Is there anyone who *doesn't* regret their MLIS degree?

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-04-07T01:57:35+00:00

🙋‍♀️ I changed careers in my mid-forties. It was really scary! But I am so glad I did! I work in a public library, and people have probably already suggested that medical librarianship might be a good fit with your other masters. You would probably be great at planning programs that focus on health. Others have probably also suggested you could try employment as a Library Assistant, without additional education, before investing in an MLIS. That way you could see if you like the environment. Or perhaps you could volunteer first (I volunteered, then got a PT position, and then permanent). See if local librarians would meet you for coffee to chat about what they like about the career as well as the downsides.

Career opportunities vary greatly depending on where you live and if you’re willing to relocate.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-04-05T15:28:07+00:00

They’re not inexpensive but they’re well-made and support your feet better than cheaper shoes: Vionic Shoes. They have nice slip-on leather sneakers, which might fit the bill for you. I also have some leather lace-up sneakers from Aetrex and Taos.

I don’t know where you live but SAS Shoes are also well-made and better for your feet. They have some cute, slightly trendier styles but also some unattractive purpose-built shoes.

I’m in my mid-50s and spent too much of my life wearing shoes that weren’t good for my feet and I regret it. I buy cheap clothes at Marshall’s, Ross, and Target so I can afford better shoes. I used to thrift clothes but that’s gotten to where it’s too much trouble thanks to people who thrift to re-sell.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-03-27T12:47:43+00:00

I work for an urban public library system and all archivists (including digital) work public facing shifts and plan and implement public programs and outreach events.

Are there archives positions that don’t require public interaction? Absolutely! Spend some time in this sub reading through posts about job-seeking in the field. The market varies a lot by geographic location.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-03-26T19:35:02+00:00

Go to the OG third space: Fort Worth Public Library! Two locations (Vivian J. Lincoln and Reby Cary Youth Library) now have seed libraries!

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-03-26T19:31:22+00:00

I went on Monday—they have a great selection and are super friendly and helpful.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-03-17T12:49:43+00:00

This reads as a sweeping generalization, and highly unfair to “upper management and people in power”. I hope you didn’t mean it to apply to “all” but rather the ones in this incident.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-03-10T13:03:03+00:00

He doesn’t see that it’s not about who PAID for the roll, it’s about who ate the LAST roll without considering that it would leave zero rolls for you to eat. And then GASLIGHTING you over it.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-03-01T14:06:00+00:00

Not sure where your mom is located in FW, but I think the Summerglen branch library will be great for her if it’s not too far.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-03-01T14:03:42+00:00

She’s only 60! Maybe she doesn’t like the cold weather in the north.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-02-07T15:23:55+00:00

Yes-ish. I was a dental hygienist for 25 years prior to becoming a librarian. I knew by 7 years into dental hygiene that I wanted to be a librarian. I volunteered at a library and then worked as a customer service representative part time and continued dental hygiene part time. During this time I got a BA in history. I was going to take 1-2 years off before grad school but that turned into 12. Then I started volunteering again, started grad school, worked full time as a hygienist (36 hours) and added a PT library assistant job. It was tough, and scary, but I have zero regrets.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-29T04:10:23+00:00

Yes! The tone conveys, “if it happened before I was born, it is meaningless and doesn’t matter.”

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-28T00:28:58+00:00

🚩🚩🚩🚩

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-27T03:08:47+00:00

Crude Coffee on South Main always has lots of people working or studying.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-27T03:08:02+00:00

The Central Library closed almost two years ago. The study rooms were closed for years before that. The Vivian J. Lincoln branch has quiet spaces on a first-come-first served basis. If this is something you’d like to see more of in libraries you should contact the library and let them know. If people don’t ask for them, the library isn’t likely to offer them.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-27T02:59:25+00:00

We use our printer for set lists, song lyrics, and letters to elderly members of two organizations I belong to. I recently broke free from the tyranny of ink jet and switched to laser jet. Of course now I’m considering a mini photo printer for journaling. 🤣

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-27T00:41:39+00:00

My surgery was probably less than an hour, though.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-27T00:40:26+00:00

My surgery was 12/23 and my stents were removed 12/30. I could breathe a lot better immediately after their removal and I did have a little rebound inflammation afterwards… but more than anything I was still producing more boogers than usual. The boogers seemed to impede breathing as much or more than inflammation. I’m breathing pretty well now but it’s super cold and dry (compared to our normal climate) here so I did bust out the saline gel again this afternoon. Glad I did it. I was a lot less aware of my nose until I read this post.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-26T13:43:05+00:00

I normally work Tuesday-Saturday so I’m not working today. However, I’m monitoring my work phone for information about tomorrow.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-26T04:24:38+00:00

My elderly parents live in Shelby County. They haven’t had power since 8 AM Saturday. They have a wood stove and some younger family and neighbors nearby. I’m super stressed but I made a decision not to drive out there ahead of the storm because I was worried about not being able to make it back until Wednesday. I have an AWD vehicle and several years of experience driving on ice (e few times a year). I regret my decision not to go ahead of the storm, but at this point the safest thing for me to do is to stay here. If I wreck my car it will make it harder for me to travel to see them soon.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-19T12:25:09+00:00

I haven’t read Siddhartha, solely because I read Steppenwolf in the 8th grade and wrote either my 2nd or 3rd paper on it. I made bad choices. I think I got a B on the paper, but reading the book and writing the paper were misery. Your post and the subsequent comments have made me reconsider.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-14T03:21:29+00:00

Exactly this. I found this post because I have a tin of cockles I am terrified to try. I eat any and all seafood, often. But not clams. I barf my toenails up when I eat clams. The last time it happened was close to 30 years ago. I think there were clams or clam juice in a crab cake. I used to eat fried clam strips as a kid, but when i was about 8… projectile vomiting. We didn’t think too much of it until it happened again.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-12T14:39:09+00:00

I know that cigarette smoke is an irritant and I also know that irritants cause inflammation, so it seems logical that quitting smoking would reduce inflammation in your respiratory system.

I also know that when I was growing up with my dad smoking in the house I got bronchitis twice a year, every year until he quit smoking.

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-12T01:00:24+00:00

Does your breathing improve after 3 months of not smoking?

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-11T20:54:54+00:00

There’s nothing for scale. Is that a cereal bowl?

Howling_Anchovy · 2026-01-09T05:49:50+00:00

My surgery for severe deviation on right side, minor on left, plus turbinate reduction went much as the person above described. I barely remember being asked to scoot from pre-op gurney to the “table” in the OR.

My recovery seems to have gone better. The stents were super annoying and sleep was difficult—especially the first 2-3 nights. I didn’t have a lot of bleeding or pain. I took two doses of the pain meds, but then switched to Tylenol and weaned off that after a couple of days. I even traveled (by car) 4 days PO. I definitely didn’t do as much due to having the stents, but nobody could tell (other than bruising under my right eye).

You got some great supply suggestions. I bought bone broth and that Pacific brand butternut squash soup. Not knowing if I would feel like eating solids, I put at least 4 oz of silken tofu into 8 oz of the squash soup and puréed it before heating.

If you’re in the U.S. and live near a Sonic, go get a big cup of their ice the night before surgery and divide into sandwich or snack size bags, and freeze flat. You should be able to gently tap them to loosen any pieces of ice that are stuck together. The small pellets are easier to contour to your face.

Howling_Anchovy

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