Beginning a blog post in 2025, where every second sees more content created than the one before, feels a lot like I’m waiting in a Zoom room where people are there, but no one is talking—a.k.a, a lot of “Is anybody there? Can you hear me?” Or in this case, I suppose “Do you read me?” would be a little more apropos.
Assuming y’all can read me, Hi! My name is Emily Bowlin and I have lived in Florida since I was 8 years old. Originally I lived in a small town called Crestview, which is in the Panhandle of Florida. My Grandpa always referred to it as “L.A.” for “Lower Alabama.” Whenever people say that Tallahassee is a small town I chuckle, because for me, small town refers to seeing folks ride up and hitch their horses at the local Waffle House for a brunch. All that said, I consider myself to be as close to a native Floridian as possible.
I have always wanted to work in libraries because libraries were a safe place when I didn’t have many. Books provided both an escape and a way to imagine a life beyond the one that I’d lived. I am fortunate enough to be working in Resource Sharing within a library currently and am excited to continue on a career path towards librarianship. Currently I am pursuing my Master of Science in Information while working full-time. What I am really interested in pursuing is ways to better equip students and patrons with tools to navigate the constant misinformation and disinformation, while better building and supporting community. My hopes are that I can take some of what I’ve learned in this class and apply it practically to my working environment to improve accessibility overall.
I love reading, but even more than that I love learning. I am always eager to learn more about practically everything! Reading has been a core part of my life and I have read just about anything and everything, with the only exception being self-help books. Currently I’m on a kick of non-fiction books about Roman History, and I just finished Honor Cargill-Martin’s book Messalina: the life and times of Rome’s most scandalous empress. I love science fiction, fantasy, horror, and non-fiction, depending on the topic. For my honeymoon we visited London and I got to nerd out in the British Museum; in this image I’m standing next to a bust of the Roman Emperor Trajan! I’m always looking to add to my TBR, so feel free to tell me about your last five-star read!
As far as hobbies go, when I’m not reading, I love just about everything crafty and creative. I am an avid fan of crochet, I enjoy making earrings out of small toys and Shrinky Dinks, I even love using Perler beads to make fun patterns! If you’re looking for a fun craft that’s pretty easy overall, Perler beads are great for going as big or as small as you want, and you could find patterns for just about everything! Here’s a website that has a lot of fun bead patterns: Kandi Patterns. In general, the more creative, the more fun. What’s fun about being creative is that it’s the joy of making something, even if that means making a story for my character in Dungeons and Dragons! I look forward to learning about more ways to better utilize digital media in this increasingly digital world!
Hi Emily!
I enjoyed reading you :D! Starting today, my perspective on Tallahassee, FL has changed. I used to think of it as a small town because I am from Orlando, FL, which is a big city in comparison. However, after doing some research, I realized that Tallahassee doesn’t fit the description of a small town. Besides that, tangent, I admire your love for art and reading. As a kid, I always wanted to be hooked on books because, like you said, they lead you through a journey outside of your world. I am happy to read that you are basically in your dream career, working in your passion. I can only imagine that some days it feels like you’re not working. I love how fulfilling your hobbies are. I used to crochet when I was in high school, but then I started learning how to make rubber band bracelets with my cousin to see who could make them faster. I’ve never heard of Perler beads, but I think I will take a gander at them one of these days because it looks like a fun way to sharpen my creativity skills as well. With your creativity, love of learning, and fun experiences, I hope that you are able to gain and learn all the skills you need to benefit your career and life journey!
Hi Emily,
It’s great to meet you! I enjoyed reading about your journey and your passion for libraries. Your story about finding safety and imagination in books resonated with me; I used to read many fantasy novels, too. It’s inspiring to see how you’re working towards librarianship while pursuing your Master’s in Information. The focus on combating misinformation and fostering community is significant, and I’m sure your work in Resource Sharing is already making a difference.
Your reading interests are fascinating! Roman history is such an intriguing topic, and I’ll have to check out Messalina: The Life and Times of Rome’s Most Scandalous Empress. I also admire how you combine creativity with hobbies like crocheting and crafting with Perler beads. I can imagine how those outlets give you a break from the digital world. Thanks for sharing such a detailed and engaging post.
Hi Emily! First off, I love your writing style! You had me giggling several times throughout reading your post. You seem very passionate about libraries and the resources they can provide to the community. I always find it fascinating to listen to people talk about things they are truly passionate about.
I also love reading! It seems like our favorite genres differ greatly. I am big into romance novels. I also love mystery, fantasy, and science fiction, but if there is not a romance subplot I get bored rather quickly. I do enjoy a good scandal, so maybe I will have to check out that empress you mentioned.
I look forward to reading your future posts!