ALUMNI PERSPECTIVES ON
WORK LIFE & COVID Earlier this fall, SILS Alumni Association Communications Director Jennie Goforth (MSLS ’10) asked other SILS graduates to share how COVID-19 had affected their professional lives. As the following edited responses demonstrate, some transitions went smoother than others and much uncertainty remains.
Remembering we’re only human, even with all this tech Elisabeth Schwalbe Ball (MSLS ’91), Librarian, Florida State College at Jacksonville When COVID moved us to 100% remote work in March, the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) librarians’ learning curve in virtual steepened. LibChat screen sharing, Big Blue Button conferencing, WebEx integration, Canvas course embedding were all new technologies to tackle, but there was (and still is) a wonderful “culture of clemency” when using these tools. Dropped conferences, unforeseen microphone and camera issues, breakout room failures – we accept all with a sense of humor and a “carry on” attitude that liberates us from any idea of perfection. When I hear “we’re all in this together,” I specifically picture the FSCJ library staff succeeding remotely, with some bumbles and laughter along the way. This “culture of
clemency” has strengthened my compassion for our students, who are in a learning curve of their own.
Sustaining students in an unsustainable situation Kathleen Byrne Heidecker (MSLS ’96), Assistant Professor, Library Information Resources HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College Our department was able to pivot to remote quickly and adapt to using online tools and systems because we already had been working toward efficient blended service. But with our college leadership committing to a remote work environment until mid-May 2021, the dread and disconnect have resurfaced. Students are struggling for all of the reasons discussed in higher education media. Yes, we were able to send a student a hotspot, and another when the first didn’t work. The second didn’t work either, so now they just do all of their work at someone else’s house. IT is now recalling all equipment from our adjuncts. Like most community colleges, we rely on adjuncts to teach, and taking back laptops, hotspots, webcams, headsets, etc. deprives them of adequate teaching tools. We are working extraordinary hours to support students and saying yes to almost every request, but after two years without a COLA and a vote of no-confidence, this is not sustainable. I work with tremendous people and we will continue to serve our students with joy and professionalism, while encouraging each other in spite of everything.
Let the sunshine in Heidi Butler (MSLS ’00), Local History Specialist, Capital Area District Libraries For the first time in literal decades, I’m not working in a dusty basement or annex, but instead on the all-season porch of my home where I have windows and daylight and nature all around me. Although it is not always easy to work with archival materials from home (so many spreadsheets and database cleanups) looking out a window has been so helpful for keeping positive during this challenging time.
Detouring with Dad Justin Watt (MSIS ’04), Fresno, Calif. After spending the whole of 2019 on a selffunded sabbatical, I begin poking around for jobs at the end of January of this year. I had a good interview in early February, and then, radio silence. By the end of that month it had become clear why. Four months later, I’d put almost 60 different plants and trees in the ground, built a fence, and completely overhauled our irrigation system. Thinking it was about time to start looking for jobs again, I asked an innocent question of my 71-year-old father in June, “Would you have hiked the Continental Divide Trail this year if not for the pandemic?” His answer sent me in another direction. Over the months of July, August, and September, I supported him as he hiked over a thousand miles from South Pass, Wyoming to Cuba, New Mexico (read more on my blog, justinsomnia.org). Now I’m home again, and I’m not sure what’s next. Continued on page 36 The iSchool @Carolina Fall 2020 35
