Transcription
[Transcript of clip]
TM: At the time I went here in the 80s, much as you have now, it was set up a little differently, where they wanted us to be quite well-rounded at the time of graduation. So, not only did you of course take your major, but they wanted you to have so many, like now you call them electives, but, so many credit hours from all the different departments on campus. So, I studied Chaucer, I studied Art, I studied Anthropology, so basically I hit every single department on campus except Psychology and Sociology. Everything else, yep, I took something. In fact, a counselor here, an advisor, felt I should really pursue Library Science, and at the time I thought very stereotypical of librarians. The librarians here at the time were elderly, and not extremely user-friendly, and I thought, “Oh, my God, is that how this person sees me?” because I didn’t really understand the dynamics of a collegiate library, and so I kind of pooh-poohed that idea, but over the years, I have worked in many different types of libraries, and this background that Potsdam gave me, the diversity, really prepared me for work in Library Science.
Time Summary
0:00-2:13 Introduction to interview
Tammy’s connection to SUNY Potsdam
2:14-4:50 Field of study
Preparation for career
4:51-7:17 Reasons for returning to Potsdam
7:18-11:27 Most/least favorite aspects of current job
11:28-20:12 Potsdam College in the 1980s
Research in the 1980s
20:13-26:44 Changes in information technology
Challenges that come with those changes
Pros/cons of technological changes
Comparison of current technology with that in the 1980s
26:45-34:17 Preparedness of incoming students for college academics
Traditional students
Non-traditional students
Frustrations working with students
34:18-37:11 Keeping up with changing technology
Continuing education for library staff
Northern New York Library Network
37:12-39:57 Closing thoughts
Reflection on Potsdam in the 1980s
42:42-4620 Wrap-up of interview
Signing release forms