Every month, we would like to take a moment to learn more about a fellow librarian and SC/MLA member. For August, we would like you to meet Becca Billings, a new librarian who is looking forward to her first SC/MLA Annual Conference.
Name: Becca
Billings
SC/MLA Member Since: 2015
Officer/Committee
Positions: I’m brand spankin’ new, so not too many outside of UAB at
this time. Here are the proud and few:
- ALHeLA Member-at-Large, 2016
- AACRL Program Committee, 2016-2017
First Professional
Position: Full-time Library Associate, Tuscaloosa Public Library,
Tuscaloosa, AL
Current Position: Instructor,
Reference Librarian at UAB Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences
Education (Include
all Degrees): BA: English Writing Minor:
Small-press Publishing (Southeast Missouri State University); MLIS (University
of Alabama)
Favorite website,
blog, or twitter feed: Librarian Problems. It’s perfect for a good laugh
after a hard day.
How did you become
interested in medical librarianship? My professor from school, Dr. Sybil
Bullock, who knows absolutely everyone. She was so passionate about the field
and its importance, which stirred in me the feeling that I could be a part of
something so special and ever-changing too. Plus, the content and resources
were really interesting and fun to work with!
What do you love most
about your job? After teaching
students how to use databases like PubMed or CINAHL, they will reach out to me
when they have questions. I love being able to teach them something new that is
useful to them. To have them remember who I am, or request me specifically when
they have questions, is such a good feeling. Plus, I know they’ve partially
been listening to me!
What has been your
biggest professional challenge? Learning all the acronyms! ALLA, ALA, MLA,
AACRL, HIN – so many! I know I’m not alone in this, right?
One of the biggest challenges for me was realizing it was
okay that I had no idea what I was doing as a new librarian. I remember being
so excited that I got my dream job at my dream library, but I also had this
panic in my gut when I’d get a phone call or someone would chat in with a
question. But then I realized it’s a learning process, and I didn’t have to be
so nervous because I have the support of many librarians—at UAB and across the
Southeast—that I can always reach out to for help.
What do you do to
recover from a long work week? Glass of wine, Game of Thrones, bubble bath
. . . and yoga when I’m feeling athletic.
Anything our readers
might find surprising about you? I’ve never used a card catalog! I was in
the weird in-between age where I didn’t need to use them. When I was very young
either, my parents would search for me, or I’d browse the shelves and pull books
that intrigued me. When I was older, I learned how to search on the computer.
Where would you build your dream vacation home?
Scotland. I don’t really have a witty reason for this,
besides the fact that my family is proud to be partly Scottish, and I loved the
country when I visited. I imagine escaping the stresses of life by fleeing to a
cozy stone cottage (imagine the one from the movie “The Holiday” with Kate Winslet
and Cameron Diaz), covered up with a wool blanket on a sofa, the fireplace
crackling while I sipped hot tea. I would be reading one of the books from Game of Thrones.
Welcome, Becca! I'm looking forward to meeting you at the annual meeting. What a sweet picture of you and your daughter!
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