Here we are. We’ve made it this far. Our team started a website, bought some things to try, programs are scheduled, and we are ready to play. I’m not scared of the programs, I’m not scared of our robot kits. I fully expect some frustrations as we try things out. But this is thought that keeps creeping in: What if no one cares? What if this whole thing is a flop? What if the STEAM stuff goes away in six months? Does this even matter?

I know, loaded questions. But I’m not the only one wondering. I think a lot of us became librarians so that we could make an impact, even if it is a small one. We are people who want to serve. We want to help kids discover their thing. We want them to know that adults our on their side. We want to help them figure out how to love learning. And we know we do not always succeed. Haven’t we all tried that program that we thought was going to be great? Then no one came. Or they came once, and then never showed up again. You tried, you put in a bunch of effort, you learned new stuff! But no one cared. Or at least, it felt like no one cared. It’s a fact, some things you try will not work out. And sometimes you will never know why they didn’t work out. That doesn’t mean you are a bad librarian. It just means you need to take some time to evaluate and move on from there. But that does not make it any easier.

So here I am, excited about trying new things. I know I’m going to learn a lot and I will discover some new ways to serve my community. I can deal with people who wonder why librarians are branching out and exploring these concepts. I can work with someone who is a little timid because robotics is not a subject they feel comfortable exploring. I can handle figuring out how to find time to put this in my already busy work schedule. But what if no one cares?

Here I sit: listening, learning, overwhelmed.

“Arduino”
“Makey Makey”
“Mind Storm”
“Raspberri Pi”

People, the only raspberry pie I’m familiar with is the one with whip cream.

What is it that I am getting myself into?  Where is the value in this?  How can I pretend to care?

And then I tell myself this:
You don’t have to care about this.  This is one of those topics you had in school.  It is homework.  You are doing this for your job.  This is making you a well rounded person.  This is important because it may be important to some kid who walks through the door.

Here’s the thing: I don’t have to love this!  I don’t have to be passionate about robots!  Here is what I am passionate about: learning.  I am passionate about taking risks.  We as librarians are not going to fan-out over every book we read.  We will not love every magician who walks in the door to do a program.  And the good news is that we do not have to care about everything we do.  We will not love everything.  As a professional, and as a woman attempting to be a grown up, I am putting aside my personal disinterest.  There will be something to learn.  There will be something that sticks.

The only requirement for this type of programming is willingness.  Willingness to not know.  Willingness to be humble and tell the truth.  Willingness to ask for help. Willingness to fail.

I can get on board with that.

 

And that’s what I can get behind.