Well, not really, but it seems apt enough to start a blog of this nature with a nautically infused quote, since I will be at sea for a month and a half.
I never realized that when going to graduate school to be a librarian, it might entail some adventure on the high seas or exotic ports of call. I suppose that the American Library Association may wish to add the possibility of being a librarian on the high seas as a potential job.
So yes, I am a librarian by trade and work at the State University of New York's Maritime College. We train merchant mariners, or those engaged in the nautical profession who are involved in civilian industries. Even though the profession is itself civilian, the students (or cadets) have to go through a rigorous quasi-military program, as required by law and regulation. Because of this, the students have for over 130 years, been going on annual cruises. For those who want to know a little bit more about the school's history, I wrote this brief article (see page 20) for the journal Sidelights.
The ship is the Empire State VI and because our regiment of students has grown so large, the cruise is divided up into two forty-five day segments. The plan is that after the first half, half of the cadets and some of the crew will be flown home to be replaced by the other half. I will be on the first half of this cruise with the destinations of Malaga, Spain; Athens, Greece; and Dublin, Ireland. After I leave, the ship will continue on to Malta and Brest, France.
On this cruise, I am going to have limited connectivity to the outside world, and can only be reached via email (and even that is just text, no attachments). So then you must think how could I maintain a blog? That is where the assistance of my girlfriend, the lovely Michelle, will come in handy as I will email her updates which she will post. Once I actually get into port, I will be able to post images and other ephemera (ephemera is such a 50 cent word).
So what are my duties? I will be running the library aboard ship which sees heavy usage since it is one of the few study areas where the students can get some peace and quiet. Also, the students, as I hinted at before, have no internet, so this is really an old-fashioned library (I hope everybody knows their Library of Congress Classification System).
At this moment on the agenda are preparations for cruise, both by the school and myself personally. The library is in the process of packing up the ship's library to prepare for transport. Chief among the items in this library is a collection of books called the "Gove Collection" which were donated in the memory of an alumni who died some years ago while at sea. Most of these books are either about adventure or disaster at sea, but typically they are interwoven themes. This will undoubtedly be very much appreciated by the students as they read about the Titanic sinking. There are also checklists upon checklists of things to do from proper supplies, to making sure the computers in the library are functioning properly.
For myself, here is my checklist of personal items:
- I-Pod Touch -- acquired and all music moved to it (still working on audio books).
- Bicycle - Why a bike? Because the ship puts in at the industrial ports and are not necessarily in the center of town. Several people have suggested bringing one. Fortunately, a fellow faculty member is lending me his.
- Uniform - Yes, I have to wear a uniform. The kit is khaki top and bottom and for ceremonies a white top and black pants. Black shoes throughout.
- Detergent - I got Tide, not because of any loyalty to the brand (or the obvious nautical reference), but because it was on sale.
- Medicine kit - still need to get peptobismol, tylenol, nyquil, dramamine, etc.
- Sunblock - I want to get super sunblock so I am paler upon coming back.
- Sunglasses - Need to dig up the cheapo ones.
- Reading Material - Nah... I am in a library after all.
- Kung Fu movies - Since I'm in charge of showing the movies on the ship, I intend to fully immerse these cadets into the lore of such classics as "Executioners from Shaolin," and "36th Chamber of Shaolin," and "Eagle Claw."
- Camera - Borrowing one from the library -- I promise I will take lots of pictures!
So what's up next? We load the ship next week, and I have to attend a series of safety drills and inspections by the U.S. Coast Guard. I'll let you know how that goes.
The ship leaves May 10 at 10:00am but I have to be on board on Sunday May 9th, because of Coast Guard rules.
Fair Winds and Following Seas,
Joe
