“I look at all of the
things I have accomplished over the past four years as the Stand-Up Librarian
from performances and events to literary purses and parody songs, but the two things I wanted more than anything else was to be hired as a
librarian at a library and to finish writing my book!”
– Me, last year on this exact date.
Me today:
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| Professional Librarian! |
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| Finished writing book! |
I should have also said “...and win the lottery” because
here I am one year later with both dreams accomplished and all it took was a
little patience.
Okay, a
lot of patience!
Five years after graduating with my Masters
degree and I was finally hired and started working last week as a professional
librarian. And the best part of all was
that I didn’t have to fill out a lengthy online application or submit a
resume. I just answered an email, took a
tour of the library, and said yes. It
was that easy. Oh, and spend the last
five years busting my ass so I could be ready when the opportunity eventually presented
itself. You see, I got the job not because
I was a librarian, but because I was also the Stand-Up
Librarian! Or just had cute bookmarks, I'm not exactly sure. Anyway, I was approached at an event
over a year ago about this job & it turned out the guy was serious! Which makes me realize that wearing an outfit
made entirely out of books doesn’t make me look crazy at all, but in fact,
qualified!!! But seriously, every single
experience from the start of this idea I had five years ago to working as an intern, volunteer, assistant and library page, has led me to
develop the skills that would prepare me for this very moment. My job is to catalog the most beautiful
library I have ever seen. Thousands of
books, DVDs, and other materials, sit in boxes waiting to be cataloged, covered
in plastic covers, and shelved by call numbers, all without a staff! Huh? Wait a minute... Still, to help build such a library (and be employed), is a dream come true.
Well, one of them, anyway. The other dream is to be a published author. And I am getting very close!
Last September, I finally finished writing a
book filled with all of my crazy stories since deciding to become a librarian
ten years ago. Only now, thanks to my
new job, I finally have my ending! As I
edit the manuscript and target agents for representation and publishers for
publication, I really hope that perhaps next year, I can again be writing on
here that yet another dream has been realized. Having dreams is what truly keeps me going.
But dreams are not enough.
It is because of so many people over the past
five years that my dreams for Stand-Up Librarian are coming true. Thank you so much to the librarians and book lovers who have hired me to perform my literary comedy shows at your libraries
and bookstores, and to host your events and fundraisers. Thanks to the fabulous folks who have
purchased my literary fashion accessories at my shows and my Etsy shop. Thank you to the press people who have shared
my story and promoted my shows and appearances, making me grateful that not
every media outlet wants to cover the Kardashians. Thanks of course, to my awesome editors at Creative Loafing Tampa for enabling me
to become a better writer as a result of my reporting on such awesome events as
the opening of Universal Orlando’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – DiagonAlley. Seriously, that was one incredible week of free butter beer! To my family and friends who have stuck by me
during the struggles and heartbreak of the early years by offering me places to
stay when on the road or needing a shoulder to cry on when it seemed so many
people just didn’t understand what I was trying to do – THANK YOU. Lastly, to the unemployed librarians who feel
lost, hopeless and want to quit…don’t. I’ve
got just the book for you if you can wait a little longer for me to get it to
you. If you can’t, start reading this
blog from the beginning. My advice is
this: don’t doubt yourself. The
adventures ahead of you are endless if you just stand-up and try.
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| Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myers 2015 Professional Librarian. Comedian. Designer. Writer. Publicist. Advocate. |
