Are you there, blog? It's me, Lauren.

photo source: blog author

Introduction:

Hello and welcome to my first ever blog that isn't just a random assortment of images like the last one I had back in the early 00s. I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, LA - the center of a Venn diagram between the Cajuns on the left and New Orleans on the right. I graduated from Louisiana State University in 2003 with my BA in Theatre Design/Technology with a focus on scenic and costume design. I used this degree to travel all over the country and team up with a circus for awhile before settling back home after Hurricane Katrina. 

My career shifted and I became the director of a program that created and supported programming for kids and adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. The programs I ran included everything from swimming to pottery and cooking to therapeutic horse riding. My husband's job relocated us to Texas where I began working in an elementary library and that's where my next chapter started. We were relocated again and have been here in Chattanooga, TN for five years where I work as youth services librarian for the Chattanooga Public Library. 

My long and winding path has lead me to where I am today and is the perfect place for me to share what I have to offer. I decided last spring to pursue my Masters of Library and Information Science and my Masters of Art in Youth Literature (because why get one when you can two!?) The best part of my work is creating relevant and thought-provoking programming for our tween and teen patrons. I lead our youth services' cooking programs and book clubs while also teaching book arts. Our cooking programs are done using the Charlie Cart Project's mobile kitchen and in collaboration with local chefs. 

I am also an artist and do a variety of creative arts in my spare time. I'm a published illustrator, award-winning visual artist and muralist, textile designer, and am currently teaching myself how to use a Vandercook letterpress with woodblock type. I love the illustration arts and the art around making a book - taking simple items and making into a tangible item with endless potential. 

Technology and Me:

If you've read this far, then you've probably picked up the assumption that I'm a visual learner and you would be correct. With the multitudes of Adobe software out there you'd think I'd have learned how to use things like Illustrator or Photoshop by now, but I haven't. I find it overwhelming and it almost feels like I'm too late in starting to learn it now meaning I feel like I should've started ages ago and learned as it advanced and updated. When creating something like an illustration or textile pattern, I prefer to work by hand and not digitally. Getting into fabric and surface design did force me to learn Procreate and from there I've learned a lot including how to make my own drawn animated gifs. I've really only ever forced myself to learn about technology when I absolutely needed to and not because I rejected it, just because I can work faster by hand.

In my day-to-day at the library the only technology I use that isn't a Google office component or Polaris (the system our library uses) is Canva and that's mostly for signage/posters. Occasionally I'll use our 4th floor makerspace to print large format items and this requires the briefest of dips into Illustrator - but that is only if I'm concerned with printing a lot of random images and am attempting to save paper. Last semester I took LIS 703: Organization of Knowledge and I had to learn a lot of XML language and MARC formating. I've never understood coding or writing something that makes sense to a computer so I had a steeper learning curve than others in the class. 

So how do I feel about technology coming up this summer...

Gif source: via GIPHY

Comments

  1. NMZumpanoMay 10, 2023 at 11:11 AM

    What a fascinating journey you've had, Lauren! I'm excited to see how you'll take the content this summer and apply it to your position and your art. I look forward to learning with you.

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  2. Techsplorations for TeachersMay 10, 2023 at 7:45 PM

    Well... my first new lesson in interacting with blogs today is that if I am in the midst of making a comment and go back up to the blog to follow a link before posting, I'll lose everything I wrote. It seems like something I should have been able to predict, but, here we are. So let me start again....

    Hi, Lauren! Your work history is amazing. It's fantastic to hear about your path to a position that is both rewarding and just so important to the world.

    I never thought about librarians teaming up with chefs. My husband is a cook and is always looking for new places to share his skills. Maybe there are programs around here in Chicagoland. I want to click on that Charlie link to learn more, but I think I'll wait until I've published this comment.

    I relate to your very evocative gif. I get especially frustrated about technology when it is supposed to help us be more efficient and make our lives easier, yet it seems that there is always some new update, software, app, platform that I have to spend time learning when I was already doing pretty well with the previous version. The cost-benefit analysis doesn't always land on the side of more focus on technology, at least for me. On the other hand, I see my mother struggling now because she has steadfastly refused to develop any tech skills beyond using a TV remote and answering calls on a flip phone. She believes people are deliberately snubbing her when they communicate by email or text, and can't comprehend that some of the paper newspapers she used to receive now only publish online versions. My father was born the same year she was, and he was able to use all kinds of tech. My mom had a college education and is very smart, but she just felt it was not "her thing." I don't want my lack of attention to tech to similarly leave me isolated or disconnected, or to make me obsolete at work. Also, I find lots of new technology amazing and compelling. Yet, sometimes I really do feel like your gif about it, too!

    I sometimes forget that our program has people from all over the place. I'm fascinated to hear about the ways that librarians in the southern US in particular are navigating current political and social issues. I also recognize that my knowledge of the southern states is extremely limited and I have no realistic idea of the range of day to day experiences people are having in different places. I will eagerly follow your posts to learn more about how you are experiencing things. I hopr you'll post some links to some of your art, as well. Other than making some earrings and bracelets, I don't have much artistic talent or motivation, but I definitely appreciate beauty and creatitivity. Thanks for your post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Katie SteffensenMay 11, 2023 at 7:44 PM

    Great to meet you Lauren! It's awesome to see another public library youth services person here and I love that you're also pursuing a Master's in Youth Literature as well! I've been very tempted by that program but I figured: one degree at a time. I also seriously relate to your attitude towards technology; there are times it's a great asset, but also times it makes me want to rip my hair out. It's great to hear you use Canva a lot! I was going to recommend it when I read you're a visual person, but you beat me to it. It's one of my most used tools when creating presentations, posters, or even just pulling clipart to print and use in storytimes. Thanks for a great post!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anthony Sendzimer.May 14, 2023 at 11:06 AM

    Hello, Lauren! I was very impressed by your wide array of interests and thus, your wide array of programming efforts for all ages! I worked in a public library for a bit, but I was so lost when it came to the programming aspect which could be discouraging. But it's really cool to see the way you've been able to bring your own interests into the forefront when it comes to implementing stuff for those in your library! I can tell your patrons are fortunate to have you.

    I can certainly relate to getting stuck only using Google Suite or my ILS when I'm at work, but I have found that simply reading about a tool that seems interesting and then giving myself the homework of trying to make something with the new tool makes me feel better not just about the tool but my ability to teach myself. I remember I had to essentially teach myself Adobe Premier over a weekend for a video essay assignment in undergrad. Not fun!! Well, not fun until it became REALLY fun. Despite the initial frustration (to put it mildly), it was wonderful seeing the fruits of my labor right in front of me. Good to meet you, and I'm looking forward to this class together!

    ReplyDelete

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