantly having common sense. (Code Of Conduct: Specific rules to be considered professional.
Lali: The Code Of Conduct governs how we run the library and talk to the public and follow the rules. We must have a Code Of Conduct so that everybody can understand what we do to help our guests. The library has a mission, in other words, and that mission is to make sure that everybody who applies for this job has a great educational background but a vision. The city and the library is a department of the city. The ALA has its own Bill of Rights - having the freedom of access.
6.) Is this a typical work day for you? If not, what is?
Cynthia: Fridays tend to be quiet days for me and I really try to get work done. (I work every other Friday.)In that sense, Friday was different than Monday – Thursday: we don’t run many program, nor do I have many meetings on Fridays so I try to catch up on work from the past few days. Last Friday was not really typical for me because you were here and I dedicated some time to you that I might have spent working on budget and reviewing our Library spending year- to-date. That said, I truly enjoyed our visit.
On a typical day, I am often in meetings with my boss or other staff planning our programs and services. I meet with support groups, answer email inquiries, plan work assignments. I also do a lot of work to support our operation by working on budgets, policies, schedules, and help plan programs. We are planning to install new a new inventory security and check out system, as well as automated materials handling and I am working on that project with my staff members.
Dan: It’s not really because it’s Friday and I’m usually answering emails, programming, ordering books, and working the service desk.
Lali: This is a typical work day for me because I work Part-time and I’m usually here working at the literacy desk and I use my Fridays to order books from catalogues, ordering ebooks, and reading reviews.
Additional Questions:
What will happen to an employee if they are late, absent, etc. ?
Career Day
Name: Isabella C. Robledo
Advisor: Johnnie Lyman
Career Day Interview
Interview with:
Cynthia Smith (Assistant Library Director), Dan Wood (Senior Librarian), & Lali (Literacy Services)
1.) What in your educational background most prepared you for this job?
Cynthia: I have a Bachelor’s of Arts in Spanish Language and Literature from California State University, Northridge, and a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Systems from the University of Michigan. In order to be a librarian, I must hold an MLIS from an ALA (American Library Association) accredited school. My graduate degree in Library Science prepared to work as a professional in this specialized field.
Dan: I’ve worked at a library since I was 16 years old and I went to library school, got my Bachelor's Degree and to be a librarian you have to have a Masters Degree.
Lali: I’ve done a lot of writing, whether it’s for emails or memos it has to be very business-like. I communicate with people both in and out of the library. I also have a Bachelor’s degree in English and that helps a lot because in library school we had to learn a lot about very specific operative services, like databases and budget.
2.) What specific skill training helped you prepare for this job?
Cynthia: I worked for the Los Angeles Public Library as a Children’s Librarian and Branch Manager. I also spent many years working in the aerospace (defense) industry in a business environment. My experience as a business manager helped me prepare for this position.
Dan: Mostly working at a library for 18 years and going to school, and holding multiple jobs in the the library.
Lali: I’ve been involved in plenty of conferences and workshops which are usually very specific.
3.) How do you interact with other people during your work?
Cynthia: I’m not entirely sure how to answer this question but here is how I’ve interpreted it. I manage a staff of 46 Library employees who work full-time and part-time. I also interact with other City employees from various departments, ranging from Police, Fire, Public Works, Building Maintenance, Finance, Human Resources, Community Services, to the City Manager’s Office. These employees are at all levels. I interact with the public that I serve (children, teens, adults) and also volunteers, community members, stakeholders, and professional colleagues. I always try to be personable, professional, helpful, and offer direct help. I spend most of my day working with staff on the business of operating our Library.
Dan: I like to act very proffesional with other people and it helps to always have a good attitude and being knowledgeable but mostly having respect for your fellow employees, follow the Golden Rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated” & “What goes around, comes around.”
Lali: It is really important to be a good listener and it really is important to listen and find productive ways to communicate and be helpful, mostly just be careful to pick your own battles.
4.) To what extent do you find your work interesting and fulfilling and why?
