Spotlight on: Marilyn Steinberg
September 14, 2009 by Chelsea Hanrahan
Marilyn Steinberg works at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, MA. She served as the treasurer for ACRL New England for many years, and is this week’s spotlight member.
What made you want to become a librarian?
I became a librarian as a fall back from teaching high school during the late ‘60’s, early ‘70’s, when the public schools in Massachusetts were nearly as wild and crazy as the college campuses! I decided it was time for me to leave high school teaching and find another profession. I “accidentally” found a position at Wellesley College as an assistant to the Science Librarian, and the rest is history! I loved it-I could teach and not be sworn at, and I came to really enjoy the college-aged students. My boss at the time counseled me to “go get another degree” and so I did.
What is different about working at a medical/health-based school as opposed to a “regular” academic institution?
Working in the health/medical field is quite different from “regular” academic libraries; the resources are obviously very specialized, so one has to know those inside-out, as opposed to knowing a bit about every imaginable source in a regular college library. I think I have lost all abilities with respect to taxes, government documents, business sources, etc. But since I have a science background and dearly love the sciences in general, I definitely enjoy my work with the health and medical areas, and consider the occasional science questions I get as a bonus!
Why did you join ACRL New England?
I believe in professional organizations for the professional development opportunities; but also for meeting colleagues and for the support those colleagues and the organization can offer. Following my move to my “first” real academic position at Northeastern University, I immediately joined ACRL and ALA. I stayed a member of the SLA as well, and for many years went strictly to those meetings and conferences, but as time progressed, and I moved from NU to my present institution, I dropped my SLA membership and joined the Medical Library Association. However, I find that the ACRL, and especially the New England Chapter is the best group of people to work with; they are enthusiastic about the profession and most importantly, they seem happy!
How has being involved with ACRL/NEC changed influenced your career path? What are the benefits of being involved?
As I worked my way “up” in ACRL-NEC, I learned so much; about planning meetings, working with difficult people (not anyone in ACRL, of course!), scheduling, finances, etc. When the opportunity to run for Treasurer was presented, I thought, why not? I have loved being on the board, and helping younger, newer librarians find their way in the organization-it’s greatly satisfying.
Do you have any words of wisdom for new librarians/library school students?
Join a professional organization at student rates, attend conferences or regional meetings, and learn how to network. Make yourself some business cards that list your contact information, maybe a little icon or picture, and an indication of your status; such as graduate student in LIS and your year of degree completion. Also, sign up for shadowing days at various institutions to learn special, academic, archives, etc so you can learn as much as you can about as many settings as possible. Work with someone on your resume-it needs to emphasize skills, especially technical abilities, and your flexibility in various areas and settings.
Stock librarian question-what are you reading now?
I read several books at once. I belong to two book discussion groups, one I started here at work for faculty and staff only. We read a variety of material-right now we’re reading Run by Ann Patchett. My other book group is former colleagues and friends, and we are presently reading Olive Kittredge by Elizabeth Strout. Recently I read a fabulous mystery by Lynda LaPlante, who wrote the Helen Mirren-starring mysteries shown on PBS.
When you’re not at the library-what are you doing?
I am a “doer” of crafts; needlework, etc. but my present passion is beading. I love jewelry and usually wear what I have recently made (excluding my watch and diamonds!) I love to buy beads, attend bead shows, and always make time to track down jewelry shows and bead shops when I go to conferences.
I also have two wonderful grandsons, ages nine and six, who lives near enough to my husband and me that we are able to see them on a regular basis. This is the delight of our lives right now!
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