Networking...Pay it forward

I've been really lucky to have supervisors who have helped me begin networking.  One of my former bosses was well connected and put me in touch with an administrator at a nearby library.  Immediately after the initial email introduction, I emailed the contact and expressed interest in visiting the library and observing instruction.  As this was over the summer, I received a prompt reply with an invitation to come sometime in the fall, when more classes would be happening.

And.... it's fall.  Of course the semester caught up to me, and I realized I'd better not lose this contact by getting back in touch too late.  So, Sunday afternoon I sent the message, and Monday morning I had a reply in my inbox by the time I got to my email.  By today, a Thursday, I have a visit set up, including observation and at least one meeting.

There are a couple lessons I've learned from this situation. 

1)  It doesn't hurt to ask: Before my old supervisor left her job, we discussed my future and she immediately put me in touch with those she knew in the area.  Had I been afraid to have this conversation, or afraid to email the administrator, this opportunity would not have happened.

2)  Pay it forward: Besides for the good of the profession, there is no good reason for this administrator (who must be VERY busy) to go out of her way to not only contact me initially but also to respond within 24 hours to a request from me.  I believe that people are inherently good and that it would be hard to turn down a student who wants to visit your library, but I also have to believe that there is a sort of "pay-it-forward" attitude that led to my success in getting this visit set up.  And, really, it all is for the good of the profession.  Presumably, this administrator and my former boss have been in contact and have helped each other in various capacities during their careers; attending to my request for a visit was one way that the administrator paid forward something my former supervisor may have done for her.  To me, this is a wonderful example of networking - knowing you can contact colleagues and make "asks" while being assured that they would do the same for you in a heartbeat.

I'm very lucky with the colleagues I have here at UM, and I will remember these experiences as I move forward in my career to continue to strengthen the library field.