Changes to the Routine

 Log 9

Changes to the Routine

Student: Austen Esch

Supervisor: Shelley Barba

 

March 12, 2025, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

This is a photo of me in my house working on my subject headings. Since the campus is experiencing a fire, I will be working from here.

              Today something unexpected happened on the Texas Tech campus that completely changed the pace of the day. While I was getting ready to meet with Shelley in the library as usual, word began to spread that the entire campus was being evacuated. Apparently, a flame had actually shot out of one of the manholes on campus, causing safety concerns that required immediate evacuation. Shelley messaged me shortly afterward to let me know she was heading home for the day and advised me to do the same. She assured me that it was perfectly okay to work remotely until things were safe again. This was the first time during my practicum that a literal fire caused a disruption to my library internship. It definitely made me reflect on how important flexibility and preparedness are in any kind of professional environment, even one like a university library where you don’t expect such things to happen.

Once I was safely home, I set up my laptop and got back to work on checking subject headings for the theses and dissertations. While working from home felt a little more relaxed, I still stayed focused because I wanted to make sure that my entries were accurate and compliant with the Library of Congress Subject Headings. It did feel a bit surreal to be combing through headings about agriculture and psychology while remembering that a manhole had caught fire just hours before. Shelley had been checking in periodically throughout the day and let me know she appreciated me staying on task despite the chaos. I also realized how lucky I am that this internship allows for remote work when needed — not all positions have that kind of flexibility. I was able to get just as much done at home as I would have at Texas Tech. Hopefully, the situation on campus will calm down soon, but in the meantime, I’ll keep working on the subject heading spreadsheet and making sure everything is in order.

 

March 14, 2024, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

It's another day of working from home. I have enjoyed the experience of remote work, which isn't surprising since I enjoy taking online classes.

Due to the fire incident earlier in the week, Texas Tech made the decision to keep the campus closed for the next two days. The closure ended up blending right into the weekend, and with Spring Break scheduled to begin immediately after, the university officially announced that Spring Break would start early. This change felt a bit sudden, but under the circumstances, it made sense to prioritize safety and give the facilities team time to investigate the issue. Shelley let me know that we would continue working remotely and that I should keep up with the subject headings project from home. It’s been a strange transition from being on campus to now working entirely from my laptop at home for an extended period. However, I've really enjoyed getting the chance to try working from home. The rhythm of the internship has definitely changed, but I’m grateful that Shelley is keeping everything organized and moving forward.

Before the evacuation, I had planned to meet with a reference librarian to learn more about their day-to-day responsibilities and how their role differs from technical services or cataloging. I was really looking forward to the meeting, but Shelley informed me that we’d have to postpone it due to the campus closure. She reassured me that the meeting would be rescheduled after the break and that there would be plenty of opportunities to connect with other librarians later in the semester. In the meantime, I’ve continued working through the spreadsheet, checking subject headings one by one. I find myself becoming more confident in spotting incorrect or outdated terms and replacing them with the correct Library of Congress Subject Headings. Even though we’re in an unexpected remote period, I still feel productive and supported. I plan to use the break to recharge a bit, but also review what I’ve learned so far in preparation for returning to the library afterward.

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