Our first Senate meeting of the year. I am honored to be included in such august company. These are colleagues I respect, wise people who always put forth ideas for me to explore and consider, expand my worldview, challenge my thinking.
Now I am allowed to make a contribution too, allowed to weigh in on topics of concern as representing the library in conversations. It is all a bit heady. I am afraid I will put my foot in my mouth, or say something so kindergarten that people will pass me off as too new. Now is the time to listen, absorb, comment only when I truly have something to say of value that has not been mentioned by others.
I do find that my perspective as a librarian, because we are one of the few places on campus where everyone intersects, tends to be broader, to see issues cropping up early on. We have done much work in addressing customer service protocols and it turns out I can offer comments of substance. Whew! That's a relief. Not just my ideas or opinions, but valid data for consideration.
I have never been much on politics, but I am learning. Mostly I am learning to listen better, to hear all the sides, all the voices, and to hear beneath the actual voiced issues to the broader topics initiating the current conversations. And lucky for me, my librarians colleagues are willing to converse with me about the long standing concerns that will play major roles in the upcoming decisions.
How fortunate to be a novice with such excellent support!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment