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10 How to Thrive as a Library Professional THE START Just where you are—that’s the place to start. —Chödrön (1994, p. 34) Reflecting on where you are now and how you got here is an important first step in the visioning process. It’s also important to realize that there’s nothing wrong with changing your vision as you progress along your path. In fact, it’s expected. We evolve as professionals all the time, as do our institutions, communities, and patrons’ needs and interests. It is wise to periodically carve out opportunities to reflect on where you’ve been so that you can reaffirm or adjust your path. Vision development is not merely for the student, newly minted, or novice librarian this kind of work can and should play a role throughout one’s career. Let’s start with an initial assess- ment of where you are right now in your professional practice. Exercise: Current Contexts Characterize the following elements. If you are not currently working in a library, for instance, if you’re working temporarily in a bank or if you’re a stu- dent whose “work” takes place in a library school program, consider that the “context” you are analyzing here. This is about establishing a sense of where you are now, wherever that may be. The Workplace “Just the facts” description Best adjectives to describe Location Physical space Character, feel, atmosphere Overall worker satisfaction Colleagues “Just the facts” description Best adjectives to describe How do individuals work together? Supervisory/collegial relationships Your and others’ habitual practices