New beginnings in strange times

Hi there, my name is Sarah. I have to admit that the first page of this new chapter of my life is not beginning quite as I had imagined it would when I applied to the SJSU MLIS this past winter. I had hoped that my kids would be in school, my partner’s shop would be open and thriving, and I would have lots of free time for school work. Ha, well like everyone else beginning the program in this wild year, I am taking a leap of faith that better times are around the corner. I have a undergraduate background in printmaking and art history. After working for a time as a print-maker in a fine-art press right after graduation, I began selling vintage clothing. A few years later I opened a vintage clothing store and co-owned it with a friend for 7 years. I’m a big fan of old clothing, fabric and historical ephemera in general. I love the process of finding a vintage garment that has been abandoned, trying to date it, and find out as much information as you can about the designer. I still have a barn full of vintage clothing that I will be selling to help me get through the next few years. Fibers arts are another passion of mine. I weave on a floor loom, spin fibers, knit and crochet and am lucky to have quite a few friends who raise sheep so I have a steady supply of fiber. I’m also a very enthusiastic home-cook and vegetable gardener, and I feel lucky to have these interests while currently cooking three meals almost every day due to pandemic shut-downs and safety concerns. I’m drawn to the LIS field because I have an endless appetite for learning new things and a desire to help people access the information that they want and need. I’m excited to find my own path in the LIS world. I’m curious about the archivist and special librarian paths but I also feel drawn to public librarianship. I haven’t decided on a specialty at this point, I’m hoping to try a variety of classes and see where my heart takes me.