Thanks for the offer of help athensgirl! Having been back in the academic arena for a couple of years now, I am finding that doing research in the electronic realm is proving to be a little easier than "back in the day." It took a little getting used to, but once I figured out boolean language, etc. it became a little easier. I may hold you to your offer of help sometime.

Nice to meet a fellow librarian! I started out many years back as a reference librarian, then library director, and now dean of learning resources over the library, distance learning, tutoring, and disability services. But I miss my days at the reference desk, fershure!

I still get to offer instruction in online researching, and that to me is rewarding.... things have changed considerably since the old days of DIALOG where you were charged $4 a minute to access a database!

I was 35 when I went back for my master's- working full-time, mom to a 3 year-old- it was hard even with a supportive husband. But I was also working at a university library at the time. It made sense to go back for the extra degree, since I really knew the "subject area"! ;) So I basically had a head start on it. But I really learned a lot by going back and I appreciate the fact that I did it!

Hi- good to meet a fellow librarian. I currently work in Government Documents- doing reference and cataloging work- dual duty. I was a cataloger for approximately 20 years, and as my co-workers say, moved from the "dark side" over to Public Service. Have been here for 8 years, and am slowly burning out on the reference desk. I find the older I get, the less patience I have with university students who want the answers given to them in a tight neat package and have no desire to do the research. I find the older students (those who are coming back after a long hiatus) are the ones who are most appreciative of what we have to offer. I'm trying real hard to minimize my desk duty and maximize my cataloging work. Good thing my co-workers are understanding, and it helps that my younger boss is also has lots of energy & is sympathetic. At times I feel like a dinosaur..... I regret never trying the administrative route- too many other pans in the fire to be a successful manager, or maybe just the result of that common librarian affliction- perfectionism! (never thought I could do the job well enough...) Thanks for letting me be long-winded!