It often happens that people reach certain point in their careers when they need to challenge themselves. They may feel that they have to recapture the old excitement, and find new ways to look at the same things they've been doing for too long.
I reached that point in the year 2000. By that time I was working in the Brooklyn Public Library for 7 years as a Government Documents Librarian, and I was getting more and more certain that I was ready to share the knowledge I gained that far.
My lucky stars were twinkling again, and I was able to receive an academic appointment at the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Science (CUNY). I have taught courses in social science information and government information. In each course, there were 3 major issues that I had to highlight most explicitly: what information is available out there, how this information is organized, and where to find it.
It proved to be more difficult than I thought initially because I had to organize sometimes disjointed pieces of data in my brain into the structured system of information, infuse it with knowledge of minute details that came from years of professional experience, and perhaps occasionally be able to sprinkle it with bits of wisdom.
Not only I found out that I enjoyed teaching as well as communication with students, I was also able to rekindle my passion in guiding library patrons on their daily great adventure called library research.
In the Spring of 2008, I had an even more challenging and yet exciting chance to teach an online course in Government Information Sources for the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science.
I am certain that online teaching component would become more and more prominent in the lives of all American students and faculty.
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