Things Get Back to Normal

 Log 10

Things Get Back to Normal

Student: Austen Esch

Supervisor: Shelley Barba

 

March 17, 2025, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.



I am sitting in a chair in a different part of my house. Just like at Texas Tech, I enjoy sitting in new places to keep things exciting.

              It’s now Monday during Spring Break, but unlike most departments at Texas Tech, the library staff is only off on Friday, so work continues as usual. However, because of the ongoing issues caused by the fire, the campus remains closed, and Shelley and I are still working remotely from our homes. Over the weekend, the library building actually lost power, which added to the complications of the week. Mechanics and maintenance crews are currently working to get the campus fully operational again, but there hasn’t been an official word yet on when we’ll be able to return in person. It’s a strange feeling to be in the middle of Spring Break while still actively working, especially under these unusual circumstances. Even so, I’ve tried to stay on top of things as best I can, continuing to review subject headings from my laptop and following the same process Shelley taught me during our earlier meetings. I've tried to remain in constant contact with her during this time so that she knows where I am with the subject headings.

Before the weekend, I had finished a new batch of subject headings and emailed them to Shelley for review. With everything going on, including the power outage at the library, she hasn’t had a chance to look over them yet. I completely understand, considering the disruptions she’s dealing with on her end. Still, I’m eager to hear her feedback and see if any corrections are needed before I move on to the next group of records. I’ve been trying to keep detailed notes for myself in the meantime, especially on some of the trickier headings where the terms submitted by students weren’t exact matches to anything in the Library of Congress Subject Headings list. Even though things feel a bit out of rhythm right now, I’m staying focused and continuing to develop my skills in cataloging. Hopefully, the campus will reopen soon and we can return to a more regular work pattern.

 

March 19, 2024, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

A photo of me back in my workspace at Texas Tech. While it was fun working at home, I'm glad I'm back to this productive space.

              On Tuesday, good news finally arrived. The library regained electricity, and Shelley emailed me later in the day to let me know that on-campus work could officially resume. After nearly half a week of working remotely due to the fire and the power issues, it felt nice to be able to return to the actual workspace again. On Wednesday, I made my way back to the library to continue working through my batch of subject headings. The building seemed fully back to normal, and the familiar routine was a welcome change after the chaos of the past several days. It felt good to be working at a desk again instead of from my kitchen table, and I was able to concentrate more easily with the resources of the library around me. I met up with Shelley, and she told me that she had arranged a meeting for me with one of the deans.

While I was back on campus, I had the opportunity to meet with one of the deans of the Texas Tech library system. Interestingly, she had worked at the South Plains College library years ago alongside my grandmother. We spent a few minutes catching up and talking about how my grandmother is doing these days. After that, the dean shared with me her own journey from her early days in school to her time at SPC, and finally to her current leadership position at Texas Tech. It was really meaningful to hear her story, especially since I plan to work at South Plains College’s library once I graduate. She spoke very highly of the work environment there, describing it as collegial, supportive, and a great place to grow professionally. Hearing that reassured me that I’m heading in the right direction, and it made me feel more connected to both my family history and my future goals in librarianship.

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