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Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/5/2008
Posts: 28
Points: 84
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I know there are positives and negatives in every field, but I've had the most hellish week (and it's not over yet) in a public library branch and I'm wondering what it might be like to switch to an academic library.
Any tips out there on what I might do to prepare myself? I have read that I should play up instruction. Should I take additional coursework in instruction?
I have taught undergraduates as a graduate assistanceship long ago, taught small classes in a private setting (middle-school aged kids) and tutored one-on-one. I've worked in Youth Services and considered my work with YAs to be the most important aspect--although I was not involved in much of the programming for them.
What teaching I've done, I've liked for the most part.
It may be just a bad week, but I'm getting antsy out here in public service.
Thanks for your help!
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 3/3/2008
Posts: 94
Points: 291
Location: kansas
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Changing from public to academic can be done, and if you have teaching experience, you need to emphasis how that will help you do the job you apply for... if you are looking at information instruction positions, I would check the websites that serve those who do this work, so that you are fully conversant before you start applying. Otherwise you will be shooting yourself in the foot by sounding "out-of-date." You need to know what is considered important now, and what the biggest challenges in the field are, so that any interviews go well, too.
And, I would be very careful about switching the type of library you work in because you are having a bad week (month/year) where you are. You might want to change where you work for a smaller library, or a different size service area, or even move from frontline to managment. You will find that academic libraries come with their own kinds of troubles--just like any other kind of job. There may be differences, but there will still be problems.
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 1/5/2008
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Heh, Hollis--I know sometimes I've been content and even buzzy with happiness at my job. Other times, I chafe at the the way what I'm doing seems so...landlocked...is the way I want to put it.  Maybe I just miss being in school.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Job Hunting Tips - Moderator
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Joined: 1/4/2008
Posts: 103
Points: 309
Location: Cairo, Egypt
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Zayit, I would not recommend taking coursework in instruction. Plenty of excellent instruction librarians (and reference librarians who do instruction) have never taken a teaching course. And I'm not convinced a search committee would care that much about a class. Instead, you can definitely play up your teaching experience in a cover letter. If you apply for entry level positions, your teaching experience sounds pretty good to me.
In terms of deciding if you want to make the switch: perhaps you could start by signing up for a relevant listserv. If you are interested in instruction, there's ili-l through ACRL. Check through ACRL's websites for other areas as well--perhaps reference. Following these lists will also help you get up-to-date in these areas.
Another great way to see what's out there and decide how to prepare is to start reading job ads for jobs that might interest you. Check the Chronicle of Higher Ed, for example, for their free job listings.
I enjoy my work in academic libraries... do you have any specific questions about it?
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