Cynthia: My work is fulfilling, but it can also be very challenging. I have to deal with many situations, problems, and make decisions. I do love the challenges that each day brings and I’m happy that I (and my team) are very responsive. I am very passionate about the important role that our Library plays in our community. Library programs and services are meant to benefit every community member at any age by providing information, (books and resources in multiple formats), and cultural events that support a higher quality of life in our community.
Dan: Being in the field for 18 years, you have a lot of variety of facts and that’s fulfilling and sometimes we’ll even go out into the community for the farmers market and sometimes the YMCA. What’s even more awesome about this job is that you get to help with collection development and if you’re as Senior Librarian like me then you get to choose what books to order. I get to read book reviews and order them too.
Lali: What is fulfilling about this job, to me especially, is to help people achieve something specific like reading because their are some adults, most of them are already parents, that can’t read and because they can’t read it makes it hard to not just live as a citizen but for their children to understand too because we live in a world where people are reading more, sure we’re using more technology, but people are reading and what will those parents do when their kids want them to read them a book and can’t? I want to help with that.
5.) What are the most important rules or practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional?
Cynthia:
Here’s a list:
- Professional management practices
- Uphold high standards. I expect a lot from myself!
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Be responsive and always try to do my best
- Be responsible and accountable for my actions and work product
- Be open and welcoming to all; be open to new ideas; don’t pass judgment until all the facts are in
- Value diversity in our community and celebrate diversity
- Be ready to take risks (and calculate the risk as much as possible)
- Stay current in my profession
- Provide honest and constructive feedback; never scold, reprimand or embarrass anyone in front of others
- Be accessible to employees and the public
- Try to come up with solutions to problems, try to brainstorm new and interesting ideas
- Be conscientious in spending funds. These are taxpayer dollars or hard-earned funds raised by a support group, such as the Friends of the Library
- Have courage of conviction. Stand up for what is right and know the time and place to do so
- Support my employees, stakeholders, public (in general the people that I work with) and acknowledge their contributions and good work
- Say thank you and be appreciative of the contributions others make
- Give employees a chance to shine
- I take my leadership role seriously
- Look for a silver lining and have fun
Dan: Being knowledgeable, professional, showing up on time, being kind, management, prioritizing and being efficient, having personal rules for yourself, being flexible, listening and communicating with your colleagues, have a good education, and most importantly having common sense. (Code Of Conduct: Specific rules to be considered professional.
Lali: The Code Of Conduct governs how we run the library and talk to the public and follow the rules. We must have a Code Of Conduct so that everybody can understand what we do to help our guests. The library has a mission, in other words, and that mission is to make sure that everybody who applies for this job has a great educational background but a vision. The city and the library is a department of the city. The ALA has its own Bill of Rights - having the freedom of access.
6.) Is this a typical work day for you? If not, what is?
Cynthia: Fridays tend to be quiet days for me and I really try to get work done. (I work every other Friday.)In that sense, Friday was different than Monday – Thursday: we don’t run many program, nor do I have many meetings on Fridays so I try to catch up on work from the past few days. Last Friday was not really typical for me because you were here and I dedicated some time to you that I might have spent working on budget and reviewing our Library spending year- to-date. That said, I truly enjoyed our visit.
On a typical day, I am often in meetings with my boss or other staff planning our programs and services. I meet with support groups, answer email inquiries, plan work assignments. I also do a lot of work to support our operation by working on budgets, policies, schedules, and help plan programs. We are planning to install new a new inventory security and check out system, as well as automated materials handling and I am working on that project with my staff members.
Dan: It’s not really because it’s Friday and I’m usually answering emails, programming, ordering books, and working the service desk.
Lali: This is a typical work day for me because I work Part-time and I’m usually here working at the literacy desk and I use my Fridays to order books from catalogues, ordering ebooks, and reading reviews.
Additional Questions:
What will happen to an employee if they are late, absent, etc. ?
- If running late then it would be best to inform your colleagues and let them know you are running late by say 30 minutes because life happens and avoiding traffic can be hard but if you were late more than once then that’s when that person would have to have a sit down and talk about how they can fix that and make it easier for them to show up on time, but they would also get a write up.