Good News

So the updates are not quite as numerous here as they were when abroad, but that's not surprising. However, I have news! Yes, before the school year has even started. The day before yesterday, Tuesday, I got an email about an opening at the American Antiquarian Society and was put in contact with the head of acquisitions. Within a half hour of emailing I had an appointment for the very next day. It all happened so fast that I was a nervous wreck. On Wednesday I poured over the website, reading up all I could on it, so as not to be caught off gaurd during the interview. I arrived ridiculously early and went to go sit in the park across the street trying to calm my nerves. So at ten of six I walked in and told the receptionist (a very friendly girl working on her Ph.D at Clark) I was there for my appointment hoping ten minutes wasn't too too early.

After a few minutes of waiting in reception- the only place I was even allowed (!), the woman who was interviewing me came out. Of course the first question was what made me interested in this position/field, etc. I THINK my answer was pretty good. nothing unexpected but still accurate- I said it seemed to combine two interests of mine really well- as an english major and someone with an interest inhistory. Though I had to clarify that despite my genuine interest, I hadnt been able to take many class in American history- since I didn't want to give false impressions that I was a history buff... especially in American history since the society focuses on all print materials from America up to 1876 (preferribly).

Anyway on to the good stuff. I got to go in the stacks which is basically where everything is kept. I recall hearing that they have 21 miles of shelves, which, could be true. The stacks are closed, meaning if you are even allowed to research there (everyone has to under go an interview to do so!) you have to give very specific search criteria to a curator who then goes and finds the books/ printed materials that could possibly have what you are looking for, or even if you know the book THEY go get it for you. No browsing, the materials are too old and too valuable for pleasure browsing/reading. Even when you get the book every book has to be read from a book cradle. So to get to go into the stacks was very cool, they have newspapers and books from the 1700s in there! All original. It's also unfortunately kept cold and dark so not the most comfy place to be in as cool as it is. Mine you these stacks were built turn of the century!

So there are stacks A-D and five levels for each except for the D stacks which are newer and have two levels of bigger stacks instead of five levels of the smaller ones.

Then she took me behind the scenes where people were working in digitizing the old books for online databases that people anywhere could pay to have access to. And finally into our little office. Then she explained what they do in acquisitions. turns out they dont decide what new books the library gets, the curators do. They just recieve them, unpack them, record all the bibliographic data, decide which fund should pay for it (different funds are for different types of books- decided by the people who give those funds) make up the invoice and do all the paperwork and prep so that the book can go to be catalogued. Now, sometimes the curator will decide the book isnt what it was described as and we will have to send it back- that, apparently, is a big hassle.

So it involves a lot of paperwork and such but I get to see all the new books that come in and learn how to take down all the bibliographic data onto a special sheet in a special way. Also we mark the books (in pencil) with notations, like a secret code in the back that tells the price we paid for it etc etc. The invoices in particular seemed to boggle me but she assured me it was really just plugging in information we got all from the title page of the book- and the price. So i guess it's not rocket science. Also since I am interested in archiving if a project comes up they are going to try and get me involved in that whcih is nice.

So honestly, it probably wont be the most exciting thing, but it will be good experience working in a rare book library. however, she warned they dont function like any public library or evenmost libraries. That's okay with me, though. She showed me a children's gift book from the 1800's and it was so very cool. The illustrations were much more refined and sophisticated, they just didn't seem simplified like today's children's book illustrations are- they were still approproate but the art was just gorgeous! The deatil and care was amazing. I want to give my child books from the 1800s!! Anyway that was really cool.

So, at the end of the interview she asked me to fill out a form and started asking about hours and asked when I could start! Well I start on Wednesday Sept second! I work three days a week in three hour shifts so nine hours a week. My only pet peeve is that they insist on calling me a volunteer and not an intern, not based on the work I do but because I am not getting academic credit for my work there. I really would rather be an "intern" as opposed to a volunteer because volunteering seems so much more casual (and not as professional)! And I asked if there was really a difference and that was all they gave- academic credit or no academic credit. Lame. But if thats the worst I have to gripe about then it looks pretty good.

So, more updates probably during the end of august when I go to visit the grad schools! I'm sure that will be very very fun. I have been setting up meetings to talk to people there so it's looking pretty good as of now!