Or Ellie Has A Lot to Share About Her Recent Journeys
The semester is nearly over, and I feel more time being freed up. I’m going to try to enjoy the summer because the fall semester is going to be my busiest, what with two courses and an internship. But if I could survive the legendarily convoluted collections development course last year, I can survive just about anything at this point.
Not hanging out in Twitch chats has given me time to explore more of the library world online and offline. An observation assignment for a program’s ROI (return on investment) even turned into a chance to connect two library managers at separate special libraries. It might seem like a small deal for others, but I felt like a real mover and shaker that day.
I’ve also had opportunities to attend an online conference, a few webinars, and GameRT’s activities (I even found a mentor there!). In between assessment assignments, brainstorming possible careers, and trying not to dwell on how this administration and its supporters are jeopardizing my future, I’ve been researching more on librarians’ efforts to bring games and gaming into library spaces.
For one, I watched the GameRT’s March Mini Con on Twitch. There were some technical difficulties, as is expected for a stream (it felt like I was “home” again). While the stream was available for all to watch, recordings won’t be publicly available until September, so I’m not sure what I can share right now, except a link to the GameRT Twitch channel.
There were the usual Twine as a teaching tool and cozy games discussions, but what stayed with me were the presentations of GameRT members’ actual efforts to get games in libraries. This is nothing new, but I learned about pitches for using Steam in libraries, game cafes, and monthly gaming lounges. My favorite story was the latter, with kids getting excited about hanging out and playing games, and parents—both gamers and spectators—texting each other to see who was showing up. It brought up memories of living in the Coast Guard housing base in Puerto Rico and events where the entire community came together. Officers and enlisted, popular and unpopular kids… if the event was off-base in a facility the city of Aguadilla rented out, or in the housing base’s own community and pool center… it was a chance for us kids to band together and make adventures with whatever we had on hand while our parents caught up and discussed current events (probably the O.J. Simpson trial).
But getting back to the presentations. Streamers and YouTubers think they’re unique in copyright holders chasing them down and bullying them out of their right to share gaming with the public. Libraries are also facing that controversy when trying to include emulated games in their collections, with the Video Game History Foundation Library taking a major hit. There are also issues of preserving digital-born content (get used to that phrase) and how to deliver it to patrons.
While I got a lot out of the presentations, I couldn’t help noticing an aspect of these professional gatherings that probably affects how our field is perceived. Most people would find this hurtful or negating, but I absolutely cannot ignore the fact that many LIS folks don’t have great speaking voices. The reason I point this out is because, like it or not, this is probably contributing to why non-librarians don’t take us, our mission, or our ideas seriously. If you have big ideas but talk like a mouse, the only impression you might make is that you can be talked over—or easily stepped on. If we had brassier voices, maybe we’d get rid of that shrinking violet stereotype that follows us.
Sorry, toxic positivity activists, you can try to defend uptalk and vocal fry all you want so women can feel better about themselves and never have to improve in any capacity because they’re already just so perfect the way they are—and try to guilt me into believing these are power moves indicative of an evolving language—but if you sound tired or unconfident, I’m not taking you seriously.
And don’t give me crap about how this kind of speech is “authentic”. After improving my voice, it only made me realize how I’ve been holding back and particularly how others have been trying to hold me back. Improving my speech made me braver, and people are far more willing to listen to me than they have in the past—especially if I’m pissed off enough and my voice hits “livid Southern lady who smokes like she’s inhaling fresh air” register.
If someone is telling you that your constant nervous giggling and vocal tics are what make you genuine and relatable, they’re trying to trick you into staying weak. If you sound nervous and scared, you’re not getting far in this world. And I know that all too well.
For all you know, your true voice is probably buried under all those vocal crutches. I say this as a woman who eliminated nasality, downspeak, and many vocal fillers in a single speech course in college. It is possible to improve your speech. (Yeah, I pulled the Woman Card—mansplain me, bitch.)
These observations aren’t just personal pet peeves—they’re shaping my thinking about professional development in our field and even potential career directions. In fact, if I had a much better voice, I would consider starting a career as a vocal coach who works with librarians. Oh, yeah, that could be a thing. You’d be amazed how many people outside the library world specialize within it. There are consultants, vendors, resume writers, career coaches, and other folks who work only with librarians. If you have an LIS degree or an established record working with libraries, you’re good as gold.
Ever helpful and farsighted, our instructors are encouraging us to look beyond libraries for our careers. This is the best advice we’ve received, considering the job market and how conservative groups and this administration are looking to hobble—if not outright destroy—libraries. At least the public is fighting for these institutions, which gives me hope like nothing else.
Still, no matter how libraries make it through these next four years, I don’t want a career shelving books. Before you say “Do a tarot card reading,” I’ve done several—and they all indicate my best path is addressing inequity and injustice related to libraries/librarianship. Well, that narrows it down to just about everything every librarian is doing right now, so I’m gonna have to find something really unique in that regard.
I might have to unearth a hidden niche that only I, a cynical content creator with an interest in storytelling and games, can possibly find… or create.