This is the third in a week-long series of “Day in the Life” posts, written primarily for those considering a career in academic libraries—specifically working in either outreach or managerial positions. But also for nosey curious minds. See also: Day 1 and Day 2. 

8:30a: Arrive at work (a little more sluggish following yesterday’s faculty social event). I pulled together images that my student graphic designer created to post on Instagram. A “farewell” of sorts for our graduating seniors. 

9:00a: Board meeting for the Library Marketing and Communications Group. This is my third year serving on the board, whose primary responsibility is running the annual conference. I am the board secretary, as well as the lead on local arrangements for the conference and co-lead on the program selection committee. This work is part of the “service” obligations that all librarians at my institution are expected to undertake.

10:00a: Follow up meeting with select members of the LMCC Board to discuss the room setup for the conference and the timeline for selecting submitted proposals. 

10:30a: Clean up emails.

11:00a: Went to the campus gym. Normally I do this daily, but this week’s been busier than usual so today was the first day getting there. On the way there and back, I checked in with my team staffing the library’s table at a campus event. 

12:30p: Followed up with a student employee applicant and interviewed another student for two other potential positions at the library. 

1:30p: Lots of little things! Scheduled a meeting with a vendor. Uploaded a recent event recording to the library’s YouTube page. Drafted a blurb for a summer staff event and pop-up exhibit. Reviewed a proposed summer schedule for story time with the campus children’s center. Got coffee.

3:00p: Oversaw the start of “goat yoga,” an annual event that the library hosts during finals every year. Checked in with my student photographer who was capturing the day.

4:00p: By now, my daughter had arrived on campus so I took her to her gymnastics practice. 🤸

4:30p: Came back to campus and worked on setting up drafting files for the library’s Year in Review publication (that is, I set up instructions for all the various authors who contribute content to the document), including word counts, style and content directions, etc. 

5:30p: Helped set up for our “Graduation Hat Decorating Party” at the library.

6:00p: Staffed the Grad Hat Party with my team. Toward the end of the event, once we realized there would be left over food, I took a tray of cookies around the library and offered them to students who were studying for finals.

8:30p: Left the office after cleaning up the event.