Traveling Librarian at Mt Rushmore

Being a traveling librarian who works on the vendor’s side of the business has produced some interesting comments from my fellow librarians and clients. The first myth is about the travel. I would say “I was at ” and the response would be “Oh you were there?! Did you go see .” My response each time, is more of a puzzled look and “Er, my company pays me to go see clients, not to play tourist.” I had to admit the question took me by surprise when I heard it the first time around. On a rare occasion, I have made a visit to a “tourist” site. I saw President Lincoln Museum in Springfield, IL after my last appointment of the day. It was three blocks from my client, how could I not? (Ok. If this works, you will see a picture of me at Mt Rushmore, I stopped by there too.) But more times than not, I just pass by all the road signs pointing towards the tourism sites.

Another myth about being on the road goes like this: I wrap up a meeting; it is maybe 2:30 in the afternoon. The client asks “Where do you go next?” I say “Back to the hotel, you were my last appointment of the day.” The moment I udder those words, I see a far away look in my client’s eyes and a small little smile. I am not sure exactly what they are envisioning but I suspect it is something like seeing me going back to the hotel, put my feet up (fluffy slippers, anyone?) turn on the TV and eating bon-bons. Or on a nice warm day, envisioning that I am at the pool side being served drinks by a cabana boy. I agree, that does sound appealing. Sigh. But in reality, I go back to the hotel and do some more work. I am answering emails or phone calls, doing follow-up request from the visit and type up my notes from our visit. Sorry to burst anyone bubble about the “glamour” of being an EBSCO librarian. If it helps, I do get a free snack or bottle of water from a lot of hotels.

To be honest the most “touristy” thing that I do, is try local restaurants. My friends and family, who have access to my Facebook page, do see “mini reviews” of my finds. It is a pleasure to find a restaurant that serves wonderful food, nice ambiance, etc. I will often ask my clients for recommendations, where do they eat that is not chain restaurant. I find the Urban Spoon web site also helpful in helping me select a place to try. Yes, there are times when it is McDonalds, because I am in a rush, or because they have Wi-Fi I can access for work. But at the end of the day, when I have time to call my own, it is pretty nice to go to some outdoor café in historic St Charles, or Microbrew in Quincy, IL that local musicians play Celtic music on a Thursday night makes it traveling still fun.

Meanwhile, I need to get back on the road.

Carol Doms, your Traveling Librarian

For those of you wondering what TTL stands for it is my abbreviated form of: Tales from a Traveling Librarian. (TTL) It is what I named my blog, but too, I wanted to shorten a bit for the subject line.

When I started this job about 2 ½ years ago, my friends, family and colleagues were very happy for me, but it would lead to the inevitable question: “Now, what is it that you do again?” You see, they know what a librarian does, or at least they think they do. But I am a librarian who travels to other libraries. I work for a company, but I am not selling products or services. So, what is that you do again?

Probably my first mistake is to answer that question with a variety of “things” I do for my clients. I do an account review, resolve problems, and do some instruction on product or services, etc. Essentially I had done an ‘info dump’ on my friends and family on ALL the things I did for the company. (Side bar: An ‘info dump’ is an occupational hazard of all librarians. You ask us a question; we give you the comprehensive dissertation to answer the original question. I am thinking this could be a hereditary issue, but I need grant money to study this phenomenon further.) Of course, in part I was excited about the new position and was gushing about all the things I do for the company. Unfortunately, I did not communicate clearly to friends, family and colleagues, and so the question was repeated at the next encounter. (Honestly, I am not sure my mom really knows what I do, but as along as I am happy, she’s happy.)

The official position title on my business cards is Account Services Manager (ASM). That is less than helpful to my friends. Again, most people have a concept of what a librarian does, but an ASM? My last library position was in an Advertising Agency, they had a department full of Account Services Managers who were a liaison between the client and the agency. They worked with the client and key people at the agency in ad campaigns. So I have at least had exposure to ASMs and had a general concept on what they do.

In essence, that is what I do for my company; I am a liaison between our company and the clients they serve. EBSCO hires librarians, because their clients are librarians, and who better to serve as a liaison that someone who can “talk the talk” and “walk the walk?” I could write more, but I think ‘liaison’ sums it up best.

Until we meet again,

Carol Doms