SMU Underwood Law Library Week 3

Sep 2 & Sep 4 7:30-11:15 (TOTAL: 21.5 HOURS)

This week my schedule shifted slightly, with an earlier start time of 7:30 to help ensure I meet all my practicum hours by the end of the semester. One of the highlights was meeting Cassie Walker, the interim library director. She recently transitioned into the role after serving as a reference librarian and administrator, so it was inspiring to see how quickly someone can step into a leadership position within the field. Our conversation gave me a better sense of the different career pathways within law librarianship and how varied the responsibilities can be.

Cassie and I also talked about how my own background might fit into this work, especially with the marketing experience I bring. It was encouraging to think about ways I could combine my existing skills with librarianship, rather than having to keep them in separate spheres. By the end of our conversation, I found myself daydreaming a little about what it might be like to work here full-time. Between the people, the energy, and even the short commute, the job environment has a lot of appeal.

A fun view of some of the previously weeded archival stacks (I thought it looked like the show Severance).

On the project side, there were some hiccups with the archives this week. Since SMU hasn’t provided me access to Excel, I’ve run into challenges in getting the cataloging project off the ground. We’re currently brainstorming workarounds, and I’m hopeful we’ll find a solution soon. While it’s a small frustration, it’s also a good reminder that library work often requires patience and flexibility, skills I’m working on developing as I navigate these early stages.