Menu:
Public to Academic Library
by Julie Biando EdwardsChanging jobs is always a stressful experience, but moving from a public library to an academic library brings its own set of challenges. Completely changing career paths can be a major source of anxiety, frustration, and uncertainty. Such a move can be successfully navigated, though. With some careful planning, a sense of perspective, and a willingness to embrace change, you can make the move painless - and even fun!
Tips for shifting career paths
Know what you want. Before you make your move, take some time to contemplate the choice you are about to make. Think about the benefits and drawbacks of shifting career paths. What are your priorities? Do you want to want to write and publish? Do you enjoy teaching? Would you rather work with a wider variety of patrons? Maybe you like the hustle and bustle of a busy public library? Perhaps you'd prefer working at the reference desk at a small college? On a larger scale, do you like the community you are in? Can you see yourself setting down roots there? Will you still be happy five years out? Ten years out? These are all important considerations, and they deserve some careful thought. Remember, the shape your career will take depends on the choices you make.
Take a deep breath. Once you've made your move, try to take a moment to breathe. Switching career paths can be overwhelming. One of the most frustrating aspects of starting any new job is a feeling of helplessness - not knowing where resources are, how you should manage your time, how the new organization works. Shifting paths completely can compound these frustrations; you have to learn where your library fits in the overall campus structure, how politics may or may not work on your campus, and how you can start working to achieve tenure (if that is expected). Don't panic! Take a second, step back, and know that you don't have to learn everything in the first week, or even in the first year.
Take a step back. When it comes down to it, there really is no big difference between an excellent public library and an excellent academic library. Of course, they are structured differently, and have some different expectations, but good public libraries and good academic libraries have one thing in common - a dedication to excellent service. The essential philosophy is the same: provide patrons with what they need, efficiently, and with a smile. Realizing that the overall goal is the same may make it easier for you to handle the differences in the details.
Focus on your strengths. While the shape of your career will be dictated in large part by your work environment, it will also be dictated by the type of person you are. Stamp your personality on your job to whatever extent you can. If you are lucky, you'll find yourself in an academic library where growth and change are encouraged. Take stock of what your predecessor did; evaluate what will work for you, and what won't. See if you can carve out a space for yourself within the library and within the larger campus community. If your strengths in the public library included outreach and public service, look for ways in which you can integrate those same strengths into your teaching, reference work, and campus relationships.
Write everything down. Questions, ideas, problems - get them on paper or on your computer. The surest way to drift aimlessly is to lose focus. Scheduling out your day, keeping a log of questions, and jotting down ideas are all excellent ways to help you stay organized and manage your move. I keep several different calendars and a to-do list, and I also have started compiling a monthly report of all that I have accomplished in the past month. Such reporting isn't required by my job, but it is a nice way for me to take stock of my productivity and to look at areas in which I could use improvement. Remember, as an academic librarian you will most likely be required to write and publish formally. Jotting down notes and ideas is a great way to get into the habit of writing, even if you are just doing it for yourself in the beginning.
Ask questions - over and over. When I began my tenure at an academic library, I was encouraged over and over again by my supervisor to ask questions - and, if I wasn't clear on the answers, to ask again or even find someone else to ask. I was also assigned a mentor to whom I could ask questions and express concerns. If you aren't lucky enough to have a formal mentor, find someone with whom you are comfortable and establish a relationship. Don't be afraid of looking foolish or unprepared, asking about procedure, policy, and philosophy is the best way to start feeling at home in your new job.
Changing career paths is exciting and frightening at the same time. The most important thing to remember is that nothing is static - the shape your career will take will depend on the choices you make. Take some time to think about your choices, carefully navigate your move, and enjoy your new career!
Julie Biando Edwards is the Ethnic Studies Librarian and Multicultural Coordinator at the Mansfield Library, University of Montana. She joined the faculty at UM in April 2007 after five years in public libraries, and is enjoying shaping her academic career.