Check out Oddities & Wonders: A Selection of Unusual Artifacts

January 27, 2026Leave a comment

I’m way behind on posting on this but a while back, I was honored to submit some feedback on a project that the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Special Collection’s team was working on. And now it’s out in the world! If you’ve been looking to add some fun new items to your RPG campaign (and maybe learn more about the Free Library’s archival collections too), check out their free zine:

Oddities & Wonders: A Selection of Unusual Artifacts

Here’s some more information from the Free Library’s team (taken from a reddit post):

A few years ago, the Free Library of Philadelphia presented an exhibition that featured D&D materials housed in the library’s special collections. The feedback was pretty awesome and ultimately led to the creation of a free catalog of items that can be used to supplement D&D and other TTRPG games.

The items in this catalog are based on materials in the Free Library’s Special Collections, and there’s a little info about the real objects that inspired us. We hope you’ll enjoy it! If you do, share it widely! If you don’t, share it anyway. Publicity is publicity, right?

In either case, if you’re willing to give us a little feedback, we’d be delighted.

New episode of Miner Recs

February 21, 2024Leave a comment

I’m a guest on the latest episode of Miner Recs, the Des Plaines Public Library’s podcast. This episode they’re talking about one of my favorite topics, Dungeons & Dragons! Check it out at the link below:

https://www.dppl.org/blog/post/miner-recs-episode-86-dungeons-dragons

Announcing the 2022 Reading List!

January 24, 2022Leave a comment

I was honored to serve on the 2022 Reading List council in 2021-2022. The Reading List is an annual best-of list comprised of eight different fiction genres for adult readers. It meant that 2021 was a year of lots of reading (like…a lot a lot of reading), but it was a terrific experience overall. You can see the winner and the shortlist for each genre on the RUSA website:

Click here to see the 2022 Reading List

Picture of Margot Robie as a librarian from SNL

I love working at a public library

April 14, 2017Leave a comment

It’s National Library Week and I’m excited to be celebrating as a library professional, not just a student or a fan. I’ve been working at a public library for about five months now and I love it!

I originally went into my MLIS thinking I would end up in archives. That was my goal all along. I still love archives and special collections, but job hunting has shown me those jobs are few and far between. I moved back to Chicago thinking the market would be more robust. There are tons of universities, museums, and private institutions here that have archives. But every job I applied for didn’t work out. I had a couple of interviews (which made me feel great!) but many of them I never heard back from. Or I heard back from them months later saying I didn’t get it. It was frustrating to see that my career goals were halted by the application process, and I wasn’t sure what to do about it.

I diversified and started applying for public library jobs. I loved the limited coursework I took about public libraries – specifically readers advisory. And there were so many places in the area looking for part time librarians. I guess people need librarians more than institutions need archivists? I’m happy that I ended up doing this though, as it eventually lead me to my current job.

I’m an avid reader and reviewer so recommending new fiction to people professionally seemed like a dream. And now I get to do it every day! I wouldn’t say my dreams of being an archivist are gone. I would still love to be one in some capacity. But I have realized that working with the public every day is amazing and so much more up my alley. There are always things to do and I’m lucky to work at a place that gives me the freedom to explore programming that aligns with my interests. It’s busy, never-ending work but I’ve found I thrive on it. It’s funny to think that only five years ago I was in a job that I didn’t like, where the best part of my day was walking to the library to pick up some books.

So happy National Library Week from this humble new librarian!

New achievement unlocked: MLIS!

November 8, 2016November 8, 2016Leave a comment

Well it’s done. I got my MLIS. I finished my coursework back in August, but my actual diploma arrived last week.

It’s been a weird ride. These past two years getting my degree have been tough. I moved my life from Chicago to Milwaukee and studied full time. I hadn’t been in school since I was 22, and adjusting to homework life was rough. But two years later, I turned in my last assignment and was done with homework forever. It felt weird. I didn’t feel excited or happy that graduate school was over. I felt nervous and relieved. It was over, and I was back in the real world – back to job hunting and waiting for the official word from school that I was done. It’s all been very sobering.

Until I got my diploma. Holding that dumb piece of paper made me feel ecstatic! I was done, and ready to start a new adventure. Job hunting is not the most exciting, or even uplifting, thing in the world. But each application I submit is a new possibility, a fresh start for my new career.

I’m happy to have my MLIS. I’m happy to be back in Chicago and bring what I learned back to my home. Next goal – to get a job!