Q: I am considering a career change, after 18 years, from health care to the library profession. My interest in library work stems from my student work as a page in library and a passion for film, art and books. I will be attending an open house for an MLIS program and I am looking forward to finding helpful and relevant info as to whether this will be a good career direction. My feelings about this potential career choice are positive, however after reading comments posted about job and employment time cuts I am concerned about the overall stability of the profession. Any advice you can offer will be very much appreciated. Thank you.

SM: As long as you are motivated and enjoy what you are doing, I wouldn’t worry too much about the stability of the profession. The profession itself isn’t going anywhere, and as long as there are libraries, there will be librarians. Just remember that there are jobs out there in many different types of libraries and companies and institutions, and the skills that librarians possess are valued by other professions. Librarians go by many different names and yes, we often need to be strategic and creative as we search for jobs. If this is want you want to do, then go for it.

You are already checking out programs and attending open houses, which is a great way to meet people and ask questions about the program, specializations, and specific classes. Here are a few more tips:

• Don’t spend a ton of money on your degree. Librarians do not (typically) make a large salary and you don’t need to put yourself into massive debt for an MLS. As you research library schools, find out about financial aid options and grants and scholarships that you might be able to take advantage of and compare the pros and cons of several different programs.
• While in library school, or even before you start library school, get a job in a library. The MLS is a necessity to be a librarian, but it doesn’t guarantee you a job. Employers want experience, even from those just out of library school. Your past experience as a student worker counts, but more current experience will count even more, and will help you secure a job when you get out of school.
• Brush up on your technology and social media skills. Many employers expect their new(er) librarians to be on top of emerging technologies and trends.
• Try to determine your (librarian) niche. This might be difficult to do until you start library school, or start working in libraries, but you can start thinking about the different roles you might want to pursue (reference, instruction, cataloging, etc.), the types of libraries you might like to work in (special, academic, public, school) and the types of resources you might like to work with (archives, film/media, children’s books, consumer health, electronic resources, etc.).
• Seek out a mentor, whether in a formal program (offered by a school or a library organization) or informally with someone you admire and respect. It is always beneficial to have someone who can provide career advice and serve as a resource for you.
• Find support, encouragement, and comraderie in online forums. There are several blogs and sites and LinkedIn groups for new librarians, or those thinking of becoming librarians. Join up and join in the discussions.

Q: To leave the profession, or to not leave the profession, that is the question. All corniness aside, our family is not mobile, and I have been mostly stuck in special libraries since receiving my MLS in 2006 (with academic library work dating back to 1996). I am not necessarily eager to enter a new career, but there seem to be few options in the large city that I live in. Many academic institutions that would have not required a PhD in the past, do now, including community colleges and for-profit schools. Do you think the forecast is positive enough to weather the economic storm where I am, or should I leave the profession entirely? Investment in a PhD to complement my MLS would be a costly gamble from my perspective. Thank you very much for your time.

SM:  Many librarians have asked themselves this same question, and many have left the profession and taken jobs in different areas and different sectors. We need to do what we need to do for our own well-being; and a paycheck (for most of us) is a necessity. If you can get a job that you enjoy, the more power to you. Our profession is constantly in a state of flux, no matter what the economy is like, and librarians need to be able to adapt to different roles, different technologies, different environments, and different clientele.

As for getting a PhD in order to compete for librarian positions… I would hold off. Unless you have a burning desire to get that PhD, and you would like to teach in a University one day or become a library director, I think it would be a waste of time and money and it doesn’t guarantee you a job (my apologies to those currently getting their PhDs to complement their MLSs). I am surprised, and somewhat concerned, that you say many libraries in your area are requiring a PhD for librarian positions. It doesn’t surprise me that some libraries might include it in a list of preferred qualifications, but to make it required seems extremely limiting. What next, five years of experience required for entry-level positions?

Here are a few tips and ideas to assist you as you search for jobs (and none of them involve getting a PhD):

• Try to stay positive
  It is difficult to stay positive and cheery when you are looking for jobs and not having any luck, but a good attitude (in person and on paper) will reflect confidence, and this is what employers want see in a candidate.

• Connect with others
  Join local librarian associations/groups, attend meetings and classes and symposia, and network with people. Volunteer for something, use your skills in other ways, in other areas, create and connect at the same time.

• Reinvigorate your materials
  Perhaps it is time to freshen up your resume and cover letter. Remember to customize your materials (yes, even your resume) for each job application. You can tailor your experience and skills to each specific job. The most important two things you need to convey (without sounding overly confident) is 1.) that you can do the job, and 2.) that you really want the job  — not any job, their job.

• Build up your online presence
  Do you have a professional online presence? Well, why not? If you are competing for jobs, you need to have one. It can be minimal and low maintenance such as a profile on a professional network, but prospective employers will expect to find you online, so let them.

• Open your job search
  Stop looking for jobs with librarian in the title. Search with keywords taken from your resume. If you are open to working in other areas (and you might have to be if you are not mobile), you might find a librarian, or librarian-type, position outside of libraries (and there is nothing wrong with that).

In conclusion, don’t give up on the profession — keep an open mind and a positive outlook as you search for jobs. Remember that librarians don’t always work in libraries and other professions often value (and need) our skills and experience. And, if you haven’t discovered them already, check out INALJ (I Need a Library Job).