Getting Started
Just starting out, or contemplating librarianship as a profession? Be sure to visit the Education, resume advice, and search strategies sections of the site, and also peruse the resources here for advice and information. Suggestions for additional resources? Email rachel@lisjobs.com.
Getting Started in Librarianship
- "Internships Are the Appetizers of the Library World" from LJ.
- LibraryCareers.org from ALA gives all sorts of information on becoming a librarian, specialties, and schools. (Oddly, not at "librarycareers.org.")
- "How to Become a Librarian" - an article I wrote in June 2005 for Library Journal's site.
- Library Careers of Choice
- Your First Year on the Job" from LISCareer.com.
- Miss the Stealth Librarian? Try the Contrarian Librarian for inside info about working conditions at various libraries.
- Librarians from the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Library Technicians from the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Library Assistants and Bookmobile Drivers from the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Check out ALA's Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, which links to all sorts of information about careers in libraries.
- "Become a Librarian!" from the Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative features the stories of several NJ librarians, scholarship links, etc.
- "Librarianship as a Career" from California State University.
- "Gaining Library Work Experience While You're a Student," from Liscareer.com.
- "Surviving the First Year at an Academic Library" by Louise Feldmann.
- "I Survived My Freshman Year, and You?" by Vincci Kwong.
- "Planning Your Leap" by Kate Zoellner talks about success in your first professional position.
- NEWLIB-L Discussion List for new librarians; join to ask questions and provide insights to others.
- Self-Promotion Tips for New Librarians- links and advice from Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki. Add your own tips, as well!
- Your First Year on the Job: Five Tips to Help New Librarians Cassandra E. Osterloh shares what she learned in her first year, including: know your surroundings, keep talking and listening, join and volunteer, read, write, and play, and market yourself.
- March 2005 Career Q&A: Finding a Library School.
- Want to know what librarians do all day? Check out the Librarian Day in a Life wiki.