Ok I am going to be showing my age a little bit here, but not in the way most people usually complain about showing their age. You see, believe it or not I feel really young...for a librarian that is.

As you all know I have a new job as director of a medical library. It is smaller than my previous library, but then again most medical libraries are smaller than my previous library. Any way my generational shock came when I was faced with the card catalog. Dear God, I felt like a neophyte. I haven't used a card catalog since I was in grade school. I have never used one or maintained one since I have been a librarian. In library school we cataloged books and materials online. Now I am in charge of a library where all of the books are in the catalog and as we acquire new books, they too go into a catalog. I confess, I don't even know how to type out a card for the catalog. I feel very unsettled by this.

What is more frustrating is that I feel like I am currently a subpar librarian or at least look like one. Not because I am unfamiliar with cataloging for card catalogs, but because I can't find anything in my new library. I can only search by author, title, and subject. I can't do any wildcard or keyword searches. I can't quickly search alternate spellings or titles. I feel neutered and powerless. I am so used to coming up with creative online searching strategies for finding those books where my user has little identifying information.

Essentially, I feel like my mojo is gone, like I am Wonder Woman without my bracelets and my lasso of truth. I am just plain ol' Diana Prince (without the big glasses).

However, there is a light at the end of tunnel. I was specifically hired to bring my new library into the digital age. So, one of my first tasks will be to get a library automation system. Eeeee I just get giddy thinking about it. Soon, I will be back to my bullet deflecting self and I can't wait.