The announcement went out to the staff at Regina Public Library today so I can now officially talk about my new job. I have accepted a position as RPL's Organization Development Specialist!
“As a what??? I never took a class on that in library school,” I hear you saying and I have to admit, I had a similar reaction when I first read the job posting. But the more I looked into what the job would be about and what it would involve, the more excited I became.
Regina Public Library, like so many public libraries, is going through major changes and this position will have a key role in helping facilitate those changes within the organization. (Stop me when you hear too many buzzwords!)
A big part of these changes are shifting technology and I'm especially excited to have a role in helping to develop RPL's already impressive use of technology by developing training plans for staff in how to best utilize these tools.
How excited am I? I stayed up until midnight last night reading about what other libraries are doing to change themselves and brainstorming ideas I might be able to bring to RPL.
I finish my contract with Southeast Regional Library this week, I'll have a week in Regina to get settled and try to compress two houses back into one then I start on September 8.
I always look for the circles closing and here's another one – I've been a huge fan of RPL since I was very young to the point that, whenever I was in Regina with my parents, I'd ask them to stop at the Central Library so I could borrow books, magazines, records (!), cassettes and CD's. (I was living in Regina by the time they got their DVD collection!)
Here's a shot of me, judging by the poofy hair, probably around 15 years old, coming out of Central Library. Now, in a time warp, I'll be doing the same thing every single day. I cannot wait!
Comments 12
Congrats, Jason!! Sounds like a great fit for you and an awesome opportunity. It will be nice to have you guys in Regina through the week too!
Susan S.
awesome news – they are lucky to have you!
amy
congrats!
I can only echo the congrats — the job sounds like a wonderful fit and RPL is a great library. Fabulousness all around. heather mc
Thanks Susan. Definitely mixed emotions to leave Weyburn but we're very excited to be back in Regina. Now I can start planning librarian meet-ups for days other than Friday! 😉
…and I, lucky to have them! It really is a great library.
Thanks Tara. Not sure if I mentioned but I looked at the site you did for Queer Vancouver and it was great!
Thanks Heather. I really appreciate it. Where are you at these days?
Congrats Jason, sounds great. I really admire the professional choices you make. I have no doubt this will work out great for you and your family.
Thanks John. I realise that I've also been fortunate to have choices to make when so many recent grads have to take the very first job they're offered, no matter what it is. Or even harder, can't get an offer at all.
you'll be working in the same organization as the AMAZING Barbara Kelly! she rocks! can't wait to read the updates from RPL.
Hi Tara,
I organize a gathering of Regina and area librarians every month or two and Barb's (and Kevin) have come out to a couple.
We've only had brief chats so I haven't got a chance to know her that well. But I do know that her blog (http://www.managethis.org) has lots of writings on the areas I'll be focusing on. So she's somebody I definitely do want to talk to more!