musaolaka [OCLC]


	“There is a growing number of people who want to become librarians because they are seeing that the profession has a future and the diverse institutions that one can work in.”

Musa Olaka

Age: 32

Library School: Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

Undergraduate degree: BA of Education

Graduate degree: Master of Education in Library Studies

Area of specialization: None as we covered all areas, although my interest is in Law Librarianship and ICT in libraries.

Learning style: Lectures with a bit of practicals; individual assignments.

Type of library you want to work in: Academic

A great library job would be: Satisfying user information needs by providing actual information within the timeframe the user needs the information.

Greatest thing about being a librarian: Serving people and helping them search for information.

Worst thing about being a librarian: Having to deal with hostile users.

Greatest challenge facing libraries: Reduced funding for libraries.

Your vision for librarianship: Libraries and librarians will be able to provide information to all people in the world, no matter where they are in the world.

Significant life experience: Having to live with my brother who was HIV-positive, and later died. Instead of mourning and thinking he was going to die, he had a vision and struggled to steer my family members to be forward looking. He truly taught me to be an optimist and to serve others to the best of my ability.

Favorite courses: Reference and information sources

Favorite technology: Open-source technology

Favorite authors: Francis Imbuga and Elechi Amadi

Last nonfiction book read: Archival Administration

Last fiction book read: Betrayal in the City

Library hero/heroine: Mr. Barlow, who is the Director of the Westerville Public Library in Westerville, Ohio; Calvin Mooer and Lois Chan.